Basic Swahili words for beginners
– Essential words to know –
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Learn the essentials of Swahili easily with this vocabulary list that contains all the most basic words used in Swahili, with their english translations. If you’re a beginner, it will come in handy to review or learn Swahili by yourself before traveling, or if you want to enrich and improve your Swahili vocabulary to better express yourself in writing and speaking!
Do you spot any errors or want to add a vocabulary word to the list? Don’t hesitate to leave a comment to improve the site!
| ENGLISH | SWAHILI |
| Please | Tafadhali |
| Thank you! | Asante! |
| Sorry! | Samahani! |
| What? | Kile? |
| Who? | Ambao? |
| When? | Wakati? |
| Why? | Sababu? |
| Which? | Ambayo? |
| How? | Jinsi? |
| Where ? | Ambapo? |
| How much ? | Kiasi gani? |
| Yes | Ndiyo |
| No | La |
| Maybe | Labda |
| Of course | Bila shaka |
| something | Kitu |
| nothing | Kitu |
| somebody | Mtu |
| nobody | Hakuna |
| before | Kabla |
| after | Baada |
| far | Mbali |
| near | Karibu |
| here | Hapa |
| there | Huko |
| today | Leo |
| tomoorow | kesho |
| now | Sasa |
| man | Mtu |
| woman | Mwanamke |
| friend | Rafiki |
| more | Zaidi |
| less | Chini |
| always | Daima |
| later | Baadaye |
| never | Kamwe |
| same | Sawa |
| different | Tofauti |
| small | Ndogo |
| large | Kubwa |
| difficult | Vigumu |
| easy | Rahisi |
| hot | Moto |
| cold | Baridi |
| yesterday | Jana |
| after | Baada |
| beautiful | Nzuri |
| broken | Kuvunjwa |
| free | Bure |
| a pharmacy | duka la dawa |
| money | Fedha |
| a bag | mfuko |
| a lighter | nyepesi |
| a cigarette | sigara |
| a bottle | chupa |
| soap | Sabuni |
| clean | Safi |
| dirty | Chafu |
| a trash can | kopo la takataka |
| a trash bag | mfuko wa takataka |
| the silence | Ukimya |
| a tool | chombo |
| pregnant | Wajawazito |
| sick | Wagonjwa |
| a baby | mtoto |
| a little bit | Kidogo tu |
| a doctor | daktari |
| a dentist | daktari wa meno |
| a medicine | dawa |
| a book | kitabu |
| a story | hadithi |
| a phone | simu |
| a computer | kompyuta |
| a car | gari |
| a plane | ndege |
| the name | jina |
| the adress | Adress |
| the age | umri |
| the nationality | Utaifa |
| a choice | uchaguzi |
| an answer | Jibu |
| the key | Ufunguo |
| the light | Nuru |
| the television | Televisheni |
| the bed | kitanda |
| the house | Nyumba |
| the shower | Kuoga |
| the window | dirisha |
| the door | Mlango |
| the table | Jedwali |
| tired | Uchovu |
| water | Maji |
| open | Fungua |
| closed | Imefungwa |
| clothes | Nguo |
| coffee | Kahawa |
| tea | Chai |
| lunch | chakula cha mchana |
| dinner | chakula cha jioni |
| a fruit | tunda |
| a vegetable | mboga |
| a beverage | kinywaji |
| a child | mtoto |
| rain | Mvua |
| the entrance | mlango wa kuingilia |
| the exit | Kutoka |
| music | Muziki |
| a smile | tabasamu |
| the world | Ulimwengu |
| the sky | Anga |
| a river | mto |
| the sea | Bahari |
| the mountain | Mlima |
| the lake | ziwa |
| the island | Kisiwa |
| the beach | Pwani |
➡️ More Swahili vocabulary lists:
- Greetings
- 100 most common Swahili verbs
- Useful adverbs
- Useful adjectives
- Family and friends
- The city and public places
- The human body, head and face
- Contrary words
- Travel and tourism
- The calendar (days, months, seasons)
- Colors and shapes
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