Language/Swahili-individual-language/Vocabulary/Useful-Sentenses

What is Swahili?

Swahili belongs to the Bantu language group, a term for all the languages of Central, Eastern and Southern Africa. It borrows many words of Arabic origin, English, Portuguese and a little German.

Swahili serves as a national language of three nations: Tanzania, Kenya, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

For someone who has the facilities to grasp a new language, Swahili is easy. But for people who have trouble learning new vocabulary by heart and understand the logic of a language other than their own, Swahili is not so obvious!

Basic Vocabulary

Swahili	English
Mimi	I
Sisi	We
Wewe	You (singular)
nyinyi	You (plural)
Yeye	He
Yeye	She
Wao	They
Habari!	Hello! (Local version)
Karibu	Welcome
Tafadhali	Please
Asante	Thank you
Asante Sana	Thank you very much
Kwa heri	Goodbye
Habari gani?	How are you?
Nzuri!	Well, thank you!
Ndio	Yes
Hapana	No
Pole Pole	Gently
Nimefurahi	I'm happy
Maji	Water
Kunywa	Drink
Kula	Eat
Baridi	Cold
Hongera!	Congratulations!
Sizungumzi Kiswahili	I do not speak Swahili.
Hiyo sijaelewa	I do not understand.
Sijui	I do not know. (very useful and easy to remember!)
Jina lako ni nani?	What is your name?
Jina langu ni ______.	My name is ______ .
Unatoka wapi?	Where are you coming from?
Samahani.	Excuse me. (getting attention)
Tafadhali nisamehe.	Please forgive me.
Usiku mwema.	Good night.
Lala Salama.	Sleep well.