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Swahili is
the local language spoken in Tanzania. Click on each topic area to start learning Swahili.
Common Words
**Be sure to check back for more useful Swahili phrases! If you'd like to get updates via email, please email me!
duma: cheetah
Jambo!: Hello, welcome! Also, Karibu Tanzania!: Welcome to Tanzania!
Penzi la mama ni tamu.
Tunakutakia ndoa yenye furaha.
Nani kama mama.
Mtaji wa maskini ni nguvu zake mwenyewe.
Ndondondo si chururu.
Chuki binafi haifai.
Usione vinaelea vimeundwa.
Mungu si Athumani.
Kutoa ni moyo si utajiri.
Uzuri wa mwanamke siyo urembe ni tabia.
Ukipenda boga penda na ua lake.
Polepole ndiyo mwendo.
Haraka haraka haina baraka.
Fimbo ya mnyonge hulipa Mungu.
Uongo si mwema, uchague la kusema.
Asiyefunzwa na mamaye hufunzwa na ulimwengu.
Furaha ya ndoa ni kupendana.
Kikulach ki nguoni mwako.
Jogoo wa shamba hawiki mjini.
Asiyesikia la mkuu huvunjika guu.
Usitukane wakunga na uzazi ungalipo.
Aliye juu mngoje chini.
Useful Phrases
Food
Interesting Sayings
Wanyama wa pori: wildlife
Hifadhi ya wanyama: National Park
Kilimanjaro: The name of Tanzania's snow-covered peaks comes from the word Kilemakyaro, from the Chagga dialect, and means "impossible journey".
The early (German) settlers in the area were unable to pronounce the word correctly, hence Kilimanjaro.
Hakuna matata!: No problem.
Asante Sana: Thank you very much.
Jina lako ni nani?: What is your name?
Jina langu ni Mana: My name is Mana.
Ninatoka Japan: I am from Japan; Mimi ni mwanafunzi: I am a student.
Unakwenda wapi?: Where are you going to?
Naenda safari: I am going on safari.
Nimefurahi sana!: I am very happy!
Naomba bia baridi: Please bring me a cold beer.
Safari njema: Have a good trip; Fika salama: Arrive safely.
Bei gani?: What is the price?
Ninataka ...: I want ...
Karibu tule: Welcome, let's eat!
Asante sana kwa kunikaribisha: Thank you very much for inviting me.
Ninapenda Tanzania: I like Tanzania.
Lala salama: Sleep well.
Tutaonana kesho: We will see each other tomorrow.
Mpaka baadaye: Until later; Kwaheri!: Goodbye.
Mambo mazuri hayana haraka: Good things cannot be rushed.
Twende: Let's go!
Pole!: Sucks to be you!
Mazingira ya Tanzania yanapendeza sana: The Tanzanian environment is very nice.
Naomba kupita: Please let me pass.
Nasikia njaa: I am hungry; Nasikia kiu: I am thirsty.
Muda unapita kama upepo: Time is flying like the wind.: Time is flying like the wind.
Sijui: I don't know; Sielewi: I don't understand.
Kuna baridi huku: It is cold here; Kuna joto sana huku: It is very hot.
Imetosha: It is enough; Nimeshiba sana: I am full.
Ninaweza kuzungumza Kiswahili: I can speak Swahili; Siwezi kusema Kiswahili!: I can't speak Swahili!
Sitaki: I don't want any.
chakula: food
bia: beer
kinywaji: drink
nyama ya ng'ombe: beef
nyama ya mbuzi: goat meat
nyama choma: BBQ meat
kuku: chicken
mayai: eggs
biscuti: cookies
wali: rice
mboga: vegetables
matunda: fruit
nanasi: pineapple
embe: mango
chungwa: orange
ndizi: bananas
papai: papaya
mkate: bread
ugali: maize porridge
nyanya: tomato
cabeji: cabbage
mahindi: maize
tango: cucumber
bamia: okra
pilipili jojo: green bell peppers
pilipili: pepper (hot)
vitunguu: onions
vitunguu saumu: garlic
viazi: potatoes
viazi vitamu: sweet potatoes
A mother's love is sweet.
We wish you a happy marriage.
Who is like mother? (Meaning: There is no one comparable to one's mother.)
A poor man's capital is his own labor. (Meaning: S/he must use his/her energy to do any work.)
Drops are not the flowing water. (Meaning: Small things are not like the complete thing.)
Hatred is not an appropriate thing.
If you see it floating on the sea it means it has been made. (Meaning: Whatever you see was made by someone.)
God is not Athuman. (Meaning: Athuman is a name of a person and so God is not like human being, s/he loves everyone.)
Giving originates from the heart and not because one is rich (Meaning: When someone give another person something, it is not because s/he is rich.)
A lady's beauty is not the physical appearance but the character.
If you love a pumpkin also love its flower ( Meaning: If you love someone also love his/her character flaws.)
Slowly is the journey. (Meaning: It doesn't matter how slowly you are getting along, because eventually you get to where you want to go.)
Hurry hurry has no blessing.
A poor man's weapon is God. (Meaning: God punishes those who treat the poor unjustly.)
Telling lies isn't good, choose what to say.
If one hasn't been taught by his/her mother the world will teach him/her.
A happy marriage is to love each other.
What hurts you is within your clothes. (Meaning: The one who does a bad thing to you is person close to you.)
A rooster from the land will not crow in town. (Meaning: A person from the bush doesn't know what is taking place in the town.)
If one doesn't heed what the chiefs, or elders tell him/her s/he will get hurt.
Don't insult the midwife while you are still going to have babies, next time they will not help you. (Meaning: Don't kick the ladder before coming down.)
Wait for the one on top to come down. (Meaning: Don't be proud if you are rich and wealthy, because one day the ones you despised will laugh at you when things turn upside down.)
© 2004 Duma Explorer