Transportation

1. Nataka kwenda...

   Na-ta-ka kwen-da...

   I want to go to...

   Usage

   Basic phrase to specify a destination. Fill in "..." with your destination

   Grammar Note

   Swahili infinitives use "ku-" prefix. "Kwenda" is a contraction of "ku-enda" (when the verb root starts with a vowel, "ku" becomes "kw"). A typical Bantu phonological rule.

2. Naomba tikiti moja kwenda Mombasa

   Na-om-ba ti-ki-ti mo-ja kwen-da Mom-ba-sa

   I would like one ticket to Mombasa

   Usage

   Buying a bus or train ticket. Replace "Mombasa" with your destination

   Grammar Note

   "Naomba" (I request) is a polite verb. "Tikiti" is borrowed from English "ticket." Swahili freely borrows vocabulary from English, Arabic, and other languages encountered through trade.

3. Daladala iko wapi?

   Da-la-da-la i-ko wa-pi?

   Where is the daladala (minibus)?

   Usage

   Daladala is Tanzania's minibus taxi. In Kenya, ask for "Matatu iko wapi?"

   Grammar Note

   "Iko" is the locative copula for the i-/zi- noun class (class 9/10). Swahili locative verbs vary by noun class and indicate "here" (hapa), "there" (hapo), or "over there" (huko).

4. Safari inachukua masaa mangapi?

   Sa-fa-ri i-na-chu-ku-a ma-saa ma-nga-pi?

   How many hours is the journey?

   Usage

   Checking travel duration. "Safari" means "journey/travel" (the English word "safari" comes from this)

   Grammar Note

   "Safari" derives from Arabic "safar" (travel/journey) and spread worldwide through Swahili. Note: Swahili uses its own 12-hour time system starting from sunrise (6am = "saa moja").

5. Simama hapa, tafadhali

   Si-ma-ma ha-pa, ta-fa-dha-li

   Stop here, please

   Usage

   Used to ask a taxi or bus driver to stop

   Grammar Note

   Swahili imperative (singular) uses the bare verb stem. For plural commands, add "-eni" (e.g., "Simameni"). "Hapa" indicates a nearby location, one of three Swahili locative adverbs.

6. Bei ya nauli ni ngapi?

   Bei ya nau-li ni nga-pi?

   What is the fare?

   Usage

   Checking the fare before or after boarding a taxi or bus

   Grammar Note

   "Bei" (price) derives from Arabic "bay'" (trade). "Ngapi" (how many/much) is a question word. Swahili question words like "wapi" (where) and "ngapi" (how many) are typically placed at the end.

7. Uwanja wa ndege uko mbali?

   U-wan-ja wa n-de-ge u-ko m-ba-li?

   Is the airport far?

   Usage

   Asking about distance before traveling. Reply: "Mbali" (far) or "Karibu" (near)

   Grammar Note

   "Uwanja" (field/plaza) is a u-/i- class noun. "Ndege" (bird/airplane) is in the n- class. "Uwanja wa ndege" = "field of the airplane" — showing Bantu genitive construction with "wa."

8. Ninaenda kwa basi

   Ni-na-en-da kwa ba-si

   I am going by bus

   Usage

   Explaining how you are traveling. Also: "kwa teksi" (by taxi), "kwa miguu" (on foot)

   Grammar Note

   "Kwa" is a versatile Swahili preposition indicating means or instrument (kwa basi=by bus, kwa miguu=on foot, literally by feet). "Basi" is borrowed from English "bus."

9. Gari limekwama

   Ga-ri li-me-kwa-ma

   The car is stuck / There is a traffic jam

   Usage

   Describing traffic or car trouble. Traffic jams (msongamano) are common in Nairobi and other cities

   Grammar Note

   "Gari" is thought to come from Arabic. It is a class-5 noun (plural magari, class 6), so the subject prefix is li- (not the class-9 i-). the Vehicles category uses the class-5 connective in gari la wagonjwa, and the Car Rental & Driving category uses li- in halianzi. li-me-kwama = class-5 subject + perfect me- + stem -kwama.

10. Ninapanga kupanda bodaboda

    Ni-na-pan-ga ku-pan-da bo-da-bo-da

    I plan to ride a motorcycle taxi (boda boda)

    Usage

    Boda boda (motorcycle taxi) is a popular transport in East Africa. The word "bodaboda" is also used

    Grammar Note

    "Kupanda" means "to ride / to get on (a vehicle)". "Kuendesha" would mean driving it yourself, but with a boda boda the rider is a passenger, so "kupanda" is used. "Bodaboda" allegedly derives from "border to border."

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