Swahili: Example Sentences
Example sentences, roughly from simple to intermediate, each with a translation and, where useful, a one-line grammar note. Practise them on the Swahili practice page (Sentences deck).
| Swahili | English | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Mimi ni mwanafunzi. | I am a student. | ni = is / am / are |
| Yeye yuko nyumbani. | He/she is at home. | -ko for location |
| Chai hii ni tamu. | This tea is sweet. | hii = this (n-class) |
| Nina kaka wawili. | I have two brothers. | number agrees: wa- for people |
| Ninapenda chokoleti. | I like chocolate. | ni- I + na- present + penda |
| Tunaishi karibu na bahari. | We live near the sea. | tu- = we |
| Leo kuna jua. | It’s sunny today. | kuna = there is |
| Kesho mvua itanyesha. | It will rain tomorrow. | i- agrees with mvua; -ta- = future |
| Ninaenda pwani Jumapili. | I go to the beach on Sunday. | |
| Basi linaondoka saa mbili. | The bus leaves at eight. | saa mbili = 8 a.m. in Swahili time |
| Unaweza kunisaidia? | Can you help me? | -ni- = me (object marker) |
| Siwezi kuja leo usiku. | I can’t come tonight. | si- = I (negative) |
| Ninataka kujifunza Kiswahili. | I want to learn Swahili. | |
| Ninahitaji kufanya kazi kesho. | I need to work tomorrow. | |
| Ninasoma kitabu. | I’m reading a book. | |
| Unafanya nini? | What are you doing? | |
| Dada yangu ni mrefu kuliko mimi. | My sister is taller than me. | kuliko = than |
| Hiki ni chakula kizuri. | This is good food. | ki- agreement with chakula |
| Kuna watu wengi barabarani. | There are many people on the road. | -ni = in / on (locative) |
| Hakuna kitu kwenye friji. | There’s nothing in the fridge. | hakuna = there isn’t |
| Sinywi kahawa usiku. | I don’t drink coffee at night. | negative present ends in -i |
| Jana nilikula wali. | Yesterday I ate rice. | -li- = past |
| Tulienda sinema Jumamosi. | We went to the cinema on Saturday. | |
| Nilipokuwa mtoto, niliishi kijijini. | When I was a child, I lived in the village. | -po- = when |
| Nimeshatembelea Kenya mara mbili. | I’ve already visited Kenya twice. | -me- = perfect; -sha- = already |
| Umekula? | Have you eaten? | |
| Nimeishi hapa kwa miaka mitatu. | I’ve lived here for three years. | |
| Nilimpa mama yangu. | I gave it to my mother. | -m- = him/her object |
| Niambie! | Tell me! | |
| Usimwambie. | Don’t tell him/her. | u-si- negative subjunctive |
| Natumaini uko salama. | I hope you’re well. | |
| Nataka uje. | I want you to come. | subjunctive ends in -e |
| Ukifika, nipigie simu. | When you arrive, call me. | -ki- = if / when |
| Nikipata muda, nitakuja. | If I get time, I’ll come. | |
| Kama ningekuwa na pesa, ningesafiri zaidi. | If I had money, I would travel more. | -nge- = conditional |
| Kichwa kinaniuma. | My head hurts. | literally the head bites me |
| Kiswahili kinazungumzwa hapa. | Swahili is spoken here. | -w- = passive |
| Nimefika sasa hivi. | I’ve just arrived. | |
| Nitajaribu tena. | I’ll try again. | |
| Jambo muhimu ni kujaribu. | The important thing is to try. | |
| Je, naweza kufungua dirisha? | May I open the window? | je marks a question |
| Ingekuwa bora kusubiri. | It would be better to wait. | |
| Tulifurahi sana. | We enjoyed ourselves a lot. | |
| Hatimaye nimemaliza kazi. | I’ve finally finished the work. | |
| Ninasoma ili nijifunze. | I study so that I learn. | ili + subjunctive |
| Asante kwa msaada wako. | Thanks for your help. | |
| Sikujua kwamba unasema Kifaransa. | I didn’t know that you speak French. | si-ku- = negative past |
| Kitabu hiki kiliandikwa na rafiki yangu. | This book was written by my friend. | |
| Watoto wanacheza nje. | The children are playing outside. | wa- agrees with watoto |
| Mti huu ni mrefu sana. | This tree is very tall. | m-/mi- class |
| Pole pole ndio mwendo. | Slowly is the way to go. | proverb |