Prepared by: Marco Henry
The following below are some vocabularies which seem to be common in using Swahili from different contexts. Share them.
Table of Contents
- Bars and Restaurant
- Market
- Bank
- Airport
- Home
- Family
- Shop
Swahili English
Mkahawa,
mikahawa……………………..Restaurant, restaurants
Mkahawani……………………………..In
the Restaurant
Chakula,
Vyakula………………………..Food, Foods
Nahitaji
Chakula, vyakula……………..I Need Food, foods
Kinywaji,
Vinywaji…………………………..Drink, Drinks
Kinywaji
Laini, Vinywaji Laini……………..Soft Drink, Soft Drinks
Pombe…………………..Alcohol
Drink
Bia…………………………..Beer(S)
Soda…………………………..Soda
Juisi……………………………Juice
Kifungua
Kinywa……………………Break Fast
Chakula
cha Mchana………………..Lunch(s)
Chakula
cha Jion……………………..Dinner(s)
Lipa…………………………………..Pay
Chai
…………………………….Tea (S)
Chai
ya Rangi………………………Tea Without Milk
Chai
ya Maziwa……………………..Milk Tea
Mkate………………………………..Bread
Maji
ya Kunywa…………………..Drinking Water
Maji
ya Kunawa…………………………Washing Water
Market
Swahili English
Soko,
Masoko…………..Market, Markets
Sokoni…………………..At
the Market
Kwenda
Sokoni……………To go the Market
Njia
ya Kwenda Sokoni………….The Way to go to the Market
Kununua
Mahitaji Muhimu…………….To Buy Essential Needs
Kununua
Tunda, Matunda………………….To Buy Fruit, Fruits
Kununua
Mboga za Majani…………………To Buy Vegetables
Mteja,Wateja……………………………….Customer,
customers
Muuzaji,
Wauzaji………………………..Seller, sellers
Watu
Wengi Sokoni…………………Many people at the market
Bidhaa
Nzuri………………………….nice commodity(s)
Bidhaa
Mbaya……………………..Bad commodity(ies)
Nahitaji
Bidhaa nyingi……………..I need many commodities
Chukua
hii Pesa Yako………………..Take this your money
Ongeza
………………………………….Add
Punguza
Kiwango………………………Reduce the amount
Bank
Shilling is the name of
Tanzanian Currency
Swahili English
Benki………..Bank
Akaunti
ya Benki…….Benki Account
Badilisha…………….Change
Biashara……..Business(S)/
Commerce
Bili…………….Bill(S)
Dola…………...Dollar(S)
Faida…………..Profit(S)
Funga
Akaunti…..Close account(S)
Fungua
Akaunti……Open account(S)
Hasara………………Loss(S)
Hundi………………..Cheque(S)
Kiasi………………..Amount(S)
Kodi…………………Tax
(es)
Kutoa
Pesa……..Withdraw Money
Kuweka
Pesa……..Deposit Money
Lipa………………..Pay
Malipo………………Payment(S)
Ombi,
Maombi……Request, Requests
Matumizi…………..Expenditure
Mkopo,Mkopo…….Loan,
Loans
Mpango,
Mipango……….Plan, Plans
Mradi,
Miradi…………Project, Projects
Mtaji,
Mitaji……………Capital, Capitals
Paundi………………….Pound
Pesa/
Fedha…………..Money
Riba……………………Interest(S)
Airport
Swahili English
Uwanja
wa Ndege……………….Airport
Pasipoti…………….Passport
Safari…………………..Journey(s)
Wakati…………………….Time
Wakati
wa Kuondoka………………Departure Time
Wakati
wa Kuwasili………………….Arrival Time
Viza……………………………….Visa(s)
Badilisha
Pesa……………….Exchange Money
Mapokezi………………………Reception
Ndege…………………………Aircraft,
Aeroplane
Safiri……………………………….Travel
Abiria…………………………………Passenger(s)
Mzigo,
Mizigo………………………..Load, Loads
Polisi…………………………………..Police
Rubani……………………………….Pilot(S)
Kuruka
…………………………to fly (aeroplane)
Kutua………………………….To
land (aeroplane)
Ndege
kubwa…………………………Big aircraft
Ndege
ndogo………………………….Small aircraft
Ndege
nzuri…………………………………Nice aircraft
Ndege
mbaya………………………………Bad aircraft
Home
Swahili English
Nyumbani…………….At
home
Nyumba……………..House
(S)
Meza…………………Table
(S)
Kiti,
Viti………………Chair, Chairs
Jiko,
Majiko………….Cooker, Cookers
Jikoni………………….In
the kitchen
Sebule……………….Sitting
room(S)
Chumba
cha Kulala, Vyumba vya Kulala………Bedroom, Bedrooms
Choo,
Vyoo………..Toilet, Toilets
Chumba,
Vyumba………Room, Rooms
Kabati,
Makabati……Cupboard, Cupboards
Kitanda,
Vitanda………..Bed, Beds
Kupika
Chakula, Vyakula…….To Cook Food, Foods
Kula
Chakula, vyakula………..To Eat Food, foods
Kunywa
Chai…………………To Drink Tea(s)
Vifaa
vya Nyumbani…………..Home Equipments
Zulia,
mazulia………………….Carpet, carpets
Sakafu………………………….floor
Jengo,
majengo………………..Building, buildings
Family
Swahili English
Baba……………………….Father
Mama…………………….Mother
Kaka……………………..Bother
Dada……………………..Sister
Mdogo
Wangu…………….My Young Sister/Brother
Babu………………………Grandfather
Bibi…………………..Grandmother
Mjukuu…………………..Grandchild
Mjomba………………………Uncle
Shangazi…………………Aunt
Baba
Mdogo (Father’s Young Brother)………...Uncle
Baba
Mkubwa (Father’s Brother)……………….Uncle
Mama
Mdogo (Mother’s Young Sister)………….Aunt
Mama
Mkubwa (Mother’s Sister)…………………Aunt
Binamu………………………………………..Cousin
Mpwa
(Both Girl And Boy in Swahili culture)……………Niece, Nephew
Shemeji
(Used by a Male for both Male & Female, and used by a Female for only
Male)……………………………………Sister in Law, Brother in Law
Wifi
(Used by only Female for Female)…………….Sister in Law (S)
Mtoto,
Watoto…………………………………….Child, Children
Shop
Swahili English
Dukani
…………………..At the Shop
Duka,
Maduka……………Shop, Shops
Pesa……………………..Money(S)
Muuzaji,
Wauzaji…….Seller, Sellers
Mnunuzi,
Wanunuzi………..Buyer, Purchaser, Buyers, Purchasers
Bidhaa…………………..Goods,
commodities
Nunua………………….Buy
Uza…………………....Sell
Uliza…………………….Ask
Punguzo………………..Discount(S)
Bei……………………..Price(S)
Gharama……………….Cost(S)
Lipa……………………..Pay
Chenji…………..Remained
Money After Paying.
Sarafu…………….Coin(S)
Noti………………..Note
(S)
Bei
Gani?..................How Much?