
Tania Capel
Easy Phrases in Kiswahili

I'll start by saying that Kiswahili is a very easy langauage so it really is worth while learning the basics to break that barrier with the locals - you will most certainly feel the openess of the locals meanwhile gaining trust.
It goes a long way, when you can say more than "Hakuna Matata"
Here are some easy phrases that will help you feel more like a local:
Greetings
Hello: mambo / salama (more common on the coast)
Good morning: habari ya asubuhi
How are you?: habari gani?
Very fine (response): mzuri sana
Goodbye: kwaheri
See you later: tutaonana / badai
Nice to meet you: nafurahi kukuona
Goodnight: lala salama
Basics Phrases
Yes: ndiyo
No: hapana
Thank you: asante
Thank you very much: asante sana
Please: tafadhali
OK: sawa sawa
Just a little bit: kidogo tu
Where is the...?: ni wapi...?
There: huko
Over there: pale
Numbers - perfect when dealing with money
1: moja
2: mbili
3: tatu
4: nne
5: tano
6: sita
7: saba
8: nane
9: tisa
10: kumi
11: kumi na moja (ten and one)
12: kumi na mbili (ten and two)
20: ishirini
21: ishirni na moja (twenty and one)
30: thelathini
40: arobaini
50: hamsini
60: sitini
70: sabini
80: themanini
90: tisini
100: mia
200: mia mbili
1000: elfu