A Comprehensive Guide to Basic Kenyan Swahili for Tourists

Welcome to our comprehensive guide to basic Kenyan Swahili, a must-have for any tourist planning a visit to this vibrant East African nation. Swahili, also known as Kiswahili, is the lingua franca of East Africa, with its roots in Bantu, an ethnic and linguistic group native to the region.

It is enriched with loan words from different languages such as Arabic due to historical contact with Arab nations. This guide aims to provide a fundamental understanding of the Swahili language, its origins, cultural significance, and some commonly used phrases translated from Swahili to English. Sit back, take notes, and immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of Swahili language and culture.

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Swahili: The Language of Kenya

Swahili is one of the official languages of Kenya, spoken by approximately 90% of the population. It is also widely used in other East African countries such as Tanzania, Uganda, and parts of Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

While there are minor differences in dialects and accents across these regions, the core language remains largely the same. Swahili is written in a modified version of the Latin alphabet, making it easy for visitors to read and understand.

Origins of Swahili

The exact origin of Swahili is still debated among linguists, but most theories agree that it emerged as a trading language along the East African coast between Arab and Bantu communities.

Its name, Kiswahili, is derived from the Arabic word “sawahil”, meaning coast or shore. Over time, Swahili has evolved to become a language of communication and cultural identity for East Africans. It has also been influenced by European languages through colonialism and more recently, English due to globalization.

Commonly Used English Phrases by Tourists & Swahili Version

It is always polite to learn a few basic phrases in the local language of any country you visit. Here are some commonly used Swahili phrases translated into English:

English Word	Swahili Version
Hello	Jambo/Hujambo
How are you	Habari gani
Fine (Response to ‘how are you’)	Nzuri
Goodbye	Kwaheri or Kwaherini (if 2 or more people)
See you later	Tutaonana baadae
Nice to meet you	Nafurahi kukuona
Goodnight	Lala salama
Yes	Ndio
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	Natoka
May I take a picture?	Naomba kupiga picha
Do you speak English/Swahili?	Unasema Kiingereza/Kiswahili
Just a little bit	Kidogo tu
How do you say…in swahili	Unasemaje….kwa kiswahili
I don’t understand	Sielewi
Friend	Rafiki
Where is the…?	Ni wapi…?
Airport	Uwanja wa ndege
Bus station	Stesheni ya basi
Bus stop	Bas stendi
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
Plane	Ndege
Train	Treni/ gari la moshi
Is there a bus going to…?	Kuna basi ya…?
Hotel	Hoteli
Is it far?	Ni mbali?
Is it near?	Ni karibu
Ticket	Tikiti
Where are you going?	Unakwenda wapi?
Room	Chumba
Are there any vacancies for tonight?	Mna nafasi leo usiku?
How much is it per night?	Ni bei gani kwa usiku?
I’d like	Nataka
Food	Chakula
Cold/Hot	Baridi/moto
Water	Maji
Soda	Soda
Beer	Bia
Milk	Mziwa
Meat	Nyama
Chicken	Nyama ya kuku
Fish	Nyama ya samaki
Beef	Nyama ya ng’ombe
Fruit	Matunda
Vegetables	Mboga

Wild Animals Translated to Swahili

As a tourist in Kenya, you are sure to come across the country’s abundant wildlife. Many of these animals have Swahili names, which can be interesting to learn and add to your experiences. Here are some examples.

The Big Five	Wanyama Watano Wakubwa
Lion	Simba
Leopard	Chui
Buffalo	Nyati
Rhino	Kifaru
Elephant	Tembo or Ndovu

The Small Five	Wanyama Watano Wadogo
Ant Lion	Mchwa Simba
Rhino Beetle	Kifaru Mende
Buffalo Weaver Bird	Wafumaji wa Nyati
Elephant Shrew	Sengi
Leopard Tortoise	Kobe Chui

Samburu Special Five	Wanyama Watano Maaluum wa Samburu
Somali Ostrich	Mbuni Somali
Reticulated Giraffe	Twiga
Beisa Oryx	Choroa
Grevy Zebra	Punda Milia Gravy
Generuk Antelope	Swara Twiga
The Ugly Five Animals	Wanyama Watano wa Mbaya
Hyena	Fisi
Warthog	Ngiri
Wildebeest	Nyumbu
Marabou Stork	Korongo
Vulture	Samba

The Shy Five Animals	Wanyama Watano Wenye Aibu
Meerkat	Nguchiro
Porcupine	Nungu
Aardvark	Muhanga
Aardwolf	Mbwa Mwitu
Bat Eared Fox	Mbweha Maskio

The Deadliest Land Mammals	Mamalia Wabaya Zaidi wa Ardhini
Hippopotamus	Kiboko
Crocodile	Mamba

Antelope Family	Familia ya Swala
Greeter Kudu	Tandala Mkubwa
Eland	Pofu
Sable	Palahala
Klipspringer	Mbuzi Mawe
Roan	Korongo
Waterbuck	Kuro
Hartebeest	Kongoni
Reedbuck	Tohe
Impala	Swala Pala
Bushbuck	Pongo

Gazelle Family	Familia ya Paa
Dik Dik	Digi Digi
Thomson’s Gazelle	Swalia Tomi
Topi	Nyamera
Grant’s Gazelles	Swala Granti

Wild Big Mammals	Wanyama Wakubwa Mwituni
Giraffe	Twiga
Zebra	Punda Milia
Monkey	Timbili
.Cheetah	Duma
Wild Dog	Mbwa Mwitu
Chimpanzee	Sokwe
Gorilla	Nyani
Jackal	Mbweha
Pangolin	Kakakuona
Bear ( Ol Jogi)	Dubi
Bat	Popo

Sea Animals	Wanyama wa Baharini
Fish	Samaki
Nguva	Mermaid
Whale	Nyangumi
Crayfish	Kamba
Octopus	Pweza
Sea Turtle	Kasa
Dolphin	Pomboo
.Shark	Papa
Snail	Konokono
Nile Perch	Sangara

Common Birds	Ndege wa Kawaida
Wear Bird	Mzingi
Crow	Kunguru
Sparrow	Shorewanda
Parrot	Kasuku
Owl	Bundi
Flamingo	Heroe
Eagle	Tai
Guinea Fowl	Kanga

Attractions	Vivutio
Waterfall	Maporomoko
National Park/Reserve	Mbuga za Wanyama
Mountains	Milima
Beaches	Fukwe
Oceans	Bahari

Swahili to English Translation Resources

Thanks to modern technology, translation resources for Swahili are easily accessible. Google Translate offers translations from Swahili to English and vice versa, making it a convenient tool for quick translations.

However, for a more accurate translation, it is recommended to consult a professional translator or use online dictionaries such as Swahili-English Dictionary by Kamusi Project.

Cultural Significance of Swahili

Aside from its practical uses as a language of communication, Swahili also holds cultural significance for East Africans. It is a symbol of unity and identity, bringing together people from different ethnic groups and backgrounds.

Swahili sayings and proverbs are widely used in everyday conversations, reflecting the rich cultural heritage embedded in the language.