Kuwa na Safari Njema! Have a Great Trip! Swahili Travel Phrases

In this post we’ll cover important Swahili Travel Phrases. We’ll start with the basics: packing your suitcase. Then we’ll move on to Swahili travel phrases related to the airport. Next, we’ll get you to your hotel and checked in. After that we’ll cover some important phrases you can use to ask where things are, and understand the directions. Next, we’ll turn to sightseeing and getting around by train, bus, and car rental. Finally, we’ll cover some Swahili travel phrases you can use for shopping.

Mkoba wangu: My Suitcase

Before you can use any Swahili travel phrases, 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

Now let’s turn to Swahili travel phrases related to your hotel: checking in, asking about services, and dealing with any issues you might have in your room.

Getting to the Hotel and Checking In

• 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?
• 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?

In Your Room

• 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?
• 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 on Swahili food basics, and this post on restaurant vocabulary.

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

Next, let’s move on to Swahili travel phrases for finding stores and other places nearby 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.

Now we’ll turn to asking directions. 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/Pinda kulia.
  Turn right.
• Geuka/Pinda 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.

Now let’s turn to Swahili travel phrases for sightseeing so you can see what you came to see.

Sightseeing Basics

• 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?
• 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?  

Sights to Visit

• 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?

Shopping and Having Fun

• 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.

Treni hii inaenda wapi? Where does this train go?

Now let’s turn to Swahil travel phrases related to getting around outside the city. For that you’ll need some vocabulary for trains, busses, and rental cars.

• 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?

Finally, we’ll turn to shopping and buying essentials.

• 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?

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