Swahili Greetings - Hello in Swahili

Learning to greet people is an essential part of learning a new language. Whether you're planning to continue learning Swahili or just learn a few basics in preparation for a trip, these Swahili greetings can help you on your way.
In most countries it's considered good manners to greet everyone. So, whether you're speaking to a clerk, a waiter, or just bumping into someone on the street, take the time to say a polite hello before you proceed.  The basic Swahili greeting is Habari/ Jambo, which means hello. Below is another basic English - swahili conversation to help you learn more.


ENGLISH_________________________________________KISWAHILI


Hello........Jambo

Welcome ................Karibu

How are you?......Habari yako?

Are you well? (singular.)...........................Uko Salama?

I'm fine ..................................Ndio,niko salama

Are you well? (plural.) ...............................Mko Salama?

We're fine .............................Tuko Salama
 
Good morning................. Habari ya asubuhi

Good afternoon/evening.................. Habari ya jioni

How was the night? ...........................Ulilalaje?

Good/very well ..............Nililala vizuri 

Is everything alright?....... Kila kitu kiko shwari?


Goodbye.............. Kwaheri

Remain well.................Baki salama

What is your name?............... Unaitwa nani

My name is..................Jina langu ni...

Im happy to meet you (sing.) ..................Nifurahia kukutana nawe

We shall meet again ..................Tutaonana tena

I speak a little Kiswahili.................Naongea kiswahili kidigo tu


I don't understand .................Sielewi

We are teaching in ................... Tunafunza …

Thank you ................Asante

Sorry .........Pole


Please……..Tafadhali

I am satisfied................ Nimeridhika


Excuse me................... Nipishe

How to learn swahili fast

There is no magic formula for learning how to speak Swahili - it requires time, energy, and patience. There are, however, some techniques which will make your language study more efficient and thus help you to learn Swahili more quickly.Many people view swahili as one of the most beautiful languages in East Africa because of its preciseness and way in which it can be eloquently spoken. Due to it's fairly complex syntax and deformation of verbs, kiswahili can sometimes be difficult to learn for beginners, but learning any language is a challenge well worth undertaking.The following tips on learning Swahili.

1. Label Items - Label common items around your home with the item name written in Kiswahili. I feel this is one of the easiest and most underused techniques in learning a new language. By by labeling common household items, within a few short days, you will easily learn the names of many commonly used vocabulary terms.

2. Use Swahili Phrases - Use Swahili phrases for normal every day conversations. Learn the most common phrases Such as "Good morning", "Goodbye", and "How are you", so you can open and carry normal conversation topics. When you greet someone during the day think about how you would say the phrase in Swahili. You can do this in many different places, but one of my favorite is the supermarket. People are warm and friendly and it is a great place to learn short and common conversation in a low pressure environment.

This will get you out in the environment learning to think in Swahili as well. You'll probably be surprised that by only learning a few common phrases you can soon begin to have lengthy conversations.

3. Think in Swahili - Practice thinking about things in Swahili. I always recommend to plan out your day in your mind but try doing it using the Swahili language. At first this may be difficult but it will quickly become easier as you get used to it. Learning languages is all about practice, practice, and more practice. The more you practice the better and more efficient you will be at learning the language.

4. Speak Out Loud - I know this one sounds simple but speaking the words out loud is important to learn the correct pronunciation. A simple and fun way to learn pronunciation is to learn a song in Swahili. There are many children's songs that prove to be great tools for learning Swahili pronunciation.

5. Listen Intently - Listen to how the Swahili language is spoken. I always recommend learning to Swahili radio programs and TV channels. If you don't have access to a Swahili radio or TV, you can listen to Swahili radio stations for free on the Internet.

Of course it is always good to mix and match these tips and even combined them to help you learn Swahili quickly. It is important you make it fun to do and don't treat it as a chore. By using these tips in conjunction with Swahili classes you can easily pick up great new language.
6.Read Swahili -  Read Swahili newspapers and magazines. For each article, make a list of the words you don't know, look them all up after you finish the article, and then read it again while referring to the list.

Have fun with Swahili - Enjoy yourself - learning doesn't have to be a chore. Make a language scrapbook to keep all of your notes and related information in one place.

Swahili Phrases

In this section you will find Swahili phrases for use across a wide range of everyday situations. The phrases have been chosen to reflect modern, colloquial Swahili usage.

Basic phrases and greetings
People
Food
Health and Body
Shopping
Animals
Numbers
Days and times
Names of objects
Verbs
Months

Numbers in Swahili

ENGLISH__________________KISWAHILI

one....... Moja

two.........Mbili

three........... Tatu

four........... Nne

five ...........Tano

six....... Sita

seven.......Saba

eight ...........Nane

nine.......... Tisa

ten ...........Kumi

eleven ………Kumi na moja

twelve........... Kumi na mbili

twenty.............. Ishilini

twenty-one ..............Ishilini na moja

Animals in Swahili

ENGLISH_____________________ KISWAHILI

Lion.................Simba

 Giraffe.....Twiga

Hen.............. Kuku

Cock.............. Jogoo

Chicks............... Vifaranga

Cow............. Ng’ombe

Dog........... Mbwa

Cat........... Paka

Rat........... Panya

Fish............ Samaki

Donkey............ Punda

Goat............... Mbuzi

Sheep.............. Kondoo

Flies........ Inzi