Swahili words you already know

You already speak more Swahili than you think. Dozens of Swahili words have made it into English, usually through trade, colonialism, or a certain Disney film. Here are the ones you probably use without knowing where they came from, and what they tell you about the deep connections between these two languages.

Safari

In English, safari means a wildlife tour. In Swahili, it just means journey. Any journey. "Safari njema" is "have a good trip," whether you are going to the Masai Mara or the supermarket. Your morning commute is a safari. Your flight home for the holidays is a safari. The word carries no connotation of adventure or wildlife in Swahili. It is as ordinary as "trip" is in English.

The word comes from the Arabic safar, which also means journey. Swahili absorbed hundreds of Arabic words through centuries of coastal trade, and this is one of the most travelled. It moved from Arabic to Swahili to English, crossing oceans and centuries along the way. When you say "safari," you are speaking a word that has been in continuous use across three languages for over a thousand years.

Hakuna matata

Thanks to The Lion King, this might be the most famous Swahili phrase in the world. It translates directly: hakuna (there is not) + matata (problems). No worries.

It is a real phrase that real people use, though in everyday Swahili you are more likely to hear "hakuna shida" (no problem) or just "sawa sawa" (okay okay). Hakuna matata is correct but slightly formal, like saying "no cause for concern" instead of "no worries" in English. It also carries a whiff of tourism now, since so many visitors use it. A Kenyan hearing "hakuna matata" from a foreigner will smile politely but will also immediately know they are talking to a tourist.

The more interesting thing about hakuna matata is what it reveals about Swahili grammar. "Hakuna" is a negative existential. It means "there is not" or "there are not." It comes from "ha" (negative marker) + "kuna" (there is). This structure, building meaning by stacking small pieces together, is the heart of Swahili grammar. Once you understand how these pieces fit, the whole language opens up.

Jumbo

The English word jumbo, meaning very large, almost certainly comes from jambo, the Swahili greeting. It entered English through Jumbo the elephant, a famous circus elephant in the 1880s whose name was likely derived from the Swahili "jambo" (hello) or "jumbe" (chief).

The story goes that Jumbo's handlers at the London Zoo used Swahili words with him, possibly because he had been captured in East Africa. His name stuck, and after P.T. Barnum bought him for his circus, "jumbo" entered English as a word for anything enormous. From a Swahili greeting to jumbo jets, in less than a century.

Bongo

Bongo drums take their name from the Swahili word for brains: bongo. In Tanzanian slang, "Bongo" is a nickname for Dar es Salaam, the idea being that you need brains to survive in the city. Bongo Flava, Tanzania's pop music genre, is named after this. It is one of the biggest music scenes in East Africa, blending hip hop, R&B, and traditional Tanzanian sounds.

If you want to understand modern Tanzanian culture, Bongo Flava is the place to start. Artists like Diamond Platnumz, Harmonize, and Zuchu have hundreds of millions of views on YouTube. Their lyrics are in Swahili, and listening to them is one of the best ways to train your ear for Bara dialect.

Simba

Simba means lion. The Lion King got this one right. It is also a common given name across East Africa, and the name of one of the biggest football clubs in Tanzania, Simba SC, whose rivals are Young Africans (Yanga). The Simba-Yanga derby is one of the most intense rivalries in African football.

The word carries weight in Swahili culture. Calling someone simba is a compliment. It implies courage, strength, and leadership. It is a name that parents give their sons with intention.

Askari

An askari is a guard or soldier. The word appears in English in historical and military contexts, especially relating to East African colonial history. During World War I, askari troops from East Africa fought in some of the war's longest campaigns under both British and German command.

In modern Kenya and Tanzania, the security guard at any building is still called an askari. It is one of the most common jobs in urban East Africa, and the word has not changed its meaning in over a century. When you walk into a Nairobi shopping mall and the guard at the door checks your bag, that is the askari.

Daktari

Daktari means doctor. It comes from the English word "doctor," borrowed into Swahili and then re-exported back to English through a 1960s American TV show called Daktari, set in East Africa.

This is a beautiful example of how languages trade words back and forth. English gave Swahili the word "doctor." Swahili reshaped it into "daktari." Then English borrowed it back. The word has literally crossed the same ocean twice, changing shape each time.

Swahili is full of these borrowed words: "kompyuta" (computer), "televisheni" (television), "basi" (bus), "hoteli" (hotel). This is not a weakness of the language. It is evidence of its openness. Swahili has always absorbed words from the languages it encounters, and it does so with a grammar that makes borrowed words feel completely natural.

Rafiki

Rafiki means friend. Another one The Lion King brought to global attention. In Swahili, it is a common everyday word: "rafiki yangu" is "my friend." It carries warmth. Calling someone your rafiki is not casual. It implies a real bond, deeper than acquaintance.

The word comes from Arabic, like many Swahili words related to relationships and social bonds. "Rafiq" in Arabic means companion or friend, and the Swahili version carries the same warmth.

Pole pole

This one has not fully entered English, but travellers to East Africa will recognise it. "Pole pole" means slowly, slowly. It is advice, a philosophy, and a gentle correction all in one. Climbing Kilimanjaro too fast? Pole pole. Eating too quickly? Pole pole. Trying to rush a conversation? Pole pole.

The repetition is important. In Swahili, doubling a word often intensifies or emphasises it. "Pole" alone means sorry or gently. "Pole pole" means take it slow. "Haraka haraka" (hurry hurry) is its opposite, and it usually comes with a warning: "haraka haraka haina baraka" (hurry hurry has no blessing).

What this tells you

Swahili is not as foreign as you think. It has been trading words with English, Arabic, Portuguese, Hindi, and Persian for over a thousand years. When you start learning, you are not building from zero. You are reconnecting with a language that has been woven into yours for centuries.

The gap between English and Swahili is smaller than it looks. Many of the sounds are familiar. Many of the borrowed words are recognisable. And the grammar, while different from English, is remarkably logical and consistent. Once you see the pattern, it clicks.

Start with what you recognise, and build from there. In Learn Swahili, every lesson connects new vocabulary to words and concepts you already know. The phrasebook includes etymology notes so you can see the connections between Swahili, English, and Arabic. Download the app and discover how much Swahili you already speak.