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Real conversations

Practice

Put it together

Real conversations

Short dialogues for moments you’ll actually meet — a taxi, a market, a meal. Tap any line to hear it.

🚕

Taking a taxi

You flag a taxi in town.

You
Nataka kwenda mjini.
I want to go to the city centre.
Driver
Sawa. Shilingi elfu tatu.
OK. Three thousand shillings.
You
Ni ghali. Elfu mbili?
That’s expensive. Two thousand?
Driver
Sawa, twende.
Fine — let’s go.
You
Shusha hapa, tafadhali.
Stop here, please.
You
Asante!
Thank you!
🍽️

Ordering food

A waiter comes to your table.

Waiter
Karibu! Unataka nini?
Welcome! What would you like?
You
Una nini?
What do you have?
Waiter
Wali, nyama choma, samaki.
Rice, grilled meat, fish.
You
Samaki na maji, tafadhali.
Fish and water, please.
You
Ni tamu sana!
It’s delicious!
You
Bili, tafadhali.
The bill, please.
🛍️

At the market

You like a carving on a market stall.

You
Hii ni bei gani?
How much is this?
Seller
Elfu tano.
Five thousand.
You
Ni nyingi! Punguza bei.
That’s a lot! Lower the price.
Seller
Bei ya mwisho, elfu nne.
Last price — four thousand.
You
Elfu tatu?
Three thousand?
Seller
Sawa, chukua.
OK, take it.
You
Asante sana.
Thank you very much.
🏨

Checking in

You arrive at a guesthouse.

You
Una chumba?
Do you have a room?
Host
Ndiyo. Kwa siku ngapi?
Yes. For how many nights?
You
Siku mbili. Ni bei gani?
Two nights. How much?
Host
Elfu ishirini kwa usiku.
Twenty thousand a night.
You
Pamoja na kifungua kinywa?
Is breakfast included?
Host
Ndiyo, asubuhi.
Yes, in the morning.
👋

Meeting someone

A friendly stranger says hello.

Them
Habari?
Hello, how are you?
You
Nzuri. Na wewe?
Good. And you?
Them
Nzuri. Unatoka wapi?
Good. Where are you from?
You
Natoka Uingereza. Jina langu ni Sam.
I’m from England. My name is Sam.
Them
Karibu, Sam!
Welcome, Sam!
You
Nimefurahi kukutana nawe.
Nice to meet you.