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The game

Path — speak your way home

A new eastbound line each run. Construct a sentence at every city. The clock only bites when you miss. Madrid · Berlin · Helsinki · Moscow · Almaty.

🔥 Good evening — your Swahili path

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A ~5-minute daily loop that keeps Swahili alive. Start anywhere.

Languages map

Click a country. Start the language.

A world map of courses we actually teach — not a booking map, and not Path.

🎯 Build Challenge

Build a sentence you've never seen

You already know two Swahili words. Can you construct a brand-new sentence from them?

I wantquiero

coffeecafé

So how would you say “I want coffee.”?

That's LanguagePath.

The LanguagePath Method™

Reason it out — don't cram it in

You won't memorize phrases. You'll construct real sentences, then listen and rebuild them. Every step reuses what you already built — so the language compounds.

1 · UNDERSTANDGet one piece of the language.

2 · CONSTRUCTBuild a sentence you've never seen.

3 · SAYSay it out loud before you reveal.

4 · HEARListen and compare with the target.

5 · REBUILDReuse those pieces in the next sentence.

Language Bridges™

You're not always starting from zero

Every language you already know hands you free bridges to a new one. Words stick on first contact when you spot the connection.

English — information
French — informations
Spanish — información
Portuguese — informação

Add the languages you already speak in the 🌐 Hub → Settings — then tap ✨ Bridge on any phrase to surface the real cognates and shared roots that make new words click.

Real sentences you'll learn to build in Swahili

Build real sentences from pieces you already know. Tap any phrase to hear it — then you'll build them yourself.

What you'll learn in Swahili

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Each lesson builds on the last, reusing what you already know. Tap a lesson to jump in.

Explore the Learning Library

Short, interactive pages on specific skills and situations — each one teaches you something real, then hands you straight into a course.

Learn practical Arabic for life in the UAEHow to say greetings in SpanishSpanish numbers 1–20Introduce yourself in SpanishSer vs Estar — the two Spanish 'to be' verbsArabic greetings (MSA)

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Frequently asked questions

Is LanguagePath free?

Yes, every lesson, course and tool is free to use, with no account or sign-up. Two things are optional and paid: LanguagePath Pro ($4.99 a month or $29 a year), which removes ads and adds extra AI practice, and printable Travel Phrase Pack PDFs ($9 per city, or $19 for all 8). Advertising only loads after you consent — the site stays fully usable if you reject it.

Do I need an account?

No. Your progress is saved in your own browser's local storage. Nothing is uploaded to a server.

How is LanguagePath different?

You don't memorize phrases — you reason them out. The teacher gives you a piece, you build real sentences yourself, say them aloud, then reveal and check. Every step reuses what you already built.

Which languages can I learn?

Nine flagship courses (Mandarin, Arabic, French, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Turkish, Telugu, Farsi) plus dozens more in the picker. Each Path rolls a new eastbound line of cities from languages you can practise here.

What is Path?

Path is LanguagePath’s race: construct a sentence at each city. Misses cost days; a clean build costs nothing. The eighty-day clock is the rule, not the title. Explore → Path, or tap Play Path above.

🧠 How this works

Swahili — Swahili is built the reason-it-out way: you learn the pieces, then construct real sentences yourself. It starts with everyday, useful sentences.

The 3 rules of the method

🗣️ Say everything out loud. Silent reading doesn't build speech. Speak before you reveal.

⏸️ Always pause and try first. When you hit a challenge, actually work it out — getting it slightly wrong is how it sticks. Then tap Reveal.

🔁 Don't fear forgetting. Everything comes back through use in later steps. Keep moving; understanding beats memorizing.

Your course (≈10 min each)

Do roughly one a day. They build in order — each lesson reuses the last.

Planning a trip to Nairobi, Kenya?

Learning Swahili for a trip? Use the phrases from this course on the ground, and sort the rest here.

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🎧 Lessons

Tap to begin. Speak each answer aloud before revealing.

🔁 Spaced recall

Your daily warm-up. Sentences you've built come back at growing gaps — but don't recall them from memory. Rebuild each one from its pieces, every time; that's what makes them permanent. Read the English, work it out aloud, then reveal.

🧩 Build

The real test of the method: brand-new sentences you've never seen, made only from words and structures you've already learned. You can't recall these — you have to construct them. That's fluency in miniature.

👂 Listening drills

Real conversations hit your ear with no subtitles. Here you only hear the language — work out the meaning, then reveal. This trains the skill you'll actually use in real conversations.

🗣️ Shadowing

A powerful way to develop more natural rhythm and pronunciation: hear a line and repeat it immediately, copying the rhythm and melody — not translating. 10–15 focused minutes beats an hour of tired mimicry.

✚ Chunk builder

Heard a useful phrase out in the world? Capture it here. Every chunk you save joins your Recall, Listen, Shadow and Quiz automatically — so it actually sticks.

📺 Resources & daily plan

Free listening you can understand and enjoy — the comprehensible-input piece. Mix these with your lessons.

💬 Real conversations

Full exchanges you'll actually have, start to finish. Tap 🔊 on any line, or play the whole conversation. Try covering the English and reading the other language aloud.

🎯 Quiz

Test yourself across everything you've learned. Multiple-choice both ways, plus a typing challenge. You need 80% to call a set solid.

🤖 Conversation partner

The practice no drill gives you: a real back-and-forth. Chat with an AI partner that stays at a beginner level and gently corrects you — a powerful way to turn what you've learned into speech.

🌍 Culture & etiquette

Speaking well is half of it — these unwritten rules will make locals warm to you instantly.

🗂️ Pocket phrases

Grab-and-go reference for real situations — greetings, numbers, emergencies that you just need ready. Search or filter, tap 🔊.

🔊 Sounds

Quick grammar

🌐 Hub

Your command centre — progress across every language, one daily plan, a single review that spans them all, and a phrase explorer that shows how your languages connect.

Learning Swahili: a practical guide

This is a written companion to the free Swahili course on LanguagePath: what the language is like, how it sounds, the phrases you will use first, how the course is structured, and what to watch out for. Everything here comes from the same lessons you can practise interactively above.

What Swahili is like

Swahili is wonderfully regular and every word is pronounced as it is written. There are no gender articles; instead nouns come in "classes" whose prefix changes for singular and plural: mtoto (a/the child) → watoto (children). Verbs take a subject prefix instead of a separate pronoun: ni- = I, u- = you, a- = he/she. So nataka = I want, unataka = you want. Word order is subject–verb–object, and a single word often covers both "a" and "the". A warm tafadhali (please) and asante (thank you) go a long way.

Words you may already know

🇸🇦 Arabic. A large share of Swahili vocabulary comes from Arabic: kitabu (book), safari (journey), habari (news), shule (school), asante (thank you). 🇬🇧 English. Modern everyday words are borrowed straight from English: basi (bus), hoteli (hotel), redio (radio), penseli (pencil).

Pronunciation notes

Swahili is beautifully phonetic — every letter is said the way it is written. Master these few sounds and you can read any word aloud.

a e i o u — pure vowels — "ah, eh, ee, oh, oo", never glided, as in asante = ah-SAHN-teh.
ng' — nasal "ng" as in "singer" — no hard g, as in ng'ombe = ng-OHM-beh (cow).
r — lightly rolled r, as in rafiki = rah-FEE-kee.
mb / nd / nz — nasal + consonant together, no vowel in between, as in mbili = M-bee-lee · ndizi = N-dee-zee.
sh — "sh" as in shoe, as in shilingi = shee-LEEN-gee.
ch — "ch" as in church, as in chai = chai.
ny — "ny" as in "canyon", as in nyama = NYAH-mah.

First phrases

The pocket phrases below are the ones learners reach for most often. Say each one out loud a few times before moving on.

Swahili	Pronunciation	Meaning
Jambo	JAHM-boh	Hello
Habari!	hah-BAH-ree	Hello / how are things?
Karibu	kah-REE-boo	Welcome
Kwaheri	kwah-HEH-ree	Goodbye
Habari yako?	hah-BAH-ree YAH-koh	How are you?
Jina langu ni Alex	JEE-nah LAHN-goo nee	My name is...
Asante	ah-SAHN-teh	Thank you
Asante sana	ah-SAHN-teh SAH-nah	Thank you very much
Tafadhali	tah-fah-DHAH-lee	Please
Samahani	sah-mah-HAH-nee	Excuse me / sorry
Ndiyo	N-dee-yoh	Yes
Hapana	hah-PAH-nah	No
Moja	MOH-jah	1
Mbili	M-bee-lee	2
Tatu	TAH-too	3
Nne	nn-eh	4
Tano	TAH-noh	5
Kumi	KOO-mee	10
Maji	MAH-jee	water
Chai	chai	tea
Kahawa	kah-HAH-wah	coffee
Mkate	M-kah-teh	bread
Samaki	sah-MAH-kee	fish
...wapi?	WAH-pee	where is...?
Kulia	koo-LEE-ah	to the right
Kushoto	koo-SHOH-toh	to the left
Moja kwa moja	MOH-jah kwah MOH-jah	straight ahead
Kituo	kee-TOO-oh	the station
Hii ni bei gani?	HEE-ee nee BAY-ee GAH-nee	how much is this?
Nataka	nah-TAH-kah	I want

How the Swahili course is structured

The course has 16 short lessons that build on each other. Each one introduces a few new pieces and then asks you to construct sentences you have never seen, before revealing the answer:

Greetings — jambo · habari · karibu · kwaheri
Polite phrases — asante · tafadhali · samahani · sawa
Numbers 1–10 — moja · mbili · tatu · kumi
I want" — nataka — nataka · ningependa · ni-
Food & drink — maji · kahawa · mkate · samaki
Directions — wapi? · kulia · kushoto · moja kwa moja
Questions & "do you have…?" — una? · kuna? · nini · wapi
Family — familia · mama · baba · rafiki
Time, days & weather — leo · kesho · jana · hali ya hewa
Small talk & your name — jina langu ni Alex · jina lako nani?
Emergency & health — msaada! · daktari · hospitali · sielewi
Tying it together — nataka · ningependa · a capstone scene
Airport & tickets — uwanja wa ndege · pasipoti · tiketi · ndege
The taxi — teksi · kwenda · hoteli · simama
The hotel — reservation · chumba · ufunguo · usiku
Ask for help — sielewi · polepole · Kiingereza

Inside the lessons

Here is how a few of the lessons explain the language, with worked examples and the word-by-word breakdown the course uses.

Greetings

Key pieces: jambo · habari · karibu · kwaheri

Let's start with the word you'll hear (and use) most: jambo — hello. It works for both "hi" and a friendly opening. Say it out loud.

jambo (JAHM-boh) — hello
habari (hah-BAH-ree) — hello / how are things? Memory hook: ≈ Arabic khabar (news).
karibu (kah-REE-boo) — welcome
kwaheri (kwah-HEH-ree) — goodbye

To say “Hello!” in Swahili: Jambo! (JAHM-boh). Built from jambo = hello.

To greet someone properly, ask habari yako? — how are you? And reply nzuri, asante — fine, thanks.

Habari yako? (hah-BAH-ree YAH-koh) — How are you?
Nzuri, asante (N-zoo-ree, ah-SAHN-teh) — Fine, thanks
Salama (sah-LAH-mah) — peaceful / fine

To say “Hello, how are you?” in Swahili: Jambo! Habari yako? (JAHM-boh, hah-BAH-ree YAH-koh). Built from jambo = hello; habari yako? = how are you?.

Polite phrases

Key pieces: asante · tafadhali · samahani · sawa

The magic words of courtesy: asante (thank you) and tafadhali (please).

asante (ah-SAHN-teh) — thank you
asante sana (ah-SAHN-teh SAH-nah) — thank you very much
tafadhali (tah-fah-DHAH-lee) — please
samahani (sah-mah-HAH-nee) — excuse me / sorry

To say “Thank you very much” in Swahili: Asante sana (ah-SAHN-teh SAH-nah). Built from asante = thanks; sana = very.

karibu doubles as "welcome" and "you're welcome", so it pops up everywhere.

To say “A coffee, please” in Swahili: Kahawa, tafadhali (kah-HAH-wah, tah-fah-DHAH-lee). Built from kahawa = coffee; tafadhali = please.

To say yes: ndiyo . No: hapana . And sawa = okay / alright.

ndiyo (N-dee-yoh) — yes
hapana (hah-PAH-nah) — no
sawa (SAH-wah) — okay

To say “Thank you, okay” in Swahili: Asante, sawa (ah-SAHN-teh, SAH-wah). Built from asante = thanks; sawa = okay.

Numbers 1–10

Key pieces: moja · mbili · tatu · kumi

Numbers are the fastest win. Listen and repeat: moja, mbili, tatu .

moja (MOH-jah) — 1
mbili (M-bee-lee) — 2
tatu (TAH-too) — 3
nne (nn-eh) — 4
tano (TAH-noh) — 5
sita (SEE-tah) — 6
saba (SAH-bah) — 7
nane (NAH-neh) — 8
tisa (TEE-sah) — 9
kumi (KOO-mee) — 10

To say “Two coffees, please” in Swahili: Kahawa mbili, tafadhali (kah-HAH-wah M-bee-lee, tah-fah-DHAH-lee). Built from kahawa = coffee; mbili = two; tafadhali = please.

Notice the mb at the start of mbili — say both letters together with no vowel between them.

To say “I have five” in Swahili: Nina tano (NEE-nah TAH-noh). Built from nina = I have; tano = five.

To say “Five bananas” in Swahili: Ndizi tano (N-dee-zee TAH-noh). Built from ndizi = banana(s); tano = five.

I want" — nataka

Key pieces: nataka · ningependa · ni-

The key verb to order anything: nataka — I want. Use it to ask for whatever you need.

ningependa — I would like — is the more polite version, perfect in restaurants and shops.

To say “I want water” in Swahili: Nataka maji (nah-TAH-kah MAH-jee). Built from nataka = I want; maji = water.

To say “I'd like a coffee” in Swahili: Ningependa kahawa (nee-ngeh-PEN-dah kah-HAH-wah). Built from ningependa = I would like; kahawa = coffee.

Here the prefix ni- means "I". u- = you, a- = he/she. Combine: unataka = you want.

To say “I want bread” in Swahili: Nataka mkate (nah-TAH-kah M-kah-teh). Built from nataka = I want; mkate = bread.

Food & drink

Key pieces: maji · kahawa · mkate · samaki

Eating out? Key words: maji (water), chai (tea), mkate (bread).

maji (MAH-jee) — water
chai (chai) — tea Memory hook: ≈ English chai (tea).
kahawa (kah-HAH-wah) — coffee Memory hook: ≈ Arabic qahwa (coffee).
mkate (M-kah-teh) — bread
nyama (NYAH-mah) — meat
samaki (sah-MAH-kee) — fish
wali (WAH-lee) — rice

To say “Tea and rice, please” in Swahili: Chai na wali, tafadhali (chai nah WAH-lee, tah-fah-DHAH-lee). Built from chai = tea; na = and; wali = rice; tafadhali = please.

To order, use nataka or more politely ningependa . na = and.

To say “I'd like fish” in Swahili: Ningependa samaki (nee-ngeh-PEN-dah sah-MAH-kee). Built from ningependa = I would like; samaki = fish.

Delicious is tamu sana . Say it to a cook and watch them smile.

To say “It's delicious!” in Swahili: Tamu sana! (TAH-moo SAH-nah). Built from tamu = tasty / sweet; sana = very.

Directions

Key pieces: wapi? · kulia · kushoto · moja kwa moja

The most useful question on the move: …wapi? — where is…? Pair it with a place.

...wapi? (WAH-pee) — where is...?
kulia (koo-LEE-ah) — to the right
kushoto (koo-SHOH-toh) — to the left
moja kwa moja (MOH-jah kwah MOH-jah) — straight ahead
kituo (kee-TOO-oh) — the station
mji (M-jee) — town / city

To say “Where is the station?” in Swahili: Kituo kiko wapi? (kee-TOO-oh KEE-koh WAH-pee). Built from kituo = station; kiko wapi? = where is it?.

To say “Where is the bathroom?” in Swahili: Choo kiko wapi? (choh KEE-koh WAH-pee). Built from choo = toilet; kiko wapi? = where is it?.

kulia = to the right and kushoto = to the left. Straight ahead is moja kwa moja .

To say “Straight ahead” in Swahili: Moja kwa moja (MOH-jah kwah MOH-jah). Built from moja kwa moja = straight ahead.

Questions & "do you have…?"

Key pieces: una? · kuna? · nini · wapi

To ask someone if they have something: una…? (one person) or mna…? (a group).

To say “Do you have a table?” in Swahili: Una meza? (OO-nah MEH-zah). Built from una = do you have; meza = table.

kuna…? = is there…? Great for asking what's available.

To say “Is there wifi?” in Swahili: Kuna wifi? (KOO-nah WEE-fee). Built from kuna = is there; wifi = wifi. ≈ English wifi.

Other question words: nini (what), nani (who), lini (when), wapi (where).

nini (NEE-nee) — what
nani (NAH-nee) — who
lini (LEE-nee) — when
wapi (WAH-pee) — where
kwa nini (kwah NEE-nee) — why

To say “What is this?” in Swahili: Hii ni nini? (HEE-ee nee NEE-nee). Built from hii = this; ni = is; nini = what.

To say “Do you have bread?” in Swahili: Una mkate? (OO-nah M-kah-teh). Built from una = do you have; mkate = bread.

Family

Key pieces: familia · mama · baba · rafiki

Family words: familia (family), mama (mother), baba (father).

familia (fah-MEE-lee-ah) — family Memory hook: ≈ English family.
mama (MAH-mah) — mother
baba (BAH-bah) — father
mtoto (M-toh-toh) — child
rafiki (rah-FEE-kee) — friend Memory hook: ≈ Arabic rafiq (friend).

To say “I have a friend” in Swahili: Nina rafiki (NEE-nah rah-FEE-kee). Built from nina = I have; rafiki = friend.

nina = I have, from ni- (I). Use it to say what you've got.

To say “I have a family” in Swahili: Nina familia (NEE-nah fah-MEE-lee-ah). Built from nina = I have; familia = family.

To say “This is my mother” in Swahili: Mama yangu (MAH-mah YAHN-goo). Built from mama = mother; yangu = my.

Time, days & weather

Key pieces: leo · kesho · jana · hali ya hewa

Today is leo , tomorrow is kesho , yesterday is jana .

leo (LEH-oh) — today
kesho (KEH-shoh) — tomorrow
jana (JAH-nah) — yesterday
hali ya hewa (HAH-lee yah HEH-wah) — weather
siku (SEE-koo) — day

To say “See you tomorrow” in Swahili: Tutaonana kesho (too-tah-oh-NAH-nah KEH-shoh). Built from tutaonana = we'll meet; kesho = tomorrow.

Ask about the weather: Hali ya hewa ikoje? — how is the weather?

To say “It's raining” in Swahili: Kuna mvua (KOO-nah M-voo-ah). Built from kuna = there is; mvua = rain.

Days of the week start with Juma : Jumatatu (Monday), Jumanne (Tuesday), and so on.

Jumatatu (joo-mah-TAH-too) — Monday
Jumanne (joo-MAHN-neh) — Tuesday
Ijumaa (ee-JOO-mah) — Friday
Jumapili (joo-mah-PEE-lee) — Sunday

Small talk & your name

Key pieces: jina langu ni Alex · jina lako nani?

Introduce yourself: Jina langu ni… = my name is…, then say your name.

To say “My name is Alex” in Swahili: Jina langu ni Alex (JEE-nah LAHN-goo nee Alex). Built from jina = name; langu = my; ni = is; Alex = your name.

To ask someone's name: Jina lako nani?

To say “What's your name?” in Swahili: Jina lako nani? (JEE-nah LAH-koh NAH-nee). Built from jina = name; lako = your; nani = who.

To say “Pleased to meet you” in Swahili: Ninafurahi kukutana (nee-nah-foo-RAH-hee koo-koo-TAH-nah). Built from ninafurahi = I'm pleased; kukutana = to meet you.

To say where you're from: Unatoka wapi? — you come from where? Reply Ninatoka… .

To say “I come from America” in Swahili: Ninatoka Marekani (nee-nah-TOH-kah mah-reh-KAH-nee). Built from ninatoka = I come from; Marekani = America.

Emergency & health

Key pieces: msaada! · daktari · hospitali · sielewi

The most important word if you need help: msaada! — help!

msaada! (M-sah-AH-dah) — Help!
daktari (dahk-TAH-ree) — the doctor Memory hook: ≈ English doctor.
hospitali (hos-pee-TAH-lee) — the hospital Memory hook: ≈ English hospital.
duka la dawa (DOO-kah lah DAH-wah) — the pharmacy
Sielewi (see-eh-LEH-wee) — I don't understand

To say “Help!” in Swahili: Msaada! (M-sah-AH-dah). Built from msaada = help.

To say you are unwell: Ninaumwa (I'm sick). To say you need a doctor: Nahitaji daktari .

To say “I need a doctor” in Swahili: Nahitaji daktari (nah-hee-TAH-jee dahk-TAH-ree). Built from nahitaji = I need; daktari = doctor. ≈ English doctor.

To say “I'm sick” in Swahili: Ninaumwa (nee-nah-OOM-wah). Built from ninaumwa = I am sick.

To say “Where is the pharmacy?” in Swahili: Duka la dawa liko wapi? (DOO-kah lah DAH-wah LEE-koh WAH-pee). Built from duka la dawa = pharmacy; liko wapi? = where is it?.

Tying it together

Key pieces: nataka · ningependa · a capstone scene

Great — you've built a real toolbox. This capstone uses only words you've met. Build each line yourself before revealing.

To say “Hello, how are you?” in Swahili: Jambo! Habari yako? (JAHM-boh, hah-BAH-ree YAH-koh). Built from jambo = hello; habari yako? = how are you?.

To say “I'd like water, please” in Swahili: Ningependa maji, tafadhali (nee-ngeh-PEN-dah MAH-jee, tah-fah-DHAH-lee). Built from ningependa = I would like; maji = water; tafadhali = please.

To say “How much is it?” in Swahili: Bei ni ngapi? (BAY-ee nee NGAH-pee). Built from bei = price; ni = is; ngapi = how much.

To say “Where is the station?” in Swahili: Kituo kiko wapi? (kee-TOO-oh KEE-koh WAH-pee). Built from kituo = station; kiko wapi? = where is it?.

Airport & tickets

Key pieces: uwanja wa ndege · pasipoti · tiketi · ndege

You have landed. The building is the uwanja wa ndege . Your document is a pasipoti .

uwanja wa ndege (oo-WAHN-jah wah N-deh-geh) — the airport
pasipoti (pah-see-POH-tee) — the passport
tiketi (tee-KEH-tee) — the ticket
ndege (N-deh-geh) — the flight
lango (LAHN-goh) — the gate

To say “Where is the airport?” in Swahili: Uwanja wa ndege uko wapi? (oo-WAHN-jah wah N-deh-geh OO-koh WAH-pee). Built from uwanja wa ndege = the airport; uko wapi? = where is it?.

To say “Here is my passport” in Swahili: Hapa pasipoti yangu (HAH-pah pah-see-POH-tee YAHN-goo). Built from hapa = here is; pasipoti yangu = my passport.

To say “A ticket, please” in Swahili: Tiketi, tafadhali (tee-KEH-tee, tah-fah-DHAH-lee). Built from tiketi = ticket; tafadhali = please.

To say “Where is the gate?” in Swahili: Lango liko wapi? (LAHN-goh LEE-koh WAH-pee). Built from lango = the gate; liko wapi? = where is it?.

The taxi

Key pieces: teksi · kwenda · hoteli · simama

The driver is waiting. teksi is the word you need. Tell them where to go with nataka kwenda .

teksi (TEK-see) — the taxi
dereva (deh-REH-vah) — the driver
nataka kwenda (nah-TAH-kah KWEHN-dah) — I want to go
simama hapa (see-MAH-mah HAH-pah) — stop here

To say “Taxi, please” in Swahili: Teksi, tafadhali (TEK-see, tah-fah-DHAH-lee). Built from teksi = taxi; tafadhali = please.

To say “I want to go to the hotel” in Swahili: Nataka kwenda hoteli (nah-TAH-kah KWEHN-dah hoh-TEH-lee). Built from nataka kwenda = I want to go; hoteli = hotel.

To say “Stop here, please” in Swahili: Simama hapa, tafadhali (see-MAH-mah HAH-pah, tah-fah-DHAH-lee). Built from simama hapa = stop here; tafadhali = please.

To say “How much is it?” in Swahili: Bei ni ngapi? (BAY-ee nee NGAH-pee). Built from bei = price; ni = is; ngapi = how much.

The hotel

Key pieces: reservation · chumba · ufunguo · usiku

At the desk: Nina reservation — I have a reservation.

hoteli (hoh-TEH-lee) — the hotel
reservation (reh-sehr-VAY-shohn) — the reservation
chumba (CHOOM-bah) — the room
ufunguo (oo-foon-GOO-oh) — the key
usiku mmoja (oo-SEE-koo M-moh-jah) — one night

To say “I have a reservation” in Swahili: Nina reservation (NEE-nah reh-sehr-VAY-shohn). Built from nina = I have; reservation = a reservation.

To say “A room for one night, please” in Swahili: Chumba cha usiku mmoja, tafadhali (CHOOM-bah chah oo-SEE-koo M-moh-jah, tah-fah-DHAH-lee). Built from chumba = a room; usiku mmoja = one night; tafadhali = please.

To say “The key, please” in Swahili: Ufunguo, tafadhali (oo-foon-GOO-oh, tah-fah-DHAH-lee). Built from ufunguo = the key; tafadhali = please.

To say “Where is my room?” in Swahili: Chumba changu kiko wapi? (CHOOM-bah CHAHN-goo KEE-koh WAH-pee). Built from chumba changu = my room; kiko wapi? = where is it?.

Ask for help

Key pieces: sielewi · polepole · Kiingereza

When the language is too fast: Polepole, tafadhali — slower, please.

polepole (poh-leh-POH-leh) — slower
tena (TEH-nah) — again
Kiingereza (kee-een-geh-REH-zah) — English
unaweza kunisaidia? (oo-nah-WEH-zah koo-nee-sah-DEE-ah) — can you help?

To say “I don't understand” in Swahili: Sielewi (see-eh-LEH-wee). Built from sielewi = I don't understand.

To say “Slower, please” in Swahili: Polepole, tafadhali (poh-leh-POH-leh, tah-fah-DHAH-lee). Built from polepole = slower; tafadhali = please.

To say “Can you help me?” in Swahili: Unaweza kunisaidia? (oo-nah-WEH-zah koo-nee-sah-DEE-ah). Built from unaweza = can you; kunisaidia = help me.

To say “Do you speak English?” in Swahili: Unazungumza Kiingereza? (oo-nah-zoon-GOOM-zah kee-een-geh-REH-zah). Built from unazungumza = do you speak; Kiingereza = English.

Culture and etiquette

Karibu

Hospitality is central to the culture. Karibu ("welcome") is said warmly and often — you'll hear it constantly in shops and homes. It also means "you're welcome" after thanks.

A language of the road

Swahili is the lingua franca of East Africa — spoken across Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and beyond. A friendly greeting in Swahili opens doors almost everywhere in the region.

Hakuna matata

Hakuna matata — "no worries" — captures the relaxed, upbeat spirit of the coast. Say it with a smile and a laugh; it's the go-easy motto of everyday life.

Matatu culture

Colourful matatus (shared minibuses) are how most people get around Kenyan cities. They often blast music, and a conductor calls the route. Choose your matatu wisely and agree the fare before you board.

Greetings matter

Greet before you ask anything — start with a warm "Habari?" or "Jambo!". Jumping straight to business without a greeting is seen as rude.

Many dialects, one language

Standard Swahili is taught in schools, but local varieties differ — Zanzibar's coastal dialect and Kenyan slang each add colour. Hear a word you don't know? Just ask "Hii ina maana gani?" (what does this mean?).

Example dialogues

At a café (duka)

You: Habari! Nipe kahawa, tafadhali. (hah-BAH-ree, NEE-peh kah-HAH-wah, tah-fah-DHAH-lee) — Hello! Give me a coffee, please.

Server: Karibu. Kahawa na nini? (kah-REE-boo, kah-HAH-wah nah NEE-nee) — Welcome. Coffee with what?

You: Kahawa na mkate, asante. (kah-HAH-wah nah M-kah-teh, ah-SAHN-teh) — Coffee and bread, thank you.

Server: Haya. Ni shilingi mia tano. (HAH-yah, nee shee-LEEN-gee MEE-ah TAH-noh) — OK. That's five hundred shillings.

You: Asante sana! (ah-SAHN-teh SAH-nah) — Thank you very much!

On the matatu

You: Samahani, matatu hii inaenda mjini? (sah-mah-HAH-nee, mah-TAH-too HEE-ee ee-nah-EHN-dah M-jee-nee) — Excuse me, does this matatu go to town?

Driver: Ndiyo, ingia. (N-dee-yoh, een-GEE-ah) — Yes, get in.

You: Nataka kwenda kituo. Nauli ngapi? (nah-TAH-kah KWEHN-dah kee-TOO-oh, nah-OO-lee NGAH-pee) — I want to go to the station. How much is the fare?

Driver: Shilingi mia mbili. (shee-LEEN-gee MEE-ah M-bee-lee) — Two hundred shillings.

You: Haya. Nifike kituo, tafadhali. (HAH-yah, nee-FEE-kah kee-TOO-oh, tah-fah-DHAH-lee) — OK. Take me to the station, please.

At a restaurant

Waiter: Karibu! Una nini leo? (kah-REE-boo, OO-nah NEE-nee LEH-oh) — Welcome! What will you have today?

You: Nataka samaki na wali. (nah-TAH-kah sah-MAH-kee nah WAH-lee) — I want fish and rice.

Waiter: Na kinywaji? (nah kee-nyah-WAH-jee) — And a drink?

You: Maji, tafadhali. (MAH-jee, tah-fah-DHAH-lee) — Water, please.

Waiter: Haya. Chakula kiko tayari hivi karibuni. (HAH-yah, chah-KOO-lah KEE-koh tah-YAH-ree HEE-vee kah-ree-BOO-nee) — OK. The food will be ready soon.

Written by the LanguagePath editorial team from our own course material. Pronunciation guides are approximate English respellings; tap any phrase in the app above to hear it. Native-speaker review of every course is ongoing — tell us if you spot an error.