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Tanzania FAQ
Swahili
Local people will appreciate any attempt you make to speak the common language of Swahili.
Swahili-English
| BASIC PHRASES | TRAVEL |
| Jambo or hujambo – hello, how are you | Teksi – taxi |
| Nzuri – ok, fine, good | Basi – bus |
| Jambo or sijambo – no problem | Gari – vehicle |
| Karibu – welcome, come in, also said when offering something | Ndege – plane |
| Kwaheri – goodbye | Njia – road/path |
| Asante – thank you | Kwa miguu – walking |
| Bwana – mister | Inaondoka lini - when does it leave |
| Mama – woman | Pole pole – slowly |
| Kijana – youth | Haraka – faster |
| Mtoto – child | Ngoja kidogo – wait on a moment |
| Jina lako Ni nani – what’s you name | Simama - Stop |
| Tafadhali – Please | Unaenda wapi – Where are you going |
| Samahani – Sorry | Kutoka wapi – from where |
| Ndiyo – yes | Kilomita ngapi – how many kilometers |
| Hapana – no | Twende – let’s go |
| Sijui – I don’t know | Kushoto - Left |
| Hapa – here | Kulia – right |
| Lini – when | Juu – up |
| Kwa Nini – why | Chini – down |
| Nani? – Who? | Gari imeharibika – car has broken down |
| Nini? – What? | TIME |
| Kweli – true | Leo – today |
| Naweza kukaa hapa? – Can I stay here? | Kesho – tomorrow |
| Choo – toilet | Mchana – daytime |
| Bafu – bathroom | Usiku – night time/at night |
| Ni Na njaa – I’m hungry | Asubuhi – morning/in the morning |
| Nina kiu – I am thirsty | Mapema – early |
| Nipe – give me | Dakika – minutes |
| Tena – again | Saa ngapi – what time |
| Mimi ni mgojwa – I am ill | ANIMALS (BIG FIVE) |
| Polisi - police | Chui – Leopard |
| VERBS | Ndovu – Elephant |
| To eat – ku-la | Nyati – Buffalo |
| To drink – Ku-nywa | Simba – Lion |
| To stay – Ku-kaa | Kifaru – Rhino |
| To see – kuona | MORE BASIC PHRASES |
| To look – kutazama | Sawa – ok |
| To buy – kununua | Habari –hello/hi |
| To love – kupenda | Habari za asubuhi – good morning |
| To be/become – kuwa | Habari za jioni – good evening |
| To come from – kutoka | Usiku mwema – good night |
| PRONOUNS | Kwaheri – god bye |
| Us – sisi | Tuonane – see you |
| We – tu | Samahani – excuse me |
| You – ninyi | Samahani – sorry |
| Them – wao | Nataka – I’d like |
| Me – mimi | Pombe - Beer |
| You – wewe | Kahwa - Coffee |
| Him/her – yeye | Ngapi? - How much/many? |
Kilimanjaro Song
KILIMANJARO,
KILIMANJARO X 2;
KILIMANJARO - MLIMA MREFU SANA,
NA MAWENZI;
NA MAWENZI X 2;
NA MAWENZI - NI MLIMA MREFU,
EWE NYOKAA,
EWE NYOKAA X 2;
EWE NYOKAA, MBONA WANIZUNGUKA,
WANIZUNGUKAA,
WNIZUNGUKA X 2;
WANIZUNGUKAA, WATAKA KUNILA NYAMA..