Greetings and Basic Expressions
Learn
In Swahili, there are different ways to greet someone. The greeting can depend on the time of day or the situation.
Common greetings:
- Habari? — How are you? / How are things?
- Hujambo? — How are you?
- Mambo? — How are things? / What’s up?
- Shikamoo. — Respectful greeting to an older person.
- Asubuhi njema. — Good morning.
- Mchana mwema. — Good afternoon.
- Jioni njema. — Good evening.
- Usiku mwema. — Good night.
- Karibu. — Welcome.
- Asante. — Thank you.
- Tafadhali. — Please.
- Samahani. — Excuse me / Sorry.
- Kwa heri. — Goodbye.
- Tutaonana. — See you.
Question and Answer
Habari?
Nzuri, asante. — Fine, thank you.
Hujambo?
Sijambo. — I am fine.
Mambo?
Poa. — Fine / Cool.
Asubuhi njema.
Asubuhi njema.
Jioni njema.
Jioni njema.
Practice
Complete the conversation:
A: Habari?
B: __________.
A: Hujambo?
B: __________.
A: Asubuhi njema.
B: __________.
Introducing Yourself
Learn
Learners can use the following expressions to introduce themselves and ask another person for basic information.
Unaitwa nani? — What is your name?
Ninaitwa Amina. — My name is Amina.
Jina lako nani? — What is your name?
Jina langu ni Amina. — My name is Amina.
Unatoka wapi? — Where are you from?
Ninatoka Kenya. — I am from Kenya.
Unaishi wapi? — Where do you live?
Ninaishi Nairobi. — I live in Nairobi.
Unafanya kazi gani? — What do you do?
Mimi ni mwalimu. — I am a teacher.
Example Conversation
A: Habari. Unaitwa nani?
B: Ninaitwa John.
A: Unatoka wapi?
B: Ninatoka Marekani.
A: Unaishi wapi?
B: Ninaishi Nairobi.
A: Unafanya kazi gani?
B: Mimi ni mwanafunzi.
Practice
Answer the questions about yourself:
Unaitwa nani?
Ninaitwa __________.
Unatoka wapi?
Ninatoka __________.
Unaishi wapi?
Ninaishi __________.
Unafanya kazi gani?
Mimi ni __________.
Numbers
Learn
Numbers are useful when talking about age, prices, telephone numbers, dates and time.
1–10
1 — moja
2 — mbili
3 — tatu
4 — nne
5 — tano
6 — sita
7 — saba
8 — nane
9 — tisa
10 — kumi
11–20
11 — kumi na moja
12 — kumi na mbili
13 — kumi na tatu
14 — kumi na nne
15 — kumi na tano
16 — kumi na sita
17 — kumi na saba
18 — kumi na nane
19 — kumi na tisa
20 — ishirini
Useful Questions
Una miaka mingapi? — How old are you?
Nina miaka thelathini. — I am thirty years old.
Ni shilingi ngapi? — How much is it?
Ni shilingi mia tano. — It is five hundred shillings.
Practice
Una miaka mingapi?
Nina miaka __________.
Ni shilingi ngapi?
Ni shilingi __________.
Family
Learn
Learn the names of common family members and how to talk about your family.
- baba — father
- mama — mother
- mzazi — parent
- kaka — older brother
- dada — sister
- mdogo — younger sibling
- mwana — child
- mtoto — child
- mume — husband
- mke — wife
- babu — grandfather
- bibi — grandmother
- familia — family
Useful Sentences
Huyu ni baba yangu.
This is my father.
Huyu ni mama yangu.
This is my mother.
Nina kaka wawili.
I have two older brothers.
Nina dada mmoja.
I have one sister.
Nina watoto watatu.
I have three children.
Familia yangu ni kubwa.
My family is big.
Familia yangu ni ndogo.
My family is small.
Practice
Una ndugu? — Do you have siblings?
Ndiyo, nina ndugu. — Yes, I have siblings.
Una watoto? — Do you have children?
Ndiyo, nina watoto wawili. — Yes, I have two children.
Daily Activities
Learn
Learn simple verbs and expressions for talking about your daily routine.
- kuamka — to wake up
- kula — to eat
- kunywa — to drink
- kwenda — to go
- kufanya kazi — to work
- kusoma — to study/read
- kupumzika — to rest
- kulala — to sleep
- kurudi — to return
- kuja — to come
Useful Sentences
Ninaamka asubuhi.
I wake up in the morning.
Ninakula kifungua kinywa.
I eat breakfast.
Ninaenda kazini.
I go to work.
Ninasoma Kiswahili.
I study Swahili.
Ninarudi nyumbani jioni.
I return home in the evening.
Ninakula chakula cha jioni.
I eat dinner.
Ninalala usiku.
I sleep at night.
Practice
Unafanya nini asubuhi?
Ninaamka na __________.
Unaenda wapi?
Ninaenda __________.
Unafanya nini jioni?
Nina __________.
Food and Drinks
Learn
- chakula — food
- maji — water
- chai — tea
- kahawa — coffee
- maziwa — milk
- mkate — bread
- mchele — rice
- nyama — meat
- samaki — fish
- kuku — chicken
- matunda — fruit
- mboga — vegetables
Useful Expressions
Unakula nini? — What are you eating?
Ninakula wali na nyama. — I am eating rice and meat.
Unakunywa nini? — What are you drinking?
Ninakunywa chai. — I am drinking tea.
Unapenda chai? — Do you like tea?
Ndiyo, napenda chai. — Yes, I like tea.
Hapana, sipendi chai. — No, I don’t like tea.
Practice
Unakula nini?
Ninakula __________.
Unakunywa nini?
Ninakunywa __________.
Unapenda samaki?
Ndiyo, __________. / Hapana, __________.
Places and Directions
Learn
- nyumbani — at home
- kazini — at work
- shuleni — at school
- dukani — at the shop
- sokoni — at the market
- hospitalini — at the hospital
- msikitini — at the mosque
- kanisani — at the church
- benki — bank
- uwanja wa ndege — airport
Useful Questions
Uko wapi? — Where are you?
Niko nyumbani. — I am at home.
Unaenda wapi? — Where are you going?
Ninaenda kazini. — I am going to work.
Msikiti uko wapi? — Where is the mosque?
Msikiti uko karibu. — The mosque is nearby.
Ni mbali? — Is it far?
Hapana, ni karibu. — No, it is near.
Ndiyo, ni mbali. — Yes, it is far.
Practice
Uko wapi sasa?
Niko __________.
Unaenda wapi?
Ninaenda __________.
Simple Conversation
At the end of the beginner lessons, learners can combine what they have learned in a short conversation.
A: Habari?
B: Nzuri, asante. Na wewe?
A: Nzuri. Unaitwa nani?
B: Ninaitwa David.
A: Unatoka wapi?
B: Ninatoka Marekani.
A: Unaishi wapi?
B: Ninaishi Nairobi.
A: Unafanya kazi gani?
B: Mimi ni mwanafunzi.
A: Unajifunza Kiswahili?
B: Ndiyo, ninajifunza Kiswahili.
A: Kwa nini unajifunza Kiswahili?
B: Ninajifunza Kiswahili kwa sababu ninapenda lugha.
Swahili Self-Assessment / Placement Check
The portal can use short Q&A activities to check how well a learner understands and uses Swahili.
The assessment should begin with very simple questions and gradually become more difficult.
Level 1: Recognition
Habari?
What is the best response?
A. Nzuri, asante.
B. Ninaenda Nairobi.
C. Ninakula wali.
Level 2: Simple Responses
Unaitwa nani?
The learner types or selects:
Ninaitwa __________.
Level 3: Basic Conversation
Unatoka wapi?
The learner gives a complete answer:
Ninatoka __________.
Level 4: Short Description
Unafanya nini kila siku?
The learner gives two or three sentences in Swahili.
For example:
Ninaamka asubuhi. Ninaenda kazini. Ninarudi nyumbani jioni.
The system can use the learner’s performance to help determine their starting level and recommend the appropriate learning content or class.