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Essential Swahili phrases
for travellers (printable)
how to say hello in swahili
Habari — hah-BAH-ree — is how you say hello in Swahili. It works at any hour, anywhere the language is spoken, with anyone. Pair it with Asante (ah-SAHN-teh) for thank you and you already have the two words you will use most.
Below are 36 phrases worth knowing before you land, grouped by the situation you will need them in. Every one has a plain-English respelling — stressed syllable in capitals; stress is almost always second-to-last — because IPA is no use to anyone standing at a pharmacy counter. Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and the eastern Congo — a first or second language for over 100 million people and an official language of the African Union. Also searched as Kiswahili, Kenya, Tanzania.
take it with you
The whole card, on one page
All 36 phrases on a single sheet — print it, fold it into a passport, or keep it on your phone. Free, no signup, no watermark.
The essentials
The six words that carry most of a trip.
| English | Swahili |
|---|---|
| Hello | Habarihah-BAH-reeLiterally "news?". Reply Nzuri (n-ZOO-ree). Jambo is the tourist version. |
| Goodbye | Kwaherikwah-HEH-ree |
| Please | Tafadhalitah-fah-DHAH-lee |
| Thank you | Asanteah-SAHN-tehAsante sana is thank you very much. |
| Yes / No | Ndiyo / Hapanan-DEE-yoh / hah-PAH-nah |
| Excuse me / Sorry | Samahanisah-mah-HAH-nee |
Getting by
What to say when the conversation outruns you.
| English | Swahili |
|---|---|
| Do you speak English? | Unaongea Kiingereza?oo-nah-ohn-GEH-ah kee-een-geh-REH-zah |
| I don't understand | Sielewisee-eh-LEH-wee |
| Could you repeat that? | Tafadhali rudiatah-fah-DHAH-lee roo-DEE-ah |
| Please speak slowly | Tafadhali sema polepoleSEH-mah poh-leh-POH-leh |
| My name is… | Jina langu ni…JEE-nah LAHN-goo nee |
| Nice to meet you | Nimefurahi kukutana nawenee-meh-foo-RAH-hee koo-koo-TAH-nah NAH-weh |
Getting around
Streets, stations and the one question everyone needs.
| English | Swahili |
|---|---|
| Where is…? | … iko wapi?… EE-koh WAH-pee |
| How do I get to…? | Nitafikaje…?nee-tah-fee-KAH-jeh |
| Where is the toilet? | Choo kiko wapi?choh KEE-koh WAH-pee |
| Left / Right | Kushoto / Kuliakoo-SHOH-toh / koo-LEE-ah |
| Straight ahead | Moja kwa mojaMOH-jah kwah MOH-jahLiterally "one by one". |
| Is it far? | Ni mbali?nee m-BAH-lee |
Food and drink
Ordering, allergies, and asking for the bill.
| English | Swahili |
|---|---|
| A table for two, please | Meza ya watu wawiliMEH-zah yah WAH-too wah-WEE-lee |
| The menu, please | Menyu, tafadhaliMEH-nyoo tah-fah-DHAH-lee |
| I would like… | Ningependa…neen-geh-PEHN-dah |
| Water, please | Maji, tafadhaliMAH-jee tah-fah-DHAH-lee |
| I am allergic to… | Nina mzio wa…NEE-nah m-ZEE-oh wah |
| The bill, please | Bili, tafadhaliBEE-lee tah-fah-DHAH-lee |
Shopping and money
Prices, cards, and politely not buying anything.
| English | Swahili |
|---|---|
| How much is it? | Ni bei gani?nee bay GAH-nee |
| That's too expensive | Ni ghali sananee GHAH-lee SAH-nah |
| Do you take cards? | Mnakubali kadi?m-nah-koo-BAH-lee KAH-deeMobile money is far more common than cards in much of East Africa. |
| I am just looking | Naangalia tunah-ahn-gah-LEE-ah too |
| Do you have…? | Una…?OO-nah |
| A receipt, please | Risiti, tafadhaliree-SEE-tee tah-fah-DHAH-lee |
Emergencies
Worth reading once before you need them.
| English | Swahili |
|---|---|
| Help! | Msaada!m-sah-AH-dah |
| Call the police | Piga simu polisiPEE-gah SEE-moo poh-LEE-see |
| Call an ambulance | Piga simu ambulensiPEE-gah SEE-moo ahm-boo-LEHN-see |
| I need a doctor | Nahitaji daktarinah-hee-TAH-jee dahk-TAH-ree |
| I am lost | Nimepoteanee-meh-poh-TEH-ah |
| Where is the hospital? | Hospitali iko wapi?hoh-spee-TAH-lee EE-koh WAH-pee |
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Four things that fix
most of the accent
Stress is on the second-to-last syllable, always
Asante is "ah-SAHN-teh", Kilimanjaro is "kee-lee-mahn-JAH-roh". The rule holds so reliably that you never have to guess, even with a word you have never seen.
Vowels never change
a is "ah", e is "eh", i is "ee", o is "oh", u is "oo", in every word and every position. Once you know the five you can read anything aloud correctly.
Jambo is for tourists, Habari is for people
Jambo is a simplified greeting aimed at visitors. Habari (literally "news?") is what locals use, and answering "Nzuri" (n-ZOO-ree, good) marks you out immediately as someone who bothered.
Pole is used constantly
POH-leh means roughly "sorry for your trouble" and is said for a stumble, for hard work, for bad news, for a long journey. Pole pole, doubled, means slowly.
Spotted a mistake in the Swahili? Tell us and we will fix it.
You will not remember
all 36
Nobody does. OmniTalk speaks Swahili for you in real time — point the camera at a menu, or put the phone between you and let it translate both sides of the conversation as you talk. It works offline once you download the language, so it keeps going when your roaming does not.