Kenyan Cultural Observations and Kiswahili Phrases
Trip Start
Sep 10, 2008
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21
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Trip End
Sep 04, 2009
Kericho, Kenya
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
- Make sure you greet people by shaking their hand, even if you enter a whole office a simple generic "hello" is not sufficient it seems!
- Lift your hand to acknowledge those you pass whether by car or in the street (preferably with a friendly smile and call of "Habari").
- Often children in the villages, even if quite far away, shout out to you, even if you are driving past with: "Hello" or "How are you?" This is really lovely to hear, along with seeing them wave to you! This I have discovered, is not because I'm mzungo, as it happens with everyone and is really delightful to experience such a warm, friendly culture.
Now that you know the physical Kiswahili cultural language, now onto the spoken language:
Kiswahili (main traditional language in Kenya) - English
A quick 'conversation':
Habari = hello/how are you (the Kenyan version of "etisen")
Mzuri = Fine thank you
Na we we = And yourself?
Kwaheri = good bye
Basics:
Mzungo - a white person (Ghanaian = 'obruni')
Mwafrika - a black person (Ghanaian = 'obibini')
Hello = Jambo
Good morning = Habari ya asubu hi
Good afternoon = Habari ya adhuhuri
Good evening = Habari ya jioni
Good Night (Sleep well) = lala salama
Did you sleep well? = Uli lala salama?
Welcome = Karibu
Pleased to meet you = Nafurahi kukuona
Please = Tafadhali
Thank you = asante
Introductions:
Hi, I'm...Natasha = Jambo, mimi...Natasha
My name is...Natasha = Jina langu ni...Natasha
What is your name = Jina lako nani?
Where do you come from = Una toka wapi?
Uk = UK
How? = adje?
Do you speak English? = Una zungumza Kingereza?
Seasonal Greetings:
Merry Christmas = Krismasi njema
I wish you a Happy New Year = Nakutakia Mwaka Mpya
A prosperous New Year = mwaka mpya wenye fanaka
Happy = nafurahi
New Year = Mwaka Mpya
Merry Christmas and I wish you luck for the New Year = Krisma Njema Na Heri Za Mwaka Mpya
I wish you luck = nakutakia heri
Other useful words and phrases to know:
Sorry = pole (poh leh)
Yes = Ndio
No = hakuna
And = na
But = lakini
Slowly = pole pole (poh leh poh leh)
I need help = Nataka usahidizi
Help = Usahidizi (ew - sai - di - zee)
It is delicious (sweet) = Ni tamu
OK = sawa
Kenyan trotro = Matatu
Journey = safari
Where are you going? = una enda wapi?
None of your business! = sioshida yako!
Where am I? = niko wapi?
How much? = ni ngapi?
Too expensive! = ni gali sana!
When are you leaving? = Uta enda lini?
I want to pay = Nataka kulipa
Those taught to me by a 5 year old - you never know, you may need to use them!
I want to pee/poo = Nataka susu/pupu
Do you have any toilet paper? = (Je) una tissue?
I'm even onto tenses!
Una = present and continuous tense question
Uli = past tense question
Uta = future tense question
'The Lion King' words:
Simba = lion
Hakuna matata = no worries
Don't get confused:
Tafadhali (pronounced tafa-tha-lee) = please
Tahadhali (pronounced taha - tha -lee) = caution
Habari = how are you?
Hatari = danger
Pole (poh leh) = sorry
Pole pole (poh leh poh leh) = slowly
Just in case you felt like impressing them all:
One = moja
Two = mbili
Three = tatu
Four = nne
Five = tano
Six = sita
Seven = saba
Eight = nane
Nine = tisa
Ten = kumi
And I even progressed (very slightly) onto another tribal language - kalenjin!:
Hello = Chamge (cham-je)
How are you? = Iamume (e-ah-mu-me)
Sheep = Artet
Goat = Ngororiet
Cow = Teta
What is your best price? = beit?
(These are very important words when going livestock shopping!)
