Kiswahili Basics

Greetings

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

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?  
·         No vacancies = Hamna nafasi. (Kenya: Hakuna nafasi)
·         How much is it per night? = ni bei gani kwa usiku?
·         Mosquito net = chandalua

Days

·         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

Animals

When you're on Safari in East Africa many of the guides and trackers will speak Swahili.
·         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

Civilities

·         Yes = Ndiyo
·         No = Hapana
·         Thank you = Asante
·         Thank you very much = Asante sana
·         Please = Tafadhali
·         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                   
·         I don't understand = Sielewi
·         Friend = Rafiki

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

Numbers

·         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