Twelve Swahili Phrases to Learn Before You Land

You don’t need Swahili to travel in Tanzania. Guides and hotel staff speak excellent English. But a few words, said with a smile, change the way people respond to you. Here are twelve to start with.

Jambo (hello) is the classic tourist greeting, and everyone will understand it. Locally you’ll also hear Habari (how are you?), answered with Nzuri (good) or Salama (peaceful). Mambo is a relaxed, youthful greeting, and the reply is Poa (cool).

Karibu means welcome, and you’ll hear it everywhere. Asante means thank you, and Asante sana means thank you very much. Pole pole means slowly slowly, a way of life as much as a phrase. Safari simply means journey, and in Swahili it applies to any trip, not just ones with wildlife.

Then a few practical ones. Tafadhali is please. Samahani is excuse me or sorry. Hapana is no, and ndiyo is yes. If you refuse something politely, “hapana asante” (no thank you) goes a long way.

Hakuna matata is real Swahili, and it means no problem. But Tanzanians mostly use it with a grin for tourists, so don’t be surprised if your guide laughs when you say it. Try “hamna shida” for a more everyday way to say the same thing.

A tip: don’t worry about pronunciation. Swahili is wonderfully phonetic, and each vowel is pronounced clearly. Say it as it’s written and you’ll be understood. Your guide will almost certainly teach you more over the course of your trip, so ask. It’s one of the best parts of travelling with someone local.