Public Transport

1. Basi la mji linaondoka wapi?

   Where does the city bus depart from?

   Usage

   Used when looking for the city bus departure point

   Grammar Note

   "li-" is the class 5 subject agreement prefix (basi = class 5); the present tense marker is "-na-" (li-na-ondoka)

2. Tikiti moja ya kwenda tu hadi Nairobi ni bei gani?

   How much is a one-way ticket to Nairobi?

   Usage

   Used when asking about the price of a bus ticket

   Grammar Note

   "ya kwenda tu" (for going only) expresses "one-way". "bei gani" is a common price question meaning "what price"

3. Basi lijalo linaenda lini?

   When does the next bus leave?

   Usage

   Used to ask about the time of the next departure

   Grammar Note

   "lini" is the Swahili question word for "when"

4. Tafadhali nishushe hapa.

   Please let me off here.

   Usage

   Used in a daladala (minibus) or bus to ask to be let off

   Grammar Note

   "nishushe" is a subjunctive form requesting "let me off"

5. Daladala hii inaenda Dar es Salaam?

   Does this daladala go to Dar es Salaam?

   Usage

   Used when boarding a daladala minibus in Tanzania

   Grammar Note

   "inaenda" = i- (class 9 subject agreement for daladala) + -na- (present) + -enda (go). "Hii" is "this" agreeing with class 9

6. Treni inaondoka saa ngapi?

   What time does the train leave?

   Usage

   Used when asking about train departure times in East Africa

   Grammar Note

   Swahili time is offset by 6 hours, so always confirm

7. Kuna usafiri wa usiku?

   Is there overnight transport?

   Usage

   Used when asking about overnight bus options

   Grammar Note

   "kuna" is an existential verb meaning "there is"

8. Ni wapi kituo cha basi?

   Where is the bus station?

   Usage

   Used when looking for the bus station

   Grammar Note

   "ni wapi" is the standard Swahili phrase meaning "where is"

9. Nauli ya bajaji ni shilingi ngapi?

   How much is the fare for a bajaji (auto-rickshaw)?

   Usage

   Used when asking about the fare for a bajaji auto-rickshaw

   Grammar Note

   "ngapi" is a question word asking "how many/much"

10. Basi linaenda Zanzibar kupitia njia gani?

    Which route does the bus to Zanzibar take?

    Usage

    Used when planning travel to Zanzibar along the Swahili coast

    Grammar Note

    "njia gani" means "which route/road"

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