Travel Swahili: Must-Know Phrases for Beginners

 

Scenario & Situation	Must-Use Words / Key Vocabulary	Practice Questions / Tasks
✈️ AIRPORT (ARRIVAL / HELP DESK) Just arrived in Tanzania and needs help	Words / Phrases: samahani, tafadhali, naomba, nisaidie / unaweza kunisaidia, iko wapi Key Vocabulary: uwanja wa ndege, choo, mizigo, hoteli, teksi	• Ask where the toilet is • Ask for help with luggage • Ask where to get a taxi • Ask how to find the hotel
🚖 TAXI / BODA / TRANSPORT Needs to get to her hotel	Words / Phrases: samahani, naomba, tafadhali, unipeleke / nipeleke, hadi Key Vocabulary: hoteli, bei, pesa, safari, karibu / sawa	• Ask the driver to take you to the hotel • Ask how much the fare is • Ask how long the trip will take • Confirm if the price is OK
🏨 HOTEL CHECK-IN Arrives at hotel reception	Words / Phrases: samahani, naomba, tafadhali, nina / sina, asante sana Key Vocabulary: chumba, funguo, maji, choo, Wi-Fi	• Ask if a room is available • Ask for the room key • Ask if the room has water and a toilet • Ask if there is Wi-Fi
🍽️ RESTAURANT / FOOD Ordering food politely	Words / Phrases: naomba, tafadhali, niletee, nina njaa, nina kiu Key Vocabulary: chakula, maji, chai, ugali, wali, nyama	• Order a drink • Order food • Ask for a specific dish (e.g., ugali & sukuma wiki) • Ask for the bill
🗺️ ASKING FOR DIRECTIONS Lost and asks a stranger	Words / Phrases: samahani, tafadhali, unaweza, iko wapi, asante Key Vocabulary: choo, hoteli, benki, duka, barabara	• Ask where the hotel is • Ask where the bank is • Ask where the toilet is • Ask where a shop is
🛒 SHOP / MARKET Buying something small	Words / Phrases: naomba, tafadhali, nipe, bei gani, asante Key Vocabulary: maji, matunda, ndizi, pesa, chenji	• Ask for an item (e.g., ndizi) • Ask the price • Ask for water • Ask for the change
⚠️ PROBLEM / CLARIFICATION Didn’t understand / something goes wrong	Words / Phrases: samahani, sijaelewa, tafadhali rudia, polepole, nisaidie Key Vocabulary: tena, kidogo, vizuri, sawa	• Ask someone to repeat • Ask them to speak slowly • Ask for help politely • Indicate you don’t understand

QUICK NOTES: “TO BE” (kuwa) and “TO HAVE” (kuwa na)

1. “TO BE” — kuwa

A. Present tense: NI (am / is / are)

In Kiswahili, ni is used to talk about:

• who someone is
• what something is
• what something is like

Examples you may use while travelling:

• Mimi ni mgeni.
  (I am a visitor.)
• Mimi ni rafiki wa Asha.
  (I am Asha’s friend.)
• Huyu ni rafiki yangu.
  (This is my friend.)
• Huu ni mradi wa wanawake.
  (This is a women’s project.)
• Chakula hiki ni kitamu.
  (This food is delicious.)
• Wanawake ni wachapa kazi.
  (The women are hardworking.)

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B. Past and Future (for understanding)

• alikuwa = was
• atakuwa = will be

Examples:

• Mradi ulikuwa mzuri.
  (The project was good.)
• Chakula kitakuwa tayari kesho.
  (The food will be ready tomorrow.)

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C. Negative “to be” — SI

• Mimi si mtalii.
  (I am not a tourist.)
• Hii si hoteli.
  (This is not a hotel.)
• Wao si wauzaji.
  (They are not sellers.)

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2. “TO HAVE” — kuwa na

This verb is very useful for travel.

Structure:

Subject + na + thing

Examples you may use:

• Nina pasipoti.
  (I have a passport.)
• Nina rafiki Tanzania.
  (I have a friend in Tanzania.)
• Tuna chakula.
  (We have food.)
• Wanawake wana mradi.
  (The women have a project.)
• Wanawake wana chakula endelevu.
  (The women have sustainable food.)

Negative:

• Sina pesa nyingi.
  (I do not have much money.)
• Hatuna muda.
  (We do not have time.)

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3. COMMON PHRASES YOU CAN SAY

• Mimi ni mgeni, lakini nina rafiki hapa.
  (I am a visitor, but I have a friend here.)
• Tunatembelea mradi wa wanawake.
  (We are visiting a women’s project.)
• Wanawake wana chakula cha watalii.
  (The women have food for tourists.)

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4. PRACTICE EXERCISE

Use NI / SI / NINA / TUNA / WANA

1. Mimi ___ mgeni.
2. Mimi ___ rafiki Tanzania.
3. Huu ___ mradi wa wanawake.
4. Wanawake ___ chakula endelevu.
5. Chakula hiki ___ kitamu.
6. Mimi ___ mtalii.
7. Sisi ___ chakula cha kuuza.
8. Wao ___ pesa nyingi.

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Make your own sentences

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