Image by tookapic from Pixabay
In this post we’ll look at some key vocabulary related to food and drink.
Ninahisi njaa! I’m hungry!
Let’s start with some basic expressions you may want to use.
- Nina njaa.
I’m hungry. - Nina kiu.
I’m thirsty.
- Nataka kula.
I want something to eat. - Nataka kitu cha kunywa.
I want something to drink. - Ninahisi kupata vitafunio.
I feel like a snack.
Chakula cha jioni ki tayari! Dinner is ready!
The meals in Swahili are kifungua kinywa (breakfast), chakula cha mchana (lunch), and chajio (dinner). A snack is kitafunio. Dessert is kitindamlo.
- Nini cha kifungua kinywa?
What’s for breakfast? - Nini cha chakula cha mchana.
What’s for lunch? - Nini cha chajio?
What’s for dinner? - Nini cha kitindamlo?
What’s for dessert? - Ninakula kifungua kinywa mapema.
I eat breakfast early. - Ninakula chakula cha mchana na wenzangu.
I eat lunch with colleagues. - Ninakula chakula cha jioni na familia yangu.
I eat dinner with my family.
Unakula nini? What are you eating?
Let’s see some basic vocabulary for food and beverages.
- mkate bread
- mchele rice
- pasta pasta
- tambi noodles
- nyama meat
- kuku chicken
- nyama ya ng’ombe beef
- nyama ya nguruwe pork
- paja la nyama, hemu ham
- nyama ya kondoo lamb
- samaki fish
- samoni salmon
- jodari tuna
- samakigamba shellfish
- uduvi shrimp
- kambamti lobster
- kaa crab
- kome mussel
- chaza clam, oyster
- tofu tofu
- mboga vegetables
- nyanya tomato
- kitunguu onion
- vitunguu saumu garlic
- saladi lettuce
- mchicha spinach
- asufi asparagus
- kabeji cabbage
- uyoga mushroom
- tango cucumber
- pilipili (bell) pepper
- pilipili hoho chili pepper
- tunda fruit
- tufaha apple
- peari pear
- fyulisi peach
- chungwa orange
- limau lemon
- zabibu grape
- straberi strawberry
- ndizi banana
- kokwa nut
- karanga peanut
- mbegu seed
- ngano wheat
- nafaka cereal
- chumvi salt
- pilipili pepper
- ufuta sesame
- asali honey
- sukari sugar
- mchuzi wa soya soy sauce
- yai egg
- maziwa milk
- jibini cheese
- siagi butter
- maji water
- chai tea
- kahawa coffee
- mvinyo wine
- bia beer
- maziwa ya soya soy milk
- aisikrimu ice cream
- keki cake
- pai pie
- kuki cookie
- pipi candy
- kula to eat
- kunywa to drink
- kupika to cook
- kuonja to taste
- Ninakula wali mwingi.
I eat a lot of rice. - Je, unakunywa chai au kahawa asubuhi?
Do you drink tea or coffee in the morning? - Unapika vizuri sana!
You cook very well!
Je, ninaweza kupata glasi ya maji? Could I have a glass of water?
Some important related vocabulary: sahani plate, bakuli bowl, kisu knife, kijiko spoon, uma fork, kijiti cha kulia chopsticks, kikombe cup, bilauri, gilasi glass, kitambaa napkin.
- Je, ninaweza kupata leso/uma/kisu/kijiko/vijiti?
Could I have a napkin/fork/knife/spoon/chopsticks? - Je, ninaweza kupata glasi ya maji?
Could I have a glass of water? - Wapi uma, visu na vijiko?
Where are the forks, knives, and spoons? - Uma, visu na vijiko viko katika droo.
The forks, knives, and spoons are in the drawer. - Bilauri safi ziko kwa chumba kidogo.
The clean glasses are in the small room. - Vikombe vya kahawa viko kwenye rafu.
The coffee cups on are the shelf. - Naweza pata kitambaa tafadhali.
Could I have a napkin, please?
Chakula chako kiko vipi? How’s your food?
Let’s close with some key vocabulary that you can use to talk about your food: kitamu delicious, yenye chumvi nyingi salty, tamu sweet, chungu bitter, chachu sour.
- Ni kitamu.
It’s delicious. - Ni nzuri.
It’s great. - Chakula hiki ni bora.
This food is excellent. - Ni moto sana.
It’s too hot. - Ni baridi sana.
It’s too cold. - Ni tamu sana.
It’s too sweet. - Ina chumvi nyingi.
It’s too salty. - Haina ladha/haifai.
It’s tasteless/bland. - Imepikwa kupita kiasi.
It’s overcooked. - Haijaiva.
It’s undercooked. - Ni mafuta.
It’s oily/greasy.
Do you want to learn Swahili?
Check out our other posts on Swahili language, culture, and more. And if you’re looking for convenient and affordable live Swahili lessons with a real teacher, check out The Language Garage Swahili. Our lessons are given online in a virtual classroom, so it doesn’t matter where you live or work. We can come to you. And we have flexible options, with a free trial so that you can decide if there’s a fit. Check us out!
