| asante | thank you, thanks (to one person) |
| asante sana | thank you very much, thanks a lot |
| asanteni | thank you, thanks (to more than one person) |
| assalaamu 'alaykum | greeting used by Muslims and others meaning 'peace be upon you' |
| bibi | madam, mrs., miss., ms., lady, grandmother |
| bwana | mr. sir, gentleman, or husband |
| habari | news (what's the news/how are things?) |
| habari gani | 'how are things?' or lit: 'what's the news?' |
| habari za asubuhi | 'how are you this morning?' or lit: 'news of the morning?' |
| habari za jioni | used as 'good evening' or lit: 'news of the evening?' |
| habari za kazi | 'how is work?' or lit: 'news of work?' |
| habari za kesho | what is the 'news of tomorrow?' |
| habari za kutwa | 'how is the day?' or lit: 'news of the day?' |
| habari za leo | 'how is today?' or lit: 'news of today?' |
| habari za mchana | 'how is the afternoon?' or lit: 'news of the afternoon?' |
| habari za nyumbani | 'how are those at home?' or lit: 'news of those at home?' |
| habari za safari | 'how was the trip?' or lit: 'news of the trip?' |
| habari za siku nyingi | what is the 'news of many days?' |
| habari za tangu jana | what is the 'news from yesterday?' |
| habari za tangu juzi | what is the 'news from the day before yesterday?' |
| habari zako | 'how are you?' or lit: 'your news?' (to one person) |
| habari zenu | 'how are you?' or lit: 'your news?' (to more than one person) |
| hajambo | 'is s/he well?' 'how is s/he?' or 's/he is well' |
| hamjambo | how are you? (to more than one person) |
| hatujambo | we are fine (response when greeted as a group) |
| hawajambo | 'are they well?' or 'they are fine' |
| hodi | word used to announce one's arrival at the door |
| hujambo | how are you? (to one person) |
| jina lake | his/her name is |
| jina lake nani | what is his/her name? |
| jina lako nani | what is your name? |
| jina langu | my name is |
| kaa kitako | sit down (to one person, phrase used primarily in Tanzania and some parts of the Kenyan coast) |
| kaa tafadhali | sit, please (spoken to a visitor) |
| kaeni kitako | sit down (to more than one person, phrase used primarily in Tanzania and some parts of the Kenyan coast) |
| karibu | welcome or come in (to one person) |
| karibu kaa chini | please sit (to one person, phrase commonly used in Kenya, literally directs the person to the ground or floor, but in context means a chair) |
| karibu ndani | come inside |
| karibuni | welcome (to more than one person) |
| karibuni kaeni chini | please sit (to more than one person, phrase commonly used in Kenya, literally directs the person to the ground or floor, but in context means a chair) |
| kukuona | to see you (inifinitive used along with 'I'm happy …') |
| kuonana | to meet (infinitive used along with 'I'm happy …') |
| kwaheri ya kuonana | goodbye until we see each other again |
| kwaheri | goodbye (to one person) |
| kwaherini | goodbye (to more than one person) |
| maamkio | greetings |
| marahaba | response from an older person when greeted by a younger person |
| mzee | respectful title of address for an older person; an older person, elder |
| naitwa | 'I'm called' or 'They call me..' |
| nimefurahi | 'I'm happy' (used along with an infinitive such as 'to meet' or 'to see you') |
| njema | good, used as an adjective or in response to a greeting |
| nyumbani | at home, at the house |
| nyumbani hawajambo | 'how are those at home?,' lit: 'those at home, how are they?' or 'those at home are fine' |
| nzuri | means good or fine in response to a greeting |
| nzuri sana | very good (response to a greeting) |
| safi | clean |
| salama | peaceful, safety, security (used in response to a greeting) |
| sana | much, very, very much, a lot |
| sawa | equal, same; 'fine' in response to a greeting |
| shikamoo | polite greeting used to address someone older |
| sijambo | I'm fine |
| tafadhali | please (addressed to one person) |
| tafadhalini | please (addressed to more than one person) |
| wa'alaykumu ssalaam | greeting response used by Muslims and others meaning 'and peace be on you' |
© 2003 Five College Center for the Study of World Languages and Five Colleges, Incorporated.
Five Colleges, Incorporated is the consortium of Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, Smith College and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.