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Lesson One

Things a visitor might need to say
English Swahili
Hello Hu jambo
(Reply to) Hello Si jambo
How are you? Habari gani?
Very good Nzuri sana
Where is the hotel? Hoteli iko wapi?
Where is the bathroom? Choo iko wapi?
I would like to use the telephone Ninataka kutumia simu

In a restaurant

English Kiswahili
I would like bottled water Ninapenda maji ya chupa
I would like a cold beer please Ninapenda bia baridi tafadhali
I will eat the chicken Nitakula kuku
Does this contain pork? Je, hii ni ngurue?
Do you have fish? Ipo samaki?
I will eat fish with rice Nitakula samaki na wali
I prefer potatos Ninapeda viazi zaidi
Please bring another cold beer Ongeza bia baridi tafadhali
Can you bring me some fruit? Ninaweza kupata matunda?
I would like a hot coffee Ninataka kahawa moto
I would like hot tea with milk Ninataka chai moto na maziwa
I would like to pay the bill Ninataka kulipa deni ya chakula

Some notes

In swahili, the adjective generally follows the noun. The same is true of numbers. If you want to order a cold Coke, you would ask for "Coke baridi" putting the word for cold "baridi" last in the request. If you wanted two cold Cokes, you wouls ask for "Coke mbili baridi" or "Coke baridi mbili".

English Kiswahili
Hot Moto
Cold Baridi
Raw Mbichi
Roasted Choma
Fried Kaanga
Clean Safi
Boiled Kuchemsha
Salt Chumvi
Sugar Sukari
Butter Siagi
Pepper Pilipili
Milk Maziwa
LESSON TWO - COUNTING/NUMBERS LESSON THREE - DATES/TIME