USEFUL GREETINGS

Hello, good day, how are you? = Jambo

How are things?   = Habari ?

How are you ? = Habari Gani

Fine, good, = Nzuri

Hello Anyone ?(said on knocking or entering)= Hodi

Welcome(also when offering something) = karibu

Goodbye to one/ many = Kwaheri/ ni

See you later = Tutaonna baadaye

Thank you to one/ many = Asante/ ni   asante sana

Mister, monsieur = Bwana

madame or madamoiselle,= Mama

Youth, teenager(pl,vijana) = Kijana

Child, kid = Mototo (pl,watoto)

I love you = Nakupenda

Excuse me = Samahani

Please = Tafadhali

Can I please have... = Tafadhali nipatie

Pardon(pour passer)let me through =Nipishe/ Hebu

Sorry (faute /erreur) = Pole

BASICS

What’s your name? = Unaitwa nani ?

My name is /I am called = Jina langu ni../ Ninaitwa

Where are you from?  = Unatoka wapi?

I am from  =  Ninatoka...

Where are you staying? =   Unakaa wapi

I am staying (at / in).  = Ninakaa...

See you  = Tutaonana ( Lit. "We shall meet")

Yes  = Ndiyo (Lit. it is so)

No =  Hapana

I don’t understand  =  Sifahamu / Sielewi

I don’t speak Swahili but =  Sisemi Kiswahili, lakini

How do you say in Swahili? = Unasemaje na Kiswahili

Could you repeat that? = Sema tena ( speak again)

Speak slowly =  Sema pole pole

I don’t know  =  Sijui

Vite Fast = Upesi / Haraka

Doucement  Slowly = Pole Pole

Where? =  Wapi?

Here = Hapa

When? =  Lini?

Now = Sasa

Why?  = Kwa nini?

Because = Kwa sababu

Who?  = Nani?

What?  = Nini?

Which?  = Gani?

True  = Kweli

And/with  = na

Isn’t it? =  Siyo?

I’m British / American / German / French / Italian = Mimi Mwingereza / Mwamerika / Mdachi / Mfaransa / Mwitaliano

Do,you speak English = Unajua kizungu ?

DAILY NEEDS

Where can I stay?  = Naweza Kukaa wapi?

Can I stay here?  = Naweza kukaa hapa?

Room/s=  Chumba/vyumba

Bed/s = Kitanda/vitanda

Bon appétit =  jakula Chamina

Moustiquaire = Chandalua

Chair/s = Kiti/viti

Table/s=  Meza

Toilet, bathroom  = Choo, bafu

Hot/cold water  = Maji moto/ maji baridi

Mineral Water = Maji Safi

I’m hungry =  Ninasikia njaa /Nina Njaa

I’m thirsty  = Nina kiu

Is there any? = Iko… or Kuna?…

Yes there is…=  Iko…or kuna…

No there isn’t any = Hakuna

I want…= Nataka...

I don’t want = Sitaki

Give me/Bring me (can I have?) = Nipe/Niletee

Commerce

Enough=  Tosha/basi

Expensive = Ghali/sana

Cheap(also"easy")=  Rahisi

How much? = Ngapi?     money=  Pesa

What price?=  Bei gani?

It's very expensive = Ghali Sana

Reduisez le prix = Nikatie bei

Reduce the price, = Punguza kidogo

Shop = Duka

Bank = Benki

Post office = Posta

Café,restaurant=  Hoteli

Telephone = Simu

Cigarettes = Sigara

Market = Soko

L'addition svp = Hesabu tafadhali

I’m ill = Mimi mgonjwa

Doctor = Daktari   dentiste = Daktari wa meno

Hospital=  Hospitali

Police = Polisi

Directions et transport

Wait !/hang on a moment!=  Ngoja!/ ngoja kidogo!

Stop! = Simama!

Where are you going  = Unaenda wapi

To where?  = Mpaka wapi?

From where? = Kutoka wapi?

How many kilometers? = Kilometa ngapi?

I’m going to = Naenda

Let’s go, carry on = Twende, endelea

Straight ahead = Moja kwa moja

Right=  Kulia

Left = Kushoto

Up = Juu

Down = Chini

I want to get off here  = Nataka kushuka hapa

The car has broken down  = Gari imearibika

TIME CALENDAR AND NUMBER

Early  = Mapema

Yesterday=  Jana

Today=  Leo

Tomorrow = Kesho

Where? = wapi

Day time = Mchana

Night time = Usiku

Morning = Asubuhi

This year = Mwaka huu

This month = Mwezi huu

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

12 = Kumi na mbili

20 = Ishirini

21 = Ishirini na moja

30 = Thelathini

40 = Arobaini

50 = Hamsini

60  = Sitini

70 = Sabini

80 = Themanini

90 = isini

100 = Mia moja

121 = Mia moja na ishirini na moja

1000 = Elfu

Signs

Danger!  = Hatari!

Warning! = Angalia!/ Onyo !

Fierce dog!=  Mbwa mkali !

No entry! = Hakuna njia !

Don't get out of the car = Hapana toka gari

Look there ! =  Tazama pale !

Help! =  Saidia !

Mosquitoe(s)= mbu

Army ants = siafu

Spider = buibui

Snake = nyoka

Petites chansons (little songs)

Jambo                Bonjour
Jambo bwana      Bonjour Monsieur
Habari gani?    Comment allez vous ?
Mzuri sana    ça va bien
Wageni wakaribishwa Visiteurs vous êtes bienvenus
Kenya yetu     Dans notre Kenya
Hakuna matata Il n'y a pas de problème

Kenya ni nchi mzuri     le kenya est un beau pays

Hakuna matata     ll n'y a pas de problème
Nchi ya maajabu    un pays de merveilles
Nchi ya kupendeza    un pays plaisant

Hakuna matata     ll n'y a pas de problème

Kenya yetu        Dans notre Kenya
Hakuna matata        ll n'y a pas de problème
Kenya wote        Tout au kenya

Hakuna matata     ll n'y a pas de problème

1. Malaika,nakupenda malaika,   

  malaika, nakupenda Malaika.

 Nami nifanyeje, kijana mwenzio,

 nashindwa na mali sina, we, ningekuoa Malaika,

 nashindwa na mali sina, we, ningekuoa Malaika.

    

2.  Pesa zasumbua roho yangu,    

pesa  zasumbua roho yangu.

Nami nifanyeje, kijana mwenzio,

Nashindwa na mali sina, we, ningekuoa Malaika,

nashindwa na mali sina, we, ningekuoa Malaika.

 

3. Kidege,  hukuwaza kidege,    

 kidege,     hukuwaza kidege.

 Nami nifanyeje, kijana mwenzio,

 nashindwa na mali sina, we, ningekuoa Malaika,

 nashindwa na mali sina, we,ningekuoa Malaika.

Petit Lexique Swahili de base