Reading Time: 4 minutes

If it often said – by no-one – that if Africa is a fever dream, Swahili is the soundtrack.

(2025 update: We wonder if anyone has noticed the fundamental flaw in the bottom half of the image illustrating this story.*)

With over 50 million speakers worldwide, either as a first or second language, Swahili stands as the continent’s most widely spoken tongue. Head for Tanzania, the DRC, Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda, and you’ll use this as the official vernacular you’ll use; deploy it in Mozambique or Burundi, and you’ll certainly make yourself understood. Not everywhere, but enough to get by.

For some, Swahili represents the voice of Africa. Think of the continent and consider the images, however clichéd they may be, springing to mind. Herds of elephants roaming the savannah, perhaps, herded by magnificent tribal warriors. Traditional healers remotely viewing a savannah punctured by the rhythmic, intoxicating clatter of drums. The warmest of welcomes coupled with the most burdensome poverty. Hippos, flamingos, mountain tops touched by the good hand of God… the reader gets the point.

These visions of this imagined realm all point, mostly, the continent’s east, where Swahili acts as the dominant tongue. Ipso facto, not only does Swahili become the sound of Africa, it also conveys the sound of daydreaming. Epochal as he was, never did Carl Jung discover something so simple and inspiring.

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Read More: Heading to Ethiopia? Make life a little bit easier by learning some Amharic.

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‘Karibu sana,’ said the roadside shaman as you thanked him for directions. Sotto voce, he spoke your middle name with no prompting before dissipating into the ether. (Cynical Editor: So profound.)

Point being, while all such imagery proves stereotypical in the extreme, it does serve a purpose in creating a passage through which to access the continent’s true depth. Swahili is a widely spoken language, and any trip to the east of Africa will invariably involve its usage. But do not fear its tongue-twisting appearance. It’s easy enough to pick up, as well as an excellent icebreaker. Ask around, and people will be more than happy to share it; this list has been solely garnered from various corners of Tanzania thanks to the kindness of strangers. The greatest of these strangers was Perpetua, a lady from Lushoto who, each time we saw her, showed great patience in teaching EitM a bit of Swahili. Thank you, Perpetua.

Unleash the Swahili:

English Swahili

Basics Dhasar

Hello Habari

How are you? Habiri yako?

Fine Uko vzuri / Nzuri

Please Tafadale

Excuse me Samahani

Help me Nisaidie

Thank you Assante (sana)

You’re welcome Karibu (sana)

Yes Ndio

No Hapana

No problem Hakuna matata

Goodbye Faida

Good morning Asubuhi njema

Good afternoon Jiyone njema

Good evening / night Usiku mwema

Sleep well Lala selama

Same to you Nawewe pia

See you later Sampai ketemu

How was your day? Umeshindaje?

How was your morning? Umeamkaje?

What’s your name? Jinalako ninane?

My name is (Panthro) Jinalako ni (Panthro)

Nice to meet you Ninafuraki kukutana nawewe

Feel at home Jisikie upo nyumbani

Where are you from? Unatoka wapi?

There Huko

Where Wapi

I’m from (Dili) Ninatoka (Dili)

What’s the score? Alama ni nini?

Okay Sawa

Up to you Juu yako

Crazy Kichaa

Beautiful Mrembo

Smile Tabasamu

Person Mtu

A little Kidogo

Slowly (NB: As is pace, attitude) Poa poa

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Directions Maelekezo

North Kaskazini

South Kusini

East Mashariki

West Magharibi

Where are you going? Unaenda wapi?

I don’t know Sijui

I want to go to… Nataka kwenda…

Where is (the temple)? (Hekalu) iko wapi?

This way Njia hii

(Over) there (Hapo) hapo

(Over) here (Hapa) ​​hapa

Walking Kutembea

Slowly Polepole

Stop Acha

Turn around Geuka

Straight on Moja kwa moja

Left Kushoto

Right Kulia

Behind Nyuma

In front of Mbele ya

In between Katikati

How far? Umbali gani?

How long? Muda gani?

Airport Uwanja wa ndege

Hotel Hoteli

Restaurant Mgahawa

Bar Baa

Temple Hekalu

Bank Benki

Cinema Sinema

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Shopping / Transactions Ununuzi / Shughuli

How much? Shilingi ngapi?

I want to pay, please Ninahitaji kulipa, tafadale

I want my bill, please Ninahitaji bili yangu, tafadale

How many? Ngapi?

Cheap Nafuu

Expensive Ghali

Very (cheap) Sana (bei nafuu)

Do you have (a room)? Je unayo (chumba)?

I want… Nataka…

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Food / Drink / Miscellaneous Chakula / Kunywa / Mbalimbali

Eat / Drink Kula / Kunywa

Menu Orodha

Hungry Njaa

Thirsty Mwenye kiu

Food is ready Chakula tayari

The food is delicious Viakula nikitamu

The food is good Chakula kizura

Breakfast was very good Kifunga kingwe ni nzuri

Breakfast Kifungua kinywa

Lunch Chakula cha mchana

Dinner Chakula cha jioni

Chicken Kuku

Fish Samaki

Rice Mchele

Noodles Noodles

Soup Supu

Milk Maziwa

Coffee Kahawa

Sugar Sukari

Salt Chumvi

Beer Bia

Fruit Matunda

Water Maji

Hot water Maji baridi

Cold water Maji moto

Soap Sabuni

Cigarettes Sigara

Lighter Nyepsi

Matches Mechi

(A) room Kamar

Ticket Tikiti

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Body Mwili

I like your… Ninapenda pua …

Nose Yako

Arm Mkono

Leg Mgu

Head Kichwa

Fingers Vidole

Finger Kidole

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Time Wakati

Now Sasa

Later / After Baadaye

Before Kabla

Morning Asubuhi

Afternoon Alasiri

Evening Jioni

Night Usiku

What time? Saa ngapi?

What is the time? Ni saa ngapi?

Second Pili

Minute Dakika

Hour Saa

Week Wiki

Month Mwezi

Year Mwaka

Day Siku

Today Leo

Yesterday Jana

Tomorrow Kesho

Day after tomorrow Kesho kutwa

See you tomorrow Tutaonana kesho

Weekend Mwishoni mwa wiki

Monday Jumatatu

Tuesday Jumanne

Wednesday Jumatano

Thursday Alhamisi

Friday Ijumaa

Saturday Jumamosi

Sunday Jumapili

Rainy season Msimu wa mvua

Dry season Kikavu

Sunrise Mawio

Sunset Machweo

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Family Familia

Sister Dada

Brother Kaka

Dad Baba

Mother Mama

Son Hiyvo

Daughter Binti

Uncle Mjomba

Aunt Shangazi

Niece / Nephew Mpwa

Friend Rafiki

Friendly Marafiki

Friends of (Usambara) Marifiki wa (Usambara)

(Thomas) is my very good friend (Thomas) ni rafiki yangu

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Numbers Nambari

0 Sifuri  

1 Moja

2 Mbili

3 Tatu

4 Nne

5 Tano

6 Sita

7 Saba

8 Nane

9 Tisa

10 Kumi

11 Kumi na moja

12 Kumi na mbili

13 Kumi na tatu

14 Kumi na nne

15 Kumi na tano

16 Kumi na sita

17 Kumi na saba

18 Kumi na nane

19 Kumi na tisa

20 Ishirini

30 Thelathini

40 Arobaini

50 Hamsini

60 Sitini

70 Sabini

80 Themanini

90 Tisini

100 Mia moja

Hundred Mia

Thousand Elfu

Million Milioni

How old are you? How old are you?

I’m (30) years old Nina umri wa miaka (thelathini)

**cough* Lao *cough*