Msaada! Msaada!
Msa-a-da! Msa-a-da!
Help! Help!
Usage
Shouting for help in an emergency. Repetition emphasizes urgency
Grammar Note
"Msaada" (help) is an m-/mi- class (class 3/4, plural "misaada") noun from Arabic "sa'adah." The verb form "Saidia!" (Help me!) is also used in emergencies. Swahili often has both noun and verb alternatives for urgent requests.
Piga simu polisi!
Pi-ga si-mu po-li-si!
Call the police!
Usage
Asking someone to call the police. Kenya police emergency: 999 or 112
Grammar Note
"Piga simu" (to phone) literally means "strike a phone" — an idiomatic expression. "Polisi" is borrowed from English "police." Modern vocabulary in Swahili is largely adopted from English.
Ninahitaji daktari
Ni-na-hi-ta-ji dak-ta-ri
I need a doctor
Usage
Essential phrase for medical emergencies. Also learn "Piga simu ambulensi!" (Call an ambulance!)
Grammar Note
"Daktari" comes from Arabic "duktur" (doctor), which derives from Greek/Latin "doctor." It is a class 5/6 (ji-/ma-) noun with the plural "madaktari"; because it refers to a person, verbs take the a-/wa- agreement (daktari anakuja).
Nimeumia
Ni-me-u-mi-a
I am injured
Usage
Reporting an injury. "Naumia" = I'm in pain (current), "Nimeumia" = I have been hurt (completed)
Grammar Note
"Umia" means to be hurt/injured. "Ni-me-umia" = I (Ni-) + perfect tense (me-) + umia. Swahili's "me-" perfect tense indicates a completed action with current relevance.
Moto! Moto!
Mo-to! Mo-to!
Fire! Fire!
Usage
Emergency shout to alert others to a fire
Grammar Note
"Moto" (m-/mi- class) means both "fire" (noun) and "hot" (adjective) depending on context. This dual noun/adjective function is a feature of Swahili grammar.
Mwizi! Mwizi!
Mwi-zi! Mwi-zi!
Thief! Thief!
Usage
Emergency shout when experiencing theft
Grammar Note
"Mwizi" (thief) is m-/wa- class (person class); plural "wezi." The m-/wa- class is the primary Bantu class for humans and animate beings. This class is essential for understanding Swahili person nouns.
Nimepoteza pasipoti yangu
Ni-me-po-te-za pa-si-po-ti yan-gu
I have lost my passport
Usage
Reporting a lost passport. Use at embassies or police stations
Grammar Note
"Poteza" is the causative of "potea" (to get lost/disappear), meaning "to lose something." "Nimepoteza" = I + perfect + poteza. "Pasipoti" is borrowed from English "passport."
Ninaogopa sana
Ni-na-o-go-pa sa-na
I am very afraid
Usage
Expressing fear or distress. Can also be used when seeking help in a threatening situation
Grammar Note
"Ogopa" means "to fear/be afraid." "Ninaogopa" = Ni (I) + na (present) + ogopa (fear). Swahili expresses emotions directly with verbs, similar to English.
Hospitali iko wapi?
Hos-pi-ta-li i-ko wa-pi?
Where is the hospital?
Usage
Asking for directions to a hospital in an emergency
Grammar Note
"Hospitali" is borrowed from English. "Iko" is the class 9 locative copula. The locative suffixes are -po (a specific place: ipo), -ko (general or distant place: iko) and -mo (inside: imo).
Tafadhali nipigie simu ubalozi
Ta-fa-dha-li ni-pi-gi-e si-mu u-ba-lo-zi
Please call the embassy for me
Usage
Requesting someone to contact your embassy in an emergency
Grammar Note
"Nipigie" = ni (to/for me) + pig (strike/call) + i (applicative, adds a beneficiary) + e (subjunctive final vowel). The applicative gives "for me", a hallmark of Bantu verb extensions. "Ubalozi" is the embassy; "balozi" is the ambassador as a person.
Acha!
Stop it!
Usage
Show this to shut down persistent touts, hard sellers, or unwanted contact. It is a blunt imperative and is not meant to be polite
Grammar Note
The imperative of "acha" (to stop, to let go); Kenya commonly uses the variant "wacha!"
Usiniguse!
Don't touch me!
Usage
Show this to stop someone touching you; holding out the screen works even when you cannot raise your voice
Grammar Note
A negative imperative: "u-" (you) + "si" (not) + "ni" (me) + "gusa" (touch); the final -e marks the subjunctive.
Nisaidie!
Help me!
Usage
Aimed at one specific person, unlike the general shout "msaada!"
Grammar Note
Object prefix "ni-" (me) plus "saidia" (help) with the final vowel changed to -e (subjunctive, used as an imperative); "tafadhali nisaidie" softens it slightly.
Nimeibiwa
I have been robbed
Usage
To report a theft to the police or bystanders; point at what was taken
Grammar Note
"ni-" (I) + "me-" (perfect) + "ibiwa" (be robbed); "-wa" is the passive suffix.
Nimepotea
I am lost
Usage
To say you are lost; follow it with a place name or show a map
Grammar Note
"ni-" (I) + "me-" (perfect) + "potea" (to be lost); the same verb is used when an object goes missing.
Unyang'anyi
Robbery
Usage
Point to this to report being robbed by force; for plain theft use "Nimeibiwa"
Grammar Note
A class 11 (u-) abstract noun from the verb "nyang'anya" (to take by force).
Kibaka
Pickpocket
Usage
Point to this to report a pickpocketing or to warn people nearby
Grammar Note
Although it denotes a person, it belongs to the ki-/vi- class (class 7); the plural is "vibaka".
Utekaji nyara
Kidnapping
Usage
Point to this to tell the police or bystanders that someone has been abducted
Grammar Note
"Utekaji" (abduction) plus "nyara" (an abductee, plunder); the verbal form is "teka nyara".
Mauaji
Murder
Usage
Point to this to report to the police or bystanders that someone has been killed
Grammar Note
A class 6 (ma-) plural noun built on the verb "-ua" (to kill); "uuaji" is a synonym.
Machafuko
Riot
Usage
Point to this to say that a riot is going on
Grammar Note
A class 6 (ma-) plural noun built on the verb "-chafuka" (to become disordered).
Bomu
Bomb
Usage
Point to this to report a suspicious object or an explosive device
Grammar Note
A loanword from English "bomb"; class 5/6, plural "mabomu".
Moto! Kimbia!
Mo-to! Ki-mbi-a!
Fire! Run!
Usage
Shout this to raise the alarm and tell people to get out; it goes further than the plain shout "Moto! Moto!"
Grammar Note
Takes the shout "Moto!" and adds the singular imperative of "kimbia" (to run, to flee). As in "Acha!", the Swahili singular imperative is the bare verb stem.
Mwizi! Kamata!
Mwi-zi! Ka-ma-ta!
Thief! Catch him!
Usage
Shout this right after a theft to get bystanders to act; it asks for more than the plain shout "Mwizi! Mwizi!"
Grammar Note
Takes the shout "Mwizi!" and adds the singular imperative of "kamata" (to hold, to seize). It carries no object prefix, exactly like "Acha!".
Kituo cha polisi kiko wapi?
Ki-tu-o cha po-li-si ki-ko wa-pi?
Where is the police station?
Usage
Ask where the police station is, for example when you need to file a report
Grammar Note
Built like "Kituo cha basi" (bus station); "kituo" is a class 7 noun, so the locative copula agrees as "kiko", as in "Choo ... kiko wapi?". The class 9 "iko" of "Hospitali iko wapi?" cannot be reused here without breaking agreement.
Tafadhali nipe ripoti ya polisi
Ta-fa-dha-li ni-pe ri-po-ti ya po-li-si
Please give me a police report
Usage
Use this at a police station to ask for the written record of a theft that insurers require. The sentence itself does not name the theft, so say or mime that part
Grammar Note
The request follows "Tafadhali nipe risiti" (please give me a receipt). "Ripoti ya polisi" links the two nouns with the class 9 genitive "ya".
Je, kuna mtu anayeongea Kijapani?
Je, ku-na mtu a-na-ye-o-nge-a Ki-ja-pa-ni?
Is there anyone who speaks Japanese?
Usage
Ask at a hospital or a police station whether anyone there speaks Japanese
Grammar Note
"Je, kuna ...?" is the existential frame. "Anayeongea" is a class 1 relative: subject a- + present -na- + class 1 relative -ye- + the stem "ongea". The class 4 relative -yo- ("mifuko inayoweza") cannot be carried over to a human head noun. "Kijapani" uses the ki- language prefix seen in "Kiingereza" on the stem found in "Mjapani".
Amepoteza fahamu
A-me-po-te-za fa-ha-mu
This person is unconscious
Usage
Point at the person who has collapsed and say that they are not conscious
Grammar Note
The verb is the same perfect of "poteza" (to lose) used in "Nimepoteza pasipoti yangu"; only the subject prefix changes from first person ni- to class 1 a-, the agreement seen in "Mtoto wangu amepotea". The collocation "amepoteza fahamu" is a set collocation.
Nimepigwa
Ni-me-pi-gwa
I was beaten
Usage
Tell the police or a doctor that you were assaulted; point at where you were struck
Grammar Note
"ni-" (I) + "me-" (perfect) + "pig" (strike) + "-wa" (passive). The passive perfect frame is that of "Nimeibiwa"; only the stem is swapped for the "pig" of "Piga simu".
Nimechomwa kisu
Ni-me-cho-mwa ki-su
I was stabbed
Usage
Say that you were stabbed with a blade; without the word "kisu" (knife) the verb can also be read as "burnt"
Grammar Note
The passive perfect frame is that of "Nimeibiwa". The stem "choma" covers burning, stabbing and injecting, so the instrument "kisu" is added to fix the sense (as in "alichomwa kisu").
Chumba changu kimeibiwa
Chu-mba cha-ngu ki-me-i-bi-wa
My room was broken into
Usage
Tell the hotel or the police that your room was entered and robbed while you were out
Grammar Note
"Chumba changu" is a class 7 phrase. The verb is the passive perfect of "Nimeibiwa" with the subject prefix changed from first person ni- to class 7 ki-, giving "chumba ... kimeibiwa".
Mtu yule ni mhalifu
Mtu yu-le ni mha-li-fu
That person is the culprit
Usage
Point at the person and tell the police; the demonstrative is the distal one, for someone away from you
Grammar Note
The copular frame "X ni Y" is that of "Wewe ni mtu mzuri sana". The demonstrative follows the noun and agrees with it: class 1 "mtu" takes a class 1 demonstrative, the same placement as the class 5 "shati hili". Using the class 9 "hii" with a person would break agreement. The distal "yule" is used here; the proximal "huyu" points at someone beside the speaker. The reversed order "yule mtu" also occurs.
Nimedanganywa
Ni-me-da-nga-nywa
I was deceived
Usage
Say that you have been cheated or scammed
Grammar Note
The passive perfect frame of "Nimeibiwa" with the stem "danganya" (to deceive), as in "Usinidanganye".
Nimeibiwa pochi yangu
Ni-me-i-bi-wa po-chi ya-ngu
My wallet was stolen
Usage
Tell the police that your wallet was stolen
Grammar Note
Names the stolen item after "Nimeibiwa". "Pochi" is a class 9 noun, so the possessive is "yangu", the same agreement as "pasipoti yangu".
Gari limenigonga
Ga-ri li-me-ni-go-nga
I was hit by a car
Usage
Say that a car hit you; literally "the car hit me"
Grammar Note
The class 5 agreement in "Gari li-me-" is that of "Gari limekwama". The object prefix "-ni-" (me) is the one in "Usiniguse", and the stem is "gonga" (to hit, to collide).
Hatari!
Ha-ta-ri!
Watch out!
Usage
Shout this to warn of immediate danger; the same word is on warning signs across East Africa
Grammar Note
A class 9 noun used on its own as a warning shout; in "wanyama hatari" (dangerous animals) the same word works as a postposed modifier.
Tafadhali fanya haraka
Ta-fa-dha-li fa-nya ha-ra-ka
Please hurry
Usage
Ask someone to hurry, for example while waiting for an ambulance or a taxi
Grammar Note
The request frame is that of "Tafadhali fanya polepole kidogo", with "haraka" (haste), the word in "usafirishaji wa haraka", in the adverb slot.
Tafadhali njoo sasa hivi
Ta-fa-dha-li njoo sa-sa hi-vi
Please come right away
Usage
Ask someone on the phone to come immediately
Grammar Note
"Tafadhali" plus an imperative, as in "Tafadhali sema polepole". "Njoo" is the irregular singular imperative of "-ja" (to come).
Hii ni dharura
Hii ni dha-ru-ra
It's an emergency
Usage
Say that you cannot wait your turn and need attention now
Grammar Note
The copular frame of "Hii ni nini?" with the class 9 noun "dharura" (from Arabic) as the complement.
Tafadhali nipeleke hospitali
Ta-fa-dha-li ni-pe-le-ke hos-pi-ta-li
Please take me to a hospital
Usage
Ask a taxi driver or a bystander to take you to a hospital
Grammar Note
The request frame of "Tafadhali nipeleke chumba changu" with the destination swapped for "hospitali". "Nipeleke" is the subjunctive of "peleka" (to take) with the object prefix "ni-" (me).
Mtu anazama majini!
Mtu a-na-za-ma ma-ji-ni!
Someone is drowning
Usage
Shout that someone has gone under; without "majini" (in the water) the verb can also be read in its figurative sense
Grammar Note
Subject prefix + present -na- + stem, the shape of "Watoto wangu wanachoka"; the class 1 singular subject "mtu" takes a-. "Zama" is to sink or go under, as in "walizama katika eneo hili" (they drowned here) and "usalama wa watoto dhidi ya kuzama majini" (keeping children safe from drowning).
Nimeacha mzigo wangu
Ni-me-a-cha mzi-go wa-ngu
I left it behind
Usage
Say that you left your bag somewhere; the verb means "left", not specifically "forgot", so point at a map or gesture to show where
Grammar Note
The perfect is formed as in "Nimeibiwa": "ni-" (I) + "me-" (perfect) + stem. The stem "acha" (to leave, to let go) is the verb of "Acha!" and "Ninakuacha kadi yangu"; "mzigo wangu" is a class 3 phrase.
Kumekuwa na ajali ya barabarani
Ku-me-ku-wa na a-ja-li ya ba-ra-ba-ra-ni
There has been a traffic accident
Usage
Report that a road accident has happened, to the emergency line or to bystanders. The emergency number in Tanzania and Kenya is 112
Grammar Note
"Kumekuwa na ajali" with "barabarani" added, as in "polisi wa barabarani" (traffic police). "Ajali" is a class 9 noun, so the associative takes "ya" rather than "wa" ("barabara" is the same class). "Ajali" means "accident (befalling, mishap, casualty)", as in "ajali ya magari — car accident". Both "ajali ya barabarani" and the plural "ajali za barabarani" occur.
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