Swahili Vocabulary

The Swahili vocabulary is the backbone for learning. Below we picked 70% of the most commonly used words. Therefore memorizing them will give you a 70% boost in the language. This is the smarter way of online learning. Learn only what you need. We start with commonly used numbers.

One: mmoja	Two: mbili	Three: tatu
Four: nne	Five: tano	Six: sita
Seven: saba	Eight: nane	Nine: tisa
Ten: kumi	First: kwanza	Second: pili

Time Expressions

Days of the week and time expressions:

Monday: jumatatu	Tuesday: jumanne	Wednesday: jumatano
Thursday: alhamisi	Friday: ijumaa	Saturday: jumamosi
Sunday: jumapili	Now: sasa	Yesterday: jana
Today: leo	Tonight: usiku wa leo	Tomorrow: kesho

Most popular fruits and vegetables:

Fruits: matunda	Apples: tofaa
Bananas: ndizi	Tomatoes: nyanya
Potatoes: viazi	Onions: vitunguu

Red: nyekundu	Green: kijani kibichi	Blue: bluu
White: nyeupe	Black: nyeusi	Grey: kijivu

Some words related to food:

Breakfast: kifungua kinywa	Lunch: chakula cha mchana
Dinner: chakula cha jioni	Milk: maziwa
Coffee: kahawa	Bread: mkate

Weather terms and sensations:

Sunny: jua	Windy: upepo	Rainy: kunyesha
Snowy: kunyesha theluji	Cold: baridi	Hot: joto

Words related to family and relatives:

Boy: mvulana	Girl: msichana
Son: mwana	Daughter: binti
Brother: ndugu	Sister: dada
Man: mwanamme	Woman: mwanamke
Father: baba	Mother: mama
Grandfather: babu	Grandmother: nyanya

Locations in the house which are talked about more during the day:

House: nyumba	Toilet: choo	Room: chumba
Bedroom: chumba cha kulala	Kitchen: jikoni	Table: meza

Animals and pets popular to everyone:

Cat: paka	Dog: mbwa	Mouse: panya
Bird: ndege	Cow: ng'ombe	Horse: farasi

The clothes most worn by most people:

Socks: soksi	Shoes: viatu	Trousers: suruali
Shirt: shati	Sweater: sweta	Coat: koti

Most popular languages in the world:

English: kiingereza	French: kifaransa	German: kijerumani
Spanish: kihispania	Italian: kiitaliano	Portuguese: kireno
Greek: kigiriki	Russian: kiurusi	Arabic: kiarabu
Hindi: kihindi	Chinese: kichina	Japanese: kijapani

Travel Vocabulary

Most popular terms when traveling:

Taxi: teksi	Bus: basi
Hotel: hoteli	Reservation: reservation
Airport: uwanja wa ndege	Passport: pasipoti

Words you can use in class or talking about school:

Student: mwanafunzi	Teacher: mwalimu	Pen: kalamu
Books: vitabu	Page: ukurasa	Dictionary: kamusi

Body parts which are talked about more often:

Hand: mkono	Feet: miguu	Hair: nywele
Eye: jicho	Mouth: mdomo	Nose: pua

Emergency vocabulary to ask for help or offer help when needed:

Ambulance: ambulansi	Doctor: daktari
Hospital: hospitali	Pharmacy: duka la dawa
Police: polisi	Stomach Ache: maumivu ya tumbo

As you can see, this Swahili vocabulary is something you will need every day. You can use our Vocabulary Trainer to help you memorize these words.