In a business meeting, a job interview, a shop, an office or a conversation with a customer, knowing a few useful Swahili expressions can make communication much easier.
For anyone working or doing business in Kenya, Tanzania and other parts of East Africa, Business Swahili can be especially useful. You do not need to speak perfect Swahili to communicate professionally. Learning the right vocabulary and phrases can help you sound more confident, understand customers and colleagues, and build better working relationships.
This guide introduces common Business Swahili words and expressions, together with their English meanings and practical examples.
What is Business Swahili?
Business Swahili refers to the Swahili vocabulary, expressions and communication styles commonly used in professional and commercial situations.
It can be useful when:
- Speaking to customers
- Attending meetings
- Negotiating prices
- Writing professional messages
- Discussing money
- Making appointments
- Talking about products and services
- Working with Swahili-speaking colleagues
- Running a shop or business
- Communicating with suppliers
- Giving instructions to employees
The language used in business can be more formal than everyday conversation, although the level of formality depends on the situation.
Common Business Swahili words
Here are some important Swahili words to learn if you work in a business environment.
Biashara — Business
Kampuni — Company
Ofisi — Office
Mteja — Customer or client
Wateja — Customers or clients
Mfanyakazi — Employee or worker
Mwajiri — Employer
Meneja — Manager
Mkurugenzi — Director
Mkutano — Meeting
Mshirika — Partner
Mkataba — Contract or agreement
Huduma — Service
Bidhaa — Product or goods
Bei — Price
Pesa — Money
Malipo — Payment
Faida — Profit or benefit
Hasara — Loss
Mshahara — Salary
Soko — Market
Agizo — Order
Risiti — Receipt
Ankara — Invoice
Mpango — Plan
Lengo — Goal or objective
Mauzo — Sales
Ununuzi — Purchasing
Bajeti — Budget
Mradi — Project
Fursa — Opportunity
Makubaliano — Agreement
Mawasiliano — Communication
Useful Business Swahili greetings
A professional conversation often starts with a polite greeting.
Habari? — How are you? / How are things?
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, asante. — Fine, thank you.
Asante kwa kuja. — Thank you for coming.
Karibu. — Welcome.
Karibu sana. — You are very welcome.
Tafadhali, kaa. — Please, sit down.
In professional settings, a respectful and friendly greeting can create a positive first impression.
Introducing yourself at work
When meeting someone for the first time, these expressions can be useful.
Jina langu ni Farah. — My name is Farah.
Naitwa Farah. — My name is Farah.
Ninafanya kazi katika kampuni hii. — I work at this company.
Mimi ni meneja. — I am a manager.
Mimi ni mfanyakazi wa kampuni hii. — I am an employee of this company.
Ninafanya kazi katika idara ya mauzo. — I work in the sales department.
Nafurahi kukutana nawe. — Nice to meet you.
Tunafurahi kufanya kazi nawe. — We are happy to work with you.
Huyu ni mwenzangu. — This is my colleague.
Huyu ni meneja wetu. — This is our manager.
Business Swahili for meetings
Meetings are an important part of professional communication.
Mkutano utaanza saa ngapi? — What time will the meeting start?
Mkutano utaanza saa mbili. — The meeting will start at 8 o’clock.
Tuna mkutano leo. — We have a meeting today.
Ajenda ya mkutano ni nini? — What is the agenda of the meeting?
Tuanze mkutano. — Let us start the meeting.
Tafadhali endelea. — Please continue.
Una maoni gani? — What is your opinion?
Nina maoni. — I have an opinion.
Ninakubaliana nawe. — I agree with you.
Sikubaliani nawe. — I disagree with you.
Hilo ni wazo zuri. — That is a good idea.
Tujadili suala hili. — Let us discuss this issue.
Tutaamua baadaye. — We will decide later.
Tukutane tena kesho. — Let us meet again tomorrow.
Talking to customers in Swahili
Good communication with customers is important in almost every business.
Karibu, nikusaidie? — Welcome, can I help you?
Unahitaji nini? — What do you need?
Unatafuta nini? — What are you looking for?
Tuna bidhaa hii. — We have this product.
Bidhaa hii inapatikana. — This product is available.
Bidhaa hii haipatikani kwa sasa. — This product is currently unavailable.
Bei yake ni kiasi gani? — How much does it cost?
Bei ni shilingi elfu moja. — The price is one thousand shillings.
Unaweza kulipa kwa simu. — You can pay by phone.
Unaweza kulipa kwa pesa taslimu. — You can pay in cash.
Asante kwa kununua. — Thank you for buying.
Karibu tena. — Welcome again / Come again.
Tafadhali wasiliana nasi. — Please contact us.
Talking about prices and negotiation
Negotiation is common in many East African business environments, particularly in informal markets and some retail settings.
Bei gani? — What price?
Bei yake ni kiasi gani? — How much is it?
Ni ghali sana. — It is very expensive.
Bei hii ni kubwa. — This price is high.
Unaweza kupunguza bei? — Can you reduce the price?
Bei ya mwisho ni gani? — What is the final price?
Nipe bei nzuri. — Give me a good price.
Hii ndiyo bei yetu ya mwisho. — This is our final price.
Tutakupa punguzo. — We will give you a discount.
Kuna punguzo? — Is there a discount?
Bei hii inajumuisha nini? — What does this price include?
Talking about payments
Money and payments are frequent topics in business conversations.
Utalipa lini? — When will you pay?
Nitalipa leo. — I will pay today.
Malipo yamefanyika. — The payment has been made.
Bado hujalipa. — You have not paid yet.
Tafadhali tuma malipo. — Please send the payment.
Tafadhali nitumie risiti. — Please send me the receipt.
Nimepokea malipo yako. — I have received your payment.
Ankara iko tayari. — The invoice is ready.
Tafadhali lipa kabla ya tarehe hii. — Please pay before this date.
Tutakutumia maelezo ya malipo. — We will send you the payment details.
Business Swahili for emails and messages
Professional communication does not always happen face to face. You may also need Swahili for emails, WhatsApp messages or other written communication.
Ninakutumia ujumbe huu kuhusu… — I am sending you this message regarding…
Ninakuandikia kuhusu… — I am writing to you about…
Tafadhali angalia ujumbe huu. — Please check this message.
Tafadhali nitumie taarifa zaidi. — Please send me more information.
Nimepokea ujumbe wako. — I have received your message.
Asante kwa ujumbe wako. — Thank you for your message.
Tutawasiliana nawe hivi karibuni. — We will contact you soon.
Tafadhali nijulishe. — Please let me know.
Nitasubiri jibu lako. — I will wait for your response.
Tutazungumza baadaye. — We will talk later.
Talking about work
These expressions are useful when discussing responsibilities, tasks and progress.
Unafanya kazi gani? — What work do you do?
Unafanya kazi wapi? — Where do you work?
Ninafanya kazi hapa. — I work here.
Nina kazi nyingi leo. — I have a lot of work today.
Kazi hii ni muhimu. — This work is important.
Tunahitaji kumaliza kazi hii leo. — We need to finish this work today.
Kazi imekamilika. — The work is complete.
Bado haijakamilika. — It is not finished yet.
Tafadhali fanya hivi. — Please do this.
Tutamaliza baadaye. — We will finish later.
Tunahitaji muda zaidi. — We need more time.
Business Swahili for appointments
Making and changing appointments is another useful skill.
Tunaweza kukutana kesho? — Can we meet tomorrow?
Tukutane saa ngapi? — What time shall we meet?
Tukutane wapi? — Where shall we meet?
Mkutano ni saa ngapi? — What time is the meeting?
Niko tayari kukutana nawe. — I am ready to meet you.
Samahani, siwezi kufika leo. — Sorry, I cannot come today.
Tunaweza kubadilisha muda? — Can we change the time?
Tutaonana kesho. — See you tomorrow.
Useful phrases for negotiations
Negotiation requires polite but clear language.
Tunaweza kujadili bei? — Can we discuss the price?
Hiyo ni bei kubwa sana. — That is a very high price.
Tunaweza kupata punguzo? — Can we get a discount?
Hili ndilo pendekezo letu. — This is our proposal.
Tunahitaji muda wa kufikiria. — We need time to think.
Tunakubaliana na masharti haya. — We agree to these terms.
Hatutakubali masharti hayo. — We will not accept those terms.
Hebu tujadili tena. — Let us discuss it again.
Tunaweza kufikia makubaliano. — We can reach an agreement.
Tumekubaliana. — We have agreed.
Formal and informal Business Swahili
The level of Swahili you use should depend on who you are speaking to.
With a close colleague or someone you know well, everyday expressions may be perfectly appropriate. With a senior manager, customer, government official or new business partner, more polite and formal language is usually preferable.
For example:
Informal:
Uko aje? — How are you?
More formal/polite:
U hali gani? — How are you?
Another example:
Informal:
Nipe hiyo. — Give me that.
More polite:
Tafadhali nipe hiyo. — Please give me that.
Adding words such as tafadhali, samahani and respectful forms of address can make your communication sound more courteous.