GREETING ELDERS

Shikamoo is the proper greeting for elders, to which they will respond Marahaba. The etymology of these terms isn't fully clear, but one version states that it comes from the Arabic call-and-response of "May I hold your feet?" "Yes, seven times." Either way, it is showing humbleness and respect for an older individual.  



From here, you can move to basic greetings.



BASIC GREETINGS

The basic Swahili greetings are not "greetings" in the English sense, but more of inquiries as to the other's state of being and recent personal news. They can last anywhere from five to twenty minutes and are sometimes repeated both outside of and upon entering the home. Many of the greetings ask the same thing in different ways.



Habari yako/zenu? How are you/you all doing? (Really, "What is your news?")

    Nzuri./Nzuri tu./Nzuri sana. Good./Just good./Very good.



U hali gani? How are you doing?

    Salama. Peaceful.



Habari za... What is the news of...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 













GREETING YOUTH

Greetings between youth in Swahili are full of slang and unintelligible back-and-forth statements. These are a few common phrases, though the call and response format is more important than the meanings themselves. The order does not necessarily have to be as follows.



Mambo? Poa.

Vipi? Safi.

Niaje? Niaje.

Mzima? Mzima.

Upo? Nipo.

Mzuka? Freshi.

Niambie. Safi.

leo today
asubuhi/Mchana/Jioni/Usiku morning/afternoon/evening/night
kazi work

kwako your
sasa hivi now
familia yako your family
shule school

masomo studies
safari travels

(any noun, really)