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