Yeye ni wa aina gani? What’s she like? Describing People in Swahili

In this blog post we’ll look at vocabulary and expressions related to describing people in Swahili. This post will go into more advanced vocabulary than our post on basic descriptions of people. First we’ll see some examples of things you might say about how you’ve met a friend. Then we’ll look at how to describe someone physically. After that we’ll learn how describe people’s personalities. Next we’ll see some vocabulary and expressions for talking about people you like, and people you don’t like so much. Finally we’ll see some ways to talk about people’s habits, talents, and interests. Ready?

Introducing Friends in Swahili

Let’s start with phrases you can use to introduce people and say how you know each other. 

• Huyu ni rafiki yangu.
  This is my friend.
• Tunafanya kazi pamoja.
  We work together.

• Tulikuwa tunafanya kazi pamoja.
  We used to work together.
• Tunaenda shule pamoja.
  We go to school together.
• Tulienda shule pamoja.
  We went to school together.
• Mlikutana wapi?
  Where did you meet?
• Tulikutana chuo kikuu/kwenye karamu/kwenye baa/kwenye duka la kahawa.
  We met at university/at a party/at a bar/at a coffee shop.
• Tuna marafiki wa pande zote.
  We have mutual friends.
• Tumefahamiana kwa miaka mingi.
  We’ve known each other for years.
• Tulikua pamoja.
  We grew up together.
• Sisi ni majirani.
  We’re neighbors. 

Describing People Physically

If you’re telling someone about a friend, you may want to describe him or her. Let’s start with physical characteristics.

• Je, anafananaje?
  What does he/she look like?
• Yeye ni mrefu.
  He’s/She’s tall.
• Yeye ni mfupi.
  He’s/She’s short.
• Ana sura nzuri.
  He’s/She’s good looking.
• Yeye ni mwembamba.
  He’s/She’s thin.
• Yeye ni mnene.
  He’s/She’s fat.
• Yeye ni mchanga.
  He’s/She’s young.
• Yeye ni mzee.
  He’s/She’s old.
• Yeye ameunga mwili vyema.
  He’s/She’s in shape.
• Mwili wake hauko vyema.
  He’s/She’s out of shape.

Describing People’s Hair

People have all sorts of different mitindo ya nywele hairstyles, so that’s a common way to describe people.

• Ana nywele fupi.
  He/She has short hair.
• Ana nywele ndefu.
  He/She has long hair.
• Ana nywele zilizonyooka.
  He/She has straight hair.
• Ana nywele zilizopinda.
  He/She has curly hair.
• Ana nywele za kahawia hafifu.
  He/She has light brown hair.
• Ana nywele nyekundu / nywele za kahawia / nywele za kijivu.
  He/She has red hair/brown hair/gray hair.
• Ana nywele za almaria.
  She has braids.
• Ana upara.
  He’s bald. 
• Ana masharubu/ndevu.
  He has a mustache/beard. 

Describing People’s Personalities

Sometimes we describe people we know by talking about their personality types.

• Je, ana utu wa aina gani?
  What kind of personality does he/she have?
• Ana aibu.
  He’s/She’s shy.
• Ni mcheshi
  He’s/She’s funny.
• Ni wa kutililia mambo maanani.
  He’s/She’s serious. 
• Ana wasiwasi.
  He’s/She’s anxious.
• Ni mpole/Hana maneno.
  He’s/She’s relaxed/quiet.
• Yeye ni mtu mwenye furaha.
  He’s/She’s a happy person.
• Yeye ni mtu asiye na furaha.
  He’s/She’s an unhappy person.
• Amejipanga sana.
  He’s/She’s very organized.
• Yeye ni mtu mwenye matumaini.
  He’s/She’s an optimist.
• Yeye ni mtu asiye na matumaini.
  He’s/She’s a pessimist.

Describing People in Swahili Who You Like

If you like someone, sifa chanya za utu positive personality traits are probably something you would use to describe them.

• Ana utu mkubwa.
  He/She has a great personality.
• Nampenda sana.
  I like him/her a lot.
• Yeye ni rafiki mzuri.
  He/She is a good friend.
• Anavutia sana.
  He’s/She’s very interesting.
• Ana furaha sana.
  He’s/She’s very cheerful.
• Daima yuko katika hali nzuri.
  He’s/She’s always in a good mood.
• Yeye ni mzuri sana.
  He’s/She’s very friendly/nice.
• Yeye ni rafiki mwaminifu.
  He’s/She’s a loyal friend.
• Anawafikiria wengine.
  She’s thoughtful of others.
• Yeye ni muwazi.
  He’s/She’s open-minded. 
• Yeye ni mnyenyekevu.
  He’s/She’s modest.
• Anaelewana na kila mtu.
  He/She gets along with everyone.

Describing People in Swahili Who You Don’t Like

On the other hand, if you don’t like someone, sifa mbaya za utu negative personality traits are what you’d use to describe them.

• Simpendi.
  I don’t like him/her.
• Ananiudhi.
  He/She annoys me.
• Yeye huwa katika hali mbaya kila wakati.
  He’s/She’s always in a bad mood.
• Hana urafiki.
  He’s/She’s mean/unfriendly.
• Yeye ni mkaidi.
  He’s/She’s stubborn.
• Sio muwazi.
  He’s/She’s closed-minded.
• Anachosha.
  He’s/She’s dull/boring. 
• Yeye ni mbinafsi.
  He’s/She’s selfish.
• Ana kiburi.
  He’s/She’s arrogant. 
• Yeye si mwaminifu.
  He’s/She’s not trustworthy. 
• Yeye hajali.
  He’s inconsiderate.
• Yeye ni mcheshi!
  He’s/She’s a clown! 

Describing People’s Habits

We often describe people by talking about their mazoea habits. 

• Yeye hutabasamu kila wakati. Hatabasamu kamwe
  He/She smiles all the time. He/She never smiles.
• Yeye hucheka kila wakati. Yeye hacheki kamwe.
  He/She laughs all the time. He/She never laughs.
• Yeye hufanya kazi kwa bidii sana.
  He/She works very hard.
• Yeye ni mvivu.
  He/She’s lazy.
• Analalamika sana.
  He/She complains a lot. 
• Yeye kamwe halalamiki.
  He/She never complains.
• Yeye hataki kufanya chochote cha kufurahisha.
  He/She never wants to do anything fun.
• Yeye daima anataka kufanya kitu cha kusisimua.
  He/She always wants to do something exciting.
• Yeye hufanya mazoezi sana.
  He/She works out a lot.
• Yeye hucheza michezo mingi ya video.
  He/She plays a lot of video games.
• Yeye hufuata sheria kila wakati.
  He/She always follows the rules.
• Yeye hufanya chochote anachotaka.
  He/She does whatever he/she wants.
• Yeye hutoka na marafiki zake sana.
  He/She goes out with his/her friends a lot.
• Yeye hupenda kukaa nyumbani.
  He/She likes to stay home.
• Yeye hucheza michezo mingi.
  He/She plays a lot of sports.
• Yeye husoma kila wakati.
  He/She reads all the time.
• Yeye hufanya sherehe kubwa.
  He/She throws great parties. 
• Yeye hufanya mengi kwa marafiki zake.
  He/She does a lot for his/her friends.

Describing People’s Talents and Interests

People have different vipaji talents and maslahi interests, and sometimes we describe people by saying what they’re good (or not so good!) at. 

• Yeye ni mwerevu.
  He’s/She’s smart/intelligent.
• Anavutiwa na historia/lugha/sanaa/filamu.
  He’s/She’s interested in history/languages/art/movies.
• Yeye huandika/hupika/hupaka rangi/huimba vizuri sana.
  He/She writes/cooks/paints/sings very well.
• Ana vitu vingi anavyopenda kufanya.
  He/She has a lot of hobbies.
• Anapenda wanyama.
  He/She loves animals.
• Anapenda kusafiri.
  He/She loves to travel.
• Anapenda kushinda na marafiki.
  He/She loves to spend time with friends.
• Yeye ni mzuri katika tenisi.
  He’s/She’s good at tennis.
• Yeye ni mbaya katika tenisi.
  He’s/She’s terrible at tennis.
• Ana kipawa cha muziki.
  He’s/She’s gifted musician.
• Hawezi kuimba/kucheza vizuri.
  He/She can’t sing/dance well.
• Yeye ni mbunifu sana
  He’s/She’s very creative.
• Yeye si mbunifu sana.
  He’s/She’s not very creative.
• Ungempenda sana!
  You would really like him/her!

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We hope you enjoyed learning how to describe people in Swahili. If you’d like to learn more, 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!

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