Ninahitaji daktari
Ni-na-hi-ta-ji dak-ta-ri
I need a doctor
Usage
Requesting a doctor when feeling unwell or in an emergency
Grammar Note
"Daktari" is borrowed from English "doctor". Swahili has many loanwords from Arabic and Portuguese.
Nina homa na maumivu ya kichwa
Ni-na ho-ma na mau-mi-vu ya kich-wa
I have a fever and a headache
Usage
Describing symptoms to a doctor or pharmacist
Grammar Note
"Maumivu" is the plural form for "pain". "Homa" can also refer to malarial fever. Malaria precautions are essential in East Africa.
Hospitali iko wapi?
Hos-pi-ta-li i-ko wa-pi?
Where is the hospital?
Usage
Asking for the nearest hospital in an emergency
Grammar Note
"Hospitali" is borrowed from English "hospital". In East Africa, private hospitals often have better facilities.
Nina mzio wa dawa hii
Ni-na mzi-o wa da-wa hi-i
I am allergic to this medicine
Usage
Informing a doctor or pharmacist of a medication allergy
Grammar Note
"Dawa" derives from Arabic "dawā'" (medicine). "Nina" + noun expresses possession: "I have".
Ninahitaji dawa ya malaria
Ni-na-hi-ta-ji da-wa ya malaria
I need malaria medication
Usage
Requesting malaria prophylaxis or treatment — essential for East Africa travel
Grammar Note
Malaria is a major health risk in East Africa. Prophylaxis should be arranged before travel; artemisinin-based drugs are available locally.
Ninaweza kununua miwani ya macho hapa?
Ni-na-we-za ku-nu-nu-a mi-wa-ni ya ma-cho ha-pa?
Can I buy glasses here?
Usage
Asking where to buy glasses or reading glasses while traveling
Grammar Note
"Macho" is the plural of "jicho" (eye) in the ma/plural class. "Miwani ya macho" literally means "spectacles of the eyes".
Tumbo langu linaniuma
Tum-bo la-ngu li-na-ni-u-ma
My stomach hurts
Usage
Describing stomach pain — common for travelers experiencing food-related illness
Grammar Note
In Swahili, pain is expressed with the body part as subject: "tumbo linaniuma" (the stomach hurts me).
Nahitaji kuchanjwa chanjo gani?
Na-hi-ta-ji ku-chanj-wa chan-jo ga-ni?
What vaccinations do I need?
Usage
Asking a health professional which vaccines are required for travel
Grammar Note
Yellow fever vaccination is mandatory for many East African countries. Typhoid and hepatitis A vaccines are also strongly recommended.
Ninaweza kupumzika hapa kidogo?
Ni-na-we-za ku-pum-zi-ka ha-pa ki-do-go?
Can I rest here for a bit?
Usage
Asking to rest somewhere when feeling unwell or fatigued
Grammar Note
"Kidogo" is a softening adverb meaning "a little bit". It makes requests more polite and less demanding.
Je, una sanduku la huduma ya kwanza?
Je, u-na san-du-ku la hu-du-ma ya kwa-nza?
Do you have a first aid kit?
Usage
Asking for a first aid kit at a hotel or accommodation
Grammar Note
"Huduma ya kwanza" (first aid) literally means "first service". "Sanduku" (box) is a class-5 noun, so the connective is "la". "Kwanza" means "first". The usual term is "huduma ya kwanza" rather than "msaada wa kwanza".
Mjamzito
Pregnant
Usage
The single most important word to show before medication or an X-ray; point at yourself. The full sentence is "Nina mimba" (I am pregnant)
Grammar Note
A class 1 (m-) noun for a pregnant woman; the plural is "wajawazito". Pregnancy itself is "mimba."
Pumu
Asthma
Usage
To declare asthma as a pre-existing condition; an inhaler is "dawa ya kupuliza"
Grammar Note
A class 9/10 noun, unchanged in the plural.
Kisukari
Diabetes
Usage
To declare diabetes; clinics also say "ugonjwa wa kisukari" (the sugar disease)
Grammar Note
A class 7 noun formed from "sukari" (sugar).
Presha ya juu
High blood pressure
Usage
The wording understood everywhere in Tanzania and Kenya; the formal clinical term is "shinikizo la damu la juu". In everyday speech "presha" alone already means hypertension
Grammar Note
"Presha" is a class 9 loan from English "pressure."
Ugonjwa wa moyo
Heart disease
Usage
To declare a heart condition; "moyo" is the heart
Grammar Note
"Ugonjwa" is a class 11 noun meaning illness; the plural is "magonjwa."
Kifafa
Epilepsy
Usage
To declare epilepsy; it also explains a seizure to bystanders
Grammar Note
A class 7 noun.
Bima ya afya
Health insurance
Usage
The word for the insurance you present at a clinic or when paying; travel insurance is "bima ya safari"
Grammar Note
"Bima" is a class 9 loanword.
Mfupa umevunjika
A bone is broken
Usage
How to report a fracture; point at your own body to show where
Grammar Note
"Mfupa" is a class 3 noun for a bone (plural "mifupa"); "umevunjika" is the perfect of the intransitive verb, "has become broken."
Nashindwa kupumua
I cannot breathe properly
Usage
To report breathing difficulty during an asthma attack or an allergic reaction
Grammar Note
"Nashindwa" means "I am unable to"; "kupumua" is the infinitive "to breathe."
Kizunguzungu
Dizziness
Usage
For light-headedness or vertigo; "nina kizunguzungu" is "I feel dizzy"
Grammar Note
A class 7 noun built on "zunguka" (to go round).
Kutokwa na damu
Bleeding
Usage
To report bleeding; "natokwa na damu" is "I am bleeding"
Grammar Note
"Damu" is blood; "kutokwa na" is the passive construction "to have something come out of you."
Kuungua
Burn (injury)
Usage
A burn from heat, fire, or hot oil; "nimeungua" is "I got burned". The same verb is used for food burning, so point at the injury
Grammar Note
The infinitive used as a noun; the resulting injury can also be called "jeraha la moto" (a fire wound).
Jeraha
Wound
Usage
Covers cuts, grazes, and open wounds in general
Grammar Note
A class 5 noun; the plural is "majeraha."
Sikio
Ear
Usage
Point to this for earache or trouble hearing
Grammar Note
A class 5 noun; the plural "masikio" is what you use for both ears.
Shingo
Neck
Usage
For pain in the outside of the neck; the throat inside is a separate word, "koo"
Grammar Note
A class 9/10 noun, unchanged in the plural.
Bega
Shoulder
Usage
Point to this for shoulder pain
Grammar Note
A class 5 noun; use the plural "mabega" for both shoulders.
Goti
Knee
Usage
Point to this for knee pain
Grammar Note
A class 5 noun; the plural is "magoti."
Kidole
Finger
Usage
For a hurt or injured finger; a toe is the same word, distinguished as "kidole cha mguu" (finger of the leg)
Grammar Note
A class 7 noun; the plural is "vidole."
Ngozi
Skin
Usage
Point to this for a skin problem. In a market the same word means leather or hide, so keep it to the clinic context
Grammar Note
A class 9/10 noun, unchanged in the plural.
Pua
Nose
Usage
Point to this for a blocked nose or a nosebleed; a runny nose or head cold is "mafua"
Grammar Note
A class 9/10 noun, unchanged in the plural.
Kikohozi
Cough
Usage
To report a cough; "nina kikohozi" is "I have a cough"
Grammar Note
A class 7 noun built on the verb "kohoa" (to cough).
Muwasho
Itching
Usage
For itching; "ninawashwa" is "I am itchy"
Grammar Note
A class 3 noun; the plural is "miwasho."
Vipele
Rash
Usage
The word for a rash or spots on the skin. Use this plural form: the singular "upele" usually means scabies specifically
Grammar Note
A class 8 plural; the singular "kipele" is one individual spot.
Kufunga choo
Constipation
Usage
How to report constipation; "nimefunga choo" is "I am constipated". Diarrhoea is "kuharisha"
Grammar Note
Literally "to close the toilet"; "choo" here means the bowel movement itself.
Hedhi
Period (menstruation)
Usage
The standard, unembarrassing word to use at a clinic or pharmacy; in everyday speech the euphemism "siku zangu" (my days) is just as common
Grammar Note
A class 9 noun borrowed from Arabic.
Aina ya damu
Blood type
Usage
Point to this to give or be asked your blood type; show the letter (A, B, O) itself separately
Grammar Note
"Aina" (kind) plus the class 9 genitive "ya" plus "damu" (blood).
Kulazwa hospitalini
Hospital admission
Usage
Point to this to ask whether you must be admitted, or to say that you were admitted
Grammar Note
The infinitive of "lazwa", the passive of "laza" (to lay down, to admit), followed by the locative "hospitalini".
Mafua ya kawaida
Common cold
Usage
Point to this to say you have a cold; "mafua" on its own also covers influenza
Grammar Note
The class 6 plural noun "mafua" (an illness felt in the chest) qualified by "ya kawaida" (ordinary).
Tafadhali nipigie simu daktari
Ta-fa-dha-li ni-pi-gi-e si-mu dak-ta-ri
Please call a doctor
Usage
Ask someone present to call a doctor for you when you cannot make the call yourself
Grammar Note
The request frame of "Tafadhali nipigie simu ubalozi" with the called party swapped for "daktari". "Nipigie" carries the applicative/benefactive suffix: someone phones on my behalf.
Mwili wangu umechoka
Mwi-li wa-ngu u-me-cho-ka
My body feels sluggish
Usage
Describe heaviness and lack of strength, as distinct from fever or pain
Grammar Note
The verb is the perfect of "choka" (to be tired) seen in "Nimechoka"; because the subject is the body (mwili) rather than the speaker, it takes the class 3 subject prefix u-, the class of "Mlango ... uko wapi?" («Mlango wa kupanda uko wapi?»). The possessive is likewise the class 3 "wangu" of «Tafadhali usiguse mgongo wangu» "mgongo wangu".
Nimetapika mara kadhaa
Ni-me-ta-pi-ka ma-ra ka-dhaa
I have vomited several times
Usage
Tell a doctor how often you have vomited; replace the quantifier with a number if you know it
Grammar Note
"ni-" (I) + "me-" (perfect) + "tapika" (to vomit); the perfect is formed as in "Nimeumia". "Mara" is the "time, occasion" of "Hii ni mara yangu ya kwanza hapa", qualified by "kadhaa" (several).
Je, ninahitaji kupumzika?
Je, ni-na-hi-ta-ji ku-pum-zi-ka?
Do I need to rest?
Usage
Ask the doctor after an examination whether you should stay still or may move about
Grammar Note
The question frame of "Je, ninahitaji cheti cha daktari?" with the object replaced by the infinitive "kupumzika", the same form as in "Ninaweza kupumzika hapa kidogo?".
Kuhara
Diarrhea
Usage
The word to name diarrhea to a doctor or pharmacist. Constipation is "kufunga choo"
Grammar Note
Kuhara and kuendesha are ways to say diarrhea. Kuhara is an infinitive used like a noun; kuharisha is derived from the same root.
Kinyesi
Poop (stool)
Usage
The standard word for describing stool to a doctor. Colloquial words for it can sound vulgar, so start with this neutral word
Grammar Note
A class 7 (ki-/vi-) noun, plural vinyesi, derived from kunya (to defecate). Choo is also a euphemism for stool.
Mkojo
Pee (urine)
Usage
The standard word for describing urine to a doctor. It is also the ordinary everyday word for pee
Grammar Note
A class 3 (m-/mi-) noun. It is the liquid produced by the kidneys and passed through the urethra. The verb is "kukojoa" (to urinate)
Nina kuhara
Ni-na ku-ha-ra
I have diarrhea
Usage
Telling a doctor or pharmacist that you have diarrhea
Grammar Note
Uses the "Nina + noun" (I have) pattern with kuhara (diarrhea).
Nimefunga choo
Ni-me-fu-nga cho-o
I'm constipated
Usage
Telling a doctor or pharmacist that you are constipated
Grammar Note
The perfect form of kufunga choo (constipation); -me- marks the perfect. Kufunga choo names the symptom.
Ninataka kwenda haja ndogo
Ni-na-ta-ka kwe-nda ha-ja ndo-go
I need to pee
Usage
Telling a companion or a child that you need to pee
Grammar Note
Haja ndogo (small need) is a euphemism for urinating, as in "kwenda haja ndogo". The big need is haja kubwa.
Ninataka kwenda haja kubwa
Ni-na-ta-ka kwe-nda ha-ja ku-bwa
I need to poop
Usage
Telling a companion or a child that you need to poop
Grammar Note
The same frame as «Ninataka kwenda haja ndogo». "Haja kubwa" (big need) is the euphemism for defecating; another expression is "kujisaidia haja kubwa"
More Swahili phrases
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