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| In the short 10 days that we spent on Zanzibar, we learnt quite a lot of kiSwahili (more commonly known in the West as "Swahili"). Probably because everybody was just so open and friendly and happy to teach, we started with "Jambo!" and progressed quickly from there. I felt that I should share some of that kiSwahili with you - especially if you are planning a visit to Zanzibar in the future. You will make lifelong friends by taking a little time and learning a few of the beautiful words of this musical East African language. So that the language lesson doesn't become too monotonous, I have interspersed it with some more of the scenes from our trip. Enjoy! |
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| Jambo! | Hello!/Hi!/Howzit!/G'day!/Howdy! [all-purpose greeting] |
| Habari? | How's it going? |
| Nzuri | Good |
| sana | very/much/a lot |
| Nzuri sana | Very Good |
| Nzuri sana sana | Excellent! |
| Kwaheri | Goodbye |
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| Mambo! | Hey man!/Hey homes, how ya' doin'? [slang/young person's all-purpose greeting] |
| Poa! | Cool/100%/Couldn't be better [slang/young person's response to "Mambo!"] |
| Karibu! | Welcome! |
| Karibu Zanzibar | Welcome to Zanzibar! |
| Karibu sana | Come again soon. |
| Bafana Bafana | South African national soccer team - MUCH better known than President Mandela on this island. Instant friends for life. |
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| tafadhali | please |
| asante | thank you |
| asante sana | thank you very much |
| mzungu | white person/European person (also: "baffling thing", "clever device") |
| Mzungu! | Hey whitey! ("Hey European person!" ???) |
| pole pole | slowly |
| haraka | fast |
| haraka haraka! | very fast |
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