Knowing how to ask questions is essential when learning Swahili. Whether you are travelling, meeting people, studying or having an everyday conversation, question words allow you to find information and keep conversations going.
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Essential Swahili question words
- nani? — who?
- nini? — what?
- wapi? — where?
- lini? — when?
- kwa nini? — why?
- vipi? — how?
- gani? — which/what kind?
- ngapi? — how many/how much?
- kiasi gani? — how much?
- saa ngapi? — what time?
Examples
Unaitwa nani?
What is your name?
Huyu ni nani?
Who is this?
Hii ni nini?
What is this?
Unaishi wapi?
Where do you live?
Unaenda wapi?
Where are you going?
Utafika lini?
When will you arrive?
Kwa nini umechelewa?
Why are you late?
Utafanya nini?
What will you do?
Utafikaje huko?
How will you get there?
Unataka kiasi gani?
How much do you want?
Useful everyday questions
- Unaitwa nani? — What is your name?
- Unaishi wapi? — Where do you live?
- Unatoka wapi? — Where are you from?
- Unaenda wapi? — Where are you going?
- Unafanya nini? — What are you doing?
- Unafanya kazi gani? — What work do you do?
- Unakuja lini? — When are you coming?
- Kwa nini? — Why?
- Hii ni nini? — What is this?
- Hiyo ni ya nani? — Whose is that?
- Ni saa ngapi? — What time is it?
- Ni bei gani? — What price is it?
- Ni shilingi ngapi? — How many shillings?
- Unataka nini? — What do you want?
- Unaweza kusaidia? — Can you help?