Looking for practical Swahili to Krio phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Swahili phrase first, then the Krio translation (Krio) — so you can scan quickly before a trip, class, or video call.
The phrases are grouped into eight topics: greetings and pleasantries, useful phrases for travellers, everyday conversation, directions and getting around, shopping and dining, emergencies and health, work and business, and time, days and numbers. Use the table of contents to jump straight to greetings, directions, dining, emergencies, or numbers. You do not need perfect grammar to start — short, clear sentences often work better than silence when you are learning Krio.
Tip: read the Krio line out loud three times, then cover the Swahili side and try to recall the meaning — repetition builds memory faster than silent reading.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Swahili to Krio translator to paste your own messages and get an instant translation.
Greetings and pleasantries
Hello, goodbye, please, thank you, and polite introductions for meeting new people.
Habari
Hello
Asante
Tenki
Habari ya asubuhi
Gud mɔnin
Habari ya mchana
Gud aftanun
Habari ya jioni
Gud ivnin
Usiku mwema
Gud nait
Tutaonana baadaye
Si yu leta
Kwaheri
Bai
Jina lako nani?
Wetɛn na yu neym?
Jina langu ni John
Ma neym na John
Habari gani?
Ow yu de?
Nafurahi kukutana na wewe
Naes fo mit yu
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Unazungumza Kiingereza?
Yu sabi English?
Sizungumza Hindi vizuri.
A no sabi Hindi well.
Sielewi.
A no sabi.
Tafadhali ongea polepole.
Plis, tok slow.
Unaweza kusema tena?
Yu fit tok dat again?
Choo kiko wapi?
Weh na di toilet?
Ninafika vipi katikati ya jiji?
Ow A go fit reach di city center?
Geuka kushoto.
Turn left.
Geuka kulia.
Turn right.
Nenda moja kwa moja.
Go straight.
Nauli ni kiasi gani?
Ow much na di fare?
Tiketi moja, tafadhali.
One ticket, plis.
Je, ni mbali na hapa?
E far from ya?
Nimepotea.
A don lost.
Ninaweza kununua kadi ya SIM wapi?
Weh A go fit buy SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ndio
Yes
Hapana
No
Pengine
Maybe
Ninakubaliana
A mi agree
Sikubaliani
A no agree
Inasikika vizuri
Dat na fine
Unafikiriaje?
Wet in you tink?
Unaweza kunisaidia?
You fit help me?
Nahitaji msaada
A need help
Subiri kidogo
Wait small
Ninasikitika
A sorry
Hakuna shida
No problem
Hongera
Congratulations
Siku ya kuzaliwa njema
Happy birthday
Safari njema
Get safe trip
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Kituo cha treni kiko wapi?
Weh na di train station?
Kituo cha basi kiko wapi?
Weh na di bus stop?
Ni jukwaa gani?
Which platform na im?
Inatoka saa ngapi?
Wetin time e go lef?
Je, hii ndiyo njia sahihi?
Dis na di right way?
Iko karibu hapa
E dey near here
Iko mbali na hapa
E far from here
Unaweza kunionesha kwenye ramani?
Yu fit show me pan di map?
Simama hapa, tafadhali
Stop here, pliz
Inachukua muda gani?
How long e go tek?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Hii inagharimu kiasi gani?
How much dis cost?
Hiyo ni ghali sana
Dat too expensive.
Je, una kitu chochote cha bei nafuu?
You get anytin wey cheaper?
Naweza kulipa kwa kadi?
I fit pay by card?
Ningependa meza ya watu wawili
I wan table for two.
Tafadhali, bili
Di bill, please.
Je, huduma imejumuishwa?
Service dey include?
Mimi ni mboga
I na vegetarian.
Tafadhali, sina chakula chenye pilipili
No spicy food, please.
Hii ni tamu
Dis dey sweet.
Naweza kupata menyu?
I fit get di menu?
Tafadhali, glasi ya maji
A glass of water, please.
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Piga simu polisi
Call di police
Piga simu ya wagonjwa
Call ambulance
Nahitaji daktari
A need doctor
Ninajisikia mgonjwa
A dey feel sick
Nina mzio wa karanga
A get allergy for peanuts
Hospitali iliyo karibu iko wapi?
Weh di nearest hospital de?
Inaniuma hapa
E dey pain here
Nimepoteza pasipoti yangu
A don lose mi passport
Unaweza kupiga simu hoteli yangu?
You fit call mi hotel?
Nisaidie!
Help!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nafurahi kukutana nawe
Na nice for meet you
Tuweke mkutano
Make we plan wan meeting
Ni saa ngapi inakufaa?
Wetin time go work for you?
Nitaituma ripoti leo
A go send di report tiday
Tunaweza kuzungumza kesho?
We go fit talk tomorrow?
Tafadhali pata faili iliyoambatishwa
Abeg find di file wey attach
Asante kwa muda wako
Tenki for your time
Natarajia kufanya kazi na wewe
A dey look forward for work with you
Unaweza kufafanua hiyo pointi?
You fit clarify dat point?
Nitarudi kwako
Make I get back to you
Muda wa mwisho ni Ijumaa
Di deadline na Friday
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.