Thursday, May 27, 2010

Speaking the Swahili

Here are some of the Swahili words that we will be using while we are in Tanzania!

Interestingly enough- those there is a definite language barrier there, it is very easy to communicate with people. Using body language, context, and surroundings are a very powerful thing!

Enjoy and get practicing!

Greetings
Hello = Jambo / hujambo / Salama
How are you? = Habari gani
Fine (response) = Nzuri
Goodbye = Kwa heri / Kwa herini (more than one peson)
See You Later = Tutaonana
Nice to meet you = Nafurahi kukuona
Goodnight = Lala salama
God Bless You = Bwana Asifiwe

Civilities
Yes = Ndiyo
No = Hapana
Thank you = Asante
Thank you very much = Asante sana
Please = Tafadhali
Welcome = Karibu
OK = Sawa
Excuse me = Samahani
You’re Welcome = Starehe
Can you help me? = Tafadhali, naomba msaada
What is your name? = Jina lako nani?
My name is = Jina langu ni ...
Where are you from? = Unatoka wapi?
I’m from .. = Natokea ...
May I take a picture? = Naomba kupiga picha
Do you speak English? = Unasema kiingereza?
Do you speak Swahili? = Unasema Kiswahili?
Just a little bit = Kidogo tu!
How do you say in Swahili? = Unasemaje ... kwa Kiswahili
I don’t understand = Sielewi
Friend = Rafiki/Ndugu

Getting Around
Where is the ... = ni wapi ...
Airport = uwanja wa ndege
Bus station = stesheni ya basi
Bus stop = bas stendi
Taxi stand = stendi ya teksi
Train Station = stesheni ya treni
Bank = benki
Market = soko
Police station = kituo cha polisi
Post Office = posta
Tourist Office = ofisi ya watali
Toilet/bathroom = choo
What time is the ... leaving? = inaondoka saa ... ngapi?
Bus = basi
Minibus = matatu (Kenya); dalla dalla (Tanzania)
Plane = ndege
Train = treni/gari la moshi
Is there a bus going to ...? = Kuna basi ya ...?
I’d like to buy a ticket = Nataka kununua tikiti
Is it near = Ni karibu?
Is it far = Ni mbali
There = huko
Over there = pale
Ticket = tikiti
Where are you going? = Unakwenda wapi?
How much is the fare? = Nauli ni kiasi gani?
Hotel = hoteli
Room = chumba
Reservation = akiba
Are there any vacancies for tonight? = Mna nafasi leo usiko? (Kenya: Iko nafasi leo usiku?)
No vacancies = Hamna nafasi. (Kenya: Hakuna nafasi)
How much is it per night? = ni bei gani kwa usiku?
Mosquito net = chandalua

Days and Numbers
Today = leo
Tomorrow = kesho
Yesterday = jana
Now = sasa
Later = baadaye
Every day = kila siku
Monday = Jumatatu
Tuesday = Jumanne
Wednesday = Jumatano
Thursday = Alhamisi
Friday = Ijumaa
Saturday = Jumamosi
Sunday = Jumapili
1 = moja
2 = mbili
3 = tatu
4 = nne
5 = tano
6 = sita
7 = saba
8 = nane
9 = tisa
10 = kumi
11 = kumi na moja (ten and one)
12 = kumi na mbili (ten and two)
20 = ishirini
21 = ishirni na moja (twenty and one)
30 = thelathini
40 = arobaini
50 = hamsini
60 = sitini
70 = sabini
80 = themanini
90 = tisini
100 = mia
200 = mia mbili
1000 = elfu
100,000 = laki

Food and Drinks
I’d like = nataka ...
Food = chakula
Hot/cold = ya moto/baridi
Water = maji
Hot water = maji ya moto
Drinking water = maji ya kunywa
Soda (soft drinks) = soda
Beer = bia
Milk = maziwa
Meat = nyama
Chicken = nyama kuku
Fish = sumaki
Beef = nyama ng’ombe
Fruit = matunda
Vegetables = mboga

Health
Where can I find a ... = Naweza kupata ... wapi?
Doctor = daktari/mganga
Hospital = hospitali
Medical Center = matibabu
I’m sick = mimi ni mgonjwa
I need a doctor = nataka kuona daktari
It hurts here = naumwa hapa
Fever = homa
Malaria = melaria
Headache = umwa kichwa
Diarrhoea = harisha/endesha
Vomiting = tapika
Medicine = dawa

Animals
Animal = wanyama
Buffalo = Nyati / Mbogo
Cheetah = Duma / Chita
Cow = N’gombe
Elephant = Tembo / Ndovuh
Giraffe = Twiga
Goat = Mbuzi
Hippo = Kiboko
Hyena = Fisi
Leopard = Chui
Lion = Simba
Rhino = Kifaru
Warthog = Ngiri
Wildebeest = Nyumbu
Zebra = Punda milia

No comments:

Post a Comment