Amani na Furaha! Peace and Joy! Talking about the Holiday Season in Swahili

In this post we’ll learn vocabulary and expressions that you can use to talk about the holiday season in Swahili. First we’ll learn holiday greetings that you can use for Christmas and Hanukkah. Then we’ll look at vocabulary that you can use to talk about holiday decorations. After that we’ll learn how to talk about gifts and gift giving in Swahili. Next we’ll learn how to talk about the holiday spirit. Finally, we’ll learn how to wish people a happy new year in Swahili and enjoy the festivities.

If you want to learn about Christmas as well as other Christian and Islamic holidays celebrated in Kenya and Tanzania, check out this post.

Greetings for the Holiday Season in Swahili

The first thing you may want to know how to say is of course Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah. Here are some other expressions you can use to wish people well during the holiday season. We’ll come back to Happy New Year in Swahili later.

• Krisimasi njema!
  Merry Christmas!
• Heri za sikukuu ya Hanukkah!
  Happy Hanukkah!
• Furahia / Furahieni siku kuu!
  Enjoy the Holidays! (to one person/two or more people)

• Je, huwa unasherehekea Krismasi/Hanukkah?
  Do you celebrate Christmas/Hanukkah?
• Furahia wakati huu wa mwaka!
  Enjoy this time of year!
• Natumai utakuwa na Krismasi njema.
  I hope you have a good Christmas.
• Natumai utawaona marafiki zako na familia.
  I hope you see your friends and family.
• Nakutakia amani, afya na furaha.
  I wish you peace, health, and happiness!
• Natumai utapokea zawadi nyingi.
  I hope you get a lot of presents.

Decorations during the Holiday Season in Swahili

Lots of people put up decorations this time of year, so you may want to say: mti wa Krismasi (Christmas tree), menora (menorah), nyota (star), mshumaa (candle), kengele (bell), mianga ya rangi inayopendeza (colorful lights), mandhari ya kuzaliwa Kristu (nativity scene), mtoto Yesu (baby Jesus), malaika (angel), wafalme watatu (three kings), Santa Claus (Santa Claus), theluji mtu (snowman), kulungu (reindeer).

• Tunaenda kununua mti wa Krismasi wikendi hii.
  We’re going to buy a Christmas tree this weekend.
• Wacha tupambe mti wa Krismasi.
  Let’s decorate the Christmas tree.
• Wacha tuwashe menorah.
  Let’s light the menorah.
• menorah ina mishumaa tisa.
  A menorah has nine candles.
• Kuna rangi zinazopendeza kwa nyumba.
  There are colorful lights on the house.
• Mapambo ya mti wa Krismasi ni marembo.
  The Christmas tree ornaments are beautiful.
• Huwa tunatengeneza hori/mandhari ya kuzaliwa Kristu kila mwaka.
  We put up a manger/nativity scene every year.
• Familia yangu huweka mapambo ya siku kuu ya Hanukkah.
  My family puts up Hanukkah decorations.

Holiday Gifts

Exchanging presents is of course a big part of the holiday season, so you may want to say: tuzo/zawadi (gift/present), karatasi ya kufunga zawadi (wrapping paper), kadi (card).

• Ninahitaji kununulia marafiki wengi na jamaa zawadi.
  I have to buy gifts for a lot of friends and relatives.
• Nina zawadi yako.
  I have a present for you. I have your gift.
• Ni nini uliniletea?
  What did you get for me?
• Fungua zawadi yako.
  Unwrap your present.
• Hii ni zawadi nzuri.
  This is a great present!
• Wewe ni karimu sana/mfikirivu.
  You’re so generous/thoughtful.
• Ninapenda zawadi yangu.
  I love my present.
• Nilikutengenezea zawadi hii mwenyewe.
  I made this gift for you myself.
• Santa Claus aliwacha zawadi chini ya mti wa Krismasi.
  Santa Claus left gifts under the Christmas tree.
• Sisi hununua zawadi nane za Hanukkah.
  We get eight gifts for Hanukkah.

The Spirit of the Holiday Season in Swahili

The holiday season means different things to different people.

• Napenda msimu wa likizo.
  I love the holiday season.
• Kuna mziki wa Krismasi kila mahali.
  There is Christmas music everywhere.
• Ninatazamia likizo.
  I’m looking forward to the holiday.
• Napenda Krismasi.
  I love Christmas.
• Nimefurahia kuona familia yangu Hanukkah.
  I’m excited to see my family for Hanukkah.
• Natumainia amani duniani.
  I hope for peace on earth.
• Tunapeana zawadi kwa familia zisizojiweza.
  We’re donating gifts to poor families.
• Ni muhimu kupeana chakula kwa wale wanaohitaji.
  It’s important to give food to people who need it.
• Ninatoa shukrani kwa familia yangu na marafiki.
  I’m thankful for my family and friends.

Happy New Year in Swahili

Soon enough, the year will come to an end, and people everywhere will drink a toast to the new year. So you’ll want to know how to wish people a happy new year in Swahili, and how to talk about all of the festivities.

• Je, unaenda kwenye sherehe za mwaka mpya?
  Are you going to a New Year’s Eve party?
• Sisi hula chajio kubwa na familia na marafiki.
  We eat a big dinner with family and friends.
• Ninawaalika marafiki kwenye sherehe.
  I’m inviting friends to a party.
• Heri za mwaka mpya!
  Happy New Year!
• Ni usiku wa manane, wacha tunywe shampeni!
  It’s midnight, let’s drink champagne!
• Cheers! / Maisha marefu!
  Cheers!
• Amani, afya na furaha kwa mwaka mpya!
  Peace, health, and happiness in the new year!
• Ni nini maazimio ya mwaka wako mpya?
  What are your New Year’s Resolutions?
• Nataka kukonda kwenye mwaka mpya.
  I want to lose weight in the new year.
• Ninataka kujifunza lugha mpya mwakani.
  I want to learn a new language in the new year.
• Nakutakia ushindi mkuu kwenye mwaka mpya.
  I wish you great success in the new year.
• Ninatumai unafurahia sana kwenye mwaka mpya.
  I hope you are very happy in the new year.

No matter what holiday you celebrate, we wish you great health and happiness, and a very happy new year in Swahili: Heri za mwaka mpya!

Get on the road to speaking Swahili with the Language Garage!

We hope you’ve enjoyed learning how to talk about the holiday season in Swahili and how to wish people a happy new year 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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