Airport & Customs

1. Tafadhali onyesha pasipoti yako

   Ta-fa-dha-li o-nye-sha pa-si-po-ti ya-ko

   Please show your passport

   Usage

   Standard phrase used by immigration officers

   Grammar Note

   Swahili follows SVO word order

2. Ni nini lengo la ziara yako?

   Ni ni-ni len-go la zi-a-ra ya-ko?

   What is the purpose of your visit?

   Usage

   Standard immigration question

   Grammar Note

   "Nini" = what

3. Unapanga kukaa usiku ngapi?

   U-na-pan-ga ku-ka-a u-si-ku nga-pi?

   How many nights are you planning to stay?

   Usage

   Commonly asked at immigration

   Grammar Note

   "Ngapi" = how many

4. Je, una bidhaa yoyote ya kutangaza?

   Je, u-na bi-dha-a yo-yo-te ya ku-tan-ga-za?

   Do you have anything to declare?

   Usage

   Asked at customs

   Grammar Note

   "Je" is a question marker

5. Mzigo wangu haujafika bado

   Mzi-go wa-ngu hau-ja-fi-ka ba-do

   My luggage hasn't arrived

   Usage

   Tell baggage claim staff

   Grammar Note

   "Bado" = still/yet

6. Huu ni mzigo wa kubeba mkononi

   Hu-u ni mzi-go wa ku-be-ba mko-no-ni

   This is carry-on luggage

   Usage

   Tell airline staff at check-in or boarding gate

   Grammar Note

   "Mkono" = hand

7. Mimi niko katika usafiri wa kupita

   Mi-mi ni-ko ka-ti-ka u-sa-fi-ri wa ku-pi-ta

   I'm in transit

   Usage

   Used at transit counters or immigration

   Grammar Note

   "Kupita" = to pass through; "wa ku-" + verb forms a purpose phrase

8. Mlango wa kupanda uko wapi?

   Mla-ngo wa ku-pan-da u-ko wa-pi?

   Where is the gate?

   Usage

   Ask when looking for your boarding gate

   Grammar Note

   "Wapi" = where

9. Upandaji unaanza lini?

   U-pan-da-ji u-na-an-za li-ni?

   When does boarding begin?

   Usage

   Ask while waiting at the boarding gate

   Grammar Note

   "Lini" = when

10. Duka la bila ushuru liko wapi?

    Du-ka la bi-la u-shu-ru li-ko wa-pi?

    Where is the duty-free shop?

    Usage

    Ask after clearing security

    Grammar Note

    "Bila" = without, "ushuru" = tax

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