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English to Swahili Translator

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How English and Swahili compare

Shared writing system

English and Swahili are both written in Latin, so the translated output uses characters you already recognise. You can usually read the result aloud without transliteration, though spelling conventions and accented characters still differ.

Unrelated language families

English belongs to the Indo-European family while Swahili belongs to the Niger-Congo family. With no shared ancestry there are few cognates to fall back on, so idioms and fixed expressions rarely map word-for-word. Short, literal sentences translate more accurately than figurative ones.

Matching sentence structure

Both languages follow subject-verb-object (SVO) order, so clauses usually keep their shape during translation. Words tend to land in a similar position, which makes it easier to check a translation against the original even without fluency.

Speakers

English: Approximately 1.5 billion people speak English to varying degrees of proficiency, with around 360 million native speakers. Swahili: Approximately 100 million speakers, making it a widely spoken language in East Africa and a lingua franca for the region.

Common English phrases in Swahili

Everyday phrases translated from English to Swahili — useful for travel, conversation and learning.

Greetings

Hello
Habari
Good morning
Habari za asubuhi
Good afternoon
Habari za mchana
Good evening
Habari za jioni
Good night
Usiku mwema
Goodbye
Kwaheri
See you later
Tuonane baadaye
See you tomorrow
Tuonane kesho
Welcome
Karibu
How are you?
Habari yako?
I am fine, thank you
Sijambo, asante
Have a good day
Uwe na siku njema

Courtesy

Please
Tafadhali
Thank you
Asante
Thank you very much
Asante sana
You are welcome
Mnakaribishwa
Yes
Ndiyo
No
Hapana
Excuse me
Samahani
I am sorry
Samahani
No problem
Hakuna tatizo
Of course
Bila shaka
Congratulations
Hongera sana
Good luck
Bahati nzuri

Introductions

What is your name?
Jina lako ni nani?
Nice to meet you
Nimefurahi kukutana nawe
Where are you from?
Unatoka wapi?
How old are you?
Una umri gani?
I am a student
Mimi ni mwanafunzi
I am here on holiday
Niko hapa likizo
I am here for work
Niko hapa kwa kazi
This is my friend
Huyu ni rafiki yangu

Numbers

One
Moja
Two
Mbili
Three
Tatu
Four
Nne
Five
Tano
Six
Sita
Seven
Saba
Eight
Nane
Nine
Tisa
Ten
Kumi
One hundred
Mia moja
One thousand
Elfu moja

Time and dates

Today
Leo
Tomorrow
Kesho
Yesterday
Jana
Now
Sasa
Later
Baadaye
What time is it?
Ni saa ngapi?
In the morning
Asubuhi
In the evening
Wakati wa jioni
Monday
Jumatatu
Friday
Ijumaa
Next week
Wiki ijayo
One hour
Saa moja

Directions and travel

Where is the bathroom?
Bafuni iko wapi?
Where is the train station?
Kituo cha gari moshi kiko wapi?
Where is the airport?
Uwanja wa ndege uko wapi?
How do I get there?
Nitafikaje huko?
Turn left
Pinduka kushoto
Turn right
Geuka kulia
Go straight ahead
Nenda mbele moja kwa moja
It is near
Iko karibu
It is far
Ni mbali
I am lost
Nimepotea
I need a taxi
Nahitaji teksi
Where can I buy a ticket?
Je, ninaweza kununua tikiti wapi?
How much is the ticket?
Tikiti ni shilingi ngapi?
Is it safe to walk?
Je, ni salama kutembea?

Food and restaurants

I am hungry
Nina njaa
I am thirsty
Nina kiu
Water, please
Maji, tafadhali
A table for two, please
Jedwali la watu wawili, tafadhali
The menu, please
Menyu, tafadhali
What do you recommend?
Je, unapendekeza nini?
I would like this
Ningependa hii
It is delicious
Ni ladha
The bill, please
Mswada, tafadhali
I do not eat meat
Sili nyama
I have a food allergy
Nina mzio wa chakula
Coffee
Kahawa
Tea
Chai
Bread
Mkate

Shopping and money

How much does this cost?
Hii inagharimu kiasi gani?
It is too expensive
Ni ghali sana
Do you accept credit cards?
Je, unakubali kadi za mkopo?
I am just looking
Natafuta tu
I will take it
Nitaichukua
Open
Fungua
Closed
Imefungwa
Entrance
Kiingilio
Exit
Toka
Where is the market?
Soko liko wapi?

Emergency and health

Help
Msaada
Call a doctor
Piga daktari
Call the police
Piga polisi
I need help
Nahitaji msaada
I am sick
Mimi ni mgonjwa
Where is the hospital?
Hospitali iko wapi?
Where is the pharmacy?
Duka la dawa liko wapi?
It hurts here
Inauma hapa
I need a doctor
Nahitaji daktari
Is there a hospital nearby?
Je, kuna hospitali karibu?

Getting help with language

Do you speak English?
Je, unazungumza Kiingereza?
I do not understand
Sielewi
I understand
Ninaelewa
Please speak slowly
Tafadhali ongea polepole
Please repeat that
Tafadhali rudia hilo
Please write it down
Tafadhali iandike
What does this mean?
Hii ina maana gani?
How do you say this?
Unasemaje hili?
I am learning
Ninajifunza
I speak a little
Naongea kidogo
Can you help me?
Unaweza kunisaidia?
I do not know
Sijui

Translations are generated automatically and may vary by region or context.

About Swahili Language

Geographical Distribution

Spoken in several countries in East Africa, including Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Mozambique, as well as in the African Great Lakes region.

Alphabet

Uses the Latin alphabet, with additional letters CH (ch as in 'church'), DH (dh as in 'this'), GH (gh as in 'giant'), KH (kh as in 'khan'), NG' (ng as in 'sing'), NY (ny as in 'canyon'), SH (sh as in 'shoe'), TH (th as in 'thin'), UU (uu as in 'boot'), and vowels with diacritical marks (É as in 'é', Ó as in 'ó').

Vowels

a (ah as in 'father')e (eh as in 'pet')i (ee as in 'meet')o (oh as in 'go')u (oo as in 'boot')É (eh as in 'é')Ó (oh as in 'ó')

Consonants

b (b as in 'bat')c (c as in 'cat')d (d as in 'dog')dh (dh as in 'this')f (f as in 'fox')g (g as in 'go')gh (gh as in 'giant')h (h as in 'house')j (j as in 'jump')k (k as in 'kat')kh (kh as in 'khan')l (l as in 'love')m (m as in 'mat')n (n as in 'nut')ng (ng as in 'sing')ny (ny as in 'canyon')p (p as in 'pat')r (r as in 'red')s (s as in 'sat')sh (sh as in 'shoe')t (t as in 'tot')th (th as in 'thin')u (u as in 'put')uu (uu as in 'boot')v (v as in 'vat')w (w as in 'wet')y (y as in 'yes')z (z as in 'zoo')

Phonetics

Features a distinctive set of sounds, including the 'dh' sound (like 'th' in 'this') and the 'kh' sound (like 'ch' in 'loch').

Grammar and Syntax

Subject-verb-object (SVO) order predominates. Features complex verb conjugation and an extensive noun class system.

Loanwords

Includes words from Arabic, Portuguese, English, and other languages due to historical and modern influences.

Language Family

Part of the Bantu language family, under the Niger-Congo language group.

Writing Systems

Currently uses the Latin script. Historically, also used the Arabic script.

Writing System History

Transitioned from Arabic to Latin script during the colonial period.

Total Number of Speakers

Approximately 100 million speakers, making it a widely spoken language in East Africa and a lingua franca for the region.

About English Language

Geographical Distribution

English is a global language, spoken as a first language in countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It is also widely used as a second language worldwide.

Alphabet

Uses the Latin alphabet. A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z

Vowels

aeiousometimes y

Consonants

bcdfghjklmnpqrstvwxyz

Phonetics

Features a complex phonetic system with significant variations in accent and pronunciation across different regions. Includes around 44 phonemes in Received Pronunciation and diphthongs and triphthongs.

Grammar and Syntax

Typically follows a subject-verb-object (SVO) word order. Known for its relatively flexible syntax and extensive use of auxiliary verbs.

Loanwords

English vocabulary includes a vast number of loanwords from Latin, French, Norse, and many other languages, reflecting its historical development and adaptability.

Language Family

Part of the Germanic branch of the Indo-European language family.

Writing Systems

Currently uses the Latin script, with a history of using other scripts such as Old English runes and the Anglo-Saxon futhorc

Writing System History

The Latin script was adopted during the medieval period, replacing the earlier runic alphabets used by Anglo-Saxon settlers.

Total Number of Speakers

Approximately 1.5 billion people speak English to varying degrees of proficiency, with around 360 million native speakers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about our translation service

  • 1Type or paste the English text.
  • 2Click on the Translate button.
  • 3Translated Swahili text appears instantly.
  • 4Copy or download translated text.

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