Swahili is already a part of daily life, you may not even know it. It has gained popularity through entertainment. For example, Safari, which we in English use to mean a guided tour to observe or hunt animals, means journey in Swahili. Also, did you know that the names of the main characters in the Lion King are all Swahili words? Simba, Sarbi, Rafiki, and Pumbaa means lion, mirage, friend, and foolish respectively. But, please don’t walk around saying Hakuna matata. Yes, it’s Swahili and nobody will be offended.  But, you’ll sound like a tourist or like you’ve been watching the Lion King.

Greeting Norms

Greeting etiquette emphasizes showing respect and politeness. So, it is important to greet correctly. Normally, older people or those considered to be of higher status are greeted first. Part of the greeting process is asking the person about themselves: “How’s the family, health, business, etc…” Generally, all people like to talk about themselves a little, right? So, this allows you to understand and show interest in the other person right at the start of the conversation. Here are some basic greetings in Swahili:

• Salam aleikum (Peace be unto to you)

• Wa-alaikum as-salaam (Greetings to you)

• Hujambo, jambo (used mostly for foreigners) or mambo - How are you?

• U hali gani (How are you?)

• Sijamba (I’m fine) or njema (fine, no bad news) or sawa (okay) or mbaya (bad)

By the way, a very handy word to know is Habari, (literally, news?). It can be used in most settings, with generally anyone.  It is used to say hello and how's it going?

• Habari za familia (how is your family?) or habari za kazi (how’s work)

• Habari gani (How are you?)

If you want to be specific about the time of day you can say:

• Habari za asubuhi ( good morning)

• Habari za mchana ( good afternoon)

• Habari za jioni (good evening)

• Habari za kutwa? ( How has your day been?)

• Shikamoo (a young person to an elder) – This is a greeting that a young person would use to initiate a greeting with an older person, like a grandparent or a person of superior position.

These last two greetings can be less formal and used amongst friends. In which case you could respond

• Shwari! (Yo!) Obviously informal. Generally, used for a group of young people.

• Unakuwaje? (how’s it going?) to be used with ones that you are acquainted with.

And here’s how you could respond:

• Poa ( cool)

• Safi (Clean!)

• Freshi (Fresh!) - a swahilized version of the English word “fresh”.

And...my personal favorite: “Poa, kichisi kama ndizi kwenye friji” (“I am cool like a banana in the fridge”)

Communication Styles

Indirect communication styles are preferred by most, with an emphasis on not offending the other person. The communication style is generally non-confrontational and polite. So, in greetings, you may get a lot of questions like “How’s the family? “How’s your work?” or “How’s your home?”. 

Also, in a business meeting, for instance, it is common to have a little small talk before getting right to the topic at hand. Although norms may be changing a little, it’s still better to avoid being very blunt in conversation with others.

Humor plays a big role in most cultures, but don’t go overboard. You want to be taken seriously. However, it’s best to avoid sarcasm as it may not translate well.

Personal Space and Touching

Since Swahili is spoken in so many countries, there are of course different cultures in each. Appropriate greetings depend on the nature of the relationship and region, but there are similarities. For instance, when greeting with a handshake, always use the right hand. Handshakes may linger longer than what you may be accustomed to, maybe even for the duration of the conversation. Awkwardness aside this is just part of getting to know the other person. In some cultures a bow is sufficient. Also, it is not uncommon for people of the same sex to walk hand in hand. This is just a sign of friendship and closeness. During the conversation, it is normal to stand within an arm’s length, or a little closer between people of the same sex or friends. When engaged in conversation, it is acceptable for there to be light touching between people of the same sex that know each other.

In conversations between women and men, a handshake is usually appropriate but it is best to wait for the woman to extend her hand, otherwise, a bow or a nod of acknowledgment will suffice.

Eye Contact

As far as eye contact is concerned, in some countries, indirect eye contact is preferred, especially for a child speaking to elders or a superior.  Staring is considered aggressive or rude. Of course, in most cases, between acquaintances and friends, direct eye contact is fine.