Swahili language guide - Wikivoyage, the free collaborative travel and tourism guide - Guide linguistique swahili — Wikivoyage, le guide de voyage et de tourisme collaboratif gratuit

Swahili (Kiswahili)
The "Our Father" in Swahili
Information
Official language	Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, East of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Comoros
Language spoken	Burundi, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Somalia
Number of speakers	about 150 million
Standardization institution	Baraza la Kiswahili la Taifa
ISO 639-1	sw
ISO 639-2	swa
ISO 639-3	swa
Bases
Hello	Hujambo
Thank you	Asante
Bye	Kwa heri
Yes	Ndiyo
No	Hapana
Location
edit

the swahili (Kiswahili in Swahili) is a language of Bantu origin mainly mixed with Arabic and widely used in East Africa. Its ISO 639-1 and IETF codes are (sw).

Originally, Swahili, which was only used along the Kenyan, Tanzanian and Zanzibar coasts, was written in the Arabic alphabet. It was transcribed by the European colonizers in defective writing using the Latin alphabet and thus imported, according to their colonization, in the interior of the grounds.

In 1929, it was decided to create a standard Swahili language, the standardization of which took place from the Kiunguja dialect of Zanzibar. It is this standardized language that is the subject of this language guide (with, however, in parallel, some expressions in sheng clearly noted as such).

Around 15 million speakers use it as a first language and over 60 million as a second language. A study from the University of Oxford estimated, in 2010, that there are more than 150 million regular speakers.

It has official language status in Tanzania, to Kenya, in Uganda and in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Speakers are also found in the north of Mozambique, to Burundi, to Rwanda, in Somalia, to Malawi and in Zambia. To Comoros, Shikomor, one of the four languages ​​forming the Swahili language group, has official language status. Some dialects spoken in the southern Red Sea, on the southern coasts of Arabia, and in the Persian Gulf are also widely understood by speakers of Unified Swahili.

Pronunciation

Vowels

Swahili has five vowels phonemes: (IPA:/ ɑ /), (IPA:/ ɛ /), (IPA:/ i /), (IPA:/ ɔ /), and (IPA:/ u /). The pronunciation of the phoneme / u / is similar to the [o] ofinternational phonetic alphabet. Vowels are never apophonic (reduced) even in the presence of a tonic accent.

The vowels are pronounced as follows:

• (IPA:/ ɑ /) is pronounced like the "a" of "case",
• (IPA:/ ɛ /) is pronounced like the "é" of "summer",
• (IPA:/ i /) is pronounced like the "i" of "cil",
• (IPA:/ ɔ /) is pronounced like the "o" of "chord",
• (IPA:/ u /) is pronounced like the "or" of "end".

Consonant

Phonetic inventory of consonants in kiswahili

		labial	dental	alveolar	palatal	velar	glottal
nasal		m (IPA:/ m /)		not (IPA:/not/)	ny (IPA:/ ɲ /)	ng ’ (IPA:/not/)
occlusive	penalized	mb (IPA:/mb /)		nd (IPA:/notd /)	nj (IPA:/ɲɟ ~ notdʒ /)	ng (IPA:/notɡ /)
	injective	b (IPA:/ ɓ /)		d (IPA:/ ɗ /)	j (IPA:/ ʄ ~ ɗʒ /)	g (IPA:/ ɠ /)
	tense	p (IPA:/ p /)		t (IPA:/ t /)	ch (IPA:/ tʃ /)	k (IPA:/ k /)
	sucked	(p (IPA:/ pʰ /))		(t (IPA:/ tʰ /))	(ch (IPA:/ tʃʰ /))	(k (IPA:/ kʰ /))
fricative	penalized	mv (IPA:/ɱv /)		nz (IPA:/notz /)
	voiced	v (IPA:/ v /)	(dh (IPA:/ ð /))	z (IPA:/ z /)		(gh (IPA:/ ɣ /))
	deaf	f (IPA:/ f /)	(th (IPA:/ θ /))	s (IPA:/ s /)	sh (IPA:/ ʃ /)	(kh (IPA:/ x /))	h (IPA:/ h /)
rolled				r (IPA:/ r /)
spirant				the (IPA:/the/)	y (IPA:/ d /)	w (IPA:/ w /)

Common diphthongs

Diphthongs do not exist in Swahili. Each letter is pronounced separately as in chui ("Leopard") (IPA:/tʃu.i/) and therefore contains two syllables.

Grammar

As in other Bantu languages, Swahili organizes its names by nominal classes.

class	group	prefix				singular	translation	plural	translation
		singular		plural
		in front of a consonant	in front of a vowel	in front of a consonant	in front of a vowel
1, 2	people	m-	mu	wa-	w (a) -	mfoo	child	wafoo	children
3, 4	trees, natural elements	m-	mw-	mid-	mid-	mti	tree	midti	trees
5, 6	groups,aug	ji-	j-	my-	my-	jicho	eye	mycho	eyes
7, 8	objects,Sun	ki-	ch- / ki-	vi-	vy- / vi-	kiknow	knife	viknow	knives
9, 10	animals, loanwords, other	not-	ny-	not-	ny-	notdoto	dream	notdoto	dreams
11, 10	extension	u-	ny-	u- / uw- / w	ny-	uTo	barrier, terrain	nyua	barriers
14	abstraction	u-	u- / uw- / w-	Ø	Ø	ufoo	childhood	Ø
15	substantivized verbs	ku-	ku- / kw-	Ø	Ø	kuthe	eat, consume, eradicate	Ø
16, 17, 18	location	pa- / ku- / m-	pa- / ku- / m-	Ø	Ø	pahali	place, position	Ø
In Swahili, classes 12 and 13 of the Bantu languages ​​do not exist. Classes 9 and 11 share the same class 10 in the plural.

List of phrases

In Swahili, there is no polite or colloquial form, as in French. Either it is addressed to a single person or to more than one person.

Giving greetings is of great importance in East Africa. There are formulas for all situations.

The use of words in sheng in a conversation, will never be frowned upon Kenya and in Uganda. On the other hand, unless you are talking with young people, it is better to avoid them by Tanzania.

Based

Good morning ! / Salvation ! :

to 1 person : Hujambo! (pron.: hou-dja-mbo)

reply : Sijambo!

to several people : Hamjambo! (pron.: ha-mdja-mbo)

reply : Atujambo! (pron.: ha-tou-dja-mbo)

to 1 older person or who is in authority : Shikamoo! (pron.: shi-kah-mou)

reply : Marahaba! (pron.: marah-haba)

to 1 younger person : Marahaba!

reply : Shikamoo!

informal formulas : Sassa! / Jambo! / Mambo! / Habari!

knocking on a door to enter : Hodi!

reply : Karibu! (pron.: karibou)

in sheng : Niaje! / Aisee! / Kugotea!

responses : Poa! / Fiti! / Fit!

How are you doing ? : U hali gani? (pron.: or ali gani)
Very well and you ? : Nzuri sana, u hali gani?
Everything is fine. : Hakuna matata (literally "there is no problem"). (pron.: hah-kouna matata)

In Tanzania and the Kenyan coast, it will be better to use Hakuna matatizo which is the expression in classical Swahili.

At Western Kenyais the expression Hakuna shida which will be used instead.

What's your name ? : Jina lako ni nani?
My name is _____. : Jina langu ni ____.
Nice to meet you. : Nimefurahi kwa kukutana na wewe.
Please. : Tafadhali (pron.: tafadali.)
Thank you. : Asante. (pron.: asa-nté)
Thanks a lot. : Asante sana (pron.: asa-nté sana)
You're welcome. : Hakuna matata. / Karibu.
Yes : Ndiyo / Eeh!
No : Siyo / Hapana
OK ! / OK : Ayah! / Sawa!
Excuse me ! (to attract attention) : Samahani! (pron.: sa-mah-ani)
I am sorry. : Pole. / Samahani. (pron.: polé)
Bye. :

to 1 person : Kwa heri. (pron.: kwah heri)

to several people : Kwa herini. (pron.: kwah herini)

See you soon. : Tuonane. / Baadaye.
See you tomorrow. : Tuonane kesho.
I do not speak _____. : Mimi si kuzungumza ______.
Do you speak French ? : Unazungumza kimfaransa?
Is there anyone ? : Hodi hodi?
Does anyone speak French here? : I, kuna mtu ambaye anazungumzo Kifaransa?
Good morning ! (the morning) : Sabalheri! / Umelalaje? (literally "how did you sleep?")

Good morning ! (the afternoon) : Habari za mchana? (literally “what's the afternoon news?”)
Good evening ! : Habari za jioni? (literally “what's the news for the evening?”)
Good night ! : Usiku mwema. / Lala salama! (literally "sleep well!")
I do not understand. : Sielewi. (pron.: siéléwi)
Where are the toilets ? : Choo iko wapi? (pron.: choh-o iko wapi)
Welcome ! / Enjoy your meal ! (to 1 person) : Karibu! (pron.: karibou)
Welcome ! / Enjoy your meal ! (to several people) : karibuni! (pron.: karibouni)
I like you. : Ninakupenda. (pron.: ninakoupê-nda)
I don't love you. : Sikupendi. (pron.: sik-houpê-ndi)

Problems

Don't bother me! : Uniache! (pron.: ouniatche)
Go away ! : Kwenda mbali! (pron.: kwen-da m-bali)
Do not touch me ! : Usiniguse! (pron.: ouzinigoussé)
I'll call the police. : Nitaita polisi.
Police ! : Askari! / Polisi!
Stop, thief! : Simama, mwizi!
Help ! : Msaada! (pron.: msah-ah-dah)
Help us, please! : Tafadhali! Kutusaidia.
It's an emergency. : Ni ajila (pron.: ni adjilah)
I am lost. : Nimepotea (pron.: nimepo-téa)
I lost my bag. : Nimepoteza mfuko wangu.
I lost my wallet. : Nimepoteza pochi.
I'm in pain / I'm sick. : Mimi ni mgonjwa.
I am hurt. : Mimi ni kuumiza.
I need a doctor. : Ninahitaji daktari.
May I use your phone ? : Ninaomba kutumia simu yako?

Numbers

1 : moja
2 : mbili
3 : tatu
4 : nne
5 : tano
6 : sita
7 : saba
8 : nane
9 : tisa
10 : kumi
11 : kumi na moja
12 : kumi na mbili
13 : kumi na tatu
14 : kumi na nne
15 : kumi na tano
16 : kumi na sita
17 : kumi na saba
18 : kumi na nane
19 : kumi na tisa
20 : ishirini
21 : ishirini na moja
22 : ishirini na mbili
23 : ishirini na tatu
30 : thelathini
40 : arobaini
50 : hamsini
60 : sitini
70 : sabini
80 : themanini
90 : tisini
100 : mia moja
200 : mia mbili
300 : mia tatu
1 000 : elfu moja
2 000 : elfu mbili
10 000 : elfu kumi
100 000 : elfu mia
1 000 000 : milioni
number X : train, bus, etc. (pron.: hesabu X)
quarter : robo
half : nusu
three quarters : robo tatu
less : kasoro
more : zaidi

Time

now : sasa (pron.: sassah)
later : baadaye (pron.: bah-hadaie)
before : kabla ya
after : baada ya
morning : asubuhi
in the morning : katika asubuhi
afternoon : mchana
evening : jioni (pron.: djih-oni)
In the evening : katika jioni
night : usiku (pron.: ouzikou)

Time

In Swahili, the counting of the hours does not start at midnight but at six in the morning which, on the equator, is the time of sunrise. Between 4 h and noon, the hours are qualified as morning (asubuhi). Between noon and 20 h, they are qualified in the afternoon (mchana). Between 20 h and 4 h , they are qualified of the night (usiku).

What time is it ? : Saa ngapi? (pron.: sah-ah ng-api)
seven in the morning : saa moja asubuhi (literally "one in the morning")
quarter past seven in the morning : saa moja na robo asubuhi (literally "quarter past one in the morning")
half past seven in the morning : saa moja na nusu asubuhi (literally “half past one in the morning”)
seven forty-five in the morning : saa mbili kasorobo asubuhi (literally "quarter past two in the morning")
eight o'clock am : saa mbili asubuhi (literally "two in the morning")
midday : saa sita asubuhi (literally "six in the morning")
saa sita mchana (literally "six in the afternoon")
one p.m : saa saba mchana (literally "seven in the afternoon")
two in the afternoon : saa nane mchana (literally "eight in the afternoon")
six in the afternoon : saa kumi na mbili mchana (literally "twelve in the afternoon")
seven in the afternoon : saa moja mchana (literally "one in the afternoon")
quarter past seven in the afternoon : saa moja na robo mchana (literally "one and a quarter in the afternoon")
half past seven in the afternoon : saa moja na nusu mchana (literally "one and a half in the afternoon")
seven forty-five in the afternoon : saa mbili kasorobo mchana (literally "quarter past two in the afternoon")
eight PM : saa mbili usiku (literally "two hours of the night")
nine o'clock in the evening : saa tatu usiku (literally "three hours of the night")
Ten o'clock at night : saa nne usiku (literally "four hours of the night")
eleven o'clock at night : saa tano usiku (literally "five at night")
midnight : saa sita usiku (literally "six at night")
one hour of the night : saa saba usiku (literally "seven at night")
four a.m : saa kumi asubuhi (literally "ten in the morning")
six am : saa kumi na mbili asubuhi (literally "twelve in the morning")

Duration

_____ minutes) : ______ dakika
_____ time) : ______ saa (masaa)
_____ days) : ______ siku
_____ week (s) : ______ wiki
_____ month : ______ mwezi (miezi)
_____ year (s) : ______ mwaka (miaka)
weekly : kila wiki
monthly : kila mwezi
annual : kila mwaka
Always : siku zote

Days

In Swahili, the first day of the week is Saturday. Jumamosi ("Saturday") literally means "week first", jumapili ("Sunday") "second week" and so on until jumatano ("Wednesday") which means "fifth week". Thursday and Friday do not follow the same logic. Alhamisi ("Thursday") comes fromArabkhamis (خميس) which means both "Thursday" and "five". Ijumaa ("Friday") also comes from Arabic jumu'ah (الجمعة) which means "Friday".

At Kenya and in Uganda, the majority of workers and students call on Friday and the day before a public holiday furahi day. It is sheng and literally means "day of joy" in reference to what it is on the last working day of the week or before a holiday.

today : leo
yesterday : jana
the day before yesterday : kushinda jana
tomorrow : kesho
after tomorrow : kesho kutwa
this week : wiki hili
last week : wiki jana
next week : wiki kescho
Saturday : Jumamosi
Sunday : Jumapili
Monday : Jumatatu
Tuesday : Jumanne
Wednesday : Jumatano
Thursday : Alhamisi
Friday : Ijumaa

Month

The months (mwezi) are simply numbered from one to twelve starting with the month of January.

January : mwezi wa kwanza
February : mwezi wa pili
March : mwezi wa tatu
April : mwezi wa nne
may : mwezi wa tano
June : mwezi wa sita
July : mwezi wa saba
August : mwezi wa nane
September : mwezi wa tisa
October : mwezi wa kumi
November : mwezi wa kumi na moja
December : mwezi wa kumi na mbili

Colors

The use of colors as an adjective depends on the grammatical class of the noun to which this color is attached.

• class 1-m: prefix mw
• class 2-wa: prefix w
• class 4-mi: prefix my
• class 5-ji: prefix j
• class 6-ma: prefix m
• class 7-ki: prefix ch
• class 8-vi: prefix vy
• class 9-n: prefix ny
• class 11-u: prefix mw
• class 15-ku: prefix kw
• class 16-pa: prefix p
• class 18-mw: prefix | w

black : -eusi

example : watu weusi ("The black people")

White : -eupe

example : kijana mwembamba mweupe ("A young white man")

Grey : -a kijivu
Red : -ekundu
blue : kibuluu (invariable)
yellow : -njano
green : -a kijani
orange : machungwa (invariable)

pink : waridi (invariable)

purple : -urujuani
Brown : kahawia (invariable)

Transport

passenger (s) : abiria / maabiria
baggage : vikorokoro

Public transport

train : treni

locomotive : gari la moshi

passenger car : gari la abiria

dining car : gari la kijio

baggage car : gari la vikorokoro

bus : basi (plural: mabasi)
minibus : matatu (in Kenya and Uganda) / daladala (plural: madaladala) (in Tanzania)
How much does the ticket cost to go to ____? : tikiti ya kwenda ____ shengapi?
Please, A ticket for ____. : Samahani, tikiti moja ya kwenda ____.
Where is this train / bus going? : Treni / Basi hii inakwenda wapi?
Where is the train / bus to ____? : Ni wapi treni / basi kwa ____?
Does this train / bus stop at ____? : Treni / Basi itakwenda ____?
When does the train / bus to ____ leave? : Treni / Basi itaondoka lini _____?
When will this train / bus arrive in _____? : Treni / Basi itafika lini _____?

Directions

How could I go to _____? : I, ninakwenda ____?

response (pointing) : Ndipo (it's there!)

... the train station ? : stesheni cha treni?
... the bus station ? : stesheni cha basi?
... the airport? : uwanja wa ndegi?
... the city center? : katikati ya mjini?
... the neighborhood of _____? : mtaa ya _____?
... the hotel _____ ? : hoteli _____ iko wapi?
... the French / Belgian / Swiss / Canadian embassy? : ubalozi wa Ufaransa / Ubelgiji / Uswisi / Kanada?

... hotels? : hoteli? (note that in Kenya hoteli can mean a place to sleep as well as a place to eat)
... restaurants? : migahawa?
... bars / cafes? : baa?
... club? : kilabu

Can you show me on the map? : Unaweza nionyesha katika ramani?
Street : barabara (pron.: barabara (is used for any traffic lane from a highway to a dirt road))
main Street : mtaa
left : kushoto
Turn left. : Pinda kushoto.
right : kulia
Turn right. : Pinda kulia.
straight : moja kwa moja
in the direction of _____ : kwenye _____
after _____ : baada ya ____
before _____ : kabla ya ____
locate the _____ : angalia kwa ____
crossroads : njiapanda
North : kaskazini
South : kusini
is : mashariki
Where is : magharibi
at the top : kwenye mlima (literally "towards the hill")
downstairs : kwenye bonde (literally "towards the valley")

Shared transport

Taxi! : teksi!
motorized tricycle : tuk-tuk  
motorcycle taxi : pikipiki  
bike taxi : boda-boda  
Take me to _____ please. : Nipeleke _____ tafadhali.
How much does it cost to go to _____? : Itakuwa pesa ngapi kunifikisha _____?
Bring me there, please. : Nipeleke huko tafadhali.

Lodging

Do you have free rooms? : I, vyumba vipo?
How much does a room cost for one person / two people? : Chumba cha mtu moja / watu wawili ni bei gani?
Is there in the room ... : Ni kwamba katika chumba kuna ...
... sheets ? : shuka?
... a bathroom ? : bafu?
... a shower room? : showa / nyunyu / bafu ya manyunyu?
... a phone ? : simu?
... a television ? : runinga?
... a Wi-Fi connection? : wireless uhusiano? (be careful that Wireless, in Swahili, means "sister-in-law")
... Air conditioning ? : kiyoyozi?
... a fan ? : kipepeo?
... a refrigerator ? : friji?
Can I visit the room? : Naweza kukiona chumba kwanza?
Would you have a room ... : I, una chumba ...
... calmer ? : mtulivu?
... bigger ? : kikubwa?
... cleaner ? : kisafi?
... less expensive? : bei nafuu?
Fine, I'll take it. : Sawa basi, nitakichukua.
I plan to stay _____ night (s). : Nitakitumia usiku _____.
Do you have a safe? : I, una kasha the fedha?
Do you have lockers? : I, una makasha?
Is breakfast / dinner included? : X (pron.: X?)
What time is breakfast / dinner? : X (pron.: ?)
Please clean my room. : X (pron.: X)
Can you wake me up at _____ o'clock? : X (pron.: X _____X)
I want to signal my departure to you. : Ninataka kuondoka.

Silver

French	Swahili	Sheng
money, currency	pesa, fedha	munde, doo, chapoo, chumaz, cheedar, chedaz
piece of money	sarafu
Bank note	noti, chapa	chapaa
five shillings	shilingi tana	ngovo, kobole, guoko, five bob
ten shillings	shilingi kumi	ashuu, shoe, kindee, ikongo, ten bob
twenty shillings	shilingi ishirini	mbao, blue (in Kenya due to the predominant blue color on the banknote)
fifty shillings	shilingi hamsini	finje, chuani, guoko, hamusini
one hundred shillings	shilingi mia moja	so, kioo, oss, red (in Kenya due to the predominant red color on the banknote)
two hundred shillings	shilingi mia tano	rwabe, jill
five hundred shillings	shilingi mia tano	punch, jirongo
thousand shillings	shilingi elfu moja	thao, gee, kapaa, ngiri, ngwanye, ndovu, kei, muti, bramba, one K

In sheng, bob represents "a KES »Or a multiple, example: two bob = 2 shillings and K represents "thousand" or a multiple, example: three K = 3,000 shillings

Food

food : chakula (pron.: cha-koula)
breakfast : chakula cha asubuhi
to eat lunch : chakula cha mchana
supper : chakula cha jioni
A table for one person / two people / four people, please. : Meza kwa mtu moja / watu wawili / watu wanne, tafadhali.
We are two / three / four / five / six : Tuko wawili / watatu / wanne / watano / wasita.
Can I have the menu ? : Ninaweza kuangalia orodha ya vyakula?
Can I visit the kitchens? : Ninaweza kuona jikoni?
What is the specialty of the house ? : Ni chakula maalum ya mgahawa nini?
Is there a local specialty? : Ni chakula maalum ya kienyeji nini?
I am vegetarian. : Mimi ni mla mboga.
I do not eat pork. : Sili nyama ya nguruwe.
I only eat halal / kashrut meat. : Ninakula chakula halali / kosher tu.
I want ... : Naomba .. (pron.: na-homba)
... bread : mkate (pron.: mkaté (be careful that mkate can also mean "cake", "small oven"))

... pasta : tambi (pron.: tam-bi (nine times out of ten, it will be spaghetti))
... rice : wali (pron.: wha-li)

rice pilaf : pilao / pilau (pron.: pi-la-ô / pi-la-au)

spicy pilaf rice : biriani (pron.: bi-ria-ni)

coconut rice : ya tui (pron.: i always)

I would like a dish with ... : Nataka sahani na ...
... meat : nyama (pron.: nia-ma)
... roasted meat : nyama choma (pron.: nia-ma tchoma)

... meat from ... : see section "Animals »  
... sausages : soseji (sausages are always made with beef) (pron.: sossè-gji)
... cheese : jibini (pron.: dji-bini)
... eggs : mayai (pron.: mahi-aie)
... a salad : saladi
... a tomato salad : kachumbari (pron.: kat-choum-bari (watch out for spices!))

not spicy : maana pilipili

... chips : chengachenga / chipo (sheng) (pron.: njiva (sheng))
... Beans : dengu
... vegetable (s) (fresh) : mboga (freshi) / maboga (freshi)
... fruit (s) (fresh) : mtunda (freshi) / matunda (freshi)
Can I have a glass / bottle of ... : Ninaomba glasi / chupa moja ya ...
... water? : maji? (pron.: maji)
... mineral water ? : maji safi?
... sparkling water ? : magadi?
... fruit juice ? : juici? (pron.: djou-ci)
... soda? : soda / daso?
... beer? : bia? (pron.: bia is preferable to pombe if you don't want any "twist gut"))
... red / white wine? : mvinyo nyekundu / nyeupi?
What brands of beer do you have? : Bia gani ipo?
Can I have a cup of ... : Ninaomba kikombe kimoja cha ...
... tea : Chai? (tcha-i)
... tea without milk? : chai ya rangi (always specify if you don't want milk)
... spicy tea? : chai ya masala? (this is spiced milk tea with cardamom, ginger, cinnamon, black pepper and cloves)
... Coffee? : kahawa? (ka-ha-wa)
Can I have ... : Ninaomba ... (nia-homba)
... milk? : maziwa?
... sugar? : sukari? (soukari)
... salt? : chumvi? (tchum-vi)
... pepper? : pilipili manga?
... butter? : siagi?
Please ! (attract the attention of the waiter who is male / who is female) : Kaka! (literally "brother") / Dada! (literally "sister")
I finished. : Nimemaliza.
That was delicious. : Chakula ni kitamu.
You can clear the table. : Uondoe masahani tafadhali.
The bill, please. : Naomba bili, tafadhali.

Bars

The most common brands of alcoholic beverages are:
in beer : bia / tambo (sheng) / bale (sheng): Tusker (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania), Senator and Balozi (Kenya), Bell and Nile Special (Uganda), Serengeti and Kibo (Tanzania)
in strong alcohol : araka: Waragi and Lira Lira (East Africa and products in Uganda)
in liquor : ugimbi: Kenya Gold (Kenya)
Do you serve alcohol? : Pombe ipo?
Is there table service? : X (pron.: X?)
One beer / two beers, please. : Bia moja / mbili, tafadhali.

A big beer, please. : Bia kubwa, tafadhali.
A bottle, please. : Chupa moja, tafadhali.
liquor / alcohol : ugimbi / araka / pombe / tei (sheng) / waka (sheng) / keroko (sheng)
whiskey : wiskey
vodka : vodka
rum : rum
wine : mvinyo / keroko (sheng)
water : maji
mineral water : maji safi
sparkling water : magadi
tonic water (kind Schweppes) : magadi ya kwinini (but it is more convenient to directly order a Indian tonic)  
soda : soda
Orange juice : maji ya machungwa
Coca : koka (for fans of the Coca-Cola brand, order a Coca Cola  
Do you have snack foods? : Snaki ipo?
Another one, please. : Moja nyingine, tafadhali.
Another round for the table, please. : Mzunguko mwingine kwa meza, tafadhali.
What time do you close ? : Saa ya kufunga ni lini?
Cheers ! : Maisha marefu!

Purchases

Dear : ghali
cheap : rahisi
Do you have this in my size? : Kuna hii ya kunitosha?
How much does it cost ? : Bei gani?
It's too expensive ! : Ni Ghali Sana!
I can't pay him / her. : Sina pesa za kutosha.
Could you accept _____ shillings? : Utakubali _____ shilingi?
I do not want it. : Sitaki.

Fine, I'll take it. : Sawa, nitachukua.
Could I have a bag? : Nipe mfuko mmoja?

I need ... : Ninahitaji ...
... toothpaste : dawa ya meno
... a toothbrush : mswaki

... soap : sabuni
... shampoo : shampoo ya nywele
... an analgesic : dawa ya kupambana na maumivu
... a cold medicine : dawa ya mafua
... medicine for the stomach : dawa ya tumbo
... a razor : wembe
... batteries : betri
... an umbrella : mwavuli
... of a parasol (sun) : mwavuli
... a sunscreen : X (pron.: X)
... a postcard : postkadi
... of an illustrated postcard : kisanamu
... postage stamps : stempu (stempu is invariable. If you need more than one, specify the desired number)
... writing paper : karatasi ya kuandika
... a pen : kalamu
... of a book (s) : kitabu / vitabu
... of a magazine (s) : jarida / majarida
... of a newspaper / newspapers : gazeti / magazeti
... books in French : vitabu vya Kimfaransa
... magazines in French : majarida vya Kimfaransa
... of fashion magazines : majarida la mitindo ya mavazi
... a newspaper in French : gazeti la Kimfaransa
... from a French-Swahili dictionary : kamusi ya Kimfaransa-Kiswahili
... of a pack of cigarettes : kifurushi ya misokoto
... tobacco : msokoto wa tumbaku

Drive

I would like to rent a car. : Ninataka kukodi gari.
Can I be insured? : Ninaweza kupata bima?
Stop! : on a panel (pron.: Simama!)
One Way ! : Njia moja!

Parking forbidden ! : Hairuhusiwi kuegesha!

gas station : stesheni
gasoline : mafuta
diesel : dizeli

Authority

I did not do anything wrong. : Sijafanya kitu kibaya.
It is a mistake ! : Neither kosa!
Where are you taking me? : Ambapo ni wewe kuchukua yangu?
Am I under arrest? : mimi chini ya kukamatwa?
I am a French / Belgian / Swiss / Canadian citizen. : Mimi ni Mfaransa / Mbelgiji / Mswisi / Mkanada.
I have to speak to the French / Belgian / Swiss / Canadian embassy. : mimi haja ya kuzungumza na ubalozi wa Ufaransa / Ubelgiji / Uswisi / Kanada.
I would like to speak to a lawyer. : nataka kuogea na wakili.
Could I just pay a fine? : X (pron.: X)

Animals

donkey : punda
buffalo : nyati
cat : paka
goat : mbuzi
dog : mbwa
pig : nguruwe
crocodile : mamba
elephant : ndovu / tembo
giraffe : twiga
wildebeest : nyumbu
cheetah : duma
hippopotamus : kiboko
hyena : fisi
impala : swala
leopard : chui
Lion : simba
lycaon : mbwa mwitu
sheep : kondoo
bird : ndege

ostrich : mbuni

peacock : tausi

parrot : dura

parrot (female) : kibibi

parrot jaco : kasuku

warthog : ngiri
fish : samaki

anchovy : dagaa

barracuda : tengesi / mzira

blue marlin : sulisuli

black marlin : nduara

catfish : vua samaki

shark : dad

Salmon : samoni

tuna : jodari

tilapia : kumba

chicken : kuku

rooster : jogoo

Chick : kifaranga

rat : panya
rhinoceros : kirafu
snake : nyoka

cobra : fira

black mamba : futa

green mamba : hongo

python : chatu

viper : moma

monkey : kima

baboon : nyani

brazza : karasinga

chimpanzee : sokwe

colobus : mbega

gorilla : sokwe mtu

nodding : kima puti

vervet : tumbili / ngedere

sea ​​turtle : kasa
land turtle : kobe
cow / ox : ng'ombe

Taurus : ng'ombe dume

zebra : punda-milia

Deepen

• Polyglot Internet  – French-Swahili / Swahili-French online dictionary with pronunciation of words. (last update March 2018)
• Freelang.com  – French-Swahili / Swahili-French downloadable dictionary. (last update March 2018)