Words We Use in Daily Class
- Ba’ada = After
- Hapa = Here
- Kaa = Sit or stay (singular)
- Kaeni = Sit or stay (plural)
- Kingareza = English
- Kwa sabubu = Because
- Leo = Today
- Lingine = The other, another
- Majina = Nouns
- Misamiati = Vocabulary (this is a plural noun)
- Mko tayarai? = Are you ready?
- Mmenielewa = Did you (plural) understand me?
- Na’anza = I start
- Nataka = I want
- Ni = This
- Ni nini = What is this?
- Safi sana = Vizuri sana
- Sasa = Now
- Sema = Speak, say (command)
- Sikiliza = Listen (singular)
- Sikilizeni = Listen (plural)
- Simama = Stand (singular)
- Simamani = Stand (plural)
- Siyo = It’s not
- Somo = lesson
- Swali? = Questions?
- Tena = Again
- Tuna = We have
- Umenielewa = Did you (singular) understand me?
- Usisime = Don’t speak
- Vizuri sana = Very well (as in “very good work”)
- Wasilisha = To present
- Yako = You (singular)
- Yano = I
- Zenu = You (plural)
- Zoezi = Exercise
Essentials
- Bado = Not yet
- Hapana = No
- Kidogo = A little
- Ndio = Yes
- Sawa? = Okay?
Singulars and plurals
- Bibi yangu = grandmother
- Bibi zangu = grandmothers
- Kalamu nyingi = Pencil (pen) many
- Kichwa – vichwa = Head – heads
- Kundi – makundi = Group – groups
- Kijiko – vijiko = Spoon – spoons
- Watu wengi = People many
- Viti vingi = Chairs many
Polite exchanges
- Asante = Thanks
- Asante kushukuru = Thanks for saying thanks
- Habari yangu = How are you?
- Habari yako = How are you?
- Habari zenu = How are you?
- Karibu = Hello
- Karibuni = Hello (plural)
- Mbaya = Bad (mbaya sana = very bad)
- Nzuri = Well (response to “habari”)
- Pole = Sorry
Music
- Imba = Song
- Imba wimbo = Sing a song
- Naimba = I sing
- Sikilizeni wimbo = Listen to music
- Tuimbe = You sing
Unassigned Yet
- Piga = slap
- Piga ma kafi = Clap my hands