Useful Terms and Phrases in Swahili

CACHA hands out a mini pamplet of useful words and phrases for medical and logistics staff. Here's a sample of the translated terms/words:

Medical terms

What’s your problem?      Una tatizo gani?

Do you have a temperature/fever?      Una homa?

Do you have diarrhoea?      Unaendesha? Unaharisha?

Do you have dysentery?      Unahara damu?

Do you feel nauseous?      Unataka kutapika?

I have / Do you have:       Nina / Una:______

     A blister            lengelenge

     A headache       maumivi ya kichwa

    A sore throat  maumivu ya koo

     Joint pain       Maumivu ya kiungo

     Flu           Mafua

    Wound     Kidonda

    A cough   Kikohozi

    Heart problem   Matatizo ya moyo

    Dizziness      Kizungu zungu

    Constipation     Shida kujisaidia

    Numbness     Kufaganzi

    Skin problem    Ugonjwa wa ngozi

    Ulcers      Vidonda vya tumbo

    Hiccup     Kwi Kwi

   Gynecological pains    Maumivu ya sehem za siri

   Pus / Discharge     Ninatoka/Unatoka uchafu

Does your body itch?     Unawashwa
My _(insert body part)_ hurts.      Ninaumwa _______

      Ex. My back hurts       Ninaumwa mgongo
Where does it hurt?    Unaumwa wapi?

I have pain here.    Naumwa hapa.

S/he has been cut on the ______.    Amekatwa ____ni.

    e.g. hand etc.     mkoni

I’m allergic to: penicillin.      Nina mzio wa: penisilini

Are you pregnant?     Una mimba? /Wewe ni jamzito?

Would you like to take a HIV test?      Utapenda kupima VVU?

Useful words for logistics

Come (here)      Njoo (hapa)

Go there      Nenda kule / Nenda Pale

Join the line     Unga mstari

Sit       Kaa

Move over      Sogeni

Move back     Sogea nyuma

Wait (a little)    Subiri (kidogo)

Go to that building    Nenda kwenye jengo lile

Please sit down     Karibu ukae

Relax your arm       Tulia mkono wako

I will take your blood pressure      Nitakupima pressa yako

Have you seen the doctor?      Umemwona daktari?

Medication       Dawa

Pharmacy      Duka la dawa

Dentist      Daktari wa meno

Doctor      Daktari / Tabibu

Greetings + Useful Words 

Greeting of respect.      Shikamoo

Response to Shikamoo.     Marahaba

Hello     Jambo

Hello, how are things?     Hujambo

Response to hujambo.      Sijambo

How are you?     Habari yako?

Good. (Response to habari…)     Nzuri / safi / njema

At peace    Salama

Bye!      Kwa heri!

Thank you      Asante

Very      Sana (Asante Sana)

What is your name.      Jina lako nani?

My name is:     Jina langu: / Ninaitwa:

I don’t speak Swahili.     Sisemi kiswhahili

Please     Tafadhali

Yes (It is so)    Ndio

No     Hapana

How old are you?    Una miaka mingapi?

What village are you from?     Unatoka kijiji gani?

How much do you weigh?     Una uzito gani?

Sorry for your sickness.    Pole kwa kuumwa.

I would like…     Naomba…

What do you want?      Unataka nini?

Where are you from?     Unatoka wapi?

Food     Chakula

Water    Maji

I am from Canada     Natoka Canada

I am Canadian     Mimi ni mcanada

Do you understand?   ** Umeelewa?**

I don’t understand.     Sijaelewe

I don’t understand you     Sikuelewe

**Not to be confused with:

Are you drunk?  Umelewa