There are as many different languages and dialects in Kenya as there are tribes; luo, kikuyu, maa, samburu but Kiswahili or Swahili is generally known and English is widely taught to older children. Here is some common swahili.
Hello. Hi. – Jambo?/Habari Yako
note: Jambo is really touristy, the locals would use habari yako, answering with nzuri sana (very good)
Thank you (very much) – Asante (sana)
My name is John – Ninaitwa John
What is your name? – Wewe Unaitwa Nani?
Where are you going? – Unakwenda wapi?
Are you going to Mombasa? – Unakwenda Mombasa?
I am going to – Ninakwenda
No money – Hakuna pesa
no worries !!? – hakuna matata
Gas station – Kituo cha mafuta / Kituo cha gesi
Lets pull together – Harambee
I am tired – Nimechoka (“sana” = very much, )
Internet cafe – Huduma za mtandao za kisasa
Toilet – Choo
Yes – Ndiyo
OK – Sawa
No – Hapana
And – Na
You – Wewe
Goodbye – Kwaheri
A more comprehensive study of Kiswahili now follows courtesy of Dr M. M. Gruneberg
Dr. Gruneberg’s course is designed to get you to pick up, in a single day, an extensive targeted vocabulary which will enable you to communicate in useful situations you are likely to meet in such as in the restaurant, at the hotel, travelling, shopping, in emergencies and so on….You can even learn a useful amount on the plane!
e.g. The Swahili for FRUIT is MATUNDA (MATOONDA)
Imagine putting a mat under fruit you are going to eat.
What you do is to imagine this picture in your mind’s eye as vividly as possible.
Sometimes the word in Swahili and in English is the same or very similar. e.g., the Swahili for SWEATER is SWETA (pronounced SWETA). When this happens you imagine the word interacting with a lion. For example, imagine a lion wearing and sweater. Every time a lion comes to mind you will know the word is the same or very similar in Swahili and English.
REMEMBER TO PICTURE EACH IMAGE IN YOUR MIND FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS
Food words
The Swahili for FRUIT is MATUNDA (MATOONDA)
Imagine putting a mat under fruit you are going to eat.
The Swahili for EGG is MAYAI (MAYAEE)
Imagine you put eggs in my eye.
The Swahili for CHICKEN is KUKU (KOOKOO)
Imagine a chicken crowing like a cuckoo.
The Swahili for DUCK is BATA (BATA)
Imagine you batter a dead duck to make duck paté.
The Swahili for BREAD is MKATE (MKATEH)
Imagine my cattle love bread.
The Swahili for TROUT is PAPA (PAPA)
Imagine your papa catching a large trout.
The Swahili for DATES is TENDE (TENDEH)
Imagine you are tender to a bunch of dates.
The Swahili for WATER is MAJI (MAJEE)
Imagine you drink magic water.
Clothes
The Swahili for UNDERPANTS is CHUPI (CHOOPEE)
Imagine your underpants being washed in choppy waters.
The Swahili for TIE is TAI (TAEE)
Imagine a lion wearing a tie.
The Swahili for SKIRT is SKETI (SKETEE)
Imagine a scatty woman putting her skirt on back to front.
The Swahili for SHIRT is SHATI (SHATEE)
Imagine you shatter a glass with your gaudy shirt.
The Swahili for SHORTS is KAPTULA (KAPTOOLA)
Imagine you capture a pair of shorts which has escaped.
The Swahili for COAT is KOTI (KOTEE)
Imagine you put your coat in a cot.
The Swahili for SWEATER is SWETA (SWETA)
Imagine a lion wearing a sweater.
The Swahili for SOCK is SOKSI (SOKSEE)
Imagine socks are sexy.
Furniture and other words
The Swahili for TABLE is MEZA (MEZA)
Imagine a messy table.
The Swahili for CHAIR is KITI (KEETEE)
Imagine a man making a chair from a kit he bought.
The Swahili for BED is KITANDA (KEETANDA)
Imagine you make a bed from a kit and a ball of string.
The Swahili for ROOM is CHUMBA (CHOOMBA)
Imagine you let your chum buy a room in a slum.
The Swahili for BATH (ROOM) is BAFU (BAFOO)
Imagine you bath baffles you.
The Swahili for TOILETS is CHOO (CHOO)
Imagine you always have to chew when you go to the toilet.
The Swahili for LIFT (ELEVATOR) is LIFTI (LEEFTEE)
Imagine a lion in your lift.
The Swahili for TENT is HEMA (HEMA)
Imagine pitching a tent with a hammer.
Travel words
The Swahili for CUSTOMS is FORODHA (FORODHA)
Imagine the customs only checks you for odour.
(Another word is custom)
The Swahili for PASSPORT is PAS POTI (PASS POTEE)
Imagine a lion presenting a passport.
The Swahili for TAXI is TEKSI (TEKSEE)
Imagine a lion driving a taxi.
The Swahili for CAR is GARI (GAREE)
Imagine you get a car from a garage.
The Swahili for BUS is BASI (BASEE)
Imagine bussing you by bus to town.
The Swahili for HOTEL is HOTELI (HOTELEE)
Imagine lions at the front of your hotel.
The Swahili for TOWN is MJI (MJEE)
Imagine I left my jeans in town.
The Swahili for STREET is MTAA (MTAA)
Imagine shining metal on the street.
Emergency words
The Swahili for ACCIDENT is AJALI (AJALEE)
Imagine an accident turned you into a jelly.
The Swahili for AMBULANCE is AMBALENSI (AMBALENSEE)
Imagine a lion driving an ambulance.
The Swahili for HOSPITAL is HOSPITALI (HOSPEETALEE)
Imagine a hospital for sick lions.
The Swahili for POLICE is POLISI (POLEESEE)
Imagine the police arresting a lion.
The Swahili for TELEPHONE is SIMU (SEEMOO)
Imagine when you telephone your girl friend, you can feel the sea move.
The Swahili for DOCTOR is DAKTARI (DAKTAREE)
Imagine a doctor helping a sick lion.
(MGANGA is another word)
The Swahili for WOUND is KIDONDA (KEEDONDA)
Imagine you kid on the wound is not deep.
(Another word for wound is JERAHA)
The Swahili for NURSE is NESI (NESEE)
Imagine your nurse looks like nessy, the Loch Ness monster.
Body parts
The Swahili for EYES is MACHO (MACHO)
Imagine you eyes match, oh dear!
(One eye is JEECHO)
The Swahili for EAR is SIKIO (SEEKEEOH)
Imagine someone has been sick over your ear.
The Swahili for NOSE is PUA (POOWA)
Imagine you have a poor nose.
The Swahili for FACE is USO (OOSO)
Imagine your face is – ooh, so ugly.
The Swahili for HEART is MOYO (MOYO)
Imagine my old heart has had its day.
The Swahili for STOMACH is TUMBO (TOOMBO)
Imagine you tumble on your stomach.
The Swahili for THROAT is KOO (KOOH)
Imagine you coo like a pigeon from the back of your throat.
The Swahili for SHOULDER is BEGA (BEGA)
Imagine a beggar sitting on your shoulder.
The Swahili for HAND/ARM is MKONO (MKONO)
Imagine you use your hands to drive a mechanical digger.
The Swahili for LEG/FOOT is MGUU (MGOO OO)
Imagine you get goo ee stuff all over your legs.
More travel words
The Swahili for SHIP is MELI (MELEE)
Imagine an enormous melee as you scramble onto a ship.
The Swahili for BICYCLE is BASKELI (BASKELEE)
Imagine a lion on a bicycle.
The Swahili for PETROL (GASOLINE) is PETROLI (PETROLEE)
Imagine a lion drinking petrol.
The Swahili for OIL is MAFUTA (MAFOOTA)
Imagine my foot awash with oil.
The Swahili for TYRE (TIRE) is TAIRI (TAIREE)
Imagine a lion with a tyre round its neck.
The Swahili for PUNCTURE is PANCHA (PANCHA)
Imagine you punch a tyre to sort a puncture.
The Swahili for BRAKES is BREKI (BREKEE)
Imagine a lion makes you brake.
The Swahili for RADIATOR is REJETA (REJETA)
Imagine a lion sitting on a radiator.
The Swahili for ROAD is BARABARA (BARABARA)
Imagine as you go along the road, you see a bar, a bar, another bar!
The Swahili for MAP is RAMANI (RAMANEE)
Imagine you buy a map from a Romany Gypsy.
Family words
The Swahili for FATHER is BABA (BABA)
Imagine your father reciting bah, bah black sheep.
The Swahili for MOTHER is MAMA (MAMA)
Imagine you mama is your mother.
The Swahili for BROTHER is KAKA (KAKA)
Imagine your brother loves cake.
The Swahili for SISTER is DADA (DADA)
Imagine your sister is dada’s favourite.
The Swahili for HUSBAND is MUME (MOOMEH)
Imagine your husband is a mummy’s boy.
The Swahili for WIFE is MKE (MKEH)
Imagine my key is with your wife.
The Swahili for RELATIVE is JAMAA (JAMAA)
Imagine seeing your relative in her pyjamas.
The Swahili for CHILDREN is WATOTO (WATOTO)
Imagine asking what to do with the children.
The Swahili for FAMILY is FAMILIA (FAMEELYA)
Imagine you are familiar with your family.
The Swahili for NAME is JINA (JEENA)
Imagine I’ll tell you my name for a gin and tonic.
More food words
The Swahili for SALAD is SALADI (SALADEE)
Imagine a lion eating a lettuce salad.
The Swahili for WINE is MVINYO (MVEENYO)
Imagine wine straight from a vineyard.
The Swahili for FISH is SAMAKI (SAMAKEE)
Imagine smoking a fish.
The Swahili for COFFEE is KAHAWA (KAHAWA)
Imagine a coward drinks coffee.
The Swahili for TEA is CHAI (CHAEE)
Imagine tea is Chinese.
The Swahili for CRAB is KAA (KAA)
Imagine your car ran over a crab.
The Swahili for FIG is TINI (TEENEE)
Imagine a teeny wee fig.
The Swahili for WATERMELON is TIKITI MAJI (TEEKEETEE MAJEE)
Imagine your watermelon is tikety boo! magic
The Swahili for SOUP is SUPU (SOOPOO)
Imagine a lion soup.
Numbers
The Swahili for ONE is MOJA (MOJA)
Imagine there’s only one major world league.
The Swahili for TWO is MBILI (MBEELEE)
Imagine my belly is in two parts.
The Swahili for THREE is TATU (TATOO)
Imagine you have three tattoos on your arm.
The Swahili for FOUR is NNE (NEH)
Imagine you must never shout “Four” after you hit a golf ball.
The Swahili for FIVE is TANO (TANO)
Imagine you can have a tan, oh even at five in the morning.
The Swahili for SIX is SITA (SEETA)
Imagine you drive a six seater bus.
The Swahili for SEVEN is SABA (SABA)
Imagine you fight seven sabre toothed tigers.
The Swahili for EIGHT is NANE (NANEH)
Imagine you got rid of your nanny on your eighth birthday.
The Swahili for NINE is TISA (TEESA)
Imagine you tease a nine foot lady.
The Swahili for TEN is KUMI (KOOMEE)
Imagine you tell ten toes to come ‘eer.
Time words
The Swahili for MINUTE is DAKIKA (DAKEEKA)
Imagine the cooker explodes every minute.
The Swahili for SECOND is SEKUNDE (SEKOONDEH)
Imagine every second a lion roars.
The Swahili for HOUR is SAA (SAA)
Imagine it is a very sad hour.
The Swahili for DAY is SIKU (SEEKOO)
Imagine I seek you every day.
The Swahili for WEEK is WIKI (WEEKEE)
Imagine you visit your pet lion every week.
The Swahili for MONTH is MWEZI (MWEZEE)
Imagine asking “Where is he” this month?
The Swahili for YEAR is MWAKA (MWAKA)
Imagine you whack a tennis ball over your house once a year to celebrate new year.
The Swahili for NIGHT is USIKU (OOSEEKOO)
Imagine you seek who you want at night.
The Swahili for TODAY is LEO (LEO)
Imagine you lay on your bed today.
The Swahili for TOMORROW is KESHO (KESHO)
Imagine you will buy all the cashew nuts you can eat tomorrow.
Generally useful words
The Swahili for SHOWER is SHAWA (SHAWA)
Imagine a lion in your shower.
The Swahili for SOAP is SABUNI (SABOONEE)
Imagine a Scotsman thinking that’s a bonnie piece of soap.
The Swahili for TOWEL is TAULO (TAOOLO)
Imagine you towel a lion down.
The Swahili for MIRROR is KIYO (KEEYOH)
Imagine you see a key you lost in the mirror.
The Swahili for WATCH is SAA (SAA)
Imagine you get sand in your watch.
(The word is the same as for hour)
The Swahili for CAMERA is KAMERA (KAMERA)
Imagine a lion stealing your camera.
The Swahili for GLASSES (SPECTACLES) is MIWANI (MEEWANEE)
Imagine a foreigner saying “Me wanna new pair of spectacles”.
The Swahili for RING is PETE (PETEH)
Imagine you better bring your rings with you.
The Swahili for BAD is MBAYA (MBAYA)
Imagine my buyer has been very bad, and left us with rubbish.
The Swahili for GOOD is NZURI (NZOOREE)
Imagine Missouri is a good state to live in.
Travelling around
The Swahili for BILL (CHECK) is BILI (BEELEE)
Imagine a lion presenting you with a bill.
The Swahili for HOUSE is NYUMBA (NYOOMBA)
Imagine you have a huge number on your house.
The Swahili for DENTISTS is DAKTARI WA MENO (DAKTAREE WA MENO)
Imagine dentists are women doctors – doctor womeno – DAKTAREE WA MENO.
The Swahili for BANK is BENKI (BENKEE)
Imagine a lion depositing money in a bank.
The Swahili for FIRE! Is MOTO (MOTO)
Imagine your motto is “Don’t start a fire!”.
The Swahili for HELP! Is MSAADA (MSAADA)
Imagine the Israelites shouted “Help!” as Romans besieged them at Masada.
The Swahili for DANGER is HATARI (HATAREE)
Imagine Danger! There’s a mad hatter loose.
The Swahili for SNAKE is NYOKA (NYOKA)
Imagine you knock a snake off a branch.
The Swahili for CROCODILE is MAMBA (MAMBA)
Imagine a crocodile playing with a Black Mamba.
The Swahili for PYTHON is CHATU (CHATOO)
Imagine you often chat to a python.
Question words
The Swahili for WHERE is WAPI (WAPEE)
Imagine asking where one makes whoopee.
The Swahili for WHO is NANI (NANEE)
Imagine asking who your nanny is.
The Swahili for WHAT is NINI (NEENEE)
Imagine thinking what a ninny you are.
The Swahili for HOW is VIPI (VEEPEE)
Imagine wondering how someone could be such a V.P. (Vague Person).
The Swahili for WHEN is LINI (LEENEE)
Imagine the door always collapses when you are leaning on it.
The Swahili for HOW MUCH is BEI GANI (BE EE GANEE)
Imagine asking how much bigamy costs.
(Another word is KIASI GANEE)
Days of the Week
Note: Most days start with JOOMA. This will not be given in the image.
The Swahili for SUNDAY is JUMA PILI (JOOMA PEELEE)
Imagine peeling oranges on Sunday – JOOMA PEELEE.
The Swahili for MONDAY is JUMA TATU (JOOMA TATOO)
Imagine you tattoo your body every Monday – JOOMA TATOO.
The Swahili for TUESDAY is JUMA NNE (JOOMA NNEH)
Imagine Never on a Tuesday – JOOMA NNEH.
The Swahili for WEDNESDAY is JUMA TANO (JOOMA TANO)
Imagine you eat a ton o’ rice every Wednesday – JOOMA TANO.
The Swahili for THURSDAY is ALHAMISI (ALHAMEESEE)
Imagine telling the singer Al Jolson, “Al, I’m easy for a meeting on Thursday – ALHAMEESEE.
The Swahili for FRIDAY is I JUMA (EE JOOMA)
Imagine “Eeh! it’s Friday, no work tomorrow” – EE JOOMA (not the other way round!).
The Swahili for SATURDAY is JUMA MOSI (JOOMA MOSEE)
Imagine you lie all Saturday on a mossy bank – JOOMA MOSEE.
Travelling around
The Swahili for RIVER is MTO (MTO)
Imagine I stuck my toe into a river.
The Swahili for JUNGLE is PORI (POREE)
Imagine eating your porridge in the jungle.
The Swahili for FARM is SHAMBA (SHAMBA)
Imagine you live in a shambles of a farm.
The Swahili for MOUNTAIN is MLIMA (MLEEMA)
Imagine Lima in Peru, is perched on a mountain.
The Swahili for TREE is MTI (MTEE)
Imagine having my tea sitting up a tree.
The Swahili for LAKE is ZIWA (ZEEWA)
Imagine the lake flows sea wards.
The Swahili for PHOTO is PICHA (PEECHA)
Imagine you get a picture with a photo.
The Swahili for ELEPHANT is TEMBO (TEMBO)
Imagine telling an elephant “Temper!, temper!”
The Swahili for GIRAFFE is TWIGA (TWEEGA)
Imagine when you tweak a giraffe’s tail, it will run.
More generally useful words
The Swahili for YES is NDIYO (NDEEYO)
Imagine saying “Yes, there’s no deal’.
The Swahili for THANKS is ASANTE (ASANTEH)
Imagine asking “Has auntie said thanks yet?”.
The Swahili for SORRY is SAMAHANI (SAMAHANEE)
Imagine saying “Sorry, but it’s summer, honey”.
The Swahili for WRONG is SI SAWA (SEE SAWA)
Imagine it’s wrong to play on a sea-saw.
The Swahili for RIGHT is SAWA (SAWA)
Imagine it’s right to saw a lady in two.
The Swahili for UP is JUU (JOO OO)
Imagine the dew rises up in the sunshine.
The Swahili for DOWN is CHINI (CHEENEE)
Imagine you fall down on your chin, ehh!.
Colours
The Swahili for BLACK is NYEUSI (NYEOOSEE)
Imagine the Black Sea is a new sea.
The Swahili for WHITE is NYEUPE (NYEOOPEH)
Imagine there’s no hope ever, when you go all white.
The Swahili for BLUE is BLU (BLOO)
Imagine A blue lion.
The Swahili for RED is NYEKUNDO (NYEKOONDO)
Imagine no can do when the lights are red.
The Swahili for GREEN is KIJANI (KEEJANEE)
Imagine being asked “Could ya knee someone until he turns green”.
The Swahili for YELLOW is NJANO (NJANO)
Imagine there’s a man you know who has bright yellow teeth.
Post Office and other words
The Swahili for POST OFFICE is POSTA (POSTA)
Imagine you post a letter at the Post Office.
The Swahili for STAMP is STEMPU (STEMPOO)
Imagine a lion buying a stamp.
The Swahili for PAPER is KARATASI (KARATASEE)
Imagine asking “Is this a paper carrot I see before me?”.
The Swahili for POSTCARD is POSTIKADI (POSTIKADEE)
Imagine a lion eating your postcard.
The Swahili for PEN is KALAMU (KALAMOO)
Imagine once you have a pen, you can call ‘em who you want.
The Swahili for LETTER is BARUA (BAROOAH)
Imagine you brew a letter in a beer bottle.
The Swahili for ADDRESS is ANWANI (ANWANEE)
Imagine in Africa you add to the address a ‘one E’, so 85 becomes 86E.
The Swahili for NUMBER is NAMBA (NAMBA)
Imagine a lion with numbers across his face.
The Swahili for LEFT is KUSHOTO (KOOSHOTO)
Imagine you are a good shot only when you aim to the left.
The Swahili for RIGHT (DIRECTION) is KULIA (KOOLEEAH)
Imagine you have a cool ear on your right hand side.
More food words
The Swahili for BEER is BIA (BEEA)
Imagine a lion getting drunk on beer.
The Swahili for SUGAR is SUKARI (SOOKAREE)
Imagine a sugary lump of sugar.
The Swahili for BANANA is NDIZI (NDEEZEE)
Imagine it’s not easy to eat a banana with its skin on.
The Swahili for CUCUMBER is TANGO (TANGO)
Imagine doing a tango with a cucumber.
The Swahili for RICE (COOKED) is WALI (WALEE)
Imagine you feel a right Wally with rice all over your face.
The Swahili for GOAT is MBUZI (MBOOZEE)
Imagine my boozy brother rides a goat to work.
Weather and other words
The Swahili for SUN is JUA (JOOAH)
Imagine the sun is a jewel.
The Swahili for MOON is MWEZI (MWEZEE)
Imagine wondering where’s he gone, now that the moon has come up.
The Swahili for SKY is MBINGU (MBEENGOO)
Imagine when you have been good, the sky turns blue.
The Swahili for RAIN is MVUWA (MVOOWA)
Imagine you view a rain storm from a mountain top.
The Swahili for WIND is UPEPO (OOPEPO)
Imagine you people suffer with the wind.
The Swahili for THUNDER is RADI (RADEE)
Imagine you hear thunder on the radio.
The Swahili for ICE is BARA FU (BARA FOO)
Imagine you walk bare foot on the ice.
The Swahili for COLD is BARIDI (BAREEDEE)
Imagine you go bare headed in the cold.
More emergency words
The Swahili for MALARIA is MALARIYA (MALAREEYA)
Imagine lions eating malaria tablets.
The Swahili for BLOOD is DAMU (DAMOO)
Imagine shouting “Damn you for spilling my blood!”
The Swahili for ABSCESS is JIPU (JEEPOO)
Imagine driving a jeep with a painful abscess (you, not the jeep!).
The Swahili for NEEDLE is SINDANO (SEENDANO)
Imagine the doctor seemed to know the needle was clean.
(It is the same word for injection)
The Swahili for TEMPERATURE is JOTO (JOTO)
Imagine you are told to hold your toe while your temperature is taken.
The Swahili for PRESCRIPTION is CHETI (CHETEE)
Imagine a chatty nurse gives you a prescription.
The Swahili for MEDICINE is DAWA (DAWA)
Imagine medicine in a tower.
SIMPLE DICTIONARY
Aa
abscess jipu jeepoo
accident ajali ajalee
address anwani anwanee
ambulance ambalensi ambalensee
Bb
bad mbaya mbaya
banana ndizi ndeezee
bank benki benkee
bath (room) bafu bafoo
bed kitanda keetanda
beer bia beea
bicycle baskeli baskelee
bill (check) bili beelee
black nyeusi nyeoosee
blood damu damoo
blue blu bloo
brakes breki brekee
bread mkate mkateh
brother kaka kaka
bus basi basee
Cc
camera kamera kamera
car gari garee
chair kiti keetee
chicken kuku kookoo
children watoto watoto
coat koti kotee
coffee kahawa kahawa
cold baridi bareedee
crab kaa kaa
crocodile mamba mamba
cucumber tango tango
cup kikombe keekombeh
customs forodha forodha
Dd
danger hatari hataree
dates tende tendeh
day siku seekoo
dentists daktari wa meno daktaree wa meno
doctor daktari daktaree
down chini cheenee
duck bata bata
Ee
ear sikio seekeeoh
egg mayai mayaee
elephant tembo tembo
eyes macho macho
Ff
face uso ooso
family familia fameelya
farm shamba shamba
father baba baba
fig tini teenee
fire moto moto
fish samaki samakee
food chakula chakoola
fork uma ooma
fruit matunda matoonda
Gg
giraffe twiga tweega
glass glasi glassee
glassess (spectacles) miwani meewanee
goat mbuzi mboozee
good nzuri nzooree
green kijani keejanee
Hh
hand/arm mkono mkono
heart moyo moyo
help msaada msaada
hospital hospitali hospeetalee
hotel hoteli hotelee
hour saa saa
house myumba myoomba
how vipi veepee
how much bei gani be ee ganee
husband mume moomeh
Ii
ice bara fu bara foo
Jj
jungle pori poree
Kk
knife kisu keesoo
Ll
lake ziwa zeewa
left kushoto kooshoto
leg/foot mguu mgoo oo
letter barua barooah
lift (elevator) lifti leeftee
Mm
malaria malariya malareeya
map ramani ramanee
medicine dawa dawa
minute dakika dakeeka
mirror kiyo keeyoh
month mwezi mwezee
moon mwezi mwezee
mother mama mama
mountain mlima mleema
Nn
name jina jeena
needle sindano seendano
night usiku ooseekoo
nose pua poowa
number namba namba
nurse nesi nesee
Oo
oil mafuta mafoota
Pp
paper karatasi karatasee
passport pas poti pas potee
pen kalamu kalamoo
petrol (gasoline) petroli petrolee
photo picha peecha
plate sahani sahanee
police polisi poleesee
post office posta posta
postcard postikadi postikadee
prescription cheti chetee
puncture pancha pancha
python chatu chatoo
Rr
radiator rejeta rejeta
rain mvuwa mvoowa
red nyekundo nyekoondo
relative jamaa jamaa
restaurant mkahawa mkahawa
rice (cooked) wali walee
right sawa sawa
right (direction) kulia kooleeah
ring pete peteh
river mto mto
road barabara barabara
room chumba choomba
Ss
salad saladi saladee
salt chumvi choonvee
second sekunde sekoondeh
ship meli melee
shirt shati shatee
shorts kaptula kaptoola
shoulder bega bega
shower shawa shawa
sister dada dada
skirt sketi sketee
sky mbingu mbeengoo
snake nyoka nyoka
soap sabuni saboonee
sock soksi soksee
sorry samahani samahanee
soup supu soopoo
spoon kijiko keejeeko
stamp stempu stempoo
stomach tumbo toombo
street mtaa mtaa
sugar sukari sookaree
sun jua joo ah
sweater sweta sweta
Tt
table meza meza
taxi teksi teksee
tea chai chaee
telephone simu seemoo
temperature joto joto
tent hema hema
thanks asante asanteh
throat koo kooh
thunder radi radee
tie tai taee
today leo leo
toilets choo choo
tomorrow kesho kesho
towel taulo taoolo
town mji mjee
tree mti mtee
trout papa papa
tyre (tire) tairi tairee
Uu
underpants chupi choopee
up juu joo oo
Ww
waitress/waiter mhudumu mhoodoomoo
watch saa saa
water maji majee
watermelon tikiti maji teekeetee majee
week wiki weekee
what nini neenee
when lini leenee
where wapi wapee
white nyeupe nyeoopeh
who nani nanee
wife mke mkeh
wind upepo oopepo
wine mvinyo mveenyo
wound kidonda keedonda
wrong si sawa see sawa
Yy
year mwaka mwaka
yellow njano njano
yes ndiyo ndeeyo