Dietary & Allergies

1. Sili nyama.

   I don't eat meat.

   Usage

   Vegetarian declaration

   Grammar Note

   "si-" = 1sg negation prefix

2. Mimi ni vegan, sili kitu chochote kinachotokana na wanyama.

   I'm vegan; I don't eat anything from animals.

   Usage

   Vegan declaration

   Grammar Note

   "kinachotokana na" = "originating from"

3. Nina mzio wa karanga.

   I have a peanut allergy.

   Usage

   Peanut allergy

   Grammar Note

   "wa" is genitive

4. Je, mna menyu isiyo na gluteni?

   Do you have a gluten-free menu?

   Usage

   Gluten-free inquiry

   Grammar Note

   "isiyo na" = relative negative

5. Mimi ni Mwislamu, sili nyama ya nguruwe.

   I'm Muslim and don't eat pork.

   Usage

   Halal observance

   Grammar Note

   "nyama ya" + animal = "meat of"

6. Siwezi kunywa maziwa.

   I cannot drink milk.

   Usage

   Lactose intolerance

   Grammar Note

   "si-wez-i" negates "be able"

7. Nina mzio wa kamba na kaa.

   I'm allergic to shrimp and crab.

   Usage

   Shellfish allergy

   Grammar Note

   "na" = "and"

8. Ni viungo gani vimo kwenye chakula hiki?

   What ingredients are in this food?

   Usage

   Ingredient inquiry

   Grammar Note

   "gani" = "which/what kind"

9. Mnaweza kuandaa bila kitunguu?

   Could you prepare it without onion?

   Usage

   Request to omit ingredient

   Grammar Note

   "bila" = "without"

10. Nina mzio wa mayai.

    I have an egg allergy.

    Usage

    Egg allergy

    Grammar Note

    Singular "yai", plural "mayai"

11. Mna orodha ya vichocheo vya mzio?

    Do you have an allergen list?

    Usage

    Allergen menu request

    Grammar Note

    "vichocheo" = "triggers"

12. Mzio wangu unaweza kuniua.

    My allergy can kill me.

    Usage

    Severe allergy warning

    Grammar Note

    "-ni-" object marker "me"

13. Kuna mafuta au viungo vya pilipili ndani?

    Is there oil or spicy seasoning inside?

    Usage

    Asks about oil/spice

    Grammar Note

    "au" = "or"

14. Je, chakula changu kinaweza kuchanganywa na vingine?

    Could my food get mixed with others?

    Usage

    Cross-contamination check

    Grammar Note

    "-wa" passive suffix

15. Asante sana kwa kunijali.

    Thank you very much for caring for me.

    Usage

    Formal thanks

    Grammar Note

    "kwa" = "for/by"

16. Siwezi kula nyama ya ng'ombe.

    I cannot eat beef.

    Usage

    Specific food restriction

    Grammar Note

    "ng'ombe" = "cow"

17. Nyama ya nguruwe

    Pork

    Usage

    Point to this to check whether a dish contains pork; most eateries in Zanzibar and the Muslim coastal areas do not serve it at all

    Grammar Note

    "Nyama" is a class 9 noun meaning meat; "ya nguruwe" means "of pig."

18. Nyama ya ng'ombe

    Beef

    Usage

    Point to this to check for beef; when a menu just says "nyama", it usually means beef

    Grammar Note

    "Ng'ombe" is a cow; the apostrophe marks the velar nasal and must not be dropped.

19. Nyama ya kuku

    Chicken

    Usage

    Point to this to check for chicken; menus usually just write "kuku"

    Grammar Note

    "Kuku" is a class 9/10 noun, unchanged in the plural.

20. Samaki

    Fish

    Usage

    Point to this to check for fish; on the coast and around Lake Victoria it also goes into stocks and sauces, so check if you are allergic

    Grammar Note

    A class 9/10 noun, unchanged in the plural.

21. Yai

    Egg

    Usage

    Point to this to check for egg; it usually appears in the plural, as in "mkate wa mayai", the Zanzibari egg pancake

    Grammar Note

    A class 5 noun; the plural "mayai" is the form you meet in markets and on menus.

22. Bidhaa za maziwa

    Dairy products

    Usage

    Point to this to check for dairy in general; milk itself is "maziwa"

    Grammar Note

    "Maziwa" is a class 6 noun with no singular; "bidhaa" means products.

23. Karanga

    Peanut

    Usage

    The word for groundnuts, understood in both Tanzania and Kenya; "njugu" is a regional alternative for the same nut. It is often crushed into sauces and stews, so always ask

    Grammar Note

    A class 9/10 noun, unchanged in the plural; not to be confused with the identically spelled verb "karanga" (to fry).

24. Kokwa

    Tree nuts

    Usage

    Covers almonds, cashews, and other tree nuts; peanuts are the separate word "karanga", so show both cards if you react to both

    Grammar Note

    A class 9/10 noun meaning a kernel or stone; cashews are "kokwa za korosho."

25. Kamba na kaa

    Shellfish (prawns and crab)

    Usage

    Swahili has no single everyday word for crustaceans, so name prawns and crab together; both go into stocks on the coast and in Zanzibar

    Grammar Note

    "Kamba" is a prawn and "kaa" a crab, both class 9/10 and unchanged in the plural; note "kamba" also means rope.

26. Ngano

    Wheat

    Usage

    Point to this to check for wheat: chapati, mandazi, and bread are all wheat. Ugali is normally maize flour, "unga wa mahindi"

    Grammar Note

    A class 9/10 noun, unchanged in the plural; wheat flour is "unga wa ngano."

27. Soya

    Soy

    Usage

    Point to this to check for soy; soy sauce is "mchuzi wa soya", used in Chinese and Indian-run restaurants

    Grammar Note

    A class 9/10 loan from English, unchanged in the plural.

28. Ufuta

    Sesame

    Usage

    Point to this to check for sesame; mainland Tanzania says "ufuta" while Kenya and the coast more often say "simsim"

    Grammar Note

    A class 11 (u-) noun; sesame oil is "mafuta ya ufuta."

29. Pombe

    Alcohol

    Usage

    Point to this to check whether a dish or drink contains alcohol, including for religious reasons; "pombe ya kienyeji" means local home brew

    Grammar Note

    A class 9/10 noun, unchanged in the plural; intoxicants in general are "kileo" (plural "vileo").

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