Praktisch · Kapitel 15
Swahili Language Guide
Swahili (Kiswahili) is Kenya's official language alongside English. A few words of Swahili open hearts and doors — and make the journey instantly more personal.
Basic Expressions
Swahili is surprisingly easy to pronounce — every letter is spoken, and the emphasis is usually on the penultimate syllable. No guttural R, no nasalization.
| German | Swahili | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Jambo | Dscham-bo |
| How are you? | Habari? | Ha-ba-ri |
| I am fine | Mzuri (sana) | M-su-ri (sa-na) |
| Thank you (very much) | Asante (sana) | A-san-te (sa-na) |
| Please / Welcome | Karibu | Ka-ri-bu |
| Yes / No | Ndiyo / Hapana | N-di-jo / Ha-pa-na |
| No problem! | Hakuna Matata | Ha-ku-na Ma-ta-ta |
| Slowly, slowly | Pole pole | Po-le po-le |
| Goodbye | Kwaheri | Kwa-he-ri |
| Good morning | Habari ya asubuhi | Ha-ba-ri ja a-su-bu-hi |
| Good evening | Habari ya jioni | Ha-ba-ri ja dschi-o-ni |
| Sorry | Pole | Po-le |
| What is your name? | Jina lako nani? | Dschi-na la-ko na-ni |
| My name is... | Jina langu ni... | Dschi-na lan-gu ni... |
| How much does it cost? | Bei gani? | Be-i ga-ni |
| Too expensive! | Ghali sana! | Ga-li sa-na |
| Food | Chakula | Tscha-ku-la |
| Water | Maji | Ma-dschi |
| Beer | Bia / Pombe | Bi-a / Pom-be |
| Beautiful / Good | Nzuri | N-su-ri |
| Friend | Rafiki | Ra-fi-ki |
| Lion | Simba | Sim-ba |
Tipp
Even a simple "Jambo! Habari?" (Hello! How are you?) will earn you a beaming smile everywhere. "Asante sana" (Thank you very much) after the game drive will make your guide happy.
Safari Vocabulary
On safari, you will constantly hear these Swahili animal names — your guide uses them, and they are often the official names in the parks:
| German | Swahili | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Lion | Simba | Sim-ba |
| Elephant | Tembo / Ndovu | Tem-bo / N-do-wu |
| Leopard | Chui | Tschu-i |
| Rhinoceros | Kifaru | Ki-fa-ru |
| Buffalo | Nyati / Mbogo | Nja-ti / M-bo-go |
| Giraffe | Twiga | Twi-ga |
| Hippopotamus | Kiboko | Ki-bo-ko |
| Cheetah | Duma | Du-ma |
| Zebra | Punda Milia | Pun-da Mi-li-a |
| Wildebeest | Nyumbu | Njum-bu |
| Crocodile | Mamba | Mam-ba |
| Hyena | Fisi | Fi-si |
| Warthog | Ngiri | N-gi-ri |
| Eagle | Tai | Ta-i |
| Monkey | Tumbili / Nyani | Tum-bi-li / Nja-ni |
| Snake | Nyoka | Njo-ka |
Useful Safari Phrases
| German | Swahili |
|---|---|
| Stop! (There is an animal) | Simama! |
| Where is the lion? | Simba yuko wapi? |
| Look left/right! | Angalia kushoto/kulia! |
| Beautiful! | Nzuri sana! |
| Thank you, great guide! | Asante, dereva mzuri! |
| Good morning (Game Drive) | Habari ya asubuhi! |
Fun Fact: Many Swahili words have become known worldwide through Disney: Simba (lion), Rafiki (friend), Hakuna Matata (no problem), Pumba (derived from Pumbavu — "dumb/naive") — all real Swahili!
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