Although Swahili takes its roots from the African Bantu language, it is heavily influenced by Arabic — a result of the long-standing trading relationships in the region — and many contemporary words are adapted from English.
Greetings | ||
Hello | ![]() |
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Good morning | ![]() |
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Good afternoon | ![]() |
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Good evening | ![]() |
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Good night | ![]() |
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Goodbye | ![]() |
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What is your name? | ![]() |
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My name is Michael Jordan. | ![]() |
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Politeness |
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Nice to meet you. | ![]() |
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How are you? | ![]() |
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Good, fine | ![]() |
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Bad | ![]() |
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So so | ![]() |
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Thank you | ![]() |
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Thank you very much | ![]() |
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You’re welcome | ![]() |
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Please | ![]() |
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Excuse me | ![]() |
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So long | ![]() |
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Yes | ![]() |
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No | ![]() |
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Common Phrases |
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I do not understand | ![]() |
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How do you say this in English? | ![]() |
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Do you speak English? | ![]() |
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I can speak Swahili! | ![]() |
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Where do you live? | ![]() |
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I am from the United States. | ![]() |
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I am American. | ![]() |
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Where is Mombasa? | ![]() |
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How much is the fare? | ![]() |
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One ticket to Nairobi, please. | ![]() |
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Where are you going? | ![]() |
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Where is the bathroom? | ![]() |
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Call the police! | ![]() |
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You are pretty. | ![]() |
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Happy Birthday! | ![]() |
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What time is it? | ![]() |
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1:45 | ![]() |
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Shopping |
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How much does this cost? | ![]() |
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What is this? | ![]() |
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I’ll buy it. | ![]() |
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I would like to buy some clothes. | ![]() |
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Do you have any bread? | ![]() |
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Do you accept credit cards? | ![]() |
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I’d like a cold beer. | ![]() |
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Cheers! | ![]() |
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Please bring the bill | ![]() |
Pronouns |
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I | ![]() |
Husband | ![]() |
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We | ![]() |
Daughter | ![]() |
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You (singular) | ![]() |
Son | ![]() |
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You (plural) | ![]() |
Mother | ![]() |
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They | ![]() |
Father | ![]() |
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Wife | ![]() |
Friend | ![]() |
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Quantity |
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Open | ![]() |
A lot | ![]() |
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Closed | ![]() |
All | ![]() |
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A little | ![]() |
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Food and Drink |
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Breakfast | ![]() |
Wine | ![]() |
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Lunch | ![]() |
Meat | ![]() |
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Dinner | ![]() |
Fruit | ![]() |
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Bread | ![]() |
Fruits | ![]() |
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Water | ![]() |
Salad | ![]() |
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Ice cream | ![]() |
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Transport |
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Train | ![]() |
Airport | ![]() |
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Bus | ![]() |
Train station | ![]() |
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Time and Dates |
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Day | ![]() |
Monday | ![]() |
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Week | ![]() |
Tuesday | ![]() |
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Month | ![]() |
Wednesday | ![]() |
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Year | ![]() |
Thursday | ![]() |
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Today | ![]() |
Friday | ![]() |
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Yesterday | ![]() |
Saturday | ![]() |
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Tomorrow | ![]() |
Sunday | ![]() |