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English to Swahili
Translating words and phrases from English into the Swahili language of East Africa.
714 Questions
How do you say sir in Swahili?
Bwana.
Samahani, Bwana. Excuse me, Sir.
Nikusaidie, Bwana? May I help you, Sir?
"Yes, Sir," in the police and military, however, is Ndiyo, Afandi.
Like "sir" and "mister" in English, bwana was probably originally used by an inferior to address a superior. Now it is used in all contexts, as English-speakers use those two words. Under some circumstances, especially between familiars and family members, bwana can also be used in address to women.
How do you say I am proud of you in Swahili?
Naona fahari juu yako.
I'm proud of y'all: Naona fahari juu yenu.
How do you say nana in Swahili?
What language is nana? Is this the name that some people call their grandmother? If so, in Swahili it's bibi.
Another, older word is no longer commonly used: nyanya, but many argue it's correct since bibi is also used in certain contexts to mean "Mrs." and in certain others "mistress."
How do you say one to ten in Swahili?
moja =1
mbili=2
tatu =3
nne =4
tano =5
sita =6
saba =7
nane =8
tisa =9
kumi =10
What sweets would rural Kenyan children like to eat?
They would love to eat sweets that come from different parts of the worl for example(mexican candy)
How do you say blue bird in Swahili?
Ndege wa kibluu. There's no special word for the bluebird species.
How do you say you are off to bed in Swahili?
Kalale,Nenda ukalale, Nenda ukalale, Nenda kulala, all of which mean "go to sleep."Most people would probably say simply Lala! -- go to bed.
What is what are you doing in Swahili?
Unafanya nini? To ask more than one person in a group: mnafanya nini?
How do you say my pleasure in Swahili?
Furaha yangu (my pleasure or my happiness). Many people have begun to use the word karibu, which Waswahili equate, usually incorrectly, with English "welcome." So you say ahsante (thanks) and other person sometimes responds karibu.
N.B. -- Swahili does not have indigenous words for thank you. Its two words come from Arabic, ahsante and shukrani (or nashurkuru). Correct Swahili responds to a thank you with the same word, one of these two: ahsante or shukrani (or nashukuru). In correct traditional Swahili, one says "Ahsante," to which the response is "Ahsante" (or nashukurfu). This contributor thinks of ahsante and shukrani not so much as expressing gratitude but as an expressions of good will, since they are used in place both "thanks" and "you're welcome" in English. Many people spell without the h.
How do you say 'be safe' in Swahili?
The Swahili idiom is not "be safe" but "stay safe" or "remain safe": kaa salama. To more than one person you would say Kaeni salama.
It is a kind of blessing that is fairly common with "good-bye," i.e., Kwa heri. Kaa Salama.
