LangMedia
Swahili in Tanzania
Greetings Among Close Friends (who haven't seen each other for a long time)
When you have not seen someone for a long time, or if you are picking a friend up after s/he has been traveling, you would be expected to go through at least three, if not all, of the following greetings. Not all the questions have to come from you; there will usually be a back-and-forth exchange with your posing some questions and answering others. The video shows the double handshake which expresses close friendship.
Videos
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"Close Friends Who Haven't Seen Each Other For a Long Time"Transcript document:
Audio
Click on the text to hear the spoken phrase.
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"Greeting, literally meaning "News of many days?""
Habari za siku nyingi? -
"Greeting, literally meaning "News since December?""
Habari za tangu Disemba? -
"Greeting, literally meaning "News since last year?""
Habari za tangu mwaka uliopita? -
"Greeting, literally meaning "News of the trip?""
Habari za safari? -
"Greeting, literally meaning "How are you going on?""
Unaendeleaje? -
"One response to any of the above greetings, literally meaning "Good." "
Nzuri. -
"Another response to any of the above greetings, literally meaning "Clean.""
Safi. -
"Another response to any of the above greetings, literally meaning "Good.""
Njema. -
"Greeting, literally meaning "Are your parents and relatives all right?" "
Hawajambo wazazi na jamaa zako? -
"One response to the above greeting, literally means "They are fine.""
Hawajambo. -
"Another response to the above greeting, literally means "They are well.""
Wazima.