Food & Drinks

1. Chakula hiki ni kitamu sana

   Cha-ku-la hi-ki ni ki-ta-mu sa-na

   This food is very delicious

   Usage

   A compliment when enjoying a meal. Chefs and servers will appreciate it

   Grammar Note

   "Chakula" belongs to the ki-/vi- noun class (class 7). The demonstrative "hiki" and adjective "kitamu" both take "ki-" prefix to agree with the noun class — a hallmark of Bantu agreement.

2. Nipe menyu, tafadhali

   Ni-pe me-nyu, ta-fa-dha-li

   Please give me the menu

   Usage

   Used in restaurants to request a menu

   Grammar Note

   "Nipe" combines ni- (me/to me) + the imperative "pe" (give). "Tafadhali" derives from Arabic "tafaddal" (please). Swahili imperatives attach object markers directly to the verb stem.

3. Nataka ugali na nyama

   Na-ta-ka u-ga-li na nya-ma

   I want ugali and meat

   Usage

   Ugali is a staple maize porridge in East Africa. Use this to order local food

   Grammar Note

   "Nataka" = Ni- (I) + na (present) + taka (want). "Ugali" belongs to the u-/i- noun class (class 11). Essential phrase for ordering local East African cuisine.

4. Maji baridi, tafadhali

   Ma-ji ba-ri-di, ta-fa-dha-li

   Cold water, please

   Usage

   Ordering a drink. Also use "Maji moto" (hot water) or "Chai" (tea)

   Grammar Note

   "Maji" is a ma-/ji- class (class 6) noun treated as plural (it has no singular). It is a native Bantu word. "Baridi" (cold) is also an Arabic loanword, reflecting the historical Arab-Swahili trade.

5. Bili ni kiasi gani?

   Bi-li ni ki-a-si ga-ni?

   How much is the bill?

   Usage

   Used to ask for the total bill at restaurants or food stalls

   Grammar Note

   "Bili" is a loanword from English "bill". "Kiasi" (amount) is a ki-/vi- class noun, and "gani" (what/which) forms a question. Swahili questions are typically formed with simple word order changes.

6. Siwezi kula nyama

   Si-we-zi ku-la nya-ma

   I cannot eat meat

   Usage

   Communicating dietary restrictions. "Sili nyama" (I do not eat meat) works for a habitual restriction

   Grammar Note

   Swahili infinitives take the "ku-" prefix (kula=to eat, kunywa=to drink). "Cannot" is expressed with the negative of -weza: Siwezi. "Sijui" means "I do not know (how to)" and does not express inability.

7. Nina njaa

   Ni-na njaa

   I am hungry

   Usage

   Simple expression for hunger. "Nina kiu" (I am thirsty) uses the same structure

   Grammar Note

   Swahili expresses hunger as "having hunger": "Nina njaa" = I have hunger. "Nina" = Ni- (I) + na (present/have). Expressing states through possession is common in Bantu languages.

8. Samaki wa kukaanga, tafadhali

   Sa-ma-ki wa ku-kaa-nga, ta-fa-dha-li

   Fried fish, please

   Usage

   A classic coastal dish, popular in Zanzibar and along the Swahili coast. Common at street stalls

   Grammar Note

   "Samaki" (fish) comes from Arabic "samak." It is an N-class (9/10, same form in singular and plural) noun, but being animate it takes the a-/wa- agreement, hence the connective "wa". "Samaki wa kukaanga" literally means "fish for frying" — using the infinitive as a modifier.

9. Nimeshiba

   Ni-me-shi-ba

   I'm full

   Usage

   The standard way to say you have eaten your fill; also used to decline a second helping, and it tells the host you were well fed

   Grammar Note

   "Me-" marks the perfect. Ni (I) + me (perfect) + shiba (be full) = Nimeshiba.

10. Pilau na wali

    Pi-lau na wa-li

    Pilau spiced rice and white rice

    Usage

    Pilau is a spiced rice dish iconic to the Swahili coast. "Biryani" is another popular variant

    Grammar Note

    "Pilau" has Arabic/Persian origins, reflecting the Indian Ocean trade heritage of Swahili coastal culture. "Wali" (cooked rice) is a u-/i- class noun. Swahili cuisine blends Arab, Indian, and African influences.

11. Nataka chai na maziwa

    Na-ta-ka chai na ma-zi-wa

    I would like tea with milk

    Usage

    Chai is extremely popular in Kenya and Tanzania, often spiced with masala

    Grammar Note

    "Chai" (tea) is generally thought to have come into Swahili via Persian/Hindi. "Maziwa" (milk) uses the ma-/ji- noun class. The ma- prefix in Swahili is frequently used for liquids and abstract concepts.

12. Wali

    Cooked rice

    Usage

    Rice that has been cooked; uncooked rice is a different word, "mchele", so this is the one to order in an eatery

    Grammar Note

    A class 11 (u-) noun; rice cooked in coconut milk is "wali wa nazi."

13. Mkate

    Bread

    Usage

    Loaf bread and rolls; a shop display will be labelled with the plural "mikate"

    Grammar Note

    A class 3 (m-) noun; the plural is "mikate". The word also covers flat griddled dishes — "mkate wa mayai" is the Zanzibari egg pancake.

14. Tambi

    Noodles / Pasta

    Usage

    Covers noodles in general, from spaghetti to instant noodles

    Grammar Note

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

15. Chakula kikali

    Spicy food

    Usage

    Chili heat. On its own "kali" means fierce, harsh, or strong, so pair it with the noun when talking about food; "kina pilipili?" (does it have chili?) is even clearer

    Grammar Note

    The adjective "-kali" agrees with the noun class: "chakula" is class 7, hence "kikali"; with a class 9 noun it stays bare "kali."

16. Mbichi

    Raw (uncooked)

    Usage

    Not cooked through: "samaki mbichi" is raw fish. The same word also means unripe or green, so applied to fruit it will be read as "not yet ripe"

    Grammar Note

    The class 9 form of the adjective "-bichi"; with a class 7 noun it becomes "kibichi" (chakula kibichi).

17. Supu

    Soup

    Usage

    Soup as served in an eatery; in Tanzania and Kenya "supu" is normally a clear meat or bone broth, often eaten at breakfast

    Grammar Note

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

18. Tunda

    Fruit

    Usage

    The word for fruit; markets and menus write the plural "matunda", so that is the form to look for

    Grammar Note

    A class 5 noun; the plural is "matunda."

19. Jibini

    Cheese

    Usage

    For buying cheese in a supermarket or ordering a sandwich

    Grammar Note

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

20. Siagi

    Butter

    Usage

    Butter; note that "siagi ya karanga" is peanut butter, so plain "siagi" is the dairy kind

    Grammar Note

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

21. Asali

    Honey

    Usage

    Honey, widely sold in markets and souvenir shops

    Grammar Note

    A class 9 noun borrowed from Arabic.

22. Yogati

    Yoghurt

    Usage

    Commercial yoghurt, understood in supermarkets in both countries. Traditional fermented milk is a different product: "mtindi" in Tanzania, "maziwa lala" or "mala" in Kenya

    Grammar Note

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

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