Swahili Survival Phrases – 100 Words & Expressions
Course Code: SW-TRV100
Description: This interactive PDF introduces beginners and travelers to 100 essential Swahili words and phrases for everyday
communication, covering greetings, transportation, food, accommodation, emergencies, and basic conversation.
Swahili Survival Phrases Flashcards (1–100)
No Swahili Phrase Meaning Pronunciation Example Icon
Hello / How are Habari, rafiki yangu! (Hello, my 👋
1 Habari you? /ha-ba-ri/ friend!)
2 Hujambo How are you? /hu-jam-bo/ Hujambo? (How are you?) ❓
Sijambo, asante. (I am fine, thank 🙂
3 Sijambo I am fine /si-jam-bo/ you.)
Asante kwa msaada wako. (Thank 🙏
4 Asante Thank you /a-san-te/ you for your help.)
Karibu nyumbani! (Welcome 🏠
5 Karibu Welcome /ka-ri-bu/ home!)
Tafadhali, nipe maji. (Please, give 💧
6 Tafadhali Please /ta-fa-dha-li/ me water.)
Sorry / Excuse Samahani kwa kuchelewa. (Sorry 😅
7 Samahani /sa-ma-ha-ni/ for being late.)
me
Ndiyo, ninaelewa. (Yes, I ✅
8 Ndiyo Yes /ndi-yo/ understand.)
Hapana, siwezi. (No, I cannot.) ❌
9 Hapana No /ha-pa-na/
Jina langu ni Peter. (My name is 📝
10 Jina langu ni… My name is… /ji-na la-ngu ni/ Peter.)
Where are you Unatoka wapi? (Where are you 🌍
11 Unatoka wapi? from? /u-na-to-ka wa-pi/ from?)
Ninatoka Kenya. (I am from Kenya.) 🇰🇪
12 Ninatoka… I am from… /ni-na-to-ka/
1
, No Swahili Phrase Meaning Pronunciation Example Icon
Nakuja sasa. (I am coming now.)
13 Nakuja I am coming /na-ku-ja/ 🏃
Nipe msaada, tafadhali. (Help
14 Nipe msaada Help me /ni-pe msa-a-da/ me, please.) 🆘
Nina swali kuhusu chakula. (I ❓
15 Nina swali I have a question /ni-na swa-li/ have a question about food.)
How much is this? Hii ni bei gani? (How much is 💧
16 Hii ni bei gani? /hi-i ni be-i ga-ni/ this?)
Gari iko nje. (The car is outside.) 🚗
17 Gari Car /ga-ri/
Natafuta basi la kwenda mjini. (I 🚌
18 Basi Bus /ba-si/ am looking for a
bus to town.)
Naenda kwa teksi. (I am going by 🚖
19 Teksi Taxi /tek-si/ taxi.)
Nenda moja moja hadi mtaa. 🛣️
20 Nenda moja moja Go straight /nen-da mo-ja mo-ja/ (Go straight until the street.)
Pinda kushoto kwenye kona. ⬅️
21 Pinda kushoto Turn left /pin-da ku-sho-to/ (Turn left at the corner.)
Pinda kulia kwenye duka. (Turn ➡️
22 Pinda kulia Turn right /pin-da ku-li-a/ right at the shop.)
Kwanini unacheka? (Why are ❓
23 Kwanini? Why? /kwa-ni-ni/ you laughing?)
Nani anakuja? (Who is coming?)
24 Nani? Who? /na-ni/ 🧑
Wapi kuna mgahawa? 📍
25 Wapi? Where? /wa-pi/ (Where is the restaurant?)
Lini tutakutana? (When will we 🕒
26 Lini? When? /li-ni/ meet?)
27 Hii ni nini? What is this? /hi-i ni ni-ni/ Hii ni nini? (What is this?) ❔
Nitaenda chooni. (I am going to 🚽
28 Choo Toilet /cho-o/ the toilet.)
2
Course Code: SW-TRV100
Description: This interactive PDF introduces beginners and travelers to 100 essential Swahili words and phrases for everyday
communication, covering greetings, transportation, food, accommodation, emergencies, and basic conversation.
Swahili Survival Phrases Flashcards (1–100)
No Swahili Phrase Meaning Pronunciation Example Icon
Hello / How are Habari, rafiki yangu! (Hello, my 👋
1 Habari you? /ha-ba-ri/ friend!)
2 Hujambo How are you? /hu-jam-bo/ Hujambo? (How are you?) ❓
Sijambo, asante. (I am fine, thank 🙂
3 Sijambo I am fine /si-jam-bo/ you.)
Asante kwa msaada wako. (Thank 🙏
4 Asante Thank you /a-san-te/ you for your help.)
Karibu nyumbani! (Welcome 🏠
5 Karibu Welcome /ka-ri-bu/ home!)
Tafadhali, nipe maji. (Please, give 💧
6 Tafadhali Please /ta-fa-dha-li/ me water.)
Sorry / Excuse Samahani kwa kuchelewa. (Sorry 😅
7 Samahani /sa-ma-ha-ni/ for being late.)
me
Ndiyo, ninaelewa. (Yes, I ✅
8 Ndiyo Yes /ndi-yo/ understand.)
Hapana, siwezi. (No, I cannot.) ❌
9 Hapana No /ha-pa-na/
Jina langu ni Peter. (My name is 📝
10 Jina langu ni… My name is… /ji-na la-ngu ni/ Peter.)
Where are you Unatoka wapi? (Where are you 🌍
11 Unatoka wapi? from? /u-na-to-ka wa-pi/ from?)
Ninatoka Kenya. (I am from Kenya.) 🇰🇪
12 Ninatoka… I am from… /ni-na-to-ka/
1
, No Swahili Phrase Meaning Pronunciation Example Icon
Nakuja sasa. (I am coming now.)
13 Nakuja I am coming /na-ku-ja/ 🏃
Nipe msaada, tafadhali. (Help
14 Nipe msaada Help me /ni-pe msa-a-da/ me, please.) 🆘
Nina swali kuhusu chakula. (I ❓
15 Nina swali I have a question /ni-na swa-li/ have a question about food.)
How much is this? Hii ni bei gani? (How much is 💧
16 Hii ni bei gani? /hi-i ni be-i ga-ni/ this?)
Gari iko nje. (The car is outside.) 🚗
17 Gari Car /ga-ri/
Natafuta basi la kwenda mjini. (I 🚌
18 Basi Bus /ba-si/ am looking for a
bus to town.)
Naenda kwa teksi. (I am going by 🚖
19 Teksi Taxi /tek-si/ taxi.)
Nenda moja moja hadi mtaa. 🛣️
20 Nenda moja moja Go straight /nen-da mo-ja mo-ja/ (Go straight until the street.)
Pinda kushoto kwenye kona. ⬅️
21 Pinda kushoto Turn left /pin-da ku-sho-to/ (Turn left at the corner.)
Pinda kulia kwenye duka. (Turn ➡️
22 Pinda kulia Turn right /pin-da ku-li-a/ right at the shop.)
Kwanini unacheka? (Why are ❓
23 Kwanini? Why? /kwa-ni-ni/ you laughing?)
Nani anakuja? (Who is coming?)
24 Nani? Who? /na-ni/ 🧑
Wapi kuna mgahawa? 📍
25 Wapi? Where? /wa-pi/ (Where is the restaurant?)
Lini tutakutana? (When will we 🕒
26 Lini? When? /li-ni/ meet?)
27 Hii ni nini? What is this? /hi-i ni ni-ni/ Hii ni nini? (What is this?) ❔
Nitaenda chooni. (I am going to 🚽
28 Choo Toilet /cho-o/ the toilet.)
2
