Glossary
Glossary
Swahili Words and Phrases
- -ake
- his or hers
- -ako
- yours
- -angu
- mine
- -ao
- theirs
- -baya
- bad
- -cheshi
- humorous
- -dogo
- small or younger
- -embamba
- slim
- -enu
- yours (all)
- -fupi
- short
- -gumu
- hard
- -kubwa
- big or elder
- -nene
- stout
- -penda
- like or love
- -pole
- quiet
- -refu
- tall
- -rembo
- beautiful
- -rembo
- beautiful
- -tiifu
- obedient
- -tundu
- naughty
- -zembe
- lazy
- -zuri
- good
- amka
- wake up
- ana
- he or she has
- andika
- write
- Angalia simu
- check the phone
- anwani
- address
- apatimenti
- apartment
- arobaini
- 40
- arobaini na saba
- 47
- Asante
- Thank you
- Asante
- thank you
- Asanteni
- Thank you all
- Askari
- police
- Asubuhi
- morning
- Asubuhi
- morning
- Baba
- dad
- Baba
- dad
- baba mkubwa au mdogo
- uncle (dad's brother)
- Babu
- grandfather
- bafu
- bathroom
- bahati
- luck
- Baiskeli
- bicycle
- baiskeli
- bicycle
- barua pepe
- basi
- bus
- bibi (Tanzania) au nyanya (Kenya)
- grandmother
- Binamu
- cousin
- chai
- tea
- Chakula
- food
- Chakula cha asubuhi
- breakfast
- chakula cha mchana
- lunch
- chakula cha usiku
- dinner
- Cheza
- play
- cheza michezo ya video
- play video games
- Choka
- be tired
- Choka
- tired
- Chuo
- university
- chuo
- university
- Chuo kikuu
- university
- dada
- sister
- dada
- sister
- Daftari
- notebook
- daktari
- doctor
- darasa
- class
- dereva
- driver
- dola ya Marekani
- American dollar
- driving
- kuendesha gari
- elfu kumi
- 10000
- elfu mbili
- 2000
- elfu mbili na tatu
- 2003
- elfu moja
- 1000
- elfu moja na mia tano
- 1500
- elfu moja na mia tisa na tisini na tisa
- 1999
- elfu moja na moja
- 1001
- elfu tatu
- 3000
- enda chuoni
- go to school
- enda kwa
- go by
- endesha baiskeli
- ride a bike
- Familia
- family
- familia
- family
- Fanya
- do
- fanya marudio
- review
- fanya mazoezi
- work out
- Fika
- arrive
- fishing
- Kuvua samaki
- Gari
- car
- gari
- car
- going to the movies
- kenda filamuni
- Habari
- news
- Habari za X, Y, Z
- News of X, Y, Z
- Hajambo
- He or she is fine
- Hakimu
- judge
- hamna
- you all do not have
- hamsini
- 50
- hamsini na nane
- 58
- hana
- he or she does not have
- Hapana
- No
- hapendi
- he or she does not like
- hatuna
- we do not have
- hawana
- they do not have
- Hodi!
- May I come in?
- Hujambo
- How are you?
- huna
- you do not have
- I have
- Nina
- insha
- essay
- ishirini
- 20
- ishirini na tisa
- 29
- Itwa
- called
- Jibu
- Answer
- jina langu ni
- My name is
- Jioni
- evening
- Jioni
- evening
- Kaka
- brother
- kaka
- brother
- Kalamu
- pen
- kalamu
- pen
- Kamera
- camera
- karani
- clerk
- karatasi
- paper
- Karibu
- welcome
- Karibu
- Welcome
- kasisi
- pastor
- kawaida
- usually
- kawaida
- usually
- Kazi
- work
- Kazi
- job
- kazi chache
- little work
- kazi nyingi
- a lot of work
- Kazi ya nyumbani
- homework
- Kiamsha kinywa
- breakfast
- Kimbia
- run
- kitabu
- book
- kiti
- seat
- kocha
- coach
- kompyuta
- computer
- kompyuta
- computer
- kongamano
- conference
- kozi
- course
- ku (+verb)
- to (infinitive verb)
- kucheza
- playing
- Kucheza densi
- dancing
- kucheza karata
- playing cards
- Kucheza michezo ya video
- playing video games
- kuchoka
- to get tired
- Kuendesha baiskeli
- cycling
- kufanya mazoezi
- working out
- kufuma
- knitting
- kukimbia
- running
- kukutana na marafiki
- meeting with friends
- Kukwea mlima
- hiking
- kula
- to eat
- kulima
- farming or gardening
- kuma na tisa
- 19
- kumi
- 10
- kumi na moja
- 11
- kumi na tano
- 15
- kumtembeza mbwa
- walking the dog
- Kununua
- buying
- Kunywa
- to drink
- Kuogelea
- swimming
- kuosha vyombo
- doing dishes
- kupiga picha
- taking pictures
- Kupika
- cooking
- kupumzika
- to rest
- kupumzika
- to rest
- kusafiri
- traveling
- kusoma
- reading
- kusoma maktabani
- reading in the library
- kutazama televisheni
- watching tv
- kutembea
- to walk
- kutembea
- walking
- kuwasilisha
- to present
- kuzungumza na marafiki
- chatting with friends
- kwa hiyo au hivyo
- therefore
- Kwaheri
- Goodbye (1)
- Kwaherini
- Goodbye all
- Kwenda
- to go
- Kwenda maktabani
- going to the library
- kwenda ufukweni
- going to the beach
- lakini
- but
- live
- ishi
- mahojiano
- interview
- mahojiano
- mahojiano
- Maktaba
- library
- maktaba
- library
- Mama
- mom
- mama
- mom
- Mama mkubwa au mdogo
- aunt (mom's sister)
- Mambo?; Sasa?; Niaje?; Mambo vipi?; Vipi?
- What's Up?
- mapema
- early
- mara kwa mara
- occasionally
- mara kwa mara
- occasionally
- Marahaba
- Response of shikamoo
- mbili
- 2
- mbunge
- congressman/woman
- Mbwa
- dog
- mbwa
- dog
- Mchana
- day time
- mchana
- day time (afternoon)
- mchezaji
- player
- Meneja
- Manager
- mfanyibiashara
- businessman/woman
- mgeni
- visitor
- Mhandisi
- Engineer
- mhasibu
- accountant
- mhudumu
- waiter or waitress
- mia mbili
- 200
- mia mbili na arobaini
- 240
- mia moja
- 100
- mia moja na hamsini na tatu
- 153
- mia moja na moja
- 101
- mia moja na tisini na tisa
- 199
- mia nane
- 800
- mia nane na kumi na moja
- 811
- mia nne
- 400
- mia nne na arobaini na tano
- 445
- mia saba
- 700
- mia saba na sabini na saba
- 777
- mia sita
- 600
- mia sita na tisini na sita
- 696
- mia tano
- 500
- mia tano na sitini na saba
- 567
- mia tatu
- 300
- mia tatu na thelathini na tatu
- 333
- mia tisa
- 900
- mia tisa na sitini na tisa
- 969
- mkulima
- farmer
- Mkunga
- midwife
- mkutano
- meeting
- mkutano
- meeting
- Mlinzi
- guard
- mna
- you all have
- moja
- 1
- Mpenzi
- boy/girl friend
- mpiga picha
- photographer
- Mpishi
- chef
- mshauri
- advisor
- mshauri
- advisor
- mtafiti
- researcher
- Mtangaji
- broadcaster
- mtihani
- exam
- Muigizaji
- actor/actress
- muuguzi au nesi
- nurse
- Mwaka
- year
- mwaka
- year
- Mwalimu
- Teacher
- Mwalimu
- teacher
- mwalimu
- teacher
- mwanafunzi
- student
- mwanajeshi
- military officer
- mwanasanaa
- artist
- mwandishi wa habari
- journalist
- mwenyeji
- host
- mwimbaji au mwanamuziki
- musician
- nahodha
- captain
- naibu raisi
- deputy president
- Nambari ya simu
- phone number
- nambari yangu ya simu
- my phone number
- nane
- 8
- nawa mikono
- wash hands
- Nawa uso
- wash face
- Ndiyo
- Yes
- ndugu
- sibling
- Nilizaliwa
- I was born
- Nimesahau
- I have forgotten
- Nina
- I have
- nina
- I have
- nina miaka x
- I am x years old
- Nina shilingi X
- I have Xshillings
- nne
- 4
- nyumba
- house
- Nyumbani
- home
- nyumbani
- at home
- Nzuri, salama, safi, njema
- fine
- oga
- shower
- Ona filamu
- watch a film
- ona televisheni
- watch tv
- ours
- -etu
- Paka
- cat
- Paka
- cat
- penseli
- pencil
- Pesa/Hela
- Money
- piga simu
- make a phone call
- pika
- cook
- pikipiki
- motorbike
- pikipiki
- motor bike
- Poa, freshi, safi
- cool
- Pole
- Sorry
- profesa
- professor
- profesa
- professor
- programu
- program
- Pumzika
- rest
- pumzika
- rest or relax
- Rafiki
- friend
- rafiki
- friend
- Rahisi
- easy
- Raisi
- president
- Refa
- referee
- rubani
- pilot
- rudi
- return
- rudi nyumbani
- go back home
- saba
- 7
- sabini
- 70
- sabini na nne
- 74
- safari
- journey
- Salamu
- Greetings
- Samahani
- I am sorry or excuse me
- Samahani, naomba kwenda msalani, nje ...
- Excuse me, I would like to go to the bathroom outside, etc
- Sawa
- ok
- sawa
- Not ok
- seneta
- senator
- shahada ya kwanza
- first degree
- shangazi
- aunt (dad's sister)
- Shikamoo
- a respectful greeting used by a young person to an older person
- shilingi x ni dola y/
- X shillings is Ydollars
- shilingi ya Kenya
- Kenyan shilling
- Shilingi ya Tanzania
- Tanzanian shilling
- Shilingi ya Uganda
- Ugandan shilling
- Sielewi
- I do not understand
- Sijambo
- I am fine
- Sijui
- I do not know
- simu
- phone
- sina
- I do not have
- sina
- I do not have
- sipendi
- I do not like
- sita
- 6
- sitini
- 60
- sitini na sita
- 66
- Siwezi kukumbuka
- I cannot remember
- Soma
- read
- soma
- read or study
- soma
- study
- Staafu
- retire
- sufuri
- 0
- Swali
- Question
- Tafadhali
- Please
- Tafadhali sema tena
- Please say it again
- tano
- 5
- tasnifu
- thesis or dissertation
- tatu
- 3
- Tayarisha
- prepare
- televisheni
- tv
- tembea
- walk
- tembeza mbwa
- walk dog
- thelathini
- 30
- thelathini na sita
- 36
- themanini
- 80
- themanini na nane
- 88
- They are fine
- Hawajambo
- tisa
- 9
- tisini
- 90
- tisini na tisa
- 99
- toka
- come from
- toka
- leave
- treni
- train
- Tuma
- send
- Tuna
- we have
- ubao wa kuteleza
- skatingboard
- ujumbe
- message
- Umeelewa
- Do you understand?
- Umri
- age
- una
- you have
- Unasemaje X kwa Kiswahili?
- How do you say X in Swahili?
- Usiku
- night
- Usiku
- night
- utafiti
- research
- uzamifu
- doctorate
- uzamili
- masters
- vaa nguo
- wear clothes
- vaa viatu
- wear shoes
- wakili
- lawyer
- wana
- they have
- wasilisho
- presentation
- wasiwasi
- anxiety
- X hajambo
- How is he or she?
- X na Y hawajambo
- How are X and Y
- Zungumza na marafiki
- chat with friends