Introductory Kiswahili:
BABA = Father
MAMA = Mother
KAKA = Brother
DADA = Sister
BIBI = Grandmother also NYANYA (But Nyanya is also Tomatoes)
BABU = Grandfather
Greetings / Salutations:
| GREETING: |
RESPONSE: |
HABARI GANI?
How are you ? |
HABARI YANGU NI NZURI or
I am fine/O.K HABARI YANGU NI MBAYA
I am not fine/OK |
HABARI YAKO?
How are you ? (singular) |
HABARI YANGU NI NZURI
I am fine/O.K
|
HABARI ZENU?
How are you ? (plural) |
HABARI ZETU NI NZURI
We are fine / O.K |
JE, HUJAMBO?
Are you (singular) O.K? |
SIJAMBO
I am OK. |
JE HAMJAMBO?
Are you (plural) O.K.? |
HATUJAMBO
We are OK |
SALAMA?
Peace? |
SALAMA!
Peace! |
SHIKAMOO!
MAMBO?
Things?
|
MARAHABA!
SAFI!
Cool/Clean! |
KWAHERI YA KUONANA
Good bye until we see each other |
ASANTE NA WEWE PIA
Thanks and you too |
SAFIRI SALAMA
Have a safe journey |
ASANTE NA WEWE UBAKI SALAMA
Thanks and you stay safely.
|
Hakuna matata! = No Problem!
Pole! = Sorry! Pole sana! = Very sorry!
KAHAWA = Coffee
BAHATI = Luck
NDIYO = Yes
NGAPI? = How much?
NINI = what
LINI = when
YA NANI = whose
Mkate = Bread
Chumvi = Salt
Sukari = Sugar
Meza = Table
Samaki = Fish
Maziwa = Milk
Moto = Hot
Barafu = Ice
Karatasi = Paper
Mzungu = European
Chai = Tea
Write = andika
NDIZI = Banana
MKUKI = Spear
HAPANA = No
MBAYA = Bad
WAPI = where
NANI = who
VIPI = how
Pesa = Money
Simu = Telephone
Maji = water
Kalamu = pens
Nyama = Meat
Maiyai = Egg
Barete = Cold
Choo = Toilet
Kitabu = Book
Hivi = this way
Ugali = Maize meal, Uji = porridge
Choka = Tired
Counting:
SIFURI/ZERO = 0
MOJA = 1
MBILI = 2
TATU = 3
NNE = 4
TANO = 5
SITA = 6
SABA = 7
NANE = 8
TISA = 9
KUMI = 10
KUMI NA MOJA = 11
MIA = 100
ELFU = 1000
Days of the week:
JUMA MOSI = Saturday
JUMAPILI = Sunday
JUMATATU = Monday
JUMANNE = Tuesday
JUMATANO = Wednesday
ALHAMISI = Thursday
IJUMAA = Friday
Time and dates:
SEKUNDE/Sekunde = Second/seconds
DAKIKA/Dakika = Minute/Minutes
SAA/Saa = Hour/Hours
SIKU/ Siku = Day/Days
MCHANA = Daytime
ASUBUHI = Morning
USIKU = Night
JIONI = Evening
MAGHARIBI = Dusk/Sunset
MAPAMBAZUKO/ALFAJIRI = Dawn/Sunrise
WIKI/JUMA = Week/Weeks
Phrases:
NZURI SANA = VERY GOOD
SIYO NZURI = NOT GOOD
MBAYA = BAD
NZURI TU = JUST GOOD
NA WEWE, JE = AND YOU? (singular)
NA NYINYI, JE? = AND YOU (plural)
UNAKWENDA WAPI = WHERE ARE YOU GOING?
WAPI = WHERE
WAPI = IN VAIN
ENDA = TO GO
NINAKWENDA = I AM GOING
SASA = NOW
NINAKWENDA PALE = I AM GOING THERE
HUNA (?) = YOU DON'T HAVE = DON'T YOU HAVE?
Ngombe = Cattle
Twiga = Giraffe
Mbuzi = Goat
Kifaru = Rhino
Kuku = Chicken
Ndovu = Elephant
Ndege = Bird
Nyoka = Snake
Simba = Lion
Duma= Cheetah |
