Greetings

Learn basic greetings in Kiswahili

📚 Theory: Kiswahili Greetings

Kiswahili (the language of the Swahili people) is the most widely spoken indigenous language in Africa. It is spoken as a native language on the East Coast of Africa and has grown to be the Lingua Africa of the continent. Let's look at how greetings work in Kiswahili.

Kiswahili	Literal	English	Notes
Habari gani?	What news?	How are you?
Njema		Good	One can also respond 'Nzuri' which also means 'good'.
Nzuri		Good
Hujambo?		Any issues?	This is used when greeting one person
Sijambo.		I don't have any issues/I am fine.
Hamjambo?		Any issues?	The plural version of the greeting. Used when greeting a group of people.
Shikamoo		How are you?	Used by a youth to an elder. It's considered polite and respectful. It's derived from 'nashika miguu yako' which means 'I touch your feet'.
Marahaba		Good.	The response by the elder to the youth.
Jambo?		What's up?	This is an informal greeting mostly used by tourists. Stay away from this greeting if you want to sound like a local.
Mambo?		What's up?	This is the version of the greeting that locals use.
Poa		Cool	The response to 'Mambo' or 'Jambo'.
Kwaheri		Goodbye.
Waambaje?		How are you doing?	It literally means 'what are you saying?'
Sina la kuamba.		I am fine.	Literally 'I don't have anything to say.'
Salaam Aleikum		Peace be with you	Derived from Arabic
Aleikum Salaam		And also with you
Uko?		You're there?	Used in a way to mean 'Are you alright?'
Niko		I am here

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