Schedule & Booking

1. Basi linaondoka saa ngapi?

   Ba-si li-na-on-do-ka saa nga-pi?

   What time does the bus leave?

   Usage

   Asking the departure time of a bus or matatu (minibus)

   Grammar Note

   East African clock time (saa moja = 7am, dawn as hour 1) may differ from standard time. "Saa ngapi" = "what time".

2. Safari inaanza saa tatu asubuhi

   Sa-fa-ri i-naan-za saa ta-tu a-su-bu-hi

   The safari starts at 9 in the morning

   Usage

   Stating the start time of a safari or tour

   Grammar Note

   In East African time, "saa moja" = 7am. "Saa tatu" = 9am. When confirming times, always clarify which clock system is being used.

3. Ninahitaji kuwasili kabla ya saa ngapi?

   Ni-na-hi-ta-ji ku-wa-si-li kab-la ya saa nga-pi?

   What time do I need to arrive by?

   Usage

   Asking the deadline time for arriving at a tour meeting point or transport

   Grammar Note

   "Kabla ya" (before) and "baada ya" (after) are a pair of Swahili temporal prepositional phrases.

4. Je, kuna safari ya kesho?

   Je, ku-na sa-fa-ri ya ke-sho?

   Is there a tour tomorrow?

   Usage

   Asking if there is a tour or activity available tomorrow

   Grammar Note

   "Leo" (today), "kesho" (tomorrow), "jana" (yesterday) are key Swahili time adverbs. "Juzi" (day before yesterday) is also common.

5. Muda wa kutembelea ni upi?

   Mu-da wa ku-tem-be-le-a ni u-pi?

   What is the visiting time?

   Usage

   Asking about the opening hours or visiting schedule of an attraction

   Grammar Note

   "Upi" is the interrogative "which one" that agrees with the noun class. It changes form by class (upi, ipi, lipi, yapi...).

6. Tafadhali niambie ratiba ya treni

   Ta-fa-dha-li ni-am-bi-e ra-ti-ba ya tre-ni

   Please tell me the train schedule

   Usage

   Asking for the train or transportation timetable

   Grammar Note

   "Ratiba" (schedule/timetable) derives from Arabic "rātiba". "Treni" is borrowed from English "train".

7. Ninachelewa dakika kumi

   Ni-na-che-le-wa da-ki-ka ku-mi

   I am ten minutes late

   Usage

   Letting someone know you are running ten minutes late

   Grammar Note

   "Kuchelewa" (to be late) is commonly used in the context of "Africa time". "Dakika" (minute) derives from Arabic "daqīqa".

8. Tutaonana kesho saa tisa

   Tu-ta-o-na-na ke-sho saa ti-sa

   We will meet tomorrow at 3pm

   Usage

   Confirming a future meeting time

   Grammar Note

   "Tutaonana" is the future of the reciprocal verb "kuonana" (to see each other). "Tuta-" = first person plural future.

9. Ziara hii inachukua muda gani?

   Zi-a-ra hi-i i-na-chu-ku-a mu-da ga-ni?

   How long does this tour take?

   Usage

   Asking how long a tour or visit will take

   Grammar Note

   "Ziara" derives from Arabic "ziyāra" (visit). "Inachukua muda" is the fixed expression for "it takes time".

10. Je, ni saa ya kufunga?

    Je, ni saa ya ku-fu-nga?

    Is it closing time?

    Usage

    Asking whether a shop or attraction is about to close

    Grammar Note

    "Kufunga" means both "to close" and "to fast". Ramadan fasting is "kufunga saumu" (to fast the Ramadan fast).

Browse all TravelPhrases languages