Kiswahili words:

Here you can find some kiswahili words with translation into English. They will give you the possibility to greet Tanzanian people in their own language. This is a nice way of getting to know the country and Tanzanian people tend to see it as a way of showing respect to their culture.

Please feel free to e-mail us more translations into different languages, who wil be included on the website after we have verified them (we do not want to take the risk of putting unchecked items on our website).

Karibusana: welcome
Asanté: thank you
Asanté Sana: thank you very much
Jambo: hello
Kalibut tsjakula: welcome food (to show you are happy when the food is presented to you)
Asante kwatsjakula: thank you for the food (after you have finished the meal)
Tsjakula zikurisan: have a nice meal
Kwaheri: goodbye
Hapana: no
Ndio: yes
Wazungu: a not-african person
Mafrican: an african person
Mtanzanian: a tanzanian person
Hapana, asanté: no, thank you (very usefull to show people you are not interested in what they are offering you - especially on the streets)
Habari: how are you
Nzuri: good (in reply to "how are you")
Habari yako: and how are you?
Conversation (arrow= other person speaking): Harabi? -> Nzuri, habariyako? -> Nzurisana!
Translation of the conversation: How are you? -> Fine, and how are you? -> Very Nice!