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In this post we’ll look at some Swahili vocabulary related to cars and driving. 

Gari langu: My car

Let’s start with some basic vocabulary: gari (car), kuendesha (to drive), mafuta (gas/petrol), kupata mafuta (to get gas), kujaza mafuta tenki (to fill the gas tank), mkanda wa kiti (seatbelt), gereji (garage), kuwasha gari (to start the car), kuegesha gari (to park the car), sehemu ya maegesho (parking lot), nafasi ya maegesho (parking space), kuzima injini (to turn off the engine).

• Una gari?
  Do you have a car?
• Nilinunua gari mpya.
  I bought a new car.
• Ninaendesha sana kila wiki.
  I drive a lot every week.
• Funga mkanda wako wa kiti.
  Put on your seatbelt. 
• Nahitaji kupata mafuta.
  I need to get gas.
• Jaza tenki tafadhali.
  Fill the tank, please. 
• Unaegesha kwa gereji au kwa mtaa?
  Do you park in a garage or on the street?
• Siwezi pata nafasi ya maegesho.
  I can’t find a parking space.

Fungua mlango wa gari! Unlock the car door!

Now let’s look at some vocabulary for parts of a car. mlango wa gari (car door), kioo cha mbele (windshield), kifuta kioo cha mbele (windshield wipers), kuweka juu/chini dirisha (to put up/down the window), buti (trunk/boot), boneti (hood/bonnet), usukani wa gurudumu (steering wheel), kiti cha mbele (front seat), kiti cha nyuma (back seat), taa za mbele (headlights), breki (brakes), injini (engine), pepeso (blinker, turn signal), taa za breki (brake lights), kubadilisha mafuta (to change the oil), mekanika (mechanic).

• Sanduku ziko kwenye buti.
  The suitcases are in the trunk.
• Watoto wamekaa kiti cha nyuma.
  The kids are sitting in the back seat.
• Kuna baridi! Weka madirisha juu na uwashe joto.
  It’s cold! Put up the windows and turn on the heat.
• Ni joto! Fungua madirisha au weka kiyoyozi.
  It’s hot! Open the windows or put the air conditioning on.
• Kunanyesha. Ninahitaji kuweka kifuta kioo.
  It’s raining. I need to put on the windshield wipers. 
• Kuna giza. Nahitaji kuweka taa za mbele.
  It’s dark. I need to put on the headlights. 
• Injini iko chini ya boneti.
  The engine is under the hood.
• Gari langu inahitaji breki mpya.
  My car needs new brakes. 
• Weka indiketa kisha ugeuke kwenye kijia kinachofuata.
  Put on your blinker (turn signal) and turn at the next street.
• Nahitaji kubadilisha mafuta kwenye gari langu.
  I need to change the oil in my car.
• Kuna kitu kibaya na gari langu. Nahitaji mekanika.
  Something is wrong with my car. I need a mechanic.

Pinduka kulia kwenye taa ya trafiki. Turn right at the traffic light.

Now let’s see some vocabulary that describes what we do when we drive. kuendesha moja kwa moja (to drive straight), kupinduka kushoto/kulia (to turn left/right), enda nyuma / rudi nyuma (to reverse), kubadilisha gia (to change gears), taa za trafiki (traffic light), ishara ya kusimama (stop sign), kikomo cha kasi (speed limit), kupiga honi (to honk the horn), 

• Unaendesha gari kwa kasi sana.Punguza mwendo!
  You’re driving too fast. Slow down!
• Unaendesha gari polepole. Harakisha!
  You’re driving too slowly. Speed up!
• Kikomo cha kasi ni kipi?
  What is the speed limit?
• Pinduka kushoto kwenye taa inayofuata ya trafiki.
  Turn left at the next traffic light.
• Kuna ishara ya kusimama! Simama!
  There’s a stop sign! Stop!
• Mbona anapiga honi yake?
  Why is he honking his horn?
• Alirudi nyuma nje ya eneo la maegesho na kuondoka.
  She reversed out of the parking spot and drove away.

Barabarani: On the road

Now let’s look at some things you’re likely to see when you’re on the road. mtaani (street), njia kuu (highway), njia kuu ya kutoka (highway exit), kuingia kwenye njia kuu (to get on the highway), kijumba cha ushuru (toll booth), daraja (bridge), alama ya barabarani (road sign), mzungunguko wa trafiki (traffic circle/roundabout), lori (truck), kupita gari (to pass a car), njia (lane), kituo cha mafuta (gas station), msongamano wa magari (traffic jam), kuchukua saa moja/masaa mawili kuendesha hadi X (to take one hour/two hours to drive to X.)

• Nawezaje fika kwenye barabara kuu?
  How do I get to the highway?
• Toka kwa barabara kuu kwenye njia ya kutokea ifuatayo.
  Get off the highway at the next exit. 
• Kuna kijumba cha ushuru baada ya daraja.
  There’s a toll booth after the bridge. 
• Inasema nini kwenye ishara hiyo?
  What does it say on that sign?
• Kiko wapi kituo cha karibu cha mafuta?
  Where is the nearest gas station?
• Gari hili linaenda polepole sana. Wacha tuipite.
  This car is driving very slowly. Let’s pass it.
• Usibadilishe njia bado, kuna lori nyuma yako.
  Don’t change lanes yet, there’s a truck behind you.
• Trafiki ni mbaya wakati huu wa siku.
  Traffic is really bad this time of day.
• Tumekwama kwenye trafiki.
  We’re stuck in a traffic jam.
• Inachukua muda gani kuendesha gari hadi uwanja wa ndege?
  How long does it take to drive to the airport?

Nina tairi iliyopasuka. I have a flat tire.

Sometimes things don’t always go perfectly well when we drive. kugeuka vibaya (to make a wrong turn), kupotea (to be lost), tairi iliyopasuka (a flat tire), kuishiwa mafuta (to be out of gas), kupata ajali (to have an accident), kupiga breki (to slam on the brakes), kuyumba (to swerve), kuteleza (to slide), kuruka (to skid), betri ilyokufa (a dead battery), kugonga mti/gari nyingine (to hit a tree/another car), kupata tiketi (to get a ticket).

• Niligeuka vibaya. Tumepotea.
  I made a wrong turn. We’re lost.
• Tuna tairi iliyopasuka.
  We have a flat tire.
• Tulipata ajali ndogo.
  We had a minor accident.
• Dereva aliyekuwa mbele yangu alikanyaga breki kwa nguvu.
  The driver ahead of me slammed on his/her brakes.
• Mbwa alikimbia barabarani, nami nikayumba ili kukwepa.
  A dog ran into the road, and I swerved to avoid it.
• Barabara ni barafu, kwa hiyo gari linateleza.
  The roads are icy, so the car is sliding.
• Tuliteleza hadi tukasimama.
  We skidded to a stop.
• Gari halitaanza. Betri imekufa.
  The car won’t start. The battery is dead.
• Niligonga mti/gari lingine.
  I hit a tree/another car.
• Nilikuwa nikiendesha kwa kasi na nikapata tikiti.
  I was speeding and got a ticket.

Teksi! Taxi!

Here are some vocabulary items and expressions that you can use for public transportation. teksi (taxi), basi (bus), nauli (fare), stendi ya teksi (taxi stand), kituo cha basi (bus stop), kuingia kwenye basi (to get on the bus), kushuka kwenye basi (to get off the bus).

• Ninaweza kupata teksi wapi?
  Where can I get a taxi?
• Ningependa kwenda kwenye kituo cha treni, tafadhali.
  I would like to go to the train station, please.
• Tafadhali nipeleke kwa anwani hii.
  Please take me to this address.
• Nauli ni kiasi gani?
  How much is the fare?
• Tafadhali simama hapa.
  Please stop here.
• Kuna basi kutoka kwa uwanja wa ndege kwenda katikati ya jiji?
  Is there a bus from the airport to the city center?
• Tunashuka kwenye kituo kinachofuata.
  We get off at the next stop. 

Ninaweza kukodisha gari wapi? Where can I rent a car?

Let’s close with some vocabulary and expressions that you can use when renting a car. kukodisha gari (to rent a car), milango miwili, milango minne (two-door, four-door), gari la magurudumu manne (four-wheel drive), kusambaza wa moja kwa moja (automatic transmission), mwongozo wa kusambaza (manual transmission), bima (insurance), leseni ya udereva (driver’s license), kuchukua gari (to pick up the car), kurudisha gari (to return the car), kikomo cha maili/kilomita (mileage/kilometrage limit). 

• Tungependa kukodisha gari.
  We would like to rent a car.
• Tungependa gari la milango miwili/milango minne tafadhali.
  We would like a two-door/four-door car please.
• Tunahitaji gari la magurudumu manne.
  We need a four-wheel drive vehicle.
• Je, unapendelea upitishaji otomatiki au wa mwongozo?
  Do you prefer automatic or manual transmission?
• Hii hapa leseni yangu ya udereva.
  Here is my driver’s license. 
• Je, ni bima ngapi imejumuishwa?
  How much insurance is included?
• Kikomo cha kila siku cha maili/kilomita ni kipi?
  What is the daily mileage/kilometrage limit?
• Je, ninaweza kuchukua/kurudisha gari kwenye uwanja wa ndege?
  Can I pick up/return the car at the airport?

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