10 Phrases in Swahili for your Trip to Nairobi

Jambo/Hujambo’

This means ‘hello/hi’. It is polite to say hello as you meet people who will be taking care of you. For example, your taxi driver, the receptionist at the hotel, your guide…Some locals will even say hello to you regardless of where you meet, simply because you look or speak differently. In that case, then your answer to ‘jambo/hujambo’ should be ‘nzuri/sijambo’.

‘Nzuri/Sijambo’

This means ‘fine/I’m fine’. It’s the polite way of replying to a greeting. Add a smile to it and the greeting is complete. Sometimes this response can also be used in the case where someone says ‘habari gani?’ – ‘how are you?’

‘Kwaheri’

This means ‘goodbye’. As expected, you would use this phrase when parting ways with someone you’ve been around for some time. ‘Kwaherini’ would be used to say goodbye to a group of people.

‘Tafadhali’

This is Swahili for ‘please’. You will use the phrase a lot while asking for things. You will only need to add the phrase at the end. For example, ‘how much is the fare please?’ would be…’nauli ni pesa ngapi tafadhali? If you were using public transport.

‘Samahani’

This means ‘excuse me’. Just like its English meaning, this phrase will be used to ask for directions, ask questions at your hotel or strangers, etc. Sometimes you will combine the phrase with ‘tafadhali’. For example, if you want to know where a specific hotel is, you would ask in English

‘Excuse me please…where is the Kempinski Hotel located? So the same question in Swahili would be…

‘Samahani….Hoteli ya Kempinski iko wapi tafadhali?

‘Asante’

This is Swahili for ‘thank you’. Just like with ‘tafadhali’, you will most probably use this phrase when thanking those that give you directions or clarify information on your map, etc. To the word ‘asante’, you can also add ‘sana’. Thus, ‘asante sana’. This means ‘thank you very much’. In addition, you can also use the phrase ‘nashukuru’ (‘I thank you’) instead of ‘asante’. Means the same thing.

‘Ndio/Hapana’

These two phrases will normally go together as you will be using either or in replying to specific direct questions. They translate to ‘yes for ‘ndio’ and ‘no’ for ‘hapana’.

‘Sawa’

This means ‘OK’. You are agreeing to what you are being told or want to show that you have understood what you have been told.

‘Leo/Kesho/Jana’

‘Leo’ means ‘today’, ‘kesho’ means ‘tomorrow’, ‘jana’ means ‘yesterday’. These are phrases that might be used together as you will either be explaining to someone when you landed, when you will be leaving, or when you want to go and check out a specific attraction. This is of course with the assumption that you are not in the city for long.

‘Nataka’

This translates to ‘I’d like’. It is a phrase you will use a lot when requesting for services in your hotel, or while shopping. For example, asking your taxi driver to take you to town…’I’d like to go to town please’ – ‘Nataka kuenda town tafadhali’.

The above are just some of the phrases you will want to know before making your trip to Nairobi, or to any other Swahili speaking city. You definitely get more points with the locals for speaking their language, and you will be happy knowing you made the effort to learn beforehand. Karibu Nairobi!

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

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... kwa kiswahili

I don't understand: sielewi

Friend: rafiki

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?