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Informal Greetings
These greetings are mainly used in conversations with friends or people who are familiar with each other. these greetings carry a sense of casualness, informality, intimacy, etc.
Mambo vipi? (hi)
Inakuaje? (how?)
Niambie (tell me)
Niaje? (how is it?
Mambo yanaendaje (how are things going)
Dialogue 1
MUSA: Mambo vipi mwanangu (dude)?
ALI: Poa tu (just fine), mambo?
MUSA: Fresh kabisa (really fine)
Dialogue 2
DEO: Inakuaje mzee?
HAJI: Poa mwanangu, niaje?
DEO: Amani (peace)
Dialogue 3
KIZITO: Mambo yanaendaje mwanangu?
HOZA: Yanaenda poa mzee, vipi Maisha (how is life)?
KIZITO: Yanaenda mdogo mdogo (it’s moving steadily slowly)
Insert the appropriate reply to the greeting
- WARDA: Mambo vp Musa?
MUSA: …………………………….
WARDA: Poa poa
- NISHA: Niaje mwanangu?
CHOLO: ……………………………
NISHA: Fresh tu mzee.
In addition, there are greetings that are typically connected to a particular religious group within the Swahili community. For example:
- Tumsifu Yesu Kristo (let’s praise Jesus Christ) for the Catholics
- Bwana (Yesu) asifiwe (Praise the Lord (Jesus) for the Protestants
- Asalaam alaykum (peace be upon you) for the Muslims.