Learn top 25 Swahili phrases
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| Yeah. Welcome, everyone. It’s Medina again. Welcome to swahilipod101. Today, we are going to look at the Top 25 Phrases in Swahili. Let’s have fun. |
| Okay. The first phrase is, |
| 1. Jambo. "Hello." |
| Jambo is one of the most simple greetings in Kenya. Anyone can use it at any time. In fact, we love using it with tourists. Please visit Kenya and just say Jumbo. |
| Okay, the next phrase is, |
| 2. Habari za asubuhi. "Good morning." |
| We often wake up tired sometimes in the morning but it doesn’t cost to say Habari za asubuhi. "Good morning." |
| The next phrase is, |
| 3. Habari za mchana. "Good afternoon." |
| You know, in the afternoon when you meet someone you are like, oh Habari za mchana, Habari means “new”. So you are trying to ask someone, okay, how is your afternoon? Tell me anything that is happening in your afternoon. |
| 4. Usiku mwema "Good night." |
| Yes, it’s time to sleep. Sometimes I look forward to that time and you know, I look forward to saying, goodnight to my friends or to my family or to my whatever person who is there. |
| 5. Jina lako nani? "What's your name?" |
| Jina lako nani? It’s an obvious question whenever we meet with people especially when you want to know who they are. It’s polite to know someone’s name, right? Do you like being called by your name? Yeah, that’s why this phrase is very important. Jina lako nani? |
| 6. Mimi naitwa [jina]. I’m [name] |
| Mimi naitwa Medina. "My name is Medina." |
| Now, this is actually an answer to the previous question, Jina lako nani? “What’s your name?” |
| Now you have to keep this in mind that you know, if you use this word frequently, you will be able to tell people about your name. You are able to tell people your name. |
| 7. Ninafuraha kukutana nawe. "Nice to meet you." |
| I mean it’s really polite. I always feel like energized when someone says, “nice to meet you.” It can be awkward when someone says, oh, I did not want to meet you, you know but we rarely hear that. Just use that word, nice to meet you. |
| 8. Habari gani? "How are you?" |
| Habari in Swahili means news. And gani means what? So what news. Actually, what you are trying to ask here is like, what do you have? I mean, what is all about your life right now in a polite way you know. Then, someone will say, nzuri, or it’s okay. They will not go on telling you whatever is happening all around but you know, they will just say it’s fine or not good, you know. So it’s an important phrase. |
| 9. Niko salama, asante. Na wewe? "I'm fine, thanks. And you?" |
| Niko salama, asante means, “oh, I am fine” Literally, that is what it means. I am fine, thank you. Then, you take it back. What about you? You are concerned about the person who is asking you, you know. If you just say, oh, I am fine, thanks. Then, you keep quiet, you know. I mean, we do that sometimes but you know, sometimes, you want to show concern. So you ask - Na wewe? “And you?” |
| 10. Tafadhali. "Please." |
| It’s a magic word all around the world. So tafadhali is one of those words that you want to embrace when you visit Kenya, tafadhali. Whenever you are asking a favour, just say tafadhali. Excuse me. Tafadhali! Tafadhali! That’s one great word you need to remember. |
| 11. Asante. "Thank you." |
| It’s also one of the magic words that relate to Tafadhali. Please, you know. Asante is like you are appreciating whatever favor you received from someone who did you a favor. So it’s also one of those words you like to embrace whenever and wherever. |
| 12. Karibu. "You're welcome." |
| Karibu is one of the most common words used in Kenya. For example, when someone knocks your door, you will say, oh Karibu. That means, come in or welcome actually. Then, in some circumstances when someone gives you something, you’ll say thank you, right. Now, the person who is giving, you will say, karibu. Karibu means welcome. So, it can be a joke but you know what, you can go and ask as many favors as you can because they say karibu. I mean that’s a joke. You don’t have to take it seriously though. |
| 13. Ndio. "Yes." |
| Ndio is a response. Whenever someone asks a question, you can say ndio if it’s a positive answer. I mean to the question. I mean, it depends. You know, they are the yes/no questions. Yeah, that is where it lies. Ndio. |
| Umefika Kenya? Ndio |
| Umekula chakula? Ndio. |
| Umefika Kenya? means, “have you arrived in Kenya?” |
| You’ll say yes, which is ndio. |
| “Have you eaten food?” Umekula chakula? You will say, ndio. Yes. |
| 14. Hapana. "No." |
| Hapana is an answer to the Yes No question just like ndio. Ndio means "yes" as we looked at it previously. Now here it’s "no". |
| Umefika Kenya? Hapana. “Have you arrived in Kenya?” No. |
| Umekula chakula? “Have you eaten food?” No. Hapana. |
| 15. Sawa. "Okay." |
| Sawa is used to acknowledge that you agree to whatever has been said. |
| For example, you can say, |
| Sawa niyaelewa maelezo yako. "Okay, I have understood your explanation." |
| 16. Niwie radhi. "Excuse me." |
| This is a very handy word especially when you want someone to excuse you for something. Niwie radhi. |
| Naweza angalia mzigo wako. "Excuse me, can I check your bag?" |
| 17. Samahani. "I'm sorry." |
| Samahani is also one of those polite words that you really need to remember. It comes handy when you make a mistake. |
| Samahani nimechelewa. "I am very sorry that I am late." |
| 18. Ni saa ngapi? "What time is it?" |
| Of course, if you want to know time, if you cannot see the time. Probably, there is no wall clock around or perhaps your phone is off or perhaps you forgot your wristwatch, you will ask your friend, ni saa ngapi? |
| 19. Msalani ni wapi? "Where is the restroom?" |
| Now, for real, you may need this word really especially if nature keeps calling when you, you know. You may want to ask - Tafadhali. Msalani ni wapi? “Excuse me, where is the restroom?” |
| 20. Subiri kidogo. "Wait a moment." |
| When you are caught up doing something and someone asked for a favour, you may use this word, “just a moment”. Subiri kidogo. |
| 21. Bei ya hii ni nini? "How much is this?" |
| Now hii there stands for the thing that you want to buy. |
| For example, you can say, |
| Bei ya hii nguo ni nini? "How much is this dress?" |
| 22. Saidia! "Help!" |
| Saidia! Imagine you are drowning, what will you do? You will shout, saidia! Help! When you are in trouble, I mean, this word comes in handy. I think you may want to use it. |
| 23. Tuonane baadaye. "See you later." |
| After you meet with your friend, you have a chat with her or him, you will definitely say, bye! See you later, when you’re parting. I think it’s also in one of those polite words that you may want to add to your list. |
| 24. Kwaheri. "Goodbye." |
| Now, kwaheri reminds me of those toughest moment in my life you know, when I went abroad to study and my family was back in my country. The toughest moment was when we were parting, you know. I will never want to say kwaheri. I will never want to say goodbye. I will never even want to utter it out but I will just say it with tears rolling down my cheeks. Yeah, kwaheri. It’s a good word to use whenever you are parting. |
| 25. Sijui. "I don't know." |
| This is a word that you will use when you acknowledge that for sure you are not sure about the answer to the question or to the situation that is happening at the moment. Some people think it’s impolite to say sijui especially when you’re asking for directions. They will try to give information which might be wrong to show that they are polite. So you got to be careful. |
| Thank you so much for staying with us until the end of this video. Kwaheri, see you again. |
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