English to Swahili: Useful Words & Phrases for Travel in East Africa

If you’re travelling in East Africa, Swahili is a useful language to know, so I have written an English to Swahili guide to help you whilst you’re travelling in the region.

Many people speak English, but knowing a bit of the Swahili language (aka Kiswahili) will go a long way and earn you a lot of respect from the locals.

Swahili is a really beautiful language and pretty easy to pick up the basics. It’s a bit like an easier, more flowy version of Arabic, invented to help the Arabic traders communicate with the Bantu-speaking Africans along the East African (Swahili) coast.

Swahili is mostly spoken in Tanzania and Kenya, as well as other countries, including parts of Uganda, Mozambique, the DRC, Rwanda, and Burundi.

The ‘best’ Swahili is spoken in Tanzania and Zanzibar (East Africans talk about this often). In Kenya, more ‘pure’ Swahili is spoken in the coastal regions, whilst further inland and in Nairobi, they often mix English words in, so the Swahili spoken there is called ‘Sheng’.

There’s a phrase… “Swahili was born in Tanzania, got sick in Kenya, died in Uganda and was buried in Congo’. Basically the further away from Tanzania you get, the worse grammatically the Swahili tends to be.

Generally, Swahili words are pronounced as they look. “Habari gani?” which means “How are you?” is pronounced “ha-bar-ree gan-ee?” – with a rolling of the ‘r’.

And the emphasis of the word/phrase is usually on the second to last syllable. In the phrase “Habari gani?” the emphasis would be on the “bar”.

If the word starts with an M or N followed by a consonant (ie. Mzuri/Nzuri) the M pronounced like a very short mm, like when you are about to hum or the N would sound like a very short nn or un – kind of like you are trying to say the letter N, but without opening your mouth and keeping your tongue at the top behind your top teeth.

Seems complicated, but once you start practicing and hearing it in real life, you’ll pick it up in no time! Don’t be shy, East Africans will love that you are trying and will teach you Swahili at any opportunity.

So here you have some of my favourite English to Swahili words and phrases.

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Table of Contents

The Most Useful English to Swahili Words & Phrases for Travel in East Africa

English to Swahili Introductions/Greetings & Responses

Jambo/Hujambo Hello
Sijambo I’m fine/I am well
Niaji Hello (informal)
Mambo/Mambo vipi How are you doing/what’s up? (very informal, but used more often)
Poa Cool or I’m cool
Safi Fine
Freshi Fresh
Habari or habari yako? How are you?
Habari gani? What news/how are you? (common greeting)
Nzuri/Mzuri I’m good (In Tanzania they tend to say Nzuri and Mzuri in Kenya)
Nzuri/Mzuri sana Very good
Niko salama, asante. Na wewe? I am fine , thank you. And you?
Shikamoo Respectful greetings (you would use this to someone older than you ”“ children may use this towards you)
Marahaba Thank you for your respectful greetings (the reply to ”˜shikamo’)
Habari za asubuhi Good morning
Habari za mchana Good afternoon
Usiku mwema Goodnight
Jina lako nani? What is your name?
Jina langu ni or Mimi naitwa… My name is…
Ninafuraha kukutana nawe Nice to meet you
Nafurahi kukuona I am happy to see you
Unatoka wapi? Where are you from?
Natokea… I’m from…
Kwaheri Goodbye
Tutaonana baadaye (or just badaaye) See you later
Tutaonana kesho See you tomorrow
Tuonane kesho Let’s see each other tomorrow

English to Swahili Pleasantries & Responses

Asante Thank you
Asante sana Thank you very much
Karibu Welcome
Karibu sana You are welcome
Karibuni Welcome (when there’s more than 1 person)
Lala salaama Goodnight or peaceful sleep
Samahani I am sorry
Niwie radhi Excuse me
Tafadhali Please (although people don’t really use please that much)
Pole Sorry (if someone says they are ill you would say ”˜pole’ or ‘pole sana’ to sympathize)
Pose sana Very sorry
Ndiyo/Ndio Yes
Hapana No
Sawa Ok
Hapana asante No thank you
Sitaki I don’t need
Hakuna matata No worries
Hamna shida No problem
Naelewa I understand
Sielewi I don’t understand
Naweza kuchukua picha yako? Can I take your picture?
Naomba kupiga picha? May I take pictures?
Unaongea Kiingereza?/ Unasema Kiingereza? Do you speak English?
Samahani, unaweza ongea Kiingereza? Excuse me, do you speak English? (formal)
La, siongei Kiingereza No, I don’t speak English

English to Swahili Words for Food & Drink

Maji Water
Maji ya kunywa Drinking water
Kahawa Coffee
Chai Tea
Bia Beer
Kuku Chicken
Nyama Meat
Nyama choma Roast meat
Vegetables Mbogo
Samaki Fish
Wali Rice
Supu Soup
Baridi Cold (useful when asking for a beer/soda/water ie. “maji baridi”)
Mimi ni mboga I’m a vegetarian
Hakuna nyama No meat
Hakuna maziwa No dairy
Hakuna gluten No gluten
Hakuna karanga No nuts (but just be aware that nuts are commonly used in cooking in East Africa)
Mimi ni mzio wa… I’m allergic to…
Siwezi kula… I cannot eat…

Other Useful English to Swahili Words & Phrases

Duka la dawa Pharmacy
Duka Shop
Dawa Medicine
Kesho Tomorrow
Wapi? Where?
Liko wapi? Where is the…? (ie. Where is the pharmacy? Duka la dawa liko wapi?)
Nini/Gani? What?
Ipi? Which?
Nani? Who?
Naipenda I like it
Sipendi I don’t like it
Unaipenda? Do you like it?
Nakupenda I love you
Pesa Money
Sina pesa I don’t have money
Sasa Now
Kidogo A little (if people ask you if you speak Swahili, say “kidogo” or “kidogo kidogo” and you’ll get a laugh, they love it)
Pole pole Slowly (pronounced polay polay – useful for saying to speeding bus drivers and for keeping up morale on Kilimanjaro)
Poa kichizi kama ndizi Crazy cool like a banana (pronounced poa kachezi kamandeezi ”“ this makes people laugh when you say it)
Rafiki Friend
Choo Toilet
Safari njema Good journey