How to Say Hello in Kenya: Swahili and 20 Mother Tongues

Swahili works everywhere in Kenya: Habari? answered Nzuri, or Hujambo? answered Sijambo. A greeting in someone's mother tongue is warmly received, and it is almost always a question about wellbeing that expects a reply, usually followed by a handshake. Greet before you ask for anything; it matters.

Greetings checked against a published source

Kikuyu (Gĩkũyũ): Wĩ mwega? Reply: Ĩĩ, ndĩ mwega
Embu and Mbeere (Kĩembu): Wĩ mwaro? Reply: Nĩ mwaro
Meru and Tharaka (Kĩmĩĩrũ): Mũũga. Reply: Mũũga mũno
Kuria (Igikuria): Amang'ana
Giriama, Mijikenda (Kigiryama): Udzalamkadze? in the morning, Udzasindadze? later in the day. Reply: Nidzasinda
Taita (Kidawida): Kwawuka mana? in the morning, Kwasinda mana? later. Reply: Navuka
Luo and most Suba (Dholuo): Amosi, or Idhi nade? Reply: Ber ahinya, or Adhi maber
Sabaot: Subai

Three Maasai men in red and blue shukas sitting together

Greetings to confirm with a speaker

These are widely used but come from general knowledge rather than a source we checked. Use them, and let your host correct you; people enjoy it.

Kamba (Kĩkamba): Wakya? Reply: Aaa, or Nesa
Luhya: Mulembe. Reply: Mulembe muno
Gusii (Ekegusii): Bwakire, or Imbuya ore? Reply: Imbuya nde
Swahili, Bajuni and Pemba: Hujambo? Reply: Sijambo. To elders: Shikamoo. Reply: Marahaba
Kalenjin (Kipsigis, Nandi, Keiyo, Tugen, Marakwet): Chamgei. Reply: Chamgei mising
Pokot (Pökoot): Takwenya
Maasai, Samburu, Ilchamus and El Molo (Maa): Sopa, or Supa. Reply: Ipa
Turkana (Ngaturkana): Ejoka? Reply: Ejok noi
Iteso (Ateso): Yoga. Reply: Yoga noi
Somali (Af-Soomaali): Nabad? or Iska warran? Reply: Nabad, or Waan fiicanahay
Borana, Gabra, Orma and Sakuye (Afaan Borana): Nagaa? or Akkam? Reply: Nagaa, or Fayyaa
Nubians, Kenyan Arabs and most Muslims: As-salaamu alaykum. Reply: Wa alaykumu s-salaam
Kenyans of Asian heritage: Kem cho? (Gujarati, reply Maja ma), Namaste (Hindi), Sat sri akal (Punjabi)

We found no verified greeting for the Pokomo, Taveta, Rendille, Burji, Daasanach, Aweer, Dahalo, Wayyu or Yaaku, or in Olusuba. If you speak one of these languages, we would love to hear from you.

Good manners to go with it

Greet everyone in the room, elders first
Shake hands, and take a moment before getting to business
Use your right hand to give and receive
Ask before photographing anyone, and accept no

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Common questions

How do you say hello in Kenya?

In Swahili, which works everywhere: Habari? answered Nzuri, or Hujambo? answered Sijambo. Jambo is the short form visitors often hear.

How do you greet an elder in Swahili?

Say Shikamoo. The elder replies Marahaba.

How do you say hello in Kikuyu?

Wĩ mwega? The reply is Ĩĩ, ndĩ mwega.

How do you say hello in Luo?

Amosi, or Idhi nade? The reply is Ber ahinya, or Adhi maber.

How do you say hello in Maasai?

Sopa, or Supa, answered Ipa. It is widely used across Maa speakers, though we cite it from general knowledge, so let a speaker correct you.

How to say hello in Kenya