Lesson 8: Self Introduction in Swahili 2

In the last two lessons, we have seen a few common phrases used when introducing oneself and family members as well. Now, let us take a look on how to use Swahili in different contexts;

Ordering food and drinks (Kuagiza chakula na vinywaji)
When you visit Tanzania, apart from other places, food and drinks are being sold in a restaurant, hotel, etc. Sometimes, you may find a menu there and in some places, there is no menu although the services are being provided. In whatever the case, you have to say something to the waiter/seller for you to have something to eat or drink. 

Example: when you want some breakfast, the following can be a possible kind of conversation when talking to the waiter:

You (wewe): Habari (hello)
Waiter (mhudumu): Njema. Karibu. (Fine. Welcome)
Wewe: Una nini (what do you have)?
Mhudumu: Nina chai, chapati, vitumbua na supu (I have some tea,                    chapati, vitumbua and soup). 
Wewe: Shilingi ngapi (how much)?
Mhudumu: Chai shilingi mia moja, Chapati shilingi mia mbili,                        vitumbua shilingi mia moja na supu ni shilingi elfu moja.                 (tea is one hundred shillings, chapati is two hundred                          shillings, vitumbua is one hundred shilings and the soup                  is one thousands shilings)
Wewe: Ninataka chai na chapati mbili (I want some tea and two                  chapatis) 
Mhudumu: Sawa. (okay)
Wewe: chai yako ni nzuri sana (your tea is pretty good)
Mhudumu: Asante (thank you)
Wewe: Chukua pesa, tafadhali (Take some money, please)
Mhudumu: Asante sana. Chukua chenji (Thanks very much. Take                     your balance)
Wewe: Asante, kwaheri (thanks, goodbye)
Mhudumu: Asante, Karibu tena. (Thanks, welcome again)

Again, in the hotel in the evening, you want to have your dinner. Here, you (wewe) will be "A" and "B" the waiter (mhudumu)

A: Habari ya jioni (good evening)
B: Salama. Karibu sana (Fine. You are warmly welcome)
A: Asante. Umeshindaje? (thanks. how was a day)
B: Salama. Unahitaji nini tafadhali (fine. what do you want please)
A: Ninahitaji chakula. kuna chagula gani?(I want some food.                 Which food is here)
B: Kuna wali, ugali, ndizi, chipsi kwa samaki, mboga za majani,           nyama ya kuku, ng`ombe na mbuzi. (There is rice, ugali,                   banana, fish with chips, vegetables, chicken, beef and goat.)
A: Sawa. kuna mboga gani? (which kind of vegetables do you have
B: Kuna kabichi na spinachi (there are cabbage and spinach) 
A: Ninaomba uniletee wali kwa nyama ya kuku na spinachi                  (Would you please bring me rice with chicken and spinach)
     Kuna matunda? (is there any fruits?)
B: Ndiyo. kuna machungwa na maembe (Yes. there is oranges and       mangoes)
A: Ninataka machungwa, sitaki maembe (I want oranges, i dont           want mangoes.
B: Sawa. Je, unapenda kinywaji chochote? (Okay. Would you like         any drinks?)
A: Mna vinywaji gani (Which drinks do you have?)
B: Tuna soda, sharubati, maji na bia. (We have soda, juice, water,         and beer)
A: Niletee sharubati (bring me some juice)
B: Sawa (Okay.)A: Jumla ni shilingi ngapi (How much in total?)
B: jumla ni shilingi elfu tano (The total is fine thousand shilings)
A: Chukua pesa (take some money)
B: Asante na karibu tena (Thanks and welcome again)
A: Kwaheri (goodbye)
B: Usiku mwema (goodnight) 


NB: In many cases, in Tanzania, many people do use hotel, restaurant, tearoom or cafe as "hoteli" (hotel). They don`t differentiate them. Also, when asking or ordering something, in Tanzania we use "ninaomba or ninataka", but ninaomba adheres to politeness, that is why it is mostly prefered. 

Mind you, when in Tanzania, if you ask someone to go for a meal or a drink, he/she will expect you to pay. Because it was not his or her idea in the first place😊.