Monday, April 15, 2013

Swahili 001 - The Essential Basics


To get the most out of your time at Haydom Lutheran Hospital (HLH), I would recommend learning some Swahili. I feel it's not only important to be polite, but also to embrace a key part of Tanzania culture. Not to mention as you progress it will help you on the wards.

For this lesson we will start off with some basic greetings, and phrases that any traveler to Tanzania should know. All the material I've either learnt during my stay in Haydom or picked up from various books. You might notice that what I have here occasionally differs to what you read elsewhere. This is because I'm largely just presenting the most simplest way of saying things. So this is basically a Crash Course in Swahili.

Ndiyo
Yes

Hapana
No

Greetings
Hello. (to one person);
Hujambo (response: Sijambo – I'm fine)

Hello. (to a group) :
Hamjambo (response: Hatujambo – We're fine)

Hello to an older person or authority figure.
Shikamoo (shee-kah-moh) (response: Marahaba).

Hello to people you know well and generally younger people
Mambo (response: Poa (cool), Poa kichizi kama ndizi (crazy cool like a banana) )

In more formal situations you should add titles when you are addressing people.

For examine saying hello to a male you can say;
Hujambo, bwana? (Bwana = sir, Mr, gentlemen)

For females you can use either;
Bibi or Mama. Mama tends to be more commonly used in Haydom.

Kwa heri
Goodbye

Asante
Thank you

Asante, sana
Thank you very much

Karibu
Welcome, come in, your welcome

Karibu sana
Your very welcome.

How are you?
There are a number of different ways to say how are you. Here I've listed the most common ones. Also note that you can often just say Habari, to ask how are you.

Habari Gani?
What news?

Habari ya asubuhi?
How are you this morning?

Habari ya mchana?
How are you this afternoon?

Habari ya jioni?
How are you this evening?

Nzuri, asante.
Fine, thank you.

And you?
Na wewe?

Tell them about you
Jina langu ni …...
My name is …....

Ninatoka …... (e.g. Australia)
I come from …..... (e.g. Australia)

Mimi ni Australian
I am Australian

And the questions they will ask to find out more about you.

Jina lako ni nani?
What is your name?

Unatoka wapi?
Where are you from?

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