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Common Yoruba to Swahili phrases

100 practical Yoruba to Swahili phrases for travel, study, work, and daily conversation.

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Looking for practical Yoruba to Swahili phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Yoruba phrase first, then the Swahili translation (Swahili) — 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 Swahili.

Tip: read the Swahili line out loud three times, then cover the Yoruba 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 Yoruba to Swahili 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.

  1. Bawo

    Habari (bawoh)

  2. O seun

    Asante (oh shayoon)

  3. E kaaro

    Habari ya asubuhi (eh kah-roh)

  4. E kaasan

    Habari ya mchana (eh kah-sahn)

  5. E kuurole

    Habari ya jioni (eh koo-roh-leh)

  6. O daaro

    Usiku mwema (oh dah-roh)

  7. A ri e laipe

    Tutaonana baadaye (ah ree eh lie-peh)

  8. O dabọ

    Kwaheri (oh dah-boh)

  9. Kí ni orukọ rẹ?

    Jina lako nani? (kee nee oh-roo-koh reh)

  10. Orukọ mi ni John

    Jina langu ni John (oh-roo-koh mee nee John)

  11. Bawo ni?

    Habari gani? (bawoh nee)

  12. Inu mi dun lati pade e

    Nafurahi kukutana na wewe (ee-noo mee doon lah-tee pah-deh eh)

Useful phrases for travellers

Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.

  1. Ṣe o n sọ Gẹ́gẹ́?

    Unazungumza Kiingereza? (Sheh oh n saw Geh-geh)

  2. Mi ò sọ Hindi dáadáa

    Sizungumza Hindi vizuri. (Mee oh saw Hindi dah-dah)

  3. Mi ò ye mi

    Sielewi. (Mee oh yeh mee)

  4. Jọwọ sọ ní kíkankíkan

    Tafadhali ongea polepole. (Joh-wah saw nee keen-kay-kahn)

  5. Ṣe o le sọ é lẹ́ẹ̀kan síi?

    Unaweza kusema tena? (Sheh oh leh saw eh leh-eh-kahn see)

  6. Nibo ni baluwe wa?

    Choo kiko wapi? (Nee-boh nee bah-loo-weh wah)

  7. Báwo ni mo ṣe lọ sí àárín ìlú?

    Ninafika vipi katikati ya jiji? (Bah-woh nee moh sheh law see ah-ree-nee loo)

  8. Yí si apa osi

    Geuka kushoto. (Yee see ah-pah oh-shee)

  9. Yí si apa otun

    Geuka kulia. (Yee see ah-pah oh-toon)

  10. Lọ taara

    Nenda moja kwa moja. (Law tah-rah)

  11. Elo ni owo ọkọ?

    Nauli ni kiasi gani? (Eh-loh nee oh-woh oh-koh)

  12. Ticket kan, jọwọ

    Tiketi moja, tafadhali. (Tee-ket kahn, joh-wah)

  13. Ṣe ó jìnà síbí?

    Je, ni mbali na hapa? (Sheh oh jee-nah see-bee)

  14. Mo ti sọnù

    Nimepotea. (Moh tee sohn-oo)

  15. Nibo ni mo ti le ra kaadi SIM?

    Ninaweza kununua kadi ya SIM wapi? (Nee-boh nee moh tee leh rah kah-dee SIM)

Everyday conversation

Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.

  1. Bẹẹni

    Ndio

  2. Rara

    Hapana

  3. Bóyá

    Pengine

  4. Mo gba

    Ninakubaliana

  5. Mo kọ

    Sikubaliani

  6. Iyẹn dára

    Inasikika vizuri

  7. Kí ni ìrònú rẹ?

    Unafikiriaje?

  8. Ṣé o lè ràn mí lọ́wọ́?

    Unaweza kunisaidia?

  9. Mo nílò ìrànlọ́wọ́

    Nahitaji msaada

  10. Dákẹ́ díẹ̀

    Subiri kidogo

  11. Mo bínú

    Ninasikitika

  12. Kò sí ìṣòro

    Hakuna shida

  13. Ẹ kú àṣeyọrí

    Hongera

  14. Ẹ kú ọjọ́ ibi

    Siku ya kuzaliwa njema

  15. Ṣe ìrìn àjò tó ààbò

    Safari njema

Directions and getting around

Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.

  1. Nibo ni ibudo ọkọ oju-irin wa?

    Kituo cha treni kiko wapi? (Nibo ni ibudo ọkọ oju-irin wa?)

  2. Nibo ni ibudo bosi wa?

    Kituo cha basi kiko wapi? (Nibo ni ibudo bosi wa?)

  3. Ibo ni pẹpẹ naa?

    Ni jukwaa gani? (Ibo ni pẹpẹ naa?)

  4. Iwo wo ni o fi n lọ?

    Inatoka saa ngapi? (Iwo wo ni o fi n lọ?)

  5. Ṣe eyi ni ọna to tọ?

    Je, hii ndiyo njia sahihi? (Ṣe eyi ni ọna to tọ?)

  6. O sunmọ ibi yi

    Iko karibu hapa

  7. O jinna si ibi yi

    Iko mbali na hapa

  8. Ṣe o le fihan mi lori maapu?

    Unaweza kunionesha kwenye ramani? (Ṣe o le fihan mi lori maapu?)

  9. Duro nibi, jọwọ

    Simama hapa, tafadhali

  10. Bawo ni igba wo ni o gba?

    Inachukua muda gani?

Shopping and dining

Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.

  1. Elo ni eyi?

    Hii inagharimu kiasi gani? (elo ni eyi)

  2. Eyi jẹ́ gbowó púpọ̀

    Hiyo ni ghali sana (eyi je gbowo pupo)

  3. Ṣe o ni nkan tó rọrùn?

    Je, una kitu chochote cha bei nafuu? (se o ni nkan to rorun)

  4. Ṣe mo le sanwo pẹ̀lú kaadi?

    Naweza kulipa kwa kadi? (se mo le sanwo pelu kaadi)

  5. Mo fẹ́ tábìlì fún méjì

    Ningependa meza ya watu wawili (mo fe tabili fun meji)

  6. Iwe isanwo, jọwọ

    Tafadhali, bili (iwe isanwo jowo)

  7. Ṣe iṣẹ́ wa nínú?

    Je, huduma imejumuishwa? (se ise wa ninu)

  8. Mo jẹ́ onjẹ ẹfọ

    Mimi ni mboga (mo je onje efo)

  9. Kò sí onjẹ tó ní ìkà, jọwọ

    Tafadhali, sina chakula chenye pilipili (ko si onje to ni ika jowo)

  10. Eyi dára

    Hii ni tamu (eyi dara)

  11. Ṣe mo le ní àtòjọ onjẹ?

    Naweza kupata menyu? (se mo le ni atojo onje)

  12. Gilaasi omi, jọwọ

    Tafadhali, glasi ya maji (gilaasi omi jowo)

Emergencies and health

Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.

  1. Pe iroyin ọlọpa

    Piga simu polisi (pe iroyin olopa)

  2. Pe ambulance

    Piga simu ya wagonjwa (pe ambulance)

  3. Mo nilo dokita

    Nahitaji daktari (mo nilo dokita)

  4. Mo n ni irora

    Ninajisikia mgonjwa (mo n ni irora)

  5. Mo ni àkúnya sí ẹ̀fọ́

    Nina mzio wa karanga (mo ni akunya si efo)

  6. Nibo ni ile-iwosan to sunmo?

    Hospitali iliyo karibu iko wapi? (nibo ni ile-iwosan to sunmo)

  7. O n dun nibi

    Inaniuma hapa (o n dun nibi)

  8. Mo padanu iwe irinna mi

    Nimepoteza pasipoti yangu (mo padanu iwe irinna mi)

  9. Se o le pe hotẹẹli mi?

    Unaweza kupiga simu hoteli yangu? (se o le pe hoteeli mi)

  10. I ranlọwọ!

    Nisaidie! (i ranlọwọ)

Work and business

Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.

  1. Inu mi dun lati pade e

    Nafurahi kukutana nawe (Inu mi dun lati pade e)

  2. Jẹ ki a ṣe ipade

    Tuweke mkutano

  3. Iwo, wo ni akoko ti o ba mu?

    Ni saa ngapi inakufaa?

  4. Mo maa fi iroyin ranṣẹ loni

    Nitaituma ripoti leo

  5. Se a le ba ara wa sọrọ ni ọla?

    Tunaweza kuzungumza kesho?

  6. Jọwọ ri faili ti a so mọ́

    Tafadhali pata faili iliyoambatishwa

  7. O seun fun akoko rẹ

    Asante kwa muda wako

  8. Mo n reti lati ṣiṣẹ pẹlu rẹ

    Natarajia kufanya kazi na wewe

  9. Se o le ṣalaye aaye yẹn?

    Unaweza kufafanua hiyo pointi?

  10. Jẹ ki n pada sọrọ si ọ

    Nitarudi kwako

  11. Akoko ipari ni Friday

    Muda wa mwisho ni Ijumaa

Time, days and numbers

Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.

  1. Kini akoko to wa?

    Ni saa ngapi? (kini akoko to wa)

  2. O ti di mẹta

    Ni saa tatu. (o ti di mẹta)

  3. Loni

    Leo (loni)

  4. Ọla

    Kesho (ọla)

  5. Ana

    Jana (ana)

  6. Ọjọ́ Ajé

    Jumatatu (ọjọ́ ajé)

  7. Ọjọ́ Iṣẹ́gun

    Jumanne (ọjọ́ iṣẹ́gun)

  8. Ọjọ́ Rú

    Jumatano (ọjọ́ rú)

  9. Ọkan

    Moja (ọkan)

  10. Meji

    Mbili (meji)

  11. Mẹta

    Tatu (mẹta)

  12. Mẹwa

    Kumi (mẹwa)

  13. Ọgọ́rùn-ún

    Mia moja (ọgọ́rùn-ún)

  14. Idaji

    Nusu (idaji)

  15. Diẹ sii

    Zaidi (diẹ sii)

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