Swahili Phrases for Travellers: Greetings, Safari Words and Etiquette

By the Paramount Gorilla Expeditions Team · Last updated 31 October 2026

Swahili phrases for travellers make a safari warmer, easier and more respectful, because a greeting in Swahili opens doors from the Serengeti to Zanzibar and from Nairobi to the border villages of Uganda and Rwanda. This guide gives the greetings, polite words, numbers, prices, times, safari animals, food orders and emergency phrases you will actually use, with simple pronunciation, a note on where Swahili is spoken and where it is not, and a seven-day plan to learn the essentials before you fly.

Quick answer

Which Swahili phrases for travellers should you learn first? Learn six words and one habit. The words are Hujambo (hello), Asante (thank you), Tafadhali (please), Karibu (welcome), Pole (sorry, or take care) and Kwaheri (goodbye). The habit is to greet first, every time, before you ask a question, order food or start a conversation. In Swahili-speaking places a greeting is not small talk, it is how a request begins.

Swahili is the everyday language of mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar, widely spoken across Kenya, and a useful market and border language elsewhere in the region. In Uganda and Rwanda, English and the local languages matter more, so learn a few words of Luganda or Kinyarwanda too; there is a short section on them in Chapter 11. English is widely understood by guides, lodges and hotels in all five destinations, so you will never be stranded, but your driver-guide, your cook and the people at the village market will remember the traveller who tried.

Swahili phrases for travellers at a glance

Chapter 01 — Where is Swahili spoken, and why does it matter on safari?

What is Swahili? Swahili, called Kiswahili in Swahili, is a Bantu language with centuries of contact with Arabic, which is why many words, safari among them, come from Arabic. UNESCO says it has more than 200 million speakers across East, Central and Southern Africa, and in 2021 UNESCO proclaimed 7 July as World Kiswahili Language Day. The African Union lists Kiswahili among the official languages of the Union and all its institutions.

Where will you hear it? In Tanzania, on the mainland and on Zanzibar, it is what most people speak to each other in daily life. In Kenya it is the common language between communities, mixed in cities with English and slang. In Uganda and Rwanda, English, Luganda, Kinyarwanda and other languages carry most conversation, and Swahili is heard in markets, border towns and some workplaces. Zanzibar also has its own Swahili council, BAKIZA, established by Zanzibar law in 2004, which shows how much the language is part of the island's identity.

Why does it matter on safari? Your driver-guide speaks English with you and Swahili with colleagues, lodge staff and villagers. A greeting changes how you are treated, whether you are buying a carving, asking directions or meeting a family at a cultural visit. It also helps you follow what is happening when a guide spots an animal and calls it out to a colleague. Our guide to Maasai cultural visits explains how to behave and what to ask in a village, and our responsible safari travel guide covers respectful behaviour more widely.

Chapter 02 — Pronunciation in five minutes

Is Swahili easy to pronounce? Yes, because it is written the way it sounds. Learn these rules and you can read any word aloud.

• Five pure vowels. a as in father, e as in bed, i as in machine, o as in more, u as in rule. Every vowel is sounded, so Kwaheri is kwa-HEH-ree and Pole is PO-leh.
• Stress the second-to-last syllable. Hujambo is hu-JAM-bo, Asante is a-SAN-te, Tafadhali is ta-fa-DHA-li.
• Double vowels are held longer. Choo (toilet) is a long o.
• Letter pairs. ch as in chair, sh as in shop, dh as the th in this, th as in thing, gh as a soft throaty g, and ng' (with the apostrophe) as the ng in singer.
• Starting consonant clusters. mb, nd, ng and nj at the start of a word are said as one sound with a quick hum before it, so mbili (two) starts with a soft m, and ndiyo (yes) with a soft n.
• Nothing is silent. Hapana is ha-PA-na, with the h sounded.

Practice tip. Say the words slowly and evenly. Swahili has no heavy stress, and a clear steady rhythm is better than speed.

Chapter 03 — Greetings and polite words

How do you greet someone in Swahili? Greetings are the most important of all Swahili phrases for travellers. People ask how you are, how your family is and how your day is before they ask for anything.

The elder's greeting. Shikamoo is a mark of respect to someone clearly older than you, and the reply is Marahaba. It is used widely in Tanzania and Zanzibar and is appreciated when you use it with an older guide, host or village elder. If you are unsure, Hujambo is always safe.

Why do people say Jambo? Many visitors hear Jambo first, because staff use it with tourists. Hujambo is the fuller form and the one to learn. Mambo vipi? and the reply Poa are the informal greeting you will hear among younger people in cities.

Greetings by time of day. Habari za asubuhi? is how is the morning, Habari za mchana? the afternoon and Habari za jioni? the evening. The reply to all is Nzuri, Salama or Njema, and you can return the question with Na wewe? (and you?).

Never skip the greeting. Starting a request without a greeting can come across as brusque. Say Hujambo, wait for the reply, ask how they are, then ask your question.

Chapter 04 — Introducing yourself and basic conversation

These Swahili phrases for travellers cover the first minute of any conversation.

Question words. Nini what, nani who, wapi where, lini when, kwa nini why, vipi how, ngapi how many or how much, gani which or what kind. With these you can build dozens of questions: Bei gani? (what price), Saa ngapi? (what time), Wapi? (where).

Polite requests. Use Naomba (I request) or Tafadhali before asking: Naomba maji (water, please), Naomba bili (the bill, please), Naomba kupiga picha? (may I take a photo?). Asking before taking a person's photo is basic courtesy everywhere.

Chapter 05 — Numbers, money and bargaining

Learn the numbers to ten. Prices, times and quantities all depend on them.

Tens and hundreds. 11 is kumi na moja (ten and one), and 12 is kumi na mbili. 20 is ishirini, 30 thelathini, 40 arobaini, 50 hamsini, 60 sitini, 70 sabini, 80 themanini, 90 tisini, 100 mia moja and 1,000 elfu moja. A price of 5,000 shillings is elfu tano, and 15,000 is elfu kumi na tano.

Money words. Pesa is money, shilingi is shilling, bei is price, ghali is expensive, rahisi is cheap or easy, punguza is reduce and chenji is change. Our safari tipping guide explains who to tip and how much, and our travel information pages for Tanzania and Kenya cover currency and cash.

Bargaining phrases.

• Bei gani? How much is it?
• Ni ghali sana. It is very expensive.
• Punguza kidogo. Reduce it a little.
• Bei ya mwisho? Final price?
• Sawa, nitachukua. Okay, I'll take it.
• Hapana, asante. No, thank you.

Bargain with a smile. Bargaining is normal at craft markets and with street sellers, but not in shops with fixed prices, restaurants, lodges or when paying park or permit fees. Start with a greeting, keep the tone friendly, and walk away politely if the price does not suit you. Pay what you agreed.

Chapter 06 — Days, times and the Swahili clock

What is the Swahili clock? Swahili time counts the hours from sunrise, not midnight, so the Swahili hour differs from the clock on your phone by six hours. Saa moja (one o'clock) means 7 am, saa mbili means 8 am, and so on. This matters on safari, because a guide who says "saa mbili" may mean 8 am. Always confirm the time in English by saying the clock hour as well.

Useful time words. Leo today, kesho tomorrow, jana yesterday, asubuhi morning, mchana afternoon, jioni evening, usiku night. Ask Tunaondoka saa ngapi kesho? for "What time do we leave tomorrow?" Then check the answer against your own watch.

Days of the week. Jumatatu Monday, Jumanne Tuesday, Jumatano Wednesday, Alhamisi Thursday, Ijumaa Friday, Jumamosi Saturday and Jumapili Sunday.

Chapter 07 — Safari words: animals, places and what to say in the vehicle

What are the animals called in Swahili? The Big Five and the animals you are most likely to see have simple names. Our guides to where to see the Big Five and Big Five versus Big Nine say where each lives.

Places. Hifadhi ya taifa is national park, mbuga is plain or savanna, msitu forest, mlima mountain, ziwa lake, mto river and bahari sea. Safari itself is the Swahili word for journey, and Safari njema is a wish for a good one. Our guides to the Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Kilimanjaro cover the places themselves.

In the vehicle. Your guide will use some of these words, and you can use them too.

• Angalia! Look!
• Tazama! Look, watch!
• Hapo! There!
• Kimya. Quiet.
• Polepole. Slowly.
• Simama. Stop.
• Tuende. Let's go.
• Tunaweza kuona simba? Can we see lions?
• Tuna bahati! We are lucky!
• Hatari. Danger.

Learn the animals on the tour. Ask Hii inaitwaje? (What is this called?) at each sighting. Guides enjoy teaching, and you will leave with twenty words you actually use. Our tree-climbing lions guide and birding safari guide are good places to start.

Chapter 08 — Food, drink and dietary needs

What do you ask for at a table? Use Naomba (I'd like) with the word for what you want. Our East African food guide explains what the dishes are.

Useful food phrases.

• Naomba menyu. The menu, please.
• Naomba maji ya kunywa. Drinking water, please.
• Sili nyama. I don't eat meat.
• Sili samaki. I don't eat fish.
• Sina mzio. I have no allergy, and Nina mzio wa karanga means I'm allergic to peanuts.
• Bila pilipili, tafadhali. No chilli, please.
• Ni tamu sana. It is very delicious.
• Nimeshiba. I'm full.
• Naomba bili. The bill, please.

Say it in writing too. The most useful of all Swahili phrases for travellers with allergies is the one on a card. If you have a serious allergy, write it on a card in English and Swahili and show it to the cook and the guide, as well as telling the lodge when you book. Our guide for older travellers explains why lodges need dietary needs in advance.

Chapter 09 — Getting around, asking for help and emergencies

Directions and transport. Kushoto is left, kulia is right, moja kwa moja is straight ahead, mbele is forward, nyuma is behind, hapa is here and pale is there. Barabara is road, basi is bus, teksi is taxi, pikipiki is motorbike and uwanja wa ndege is airport.

Useful phrases.

• Choo kiko wapi? Where is the toilet?
• Hospitali iko wapi? Where is the hospital?
• Naomba nipelekwe... Please take me to... (name the place)
• Simama hapa, tafadhali. Stop here, please.
• Nimepotea. I am lost.
• Ni mbali? Is it far?
• Tunaondoka saa ngapi? What time do we leave?

Emergencies. Learn these three before you travel: Msaada! (Help!), Naumwa (I am sick) and Nahitaji daktari (I need a doctor). Also useful are polisi (police), hospitali (hospital), dawa (medicine) and haraka (quickly). In an emergency, tell your driver-guide or lodge first and use English if it is faster. Our guides to staying safe and to safari travel insurance and evacuation explain what to do, and our SIM card and WiFi guide explains how to stay reachable.

If you drive yourself. Road signs are usually in English, but police and rural people will speak Swahili. Learn Hujambo, nimepotea (hello, I'm lost) and Naomba maelekezo (directions, please). Our self drive safari guide covers the rest.

Chapter 10 — Regional flavours, signs and short dialogues

Kenya, Tanzania and Zanzibar sound different. The same Swahili phrases for travellers work in all three, but the street language varies. In Kenya, especially in Nairobi, you will hear Sasa? as a greeting (reply Poa) and a mix of Swahili and English slang. In Tanzania you will hear Mambo vipi? and the reply Poa, and safi (clean) used to mean great. On Zanzibar Shikamoo and Pole pole are everywhere. If you stick to Hujambo, Habari and Asante, you will be understood in all three.

Words you will meet on Zanzibar. Kisiwa is island, pwani is coast, Mji Mkongwe is the old town (Stone Town), dau is a dhow, ngalawa is an outrigger canoe, viungo are spices, karafuu is cloves and kanga is the printed cloth many women wear. Our Zanzibar add-on guide explains how the island fits after a safari.

Two small words that unlock a lot. Kuna means there is, and hakuna means there is not. That is why Hakuna matata means no problems and Hakuna shida means no trouble. Ask Kuna maji? (Is there water?) or Kuna mboga? (Are there vegetables?) and you will get a quick answer.

Words you will see on signs and menus.

Three short dialogues. Read them aloud once before you travel.

Meeting your guide.

• Guide: Hujambo! Karibu Tanzania. (Hello! Welcome to Tanzania.)
• You: Sijambo, asante. Habari yako? (I'm fine, thank you. How are you?)
• Guide: Nzuri sana. Jina langu ni Juma. (Very good. My name is Juma.)
• You: Nimefurahi kukutana nawe, Juma. (Pleased to meet you, Juma.)

At a craft market.

• You: Hujambo. Bei gani hii? (Hello. How much is this?)
• Seller: Elfu kumi. (Ten thousand.)
• You: Ni ghali sana. Punguza kidogo? (It's very expensive. Reduce it a little?)
• Seller: Elfu nane. (Eight thousand.)
• You: Sawa, nitachukua. Asante. (Okay, I'll take it. Thank you.)

At the lodge dinner.

• You: Naomba maji ya kunywa, tafadhali. (Drinking water, please.)
• Waiter: Sawa. Karibu. (Okay. Welcome.)
• You: Sili nyama. Kuna mboga? (I don't eat meat. Are there vegetables?)
• Waiter: Ndiyo, kuna wali na maharage. (Yes, there is rice and beans.)

Chapter 11 — A few words for Uganda and Rwanda

Do you need Swahili in Uganda and Rwanda? Not much. English is the language of tourism, and local languages carry daily life. A few words in the local language earn more goodwill than Swahili does, so learn these. Ask your guide to check your pronunciation.

Where each is used. Luganda is the main language around Kampala and Entebbe and across much of central Uganda. Other regions of Uganda have their own languages, and your guide will tell you what to say in each. Kinyarwanda is spoken across Rwanda. Our guides to Kampala and Uganda explain the places.

Chapter 12 — Etiquette: greetings, photos and manners

Greet before you ask. Always. Even a short Hujambo before a question changes the tone.

Use the right hand. Give, receive and eat with the right hand, which is the polite hand in many communities.

Ask before photographing people. Naomba kupiga picha? If the answer is no, accept it with a smile and say Asante. Some communities ask for a small fee or a gift, and some do not want to be photographed at all.

Dress modestly in towns and villages. Cover shoulders and knees, especially on Zanzibar and in coastal areas where many communities are Muslim.

Slow down. Pole pole is more than a phrase: it is a pace. Rushing a conversation is rude, and meetings, meals and transfers take their time.

Respect elders. Greet them first, with Shikamoo where it fits, and let them lead the conversation.

Mzungu. The word means a foreigner or a white person, and it is often friendly, particularly from children, so you do not need to react either way. Smile and say Hujambo.

Chapter 13 — How to learn Swahili phrases for travellers in seven days

1. Day one: learn the greeting table and the pronunciation rules, and say Hujambo, habari yako? aloud ten times.
2. Day two: learn Asante, Tafadhali, Samahani, Pole and Kwaheri, and use them in your day.
3. Day three: learn the numbers to ten and say your phone number in Swahili.
4. Day four: learn the questions Bei gani?, Wapi? and Saa ngapi?
5. Day five: learn the Big Five and five more animals.
6. Day six: learn the food and drink words and the phrase Sili nyama, if you need it.
7. Day seven: learn the three emergency phrases and practise the Swahili clock.

Tools. Use these Swahili phrases for travellers aloud rather than only reading them. Record yourself, play native speakers on a language app or video and repeat. Download a phrase list for offline use, because signal drops in parks. Our packing list and first-time safari planning guide cover the rest of the preparation.

Chapter 14 — Checklist

• Greetings and polite words practised aloud
• Numbers to ten and the Swahili clock understood
• Big Five names learned
• Food phrases and allergy card ready if needed
• Three emergency phrases memorised
• Offline phrase list saved on your phone
• Local-language greeting for Uganda or Rwanda, if you are going there
• Small notes for tips and for market purchases
• A smile, and patience

Mistakes to avoid and local tips

1. Skipping the greeting. It is the most important word.
2. Mixing up Swahili time. Saa moja is 7 am. Confirm the clock hour.
3. Using Jambo as your only word. Learn Hujambo and the reply.
4. Rushing. Pole pole. Slow down.
5. Photographing without asking. Ask first.
6. Bargaining at fixed-price shops. Bargain at crafts markets only.
7. Overusing Hakuna matata. It is real, but most locals say Hakuna shida or just Sawa.
8. Expecting Swahili everywhere. In Uganda and Rwanda, learn Luganda or Kinyarwanda greetings.
9. Giving gifts to children on the street. Ask your guide how to give to schools or community projects instead.
10. Being afraid to get it wrong. People are delighted by the attempt.
11. Not asking your guide. Your driver-guide is your best teacher.

Our view

You do not need fluent Swahili to enjoy East Africa, but a handful of well-chosen Swahili phrases for travellers changes how people treat you, and it is free. Learn the greeting, the thanks and the numbers, ask your guide to teach you the animals, and use what you learn every day. When you tell us where you are going, we will say which languages you will meet and which phrases will matter most on your route, whether that is the Serengeti on our classic Serengeti and Ngorongoro safari or a longer multi-country trip.

Official pages we used

These are the official bodies and pages behind the facts above. Check them again close to your travel date.

• UNESCO: World Kiswahili Language Day
• African Union: official languages
• Baraza la Kiswahili la Zanzibar (BAKIZA)