Whether you are learning Kiswahili for school, travel, work, everyday conversations or simply because you are interested in the language, starting with common words can make learning much easier.
This guide contains 100 common Kiswahili words and their English meanings, covering greetings, people, family, food, places, everyday activities, verbs, adjectives, numbers and useful expressions.
100 common Kiswahili words and meanings
Basic Kiswahili words
| Kiswahili | English meaning |
| Ndiyo | Yes |
| Hapana | No |
| Tafadhali | Please |
| Asante | Thank you |
| Karibu | Welcome / near |
| Samahani | Sorry / excuse me |
| Pole | Sorry / take heart |
| Vizuri | Well / good |
| Sawa | Okay / alright |
| Labda | Maybe |
| Kweli | True / really |
| Sana | Very / much |
| Kidogo | A little |
| Hapa | Here |
| Huko | There |
Kiswahili greetings
Greetings are some of the first words worth learning when studying Kiswahili.
| Kiswahili | English meaning |
| Habari? | How are you? / What’s the news? |
| Habari yako? | How are you? |
| Habari za asubuhi? | Good morning / how is your morning? |
| Habari za mchana? | Good afternoon |
| Habari za jioni? | Good evening |
| U hali gani? | How are you? |
| Nzuri | Good / fine |
| Shikamoo | Respectful greeting to an elder |
| Marahaba | Traditional response to Shikamoo |
| Jambo | Hello |
| Kwa heri | Goodbye |
| Tutaonana | See you |
People and family vocabulary
Family and relationships are an important part of everyday Kiswahili.
| Kiswahili | English meaning |
| Mtu | Person |
| Watu | People |
| Mwanaume | Man |
| Mwanamke | Woman |
| Mtoto | Child |
| Watoto | Children |
| Mzazi | Parent |
| Mama | Mother |
| Baba | Father |
| Kaka | Brother |
| Dada | Sister |
| Mume | Husband |
| Mke | Wife |
| Rafiki | Friend |
| Jirani | Neighbour |
Common Kiswahili food words
| Kiswahili | English meaning |
| Chakula | Food |
| Maji | Water |
| Maziwa | Milk |
| Chai | Tea |
| Kahawa | Coffee |
| Nyama | Meat |
| Samaki | Fish |
| Mchele | Rice |
| Mkate | Bread |
| Maharagwe | Beans |
| Matunda | Fruits |
| Mboga | Vegetables |
| Ndizi | Bananas |
| Chungwa | Orange |
| Sukari | Sugar |
Places and everyday locations
| Kiswahili | English meaning |
| Nyumba | House |
| Nyumbani | At home / home |
| Mji | Town / city |
| Kijiji | Village |
| Nchi | Country |
| Shule | School |
| Chuo | College / institution |
| Hospitali | Hospital |
| Soko | Market |
| Duka | Shop |
| Ofisi | Office |
| Barabara | Road |
| Uwanja | Field / grounds |
| Kituo | Station / centre |
| Kanisa | Church |
Common Kiswahili verbs
Verbs are essential for building Kiswahili sentences.
| Kiswahili | English meaning |
| Kula | To eat |
| Kunywa | To drink |
| Kwenda | To go |
| Kuja | To come |
| Kulala | To sleep |
| Kuamka | To wake up |
| Kukaa | To sit / stay |
| Kusimama | To stand |
| Kutembea | To walk |
| Kukimbia | To run |
| Kusoma | To read / study |
| Kuandika | To write |
| Kujifunza | To learn |
| Kufanya | To do / make |
| Kusaidia | To help |
| Kuona | To see |
| Kusikia | To hear |
| Kuzungumza | To speak |
| Kusubiri | To wait |
| Kujua | To know |
Common Kiswahili adjectives
These words can help you describe people, objects and situations.
| Kiswahili | English meaning |
| Nzuri | Good / beautiful |
| Mbaya | Bad |
| Kubwa | Big |
| Ndogo | Small |
| Mrefu | Tall / long |
| Mfupi | Short |
| Mpya | New |
| Kongwe | Old / ancient |
| Rahisi | Easy |
| Ngumu | Difficult / hard |
| Moto | Hot |
| Baridi | Cold |
| Safi | Clean |
| Chafu | Dirty |
| Haraka | Fast / quickly |
Numbers in Kiswahili
Numbers are useful when shopping, travelling, telling time and having everyday conversations.
| Number | Kiswahili |
| 1 | Moja |
| 2 | Mbili |
| 3 | Tatu |
| 4 | Nne |
| 5 | Tano |
| 6 | Sita |
| 7 | Saba |
| 8 | Nane |
| 9 | Tisa |
| 10 | Kumi |
| 11 | Kumi na moja |
| 12 | Kumi na mbili |
| 20 | Ishirini |
Time and days
| Kiswahili | English meaning |
| Leo | Today |
| Jana | Yesterday |
| Kesho | Tomorrow |
| Sasa | Now |
| Baadaye | Later |
| Asubuhi | Morning |
| Mchana | Afternoon / daytime |
| Jioni | Evening |
| Usiku | Night |
| Wiki | Week |
| Mwezi | Month |
| Mwaka | Year |
| Leo hii | Today |
| Kila siku | Every day |
| Wakati | Time |
Common Kiswahili question words
Learning question words allows you to create many different sentences.
| Kiswahili | English meaning |
| Nani? | Who? |
| Nini? | What? |
| Wapi? | Where? |
| Lini? | When? |
| Kwa nini? | Why? |
| Vipi? | How? |
| Gani? | Which? / what kind? |
| Ngapi? | How many? |
| Kiasi gani? | How much? |
For example:
Unakwenda wapi? — Where are you going?
Unaitwa nani? — What is your name? / What are you called?
Hii ni nini? — What is this?
Ni kiasi gani? — How much is it?
Useful Kiswahili expressions
Some words are best learned as expressions rather than individually.
| Kiswahili expression | English meaning |
| Asante sana | Thank you very much |
| Karibu sana | You are very welcome |
| Hakuna shida | No problem |
| Pole sana | Very sorry / take heart |
| Tafadhali nisaidie | Please help me |
| Sijui | I don’t know |
| Sielewi | I don’t understand |
| Ninaelewa | I understand |
| Niko tayari | I am ready |
| Tuko pamoja | We are together / I understand |
| Hebu ngoja | Please wait / hold on |
| Twende | Let’s go |
| Usijali | Don’t worry |
| Haya | Okay / alright / come on |
| Kwa nini? | Why? |
Kiswahili words you will hear often in East Africa:
Kiswahili is particularly important in East Africa, where it is widely used in everyday communication alongside English and other languages.
You may frequently hear words such as:
- Sawa — Okay
- Haya — Alright / okay
- Basi — Then / so / enough
- Pole — Sorry / take heart
- Asante — Thank you
- Karibu — Welcome
- Tafadhali — Please
- Haraka — Quickly
- Kidogo — A little
- Sana — Very / much
- Kweli? — Really?
- Labda — Maybe
- Hakuna shida — No problem
- Tutaonana — See you