Kiswahili Language Basics
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Most Kenyans speak 3 languages: English, Kiswahili (the two official Kenyan languages) and their mother tongue. English is widely spoken, and you won’t have a problem in being understood in most places unless you venture into some very remote wilderness (which of course you might!)
Kiswahili is spoken by most Kenyans, and tourists who try to learn a few words or phrases are greatly encouraged with happy smiles and a jolly sense of humour! You’ll find that by making a tiny amount of effort, you will win many friends! It’s well worth trying
Useful Words, Phrases and Numbers:
| No problem! | Hakuna matata! |
| Slowly | Pole pole (pronounced polae) |
| Sorry | Pole (also pronounced polae) |
| Hello | Jambo, salama |
| How are you? | Habari yako or sasa |
| Very good thank you! | Mizuri sana |
| Hello! Anyone in? | hodi |
| Good Morning | Habari ya asubuhi |
| Good Evening | Habari ya jioni |
| OK | sawa |
| Yes | ndio |
| No | hapana |
| Good | mizuri |
| You’re welcome | karibu |
| Please | tafadhali |
| Thank you | Asante (sana) |
| I want | nataka |
| I don’t understand | kuelewa sielewi |
| Who? | Nani? |
| What? | Nini? |
| When? | Lini? |
| Where? | Wapi? |
| Why? | Kwa nini? |
| How much? | Ni bei ngapi |
| Do you speak English? | Unasema kiingereza? |
| Where are you from? | Unatoka wapi |
| To come | kuja |
| See you/goodbye | kwaheri |
| Money | pesa |
| big | kubwa |
| small | kidogo |
| Sugar | Sokari |
| Salt | chumvi |
| Car | gari |
| food | chakula |
| Water | maji |
| Tea | chai |
| Milk | maziwa |
| toilet | choo |
| Airplane | Tayarah |
| 0 Zero | Sifuri |
| 1 One | moja |
| 2 Two | mbili |
| 3 Three | Tatu |
| 4 Four | nne |
| 5 Five | tano |
| 6 Six | Sita |
| 7 Seven | Saba |
| 8 Eight | nane |
| 9 Nine | Tisa |
| 10 Ten | kumi |
| 11 Eleven | Kumi na moja |
| 20 Twenty | ishirini |
| 30 Thirty | thelathini |
| 40 Forty | arobaini |
| 50 Fifty | hamsini |
| 60 Sixty | sitini |
| 70 Seventy | sabini |
| 80 Eighty | themanini |
| 90 Ninety | tisini |
| 100 Hundred | Mia moja |
| 1000 Thousand | Elfu moja |
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