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Swahili Survival Kit for

Visitors to Tanzania

CONTENTSGreetings 3Introducing Oneself 4Numbers 5Days of the week 5Family 6Directions 7Food & Restaurant 8At the market 11Taxi & Daladala 11Question words 14Slang 15Religious words 15 Culture notes 16Ugali 17

SWAHILI & CULTURETRAINERSKIU

K i s w a h i l i n a U t a m a d u n i

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Swahili Survival Kit For Expatriates and Visitors to Tanzania is prepared by KIU Swahili and Culture Trainers. KIU provides Swahili language training, cultural training, translation / interpretation services and educational material to help people get the most out of their stay in the land of a thousand Karibu! (welcome)

E: info@swahilicourses.co.tz T: +255 739 921510 / +255 754 271263. / +255 713 440045.

Web:www.swahilicourses.co.tz

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Swahili is an easy language to learn. There are no real difficulties of pronunciation and none of spelling. There are only 24 letters in the Swahili alphabet, Q and X being absent

GREETINGS SALAMU Are you ok? Hujambo?I am fine SijamboHow are you ? Habari?Fine Nzuri/NjemaAre you in peace? Salama?I’m fine SalamaWhat’s up? Mambo?Everything’s cool Poa See you later Tutaonana baadaye.Good bye KwaheriI am happy to meet you Nimefurahi kukuonaShikamoo I respect you elder.Marahaba I appreciate

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INTRODUCING ONESELF KUJITAMBULISHAWhat is your name? Jina lako ni nani?My name is ............ Jina langu ni ..............I am called ....................... Ninaitwa / Naitwa ...................... Where are you from? Unatoka wapi?I am from Europe/America/Asia/Australia Ninatoka Ulaya/Amerika/Asia/AustraliaWhere are you working? Unafanya kazi wapi?I am working at school Ninafanya kazi shuleniI’m a teacher, and you? Mimi ni mwalimu. na wewe?I’m a doctor Mimi ni daktari wHAT DO YOU DO? UNAFANYA NINI ?I am a volunteer Mimi ni mfanyakazi wa kujitoleaI am working with UNDP Ninafanya kazi UNDPI’am staying in a hotel Ninakaa hoteliniI am learning Swahili Ninajifunza Kiswahili.What are you doing ? Unafanya nini?Tomorrow, I will go to town Kesho, nitakwenda mjiniFarmer MkulimaBusinessman / woman MfanyabiasharaDo you speak Swahili / English? Je, unasema Kiswahili / Kiingereza?No / Yes Hapana / Ndiyo

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(NUMBERS) NAMBA 0 - 1,0000 Sifuri 10 Kumi 11 Kumi na moja1 Moja 20 Ishirini 15 Kumi na tano2 Mbili 30 Thelathini 27 Ishirini na saba3 Tatu 40 Arobaini 49 Arobaini na tisa4 Nne 50 Hamsini 58 Hamsini na nane5 Tano 60 Sitini 99 Tisini na tisa6 Sita 70 Sabini 111 Mia moja kumi na moja7 Saba 80 Themanini 800 Mia nane8 Nane 90 Tisini 999 Mia tisa tisini na tisa9 Tisa 100 Mia moja 1,000 Elfu moja

DAYS OF THE wEEK SIKU ZA JUMAMonday JumatatuTuesday JumanneWednesday JumatanoThursday AlhamisiFriday IjumaaSaturday JumamosiSunday Jumapili

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TIMES OF THE DAY NYAKATI ZA SIKUmorning asubuhiafternoon mchanaevening jioninight usiku FAMILY FAMILIAbrother kakasister dadafather babamother mamachild mtotowife mkehusband mume USEFUL PHRASES:I want water Ninataka maji.You will go home. Utakwenda nyumbani.I am able to speak English. Ninaweza kusema Kiingereza.What can I help you? Nikusaidie nini? Goodbye, welcome again. Kwaheri, karibu tena.Have you understood? Umeelewa?

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DIRECTIONS MAELEKEZOLeft KushotoRight KuliaStraight ahead Moja kwa mojaTurn right Pinda kuliaExcuse me,where is the Bank / Post? Samahani, Benki / Posta iko wapi?I am lost NimepoteaIs it far? Ni mbali?Show me on the map Nioneshe kwenye ramaniNo through way Hakuna njiaStop / stand up Simama BASIC DIALOGUES / SENTENCESAfrican life is different from Europe. Maisha ya Afrika ni tofauti na UlayaPlease repeat. Tafadhali rudiaI don’t know SijuiMay I come in? Hodi!Welcome KaribuI’m full NimeshibaI’m happy NimefurahiWhere is the toilet ? Choo kiko wapi?How do you say in Kiswahili …..? Unasemaje kwa Kiswahili …?Speak slowly Sema polepole I don’t understand Sielewi

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FOOD & RESTAURANTS What food would you like? Utapenda chakula gani?I’d like some chicken, salad and rice. Ninapenda kuku, saladi na wali.Thank you very much Asante sanaI’d like the bill Ninaomba bili.Your bill, sister /brother* Dada/Kaka, bili yako I would like vegetable with rice or chips Ninapenda mboga pamoja na wali au chipsiMay I have a chips omelette Ninaomba chipsi mayaiI don’t eat meat I just eat vegetables Sili nyama ninakula mboga.

* It’s common to address people, even strangers as brother - kaka, father - baba, sister - dada, mother - mama, grandmother - bibi.

food chakulatea chaiegg yaibread mkatepotatoes viaziwater majicoffee kahawa

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MALAIKA NAKUPENDA The angel I love you

Malaika nakupenda malaika x 2 The Angel I love you the angelNami nifanyeje, kijana mwenzio What shall I do, your fellow youthNashindwa na mali sina wee I have failed, I don’t have wealthNingekuoa malaika x 2 I would have married you the angel

Kidege hukuwaza kidege x 2 A Small bird, I think of you a Small bird,Ningekuoa mama I would have married you motherNingekuoa dada I would have married you sisterNashindwa na mali sina wee I have failed, I don’t have wealthNingekuoa malaika x 2 I would have married you the angel

Pesa zasumbua roho yangu x 2 Money disturbs my soulNingekuoa dada I would have married you sisterNingekuoa mama I would have married you motherNashindwa na mali sina wee I have failed, I don’t have wealthNingekuoa malaika x 2 I would have married you the angel

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USEFUL ADJECTIVESbad bayagood zuribig kubwasmall dogodirty chafu sweet tamu

COLOUR RANGI red nyekundublue bluuyellow njanoblack nyeusiwhite nyeupegreen kijani

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AT THE MARKET SOKONIHow much are the bananas? Ndizi ni shilingi ngapi?50 shillings Shilingi hamsiniThat’s expensive, reduce the price Ni ghali, punguza beiDo you have a bag? Una mfuko?Pawpaw PapaiPineapple NanasiWant TakaHow much Bei gani?Money PesaPay LipaOranges Machungwa,Tomatoes NyanyaCarrots KarotiMeat Nyama GETTING A TAXI A:How are you? Habari?B:Fine. I am going to the Airport. How much? Nzuri. Ninakwenda uwanja wa ndege. Shilingi ngapi?A:30,000 shillings Shilingi elfu thelathiniB:Hey man - reduce that! 20,000 shillings. Punguza bwana! shilingi Elfu ishirini.A:Ok, let’s go. Haya twende

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sungura

TRAVEL Which city bus goes to the city centre? Daladala gani inaenda mjini?Drop me off NishusheThank you very much Asante sanaWhat time does the bus leave Basi huondoka saa ngapi?I am in hurry Nina harakaBus terminal Kituo cha basi (stendi) Port/habour Bandari Railway station StesheniHow much is the ticket? Tiketi bei gani?I don’t need help Sihitaji msaadaHave a nice trip Safari njema

HEALTH AFYA Medicine DawaAIDS UKIMWII’m sick Ninaumwa.Take me to the hospital Nipeleke hospitaliniI need a doctor Nahitaji daktariI have a stomach ache Ninaumwa tumboI’m very sorry Pole sanaRest PumzikaI have a headache Ninaumwa kichwa Don’t give me shots Usinichome sindanoExercises Mazoezi

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USEFUL VOCABULARY LISTdrink kunywa play/dance chezatake chukua today leobeat / hit piga yesterday janabuy / purchase nunua to be tired chokacold baridi today leocloth(es) nguo toilet choo danger hatari travel safiridrink kunywa edible green leaves mchicha wake up amka heat / hot joto write andika help / assist saidia watch angalia house (s) nyumba work / do work fanya kazi sugar sukarithief mwizi hunger (feel) (sikia) njaa now sasa listen sikiliza insect mdudu read soma key ufunguo bring leta know jua fruit(s) tunda (ma-) love / like penda price bei mosquitoe (s) mbu problem (s) shida person mtu rest pumzika think fikiri woman (lady) mwanamke teach fundisha man (gent) mwanaume

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PRONOUNSMe MimiYou WeweHim / her YeyeUs SisiYou NinyiThem Wao

USEFUL QUESTION wORDS Where? Wapi?Who? Nani?How many / How much? Ngapi?What? Nini?How? Vipi?Which? Gani? What is this? Hii ni nini ?Where is this place? Hapa ni wapi?May I take photographs? Ninaweza kupiga picha?

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SLANG LUGHA YA MITAANI Tanzania BongoChaos / riot KashesheJobless Corner KijiwePork Meat KitimotoLocal Made “Lightening cream” MkorogoBrave person NgangariNo Money KuchachaI love you NimekuzimiaScandal monger MzushiI failed/broke Nimechemsha/ NimechachaNo problem Hamna noma.

RELIGION DINIGod MunguChristian MkristoMuslim MwislamuChurch KanisaMosque MsikitiPastor / Clergyman MchungajiSheikh ShehePriest / Father PadriIf God willing Mungu akipenda

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CULTURE NOTES

GREETINGS: It is customary in Tanzanian culture (traditions) to exchange greetings before engaging in conversations. People take greetings seriously as an indication of caring and respect;

SHOPPING AT THE MARKET / SHOP : It is possible to bargain at the market and at the shop before paying for an item, but modern shops have fixed prices.

DIRECTIONS: Most Tanzanians do not use maps in giving correct directions. They use land marks like mountains, big trees, rivers, etc. They use words like far, very far, nearby. As a result, it is a good idea to ask more than one person.

TRAVELLING: It’s quite common to talk to the one siting next to you when travelling. Tanzanians like to share food when traveling but some people have taken this opportunity to drug their fellow passengers for the purpose of stealing their properties.

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UGALI

UGALI is the main food for the majority of Tanzanians. You can make UGALI from maize, millet or cassava flour. UGALI is easy to cook, takes short time and cheap. UGALI is served with any cooked vegetable, meat or fish.

HOW TO COOK UGALI1. Sieve the flour.2. Put water into a pot and put the pot on the stove. 3. Add flour and stir to get soft porridge. 4. When the porridge boils, add flour little by little and stir until you get stiff porridge. 5. Leave the stiff porridge on the stove for two minutes. 6. UGALI is ready to eat.