Learning Swahili can be an enriching experience, offering insights into the diverse cultures and histories of East Africa. As you progress to the B1 level, you’ll want to expand your vocabulary to communicate more effectively in various situations. Below, you’ll find 50 essential Swahili words that are crucial for B1-level proficiency. These words will help you navigate conversations, understand written texts, and improve your overall fluency.

Common Verbs

1. **Kufanya** – *To do/make*: This versatile verb is essential for expressing actions. For example, “Ninapenda kufanya kazi” means “I like to work.”
2. **Kusoma** – *To read/study*: Whether you are reading a book or studying for an exam, this verb is indispensable. “Ninasoma kitabu” translates to “I am reading a book.”
3. **Kupenda** – *To love/like*: Express your feelings with this verb. “Ninapenda muziki” means “I love music.”
4. **Kula** – *To eat*: A basic verb for any social situation involving food. “Tunataka kula” means “We want to eat.”
5. **Kunywa** – *To drink*: Useful for ordering beverages. “Ninataka kunywa maji” translates to “I want to drink water.”
6. **Kujua** – *To know*: This verb is crucial for expressing knowledge or familiarity. “Ninajua Kiswahili” means “I know Swahili.”
7. **Kuelewa** – *To understand*: Essential for checking comprehension. “Unaelewa?” means “Do you understand?”
8. **Kusema** – *To say/speak*: Use this verb to express speech. “Anasema nini?” translates to “What is he/she saying?”
9. **Kufika** – *To arrive*: Useful for discussing travel plans. “Tutafika lini?” means “When will we arrive?”
10. **Kuondoka** – *To leave/depart*: The opposite of arriving. “Nitaondoka kesho” means “I will leave tomorrow.”

Common Nouns

11. **Maji** – *Water*: A fundamental noun for daily life. “Ninahitaji maji” means “I need water.”
12. **Chakula** – *Food*: Essential for discussing meals. “Chakula kiko tayari” translates to “The food is ready.”
13. **Nyumba** – *House/home*: Useful for talking about living situations. “Nyumba yangu ni kubwa” means “My house is big.”
14. **Shule** – *School*: Important for discussing education. “Watoto wako shuleni” translates to “The children are at school.”
15. **Muda** – *Time*: Essential for scheduling. “Muda umekwisha” means “Time is up.”
16. **Pesa** – *Money*: Crucial for any financial transactions. “Nina pesa” means “I have money.”
17. **Safari** – *Journey/trip*: Useful for travel discussions. “Safari yangu ilikuwa nzuri” translates to “My trip was good.”
18. **Kitabu** – *Book*: Important for anyone who reads. “Ninapenda kusoma vitabu” means “I like to read books.”
19. **Rafiki** – *Friend*: A key noun for social interactions. “Rafiki yangu anaitwa John” means “My friend’s name is John.”
20. **Kazi** – *Work/job*: Essential for discussing professions. “Anafanya kazi nzuri” translates to “He/she does good work.”

Common Adjectives

21. **Kubwa** – *Big/large*: Useful for describing size. “Gari kubwa” means “A big car.”
22. **Ndogo** – *Small/little*: The opposite of big. “Kijiji kidogo” translates to “A small village.”
23. **Nzuri** – *Good/nice*: A versatile adjective for positive descriptions. “Hali nzuri” means “Good condition.”
24. **Mbaya** – *Bad/ugly*: Useful for negative descriptions. “Hali mbaya” translates to “Bad condition.”
25. **Rahisi** – *Easy/cheap*: Important for discussing difficulty or cost. “Somo hili ni rahisi” means “This subject is easy.”
26. **Gumu** – *Hard/difficult*: The opposite of easy. “Mtihani ni mgumu” translates to “The exam is difficult.”
27. **Safi** – *Clean*: Useful for describing cleanliness. “Chumba ni safi” means “The room is clean.”
28. **Chafu** – *Dirty*: The opposite of clean. “Nguo ni chafu” translates to “The clothes are dirty.”
29. **Nzito** – *Heavy*: Describes weight. “Sanduku ni nzito” means “The suitcase is heavy.”
30. **Jepesi** – *Light*: The opposite of heavy. “Mizigo ni jepesi” translates to “The luggage is light.”

Common Adverbs

31. **Haraka** – *Quickly/fast*: Useful for describing speed. “Nenda haraka” means “Go quickly.”
32. **Polepole** – *Slowly*: The opposite of quickly. “Endesha polepole” translates to “Drive slowly.”
33. **Sana** – *Very/so much*: Enhances adjectives and verbs. “Ninapenda sana” means “I like it very much.”
34. **Kidogo** – *A little/bit*: Useful for moderation. “Ninaelewa kidogo” means “I understand a little.”
35. **Sasa** – *Now*: Essential for timing. “Sasa hivi” translates to “Right now.”
36. **Baadaye** – *Later*: Useful for future timing. “Tutakutana baadaye” means “We will meet later.”
37. **Kabla** – *Before*: Important for sequencing. “Kabla ya kula” translates to “Before eating.”
38. **Baada** – *After*: The opposite of before. “Baada ya kazi” means “After work.”
39. **Hapa** – *Here*: Indicates location. “Kaa hapa” means “Sit here.”
40. **Pale** – *There*: The opposite of here. “Nenda pale” translates to “Go there.”

Common Prepositions

41. **Kwa** – *With/for/by*: A versatile preposition. “Ninaenda kwa basi” means “I am going by bus.”
42. **Kwenye** – *On/in/at*: Useful for locations. “Kitabu kiko kwenye meza” means “The book is on the table.”
43. **Kutoka** – *From*: Indicates origin. “Ninatoka nyumbani” translates to “I am coming from home.”
44. **Mpaka** – *Until/to*: Useful for limits. “Kazi itamalizika mpaka kesho” means “The work will be finished by tomorrow.”
45. **Bila** – *Without*: Indicates absence. “Ninakunywa chai bila sukari” means “I drink tea without sugar.”

Common Conjunctions

46. **Na** – *And*: Connects words or phrases. “Mimi na wewe” means “Me and you.”
47. **Au** – *Or*: Indicates options. “Unataka chai au kahawa?” translates to “Do you want tea or coffee?”
48. **Lakini** – *But*: Shows contrast. “Ninataka kwenda, lakini sina muda” means “I want to go, but I don’t have time.”
49. **Kwa sababu** – *Because*: Explains reasons. “Ninakula kwa sababu nina njaa” translates to “I am eating because I am hungry.”
50. **Ingawa** – *Although*: Indicates a concession. “Ingawa ni mgumu, nitaendelea kujifunza” means “Although it is difficult, I will continue to learn.”

Conclusion

Mastering these 50 essential Swahili words will significantly boost your communication skills at the B1 level. These words cover a wide range of common situations and contexts, helping you to express yourself more clearly and understand others more effectively. Keep practicing these words in your daily conversations and written exercises to reinforce your learning. Remember, the key to language mastery is consistent practice and exposure, so don’t hesitate to use these words as often as possible. Happy learning!