Nyumbani: At Home — Swahili Vocabulary for the Home
In this post you’ll learn some basic Swahili vocabulary for the home. First, you’ll learn general vocabulary for rooms in Swahili. Then you’ll move on to learn more Swahili vocabulary for the kitchen. Next you’ll learn Swahili vocabulary for the living room. Then you’ll learn Swahili vocabulary for the bathroom. And finally you’ll learn some Swahili vocabulary for the bedroom. Learning this basic vocabulary will help you talk about everyday life at home.
Rooms in Swahili and Other Basic Swahili Vocabulary for the Home
Let’s start with rooms in Swahili and Swahili vocabulary for other things related to the home: nyumba house; ghorofa apartment, floor/story of a building; chumba room; sebule living room; jiko kitchen; bafu bathroom; chumba cha kulala bedroom; chumba cha kulia chakula dining room; chumba cha chini ya ardhi basement; darini in the attic; njia ya kuingia kwa gari driveway; dirisha window; ukuta wall; dari ceiling; sakafu floor; mlango door.
- Ninaenda nyumbani.
I’m going home. - Tuko nyumbani. Hatuko nyumbani.
We are home. / We aren’t home. - Je, unaishi kwenye ghorofa?
Do you live in an apartment? - Kuna vyumba vingapi katika nyumba yako/ghorofa yako?
How many rooms are there in your house/apartment?
Swahili Vocabulary for the Kitchen
Now let’s focus on Swahili vocabulary for the kitchen (jiko, or jikoni when referring to being in the kitchen): jokofu refrigerator; jiko la kupikia stove, cooker; tanuri oven; sinki sink; mashine ya kuosha vyombo dishwasher; kabati cupboard; meza table; droo drawer; uma fork; kisu knife; kijiko spoon; sahani plate; bakuli bowl; kikombe cup; bilauri drinking glass; kitambaa cha mezani table napkin.
- Nina jiko dogo.
I have a small kitchen. - Mimi hupika jikoni.
I cook in the kitchen. - Chakula kiko kwenye jokofu.
The food is in the refrigerator. - Kuna meza na viti sita katika chumba cha kulia chakula.
There is a table and six chairs in the dining room. - Sisi hula chakula cha jioni katika chumba cha kulia chakula.
We eat dinner in the dining room.
Swahili Vocabulary for the Living Room
Now let’s move on to Swahili vocabulary for the living room (sebule): sofa sofa; runinga / televisheni television; pazia curtain; zulia carpet, rug; rafu ya vitabu bookshelf; taa lamp.
- Kuna sofa na viti viwili sebuleni.
There is a sofa and two chairs in the living room. - Tunatazama runinga sebuleni.
We are watching TV in the living room.
Vocabulary for the Bedroom
Here is some Swahili vocabulary for the bedroom (chumba cha kulala): kitanda bed; mto pillow; blanketi blanket; shuka sheet; dawati desk.
- Mimi hulala chumbani mwangu.
I sleep in my bedroom. - Nina dawati katika chumba changu cha kulala.
I have a desk in my bedroom. - Kuna taa kwenye dawati.
There is a lamp on the desk.
Swahili Vocabulary for the Bathroom
And finally, let’s see some Swahili vocabulary for the bathroom (bafu): choo toilet; sinki bathroom sink; bomba la mvua shower; beseni la kuogea bathtub; taulo towel; karatasi ya choo toilet paper; mswaki toothbrush; dawa ya meno toothpaste; sabuni soap; shampu shampoo; brashi brush; kichana comb; wembe razor.
- Bafu liko wapi?
Where is the bathroom? - Mimi huoga bafuni kwa bomba la mvua.
I take a shower in the bathroom.
Get on the road to speaking Swahili with the Language Garage!
We hope you’ve enjoyed learning some Swahili vocabulary for the home. If you’d like to learn more:
- Create a free Language Garage account to access tons of Swahili vocabulary, grammar, and culture.
- Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, BlueSky, Twitter, Threads, Mastodon, Instagram, or Pinterest. We publish lots of Swahili vocabulary, grammar, and culture notes, so it’s a great way to pick up some new vocabulary and practice.
- Check out our other posts on Swahili language, culture, and more.
- Enroll in affordable, flexible, and personalized private online Swahili lessons or sign up for a small group online Swahili class.
