The official languages are Swahili and English. In primary schools all the lessons are in Swahili. English is widely spoken and understood. It’s used as second official language, as commercial language as well as teaching language for some subjects in secondary school. Your effort to speak Swahili or few words of Swahili will be appreciated. Otherwise there are more then 120 tribal languages and dialects. Arabic language is widely spoken in the coastal areas, especially on Zanzibar.
Greetings, Introductions / Maamkizi
| Good morning | Jambo |
| Good afternoon | Habari za asubuhi |
| Good night | Habari za leo! |
| Goodbye | Ulale Salama / Usiku mwema. |
| My name is… | Kwa heri |
| What’s your name? | Jina Langu ni… |
| Mrs. …, Miss…? | Jina Lako nani? |
| My wife, my husband… | Bibi…, Bi…? |
| My daughter, my son… | Mke wangu, mume wangu |
| My friend | Binti yangu, mtoto wangu |
| Glad to meet you | Rafiki yangu |
| How are you? | Ninafurahi kukuona |
| Good thanks. | Habari gani? Habari? Hujambo? |
| Fine, thank you. And how are you? | Sijambo. |
| Give my regards to… | Nzuri, asante. Na habari za kwako? |
| Sir (polite) | Umsalimie… |
| Yes / No | Bwana / Ndiyo |
| Perhaps | Hapana |
You are welcome | Karibu |
Travel / Safari
| Travel | Safari |
| I want to go to the airline office | Nataka kwenda kwa ofisi ya ndege |
| Where is ..? | …ni wapi? |
| The airport | Kiwanja cha ndege |
| The bus station | Kituo cha mabasi |
| The port | Bandari |
| The railway station | Stesheni, kituo cha gari la mshi |
| A ticket | Tikiti |
| The baggage room | Chumba cha kuwekea mizigo |
| Please get me a taxi | Tafadhali uniitie taxi |
| How long will it take to go? | Mpaka tufike itachukua muda gani |
| To the north, south | Kaskazini, kusini |
| Straight ahead | Moja kwa moja |
| Room / Camp | Chumba / Kambi |
| Bag | Mfuko |
| Towel | Kitambaa |
| Moskito Net | Chandulua |
| Train / Boat / Car | Gari la moshi / Mashua / Gari |
| Aeroplane | Ndege [Eropleni] |
| Petrol / Mechanic | Petroli / Fundi |
| Telephone | Simu |
| Bicycle / Motorbike | Baiskeli / Pikipiki |
Animals / Wanyama
| Animals | Wanyama |
| Bird | Ndgede |
| Baboon | Nyani |
| Buffalo | Nyati |
| Cheetah | Duma |
| Crocodile | Mamba |
| Cat | Paka |
| Cow | Ng’ombe |
| Dog | Mbwa |
| Elephant | Tembo |
| Fish | Samaki |
| Gazelle | Swala |
| Giraffe | Twiga |
| Gnu / Wildbeest | Nyumbu |
| Hippo | Kiboko |
| Insect | Mdudu |
| Leopard | Chui |
| Lion | Simba |
| Ostrich | Mbuni |
| Rhino | Kifaru |
| Snake | Nyoka |
| Thompson’s gazelle | Swalatomi |
| Vervet monkey | Tumbili |
| Zebra | Punda milia |
| Warthog | Ngiri |
Useful expressions / Misemo ya kawaida
| I | Mimi |
| You | Wewe |
| Excuse me | Samahani |
| Please | Tafadhali |
| Thank you (very much) | Asante (sana) |
| No thanks. | La asante. |
| (You’re) welcome | Karibu |
| I don’t understand | Sielewi |
| I don’t know | Sijui |
| Help | Nisaidia |
| Police | Ita polisi |
| Road | Barabara |
| River / Lake | Mto / Ziwa |
| Hill / Valley | Kilima / Bonde |
| Do you speak english? | Unasema Kiingereza? |
| I don’t speak english. | Sisemi Kiingereza. |
| Please speak slowly. | Tafadhali sema pole pole. |
| Good luck! | Bahati njema! |
| Have a nice trip! | Safari njema! |
| Excuse me please… Do you mind… | Samahani… |
| Can you help me please? | Tafadhali, naomba msaada? |
| Where is a toilet? | Choo kiko wapi? |
| Can you repeat please? | Tafadhali sema tena? |
Question / Swali
| What? | Nini? |
| When? | Lini? |
| Where? | Wapi? |
| Which? | Ipi? |
| Who? | Nani? |
| Why? | Kwa nini? |
| What time is it? | Ni saa ngapi? |
| Today | Leo |
| Tonight | Usiku |
| Tommorrow | Kesho |
| Yesterday | Jana |
| Morning | Asubuhi |
| Afternoon | Alasiri |
| Evening | Jioni |
| Night | Usiku |
| Now | Sasa |
| Not yet | Bado |
| Soon | Sasa hivi |
Days of the week / Siku
| Monday | Jumatatu |
| Tuesday | Jumanne |
| Wednesday | Jumatano |
| Thursday | Alhamisi |
| Friday | Ijumaa |
| Saturday | Jumamosi |
| Sunday | Jumapili |
Number / Namba
| 0 – zero | Sifuri |
| 1 – one | Moja |
| 2 – two | Wili |
| 3 – three | Tatu |
| 4 – four | Nne |
| 5 – five | Tano |
| 6 – six | Sita |
| 7 – seven | Saba |
| 8 – eight | Nane |
| 9 – nine | Tisa |
| 11 – eleven | Kumi na moja |
| 12 – twelve | Kumi na mbili |
| 13 – thirteen | Kumi na tatu |
| 14 – fourteen | Kumi na nne |
| 15 – fifteen | Kumi na tano |
| 16 – sixteen | Kumi na sita |
| 17 – seventeen | Kumi na saba |
| 18 – eighteen | Kumi na nane |
| 19 – nineteen | Kumi na tisa |
| 20 – twenty | Ishirini |
| 30 – thirty | Thelathini |
| 40 – forty | Arubaini |
| 50 – fifty | Ahamsini |
| 60 – sixty | Sitini |
| 70 – seventy | Sabini |
| 80 – eighty | Themanini |
| 90 – ninety | Tisini |
| 100 – hundred | Mia |
| 101 – one hundred one | Mia na moja |
| 110 – one hundred ten | Mia na kumi |
| 123 – one hundred twenty-three | Mia na ishirini na tatu |
| 200 – two hundred | Mia mbili |
| 300 – three hundred | Mia tatu |
| 1000 – thousand | Elfu |
Shopping / Kwenda Madukani
| Where can I buy…? | Naweza kununua wapi…? |
| How can I help you? | Unahitaji huduma yoyote? |
| I would like… | Nataka… |
| How much is…? | Ni bei gani? |
| It’s very expensive. | Ghali sana. |
| Do you have cheaper one? | Kuna nyi?ngine ambayo siyo ghali |
| Can you make discount? | Tafadhali, upunguze bei? |
| Do you accept credit cards? | Nikulipe kwa kreditkadi? |
| Would you like something else? | Kitu chochote kingine? |
| No thanks, that’s all. | Hapana, sitaki chochote zaidi, asante. |
| expensive, cheap | ghali, rahisi |
| Price | Bei |
| Money return | Kurejeshewa pesa |
| Bookstore | Duka la vitabu |
| Department / Supermarket | Idara / Supamaket |
| Bakery | Duka la mkate |
| Postcard / Stamp | Postikadi / Stempu |
| Post office | Posta |
| Bank | Benki |
| There is / There is not | Kuna / Hakuna |
| Okay | Sawa sawa |
| Shop | Duka |
| Money | Pesa |
| How much /many? | Ngapi? |
| I’m just looking | Mimi na angalia tu |
| I don’t want | Sitaki |
| good /bad | mzuri / mbaya |
| quick / slow | qupesi / pole pole |
| hot /cold | moto / baridi |
| big / small | kubwa / kidogo |
| open / close | fungua / funga |
| empty / full | tupu / kujaa |
| very | sana |
| no problem | hakuna matata |
Food / Chakula
| Tin can | Kopo |
| Beef / Chicken / Fish | Ng’ombei / Kuku / Samaki |
| Bread / Butter / Jam / Honey | Mkate / Siagi / Jamu / Asali |
| Fruit / Vegetables | Matunda / Mboga |
| Cheese / Cream | Jibini / Krimu |
| Eggs / Ham | Mayai / Hemu |
| Flour | Unga |
| Rice / French fries | Wali / Chipsi |
| Soup | Supu |
| Salad / Tomato | Saladi / Nyana |
| Salt / Sugar | Chumvi / Sukari |
| Dessert / Ice cream | Kimalizio / aiskrimu |
| With / Without | Na / Bila |
| I am hungry / I am thirsty | Nina Njaa / Nina kiu |
| Menu | Menyu |
| Plate / Glass / Cup / Napkin | Sahani / Glasi / Kikombe / Savieti |
| Knife / Spoon / Fork | Kisu / Kijiko / Uma |
Drinks / Pombe
| Fruit juice | Jusi / Maji |
| Pineapple juice / Apple juice | Jusi ya mnanasi / jusi ya epul |
| Pineapple / Apple | Nanasi / Epul |
| Orange / Banana / Papaya | Chungwa / Ndizi / Papai |
| Mineral water / Drinking water | Maji safi / Maji ya kunywa |
| Beer / Wine | Bia / Mvinyo |
| Non alcohol drink | Soda |
| Ice | Barafu |
| Water / Coffee / Tea / Milk | Maji / Kahawa / Chai / Maziwa |
Accidents / Ajali
| Fetch a doctor | Ita daktari / Umwite daktari. |
| Chemist | Duka la dawa |
| Danger | Hatari |
| I was bitten by… | Niliumwa na… |
| a snake / spider / scorpion | nyoka / buibui / nq’e |
