Useful Swahili Words And Phrases To Learn Before Your Trip To Kenya

Recently updated on March 5th, 2025 at 05:17 pm

Are you planning a trip to Kenya? Then you’ll need to learn some basic Swahili phrases before you go. But don’t panic – you likely already know at least one phrase in Swahili. “Hakuna matata” or “no worries” is the Swahili saying made famous by The Lion King. It’s the perfect introduction to the Swahili language and the friendly Kenyan culture, but there are a few more words to learn that will help make your trip to Kenya so much more rewarding.

Don’t worry if you’re not perfect – even just a few well-meaning attempts at speaking the Swahili language will get you a lot further than you think. You’ll find that people are more friendlier and helpful, plus you’ll get a real insight into Kenyan culture. We’ve put together a few basic Swahili phrases to help you get started. From how to say hello in Swahili to how to get around, here are some of the most useful phrases to learn before you visit Kenya.

Where is Swahili spoken?

Swahili is the most commonly spoken language across sub-Saharan Africa and East Africam with around 16 million people speaking it as a first language and more than 82 million people speaking it as a second language. That means Swahili is the 14th-most spoken language in the world. Swahili is the official language alongside English in Kenya and Tanzania, and the language is also spoken in parts of Uganda, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique and Rwanda.

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Learning to speak Swahili

Learning a new language can be daunting, but Swahili is a great language to learn as many words are pronounced exactly as they are written. There’s also plenty of online resources to help you learn, including the Kamusi Project, an online Swahili dictionary and pronunciation guide (fun fact: Kamusi means ‘dictionary’ in Swahili). You can also listen to BBC Radio in Swahili or Swahili Youtube channels to pick up on words and phrases and be sure to pick up a Swahili phrasebook to help you along on your trip.

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Basic Swahili Phrases

Here are some of the top Swahili phrases to learn before your adventure in Kenya.

Every conversation Kenya starts with a polite greeting

Greetings are very important in East African culture and should never be rushed. There are many ways to greet someone in Kenya, depending on who you are meeting. Remember, a friendly Hujambo! (Hello) goes a long way. Here are some of the most common greetings:

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Hujambo/jambo/salama – HelloKaribu – WelcomeHabari Yako – Hello (Use when greeting an elderly person).Sasa – Hello in Nairobi Sheng, a special Swahili dialect that’s a mix between Swahili and English that’s used in Nairobi.

Habari Gani – How are you?Jambo, habari? – Hello, how are you?Nzuri – I’m fine

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Jina lako nani? – What is your name?Jina langu ni – My name is…Nice to meet you: Nafurahi kukuonaKwa heri – Goodbye (or kwa herini if it’s more than one person)Tutaonana – See you later Lala salama – Good nightSafari njema – Safe journey

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Useful Swahili phrases

You’ll probably hear and use these basic Swahili phrases and words throughout your Kenya trip.

Ndiyo – YesHapana – NoTafadhali – PleaseAsante – Thank youAsante sana – Thank you very muchHapana asante sana – No, thank you very muchStarehe – You’re welcomeSawa – OkaySamahani – Excuse mePole or pole sana – SorryRafiki – FriendSielewi – I don’t understandPole pole – Take it easy (Kenyans don’t like to rush so you’ll likely hear this one a lot.)

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Unasema kiingereza – Do you speak English?Unasema Kiswahili? – Do you speak Swahili?Unasemaje… kwa kiswahili – How do you say… in Swahili?

Tafadhali, naomba msaada – Can you help me?Unatoka wapi? – Where are you from?Natokea – I’m from…Naomba kupiga picha – May I take your picture? (Always ask before taking a photo of someone).

Leo – TodayKesho – TomorrowJana – YesterdaySasa – Now Baadaye – Later

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Getting around

These are some handy Swahili phrases to know to help you get around the cities and towns of Kenya. The locals are usually very friendly and will help you find your way if you get lost. The most important word to remember is “wapi” which means “where is?”

Uwanja wa ndege – AirportHoteli – HotelChumba – RoomAkiba – ReservationChoo – ToiletBas stendi – Bus stopBasi – BusMatatu – MinibusStendi ya teksi – Taxi standTikiti – Ticket

Benki – BankSoko – MarketKituo cha polisi – Police stationOfisi ya watali – Tourist officePosta – Post officeHospitali – HospitalMatibabu – Medical centreDaktari/mganga – DoctorNataka kuona daktari – I need a doctor

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Naweza kupata… wapi? – Where can I find a…?Wapi choo – Where is the toilet?Wapi supermarket? – Where is the supermarket?Utakwenda wapi? – Where are you going?Endesha pole pole – Drive slowlyNauli ni kiasi gani? – How much is the fare?Huko – TherePale – Over thereNi karibu? – Is it near?Ni mbali? – Is it far?Hatari – Danger! (if you hear this, take note!)

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Food

The Kenyan cuisine is one of the best parts of any trip to Kenya. Here are some of the best dishes you can order anywhere, plus some handy Swahili phrases to use when ordering.

Chakula – FoodNyama – MeatChoma – BarbecueNyama choma – Goat or beef barbecueKuku choma – Chicken barbecueSumaki – FishChapati – Indian-inspired pancake used to mop up soups and stewsKachumbari – the ultimate Kenyan salad with diced tomato, onion, coriander and other spices.Matunda – FruitMboga – VegetablesChips – what Kenyans call French fries

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Bia – BeerPombe baridi – Cold beer (the most popular beer brands in Kenya are Tusker and White Cap).Maji – WaterMaji ya kunywa – Drinking waterSoda – SodaMaji ya moto – Hot waterMaziwa – MilkPili pili – Red peppers (watch out for the chilli!)Kidogo tu – Just a little bitNataka – I’d like…

So there’s a few Swahili phrases to get you started… Tutaonana Kenya! (See you in Kenya).

Are you planning on learning some Swahili phrases before your trip to Kenya or Tanzania? Let us know in the comments below!