Car Rental & Driving

1. Ningependa kukodi gari kwa siku X.

   I'd like to rent a car for X days.

   Usage

   Booking a rental car

   Grammar Note

   "Ningependa" = polite "I would like"

2. Nini kimejumuishwa kwenye bei ya kukodi?

   What's included in the rental price?

   Usage

   Checking what rental price includes

   Grammar Note

   "kimejumuishwa" = passive perfect of "jumuisha"

3. Je, ina GPS / gia ya otomatiki?

   Does it have GPS / automatic transmission?

   Usage

   Checking car features

   Grammar Note

   "Je, ina" = "does it have"

4. Chaguzi za bima ni zipi?

   What are the insurance options?

   Usage

   Inquiring about insurance options

   Grammar Note

   "zipi" = "which (plural)"

5. Je, ninapaswa kurejesha gari likiwa na tanki kamili?

   Should I return it with a full tank?

   Usage

   Checking fuel return policy

   Grammar Note

   "ninapaswa" = "I must/should"

6. Je, kuna kikomo cha umbali?

   Is there a mileage limit?

   Usage

   Checking mileage limit

   Grammar Note

   "kuna" = "there is"

7. Nataka kuripoti — gari limekwaruzwa / limeharibika.

   I'd like to report a scratch / damage.

   Usage

   Reporting car damage

   Grammar Note

   kuripoti is borrowed from English "report". A scratch is expressed with the passive of -kwaruza ("to scratch"): limekwaruzwa. gari is class 5, hence the li- prefix.

8. Kituo cha mafuta kilicho karibu zaidi kipo wapi?

   Where is the nearest gas station?

   Usage

   Finding nearest gas station

   Grammar Note

   kipo wapi = "where is it" (kituo is class 7, hence ki-). "Nearest" is expressed with the relative clause kilicho karibu zaidi.

9. Ninaweza kuvuka mpaka na gari hili?

   Can I take this car across the border?

   Usage

   Asking if cross-border driving is allowed

   Grammar Note

   "kuvuka mpaka" = "to cross the border"

10. Nimesimamishwa na polisi wa barabarani — nifanye nini?

    I've been stopped by traffic police — what should I do?

    Usage

    Asking what to do when stopped by police

    Grammar Note

    "Nimesimamishwa" = passive perfect "I was stopped"

11. Je, kuna barabara za malipo kwenye njia hii?

    Are there toll roads on this route?

    Usage

    Checking for toll roads on route

    Grammar Note

    "za malipo" = "of payment" (genitive)

12. Sheria za maegesho hapa ni zipi?

    What are the parking rules here?

    Usage

    Asking about parking regulations

    Grammar Note

    "zipi" = "which (plural)"

13. Gari halianzi.

    The car won't start.

    Usage

    Reporting car won't start

    Grammar Note

    ha-li-anz-i = negative + class-5 subject prefix (gari) + verb stem. The intransitive verb is anza ("to start"). gari is class 5 (plural magari, class 6).

14. Ningependa kurejesha gari mapema.

    I'd like to return the car early.

    Usage

    Requesting early return of car

    Grammar Note

    "Ningependa" = polite conditional

15. Je, mna kiti cha mtoto?

    Do you have a child seat available?

    Usage

    Asking for child seat availability

    Grammar Note

    "cha mtoto" = "of the child"

16. Inatumia mafuta ya aina gani?

    What type of fuel does it use?

    Usage

    Checking type of fuel required

    Grammar Note

    "Inatumia" = "it uses"

17. Je, kukodi kwa njia moja kunapatikana?

    Is one-way rental available?

    Usage

    Asking about one-way rental option

    Grammar Note

    "kunapatikana" = "is available/obtainable"

Browse all TravelPhrases languages