Swahili phrasebook eating · Eating in Swahili phrasebook
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Eating in Swahili phrasebook
Eating in Swahili phrasebook
A table for one person/two people, please.�
Meza kwa mtu moja/watu wawili, tafadhali.
We are two/three/four.�
Tuko wawili/watatu/wanne.
Can I look at the menu, please?�
Ninaweza kuangalia menu, tafadhali.
Can I look in the kitchen?�
Ninaweza kuona jikoni?
Is there a house specialty?�
Is there a local specialty?�
I'm a vegetarian.�
Mimi ni mla mboga
Vegetarian food�
Chakula mboga mboga
I don't eat pork.�
Sili nyama ya nguruwe/kiti moto (The latter is far more common)
I don't eat beef.�
Sili nyama ya n'gombe
I don't eat goat.�
Sili nyama ya mbuzi
I only eat kosher food.�
Ninakula chakula halali tu.
Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard)�
Punguza mafuta/siagi/
No bones.�
Bila mafupa
fixed-price meal�
a la carte�
breakfast�
kifungua kinywa / chakula cha asubuhi
lunch�
chakula cha mchana
Food �
Chakula
tea (meal)�
supper�
I want _____.�
Ninataka
I request _____. Naomba _____. (more polite than 'I want', especially in Tanzania)
I want a dish containing _____.�
Banana �
Ndizi
Goat �
Mbuzi
chicken�
Kuku
beef�
N'gombe
fish�
Samaki
ham�
sausage�
cheese�
Jibini
Egg/eggs�
Yai/Mayai
salad�
Saladi
(fresh) vegetables�
Mboga (singular), Maboga (plural)
Fresh�
freshi
(fresh) fruit�
Mtunda (singular), Matunda (plural)
bread�
Mkate
toast�
Tosti (but there is a brand of bread called 'Tosti' so you will also find a 'Toasted toast' entry on some menus!)
noodles/pasta�
Tambi (invariably, spaghetti unless you are in a specialist restaurant)
rice�
Wali (cooked rice), Mchele (uncooked) Mpunga (rice plant)
beans�
Maharage
May I have a glass of _____?�
Ninaomba glasi moja ya ____.
May I have a cup of _____?�
Ninaomba kikombe kimoja cha ____.
May I have a bottle of _____?�
Ninaomba chupa moja ya ____.
coffee�
Kahawa (this will usually be instant coffee. It's rare to find real coffee except in specialist establishments or those frequented by tourists)
tea (drink)�
Chai
spiced tea�
Chai ya masala (tea is often spiced with masala mix or ginger
Tea with milk�
Chai ya maziwa
Tea without milk�
Chai ya rangi (literally, 'tea with color')
juice�
juici
(bubbly) water�
water�
Maji
beer�
Pombe, Bia (Pombe often refers to a local brew and many of these are unsafe to drink. Better to ask for a beer by brand name or ask 'Bia gani ipo?', 'What beers do you have?'
red/white wine�
Mvinyo/wini nyekundu/nyeupi
May I have some _____?�
Ninaomba
salt�
Chumvi
black pepper�
pilipili manga
butter�
Siagi (But you are likely to get margarine, at best. You will probably need to ask for margarine by a brand name, such as 'Blue Band')
Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)
Samahani/ebu (the latter is less formal)
Excuse me, waiter? (to a waiter, 'Kaka', to a waitress, 'Dada')
I'm finished.�
Nimemaliza
It was delicious.�
Chakula ni kitamu
Please clear the plates.�
Uondoe masahani tafadhali
The check, please.�
Naomba bili, tafadhali
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