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Image by Wayne Hartmann from Pixabay

In this post we’ll look at a lot of vocabulary and expressions that will come in handy when you travel. Let’s start with the basics.

Mkoba wangu: My Suitcase

Before you travel, you of course need to pack. So let’s start there.

• mkoba
  suitcase
• Nahitaji kupanga mkoba wangu.
  I need to pack my suitcase.
• Mkoba wangu ni mzito/mwepesi/(-ni)umejaa/tupu.
  My suitcase is heavy/light/full/empty.
• Nguo zangu haziingii kwenye mkoba wangu.
  My clothes don’t fit in my suitcase.
• Nahitaji begi/mkoba mwingine.
  I need another bag/suitcase.

Katika Uwanja wa Ndege: At the Airport

If you’re traveling, you’re probably going to leave from and arrive at an airport.

• tikiti ya ndege, pasi ya kupanda, pasipoti, ndege
  plane ticket, boarding pass, passport, flight
• wanaofika, kuondoka, lango, madai ya mizigo
  arrivals, departures, gate, baggage claim
• udhibiti wa pasipoti, desturi
  passport control, customs
• Nahitaji kuangalia mizigo yangu.
  I need to check my luggage.
• Nina begi la kubeba.
  I have a carry-on bag.
• Ndege inaondoka lini?
  When does the flight leave?
• Kuna foleni ndefu kwenye kitengo cha usalama.
  There’s a long line at security.
• Tunaabiri ndani ya kati ya dakika kumi.
  We’re boarding in ten minutes.
• kiti cha dirisha, kiti cha aisle, kiti cha kati
  window seat, aisle seat, middle seat
• rubani, mhudumu wa ndege
  pilot, flight attendant
• Tafadhali funga mkanda wako wa kiti.
  Please fasten your seatbelt.
• Tafadhali zima simu yako ya rununu.
  Please turn off your cell phone.
• Ndege ni ya muda upi?
  How long is the flight?
• Tunatua katika dakika kumi.
  We’re landing in ten minutes.
• Tunahitaji kupitia forodha na udhibiti wa pasipoti.
  We need to go through customs and passport control.
• Sehemu ya kudai mizigo iko wapi?
  Where’s the baggage claim area?
• Teksi ziko wapi?
  Where are the taxis?
• Je, kuna treni/basi kwenda mjini?
  Is there a train/bus to the city?
• Nahitaji kubadilisha pesa.
  I need to exchange money.

Hotelini: At the Hotel

You’ve finally arrived, so let’s get you settled in your hotel room.

• Hoteli iko wapi?
  Where is the hotel?
• Ningependa kuingia.
  I’d like to check in.
• Nina nafasi. Jina langu ni ______.
  I have a reservation. My name is ______.
• Lifti iko wapi?
  Where’s the elevator?
• Chumba changu kiko kwenye sakafu gani?
  What floor is my room on?
• chumba, kitanda, bafuni, dirisha, televisheni, simu
  room, bed, bathroom, window, television, phone
• shuka, blanketi, mto, vavi la kuendea bafuni
  sheets, blanket, pillow, bathrobe
• Je, kuna huduma ya chumbani?
  Is there room service?
• Je, ninaweza kupata blanketi ya ziada?
  Can I have an extra blanket?
• Je, ninaweza kupata pasi na ubao wa kupigia pasi?
  Can I have an iron and an ironing board?
• Je, ninaweza kuwa na blow-dryer?
  Can I have a blow-dryer?
• Je, ninaweza kuosha nguo zangu?
  Can I wash my clothes ?
• Joto haifanyi kazi.
  The heat isn’t working.
• Kiyoyozi hakifanyi kazi.
  The air conditioner isn’t working.
• Tafadhali safisha chumba changu.
  Please clean my room.
• Je, ninaweza kupata chumba kingine / chumba kikubwa zaidi / chumba tulivu zaidi?
  Can I have another room / a bigger room / a quieter room?
• Tunakula kifungua kinywa wapi?
  Where do we eat breakfast?
• Je, kuna chumba cha mazoezi?
  Is there an exercise room?
• Je, kuna kidimbwi?
  Is there a pool?
• Je, kuna baa?
  Is there a bar?
• Je, kuna mkahawa?
  Is there a restaurant?
• Je, una WiFi?
  Do you have WiFi?
• Nenosiri la WiFi ni nini?
  What’s the WiFi password?
• Ni saa ngapi kuondoka?
  What time is check-out?
• Ningependa kuondoka.
  I would like to check out.
• Je, unaweza kunipigia teksi?
  Can you call a taxi for me?

Nina njaa. I’m hungry.

When you’re traveling, it’s important to know some basic terms for food, drink, and how to navigate a nice meal at a local restaurant. Check out this post, which covers all of that!

Kituo cha gari moshi kiko wapi? Where is the train station?

Once you’re settled into your hotel, you probably want to know where things are in case you need to pop out and buy something.

• Je, kuna duka la bidhaa karibu?
  Is there a shop nearby?
• Je, kuna duka la dawa karibu?
  Is there a pharmacy nearby?
• Je, kuna duka kubwa karibu?
  Is there a supermarket nearby?
• Je, kuna mkahawa mzuri karibu?
  Is there a good restaurant nearby?
• Je, kuna hospitali/ofisi ya daktari karibu?
  Is there a hospital/doctor’s office nearby?
• Je, kuna duka la vitabu karibu?
  Is there a bookstore nearby?
• Je, kuna duka la nguo karibu?
  Is there a clothing store nearby?
• Je, kuna duka la viatu karibu?
  Is there a shoe store nearby?
• Kituo cha chini ya ardhi kiko wapi?
  Where is the subway station?
• Kituo cha gari moshi kiko wapi?
  Where is the train station?
• Kituo cha basi kiko wapi?
  Where is the bus station?

Kiko karibu na hoteli. It’s next to the hotel.

Of course, if you ask where things are, you’ll need some basic vocabulary related to directions and getting around.

• Je, kiko karibu?
  Is it nearby?
• Je, ni mbali na hapa?
  Is it far from here?
• Je, ninaweza kutembea huko?
  Can I walk there?
• Kiko karibu.
  It’s nearby.
• Ni mbali na hapa.
  It’s far from here.
• Ni ng’ambo ya barabara.
  It’s across the street.
• Kiko karibu na hoteli.
  It’s next to the hotel.
• Vuka barabara.
  Cross the road.
• Vuka daraja.
  Cross the bridge.
• Geuka kulia.
  Turn right.
• Pinduka kushoto.
  Turn left.
• Nenda mbele kabisa.
  Go straight ahead.
• Kiko mkabala na kituo cha treni.
  It’s next to the train station.
• Kiko karibu na kituo cha gari moshi.
  It’s near the train station.
• Kiko nyuma ya kituo cha gari moshi.
  It’s behind the train station.
• Kiko upande wa kushoto wa kituo cha treni.
  It’s the left of the train station.
• Kiko upande wa kulia wa kituo cha gari moshi.
  It’s to the right of the train station.
• Kiko mbele ya kituo cha gari moshi.
  It’s in front of the train station.

Twende kutazama. Let’s go sightseeing.

• Tunataka kwenda kutalii.
  We want to go on a tour. 
• Je! Unayo ramani ya jiji?
  Do you have a map of the city?
• Je, kuna basi la watalii?
  Is there a tour bus?
• Je, kuna kiongozi wa watalii?
  Is there a tour guide?
• Tunataka kwenda kwenye jumba la kumbukumbu.
  We want to go to a museum.
• Tunataka kutembelea kanisa kuu/hekalu/msikiti.
  We want to visit a cathedral/temple/mosque.
• Tunataka kwenda kwenye bustani.
  We want to go to the park.
• Tunataka kutembelea jumba la sanaa.
  We want to visit an art gallery.
• Tunataka kuona igizo/opera/tamasha.
  We want to see a play/opera/concert.
• Tunataka kutembelea ngome.
  We want to visit a castle.
• Tunataka kutembelea mnara.
  We want to visit a monument.
• Je, ni maeneo yapi ya kihistoria tunapaswa kutembelea?
  Which historical sites should we visit?
• Je, ni maeneo gani ya kitamaduni tunapaswa kutembelea?
  Which cultural sites should we visit?
• Je, ni eneo gani linalofaa zaidi kwa shuguli za ununuzi?
  Which is the best neighborhood for shopping?
• Je! ni eneo gani bora kwa maisha ya usiku?
  Which is the best area  for nightlife?
• Tunataka kwenda kwenye baa/kilabu cha usiku.
  We want to go to a bar/nightclub. 
• Je, kuna mtazamo mzuri wa jiji wapi?
  Where is there a good view of the city?
• Tunataka kutembelea soko.
  We want to visit a market.
• Je, kuna bafu ya umma karibu?
  Is there a public bathroom nearby?
• Bafu iko wapi?/Choo kiko wapi?
  Where is the bathroom? / Where’s the toilet?
• Njia ya kutokea/kiingilio kiko wapi?
  Where is the exit/entrance?
• Ziara inagharimu pesa ngapi?
  How much does a tour cost?  

Treni hii inaenda wapi? Where does this train go?

You probably want to see some sights outside of the city, and for that you’ll need to get around.

• Tunataka kwenda Mombasa.
  We want to go to Mombasa.
• Ningependa tikiti ya basi/treni kwenda Nairobi.
  I’d like a bus ticket/train ticket to Nairobi.
• Tikiti inagharimu pesa ngapi?
  How much does a ticket cost?
• Nataka tikiti ya njia moja.
  I want a one-way ticket.
• Nataka tikiti ya kwenda na kurudi.
  I want a round-trip ticket.
• Treni/basi huondoka lini?
  When does the train/bus leave?
• Treni/ basi hufika saa ngapi?
  When does the train/bus arrive?
• Je, basi/treni hii inaenda Mombasa?
  Does this bus/train go to Mombasa?
• Inachukua muda gani kufika Mlima Kilamanjaro? 
  How long does it take to go to Mount Kilamanjaro?
• Ninaweza kukodisha gari wapi?
  Where can I rent/hire a car?
• Ninawezaje kufika ufukweni/milima/mbuga ya kitaifa?
  How can I get to the beach/mountains/national park?

Inagharimu pesa ngapi? How much does it cost?

When you’re traveling, you probably need to buy all sorts of things. Let’s cover that vocabulary.

• Je, ninaweza kununua wapi ramani/chupa ya maji/ kikombe cha kahawa?
  Where can I buy a map/a bottle of water/a cup of coffee?
• Je, ninaweza kununua wapi miwani ya jua/aspirini/kizuia jua?
  Where can I buy sunglasses/aspirin/sunscreen?
• Ninaweza kununua wapi postikadi/ zawadi?
  Where can I buy postcards/souvenirs?
• Ninaweza kununua wapi chakula/kitu cha kunywa?
  Where can I buy something to eat/something to drink?
• Inagharimu pesa ngapi?
  How much does it cost?
• Tafadhali andika bei.
  Please write the price.
• Je, ninaweza kulipa kwa pesa taslimu?
  Can I pay by cash?
• Je, ninaweza kulipa kwa kadi ya mkopo?
  Can I pay by credit card?
• Hiyo ni ghali sana.
  That’s too expensive.
• Je! una kitu cha bei nafuu?
  Do you have something less expensive?
• Naweza kuona hilo, tafadhali?
  Can I see that, please?
• Nitachukua hii/hiyo.
  I’ll take this/that.
• Je, ninaweza kuijaribu?
  Can I try it?

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!