There is a special kind of hope in the phrase "Let's meet." It is a small promise. A tiny contract between two people. It says: I want to see you. I want to spend time with you. I want to make space in my life for you.
But arranging to meet is not always simple. It requires coordination. It requires clarity. It requires the ability to say when, where, and how. In a new language, these simple logistics can feel like climbing a mountain. You know the words for "hello" and "thank you," but how do you say "Can we meet at three o'clock?" How do you say "I will be late"? How do you say "I am looking forward to seeing you"?
This course is about those phrases. We are going to explore fifty questions and answers about arranging to meet across five languages: Swahili, Oromo, Amharic, Fulani, and Lingala. These are the phrases of coordination, the words that turn intention into reality.
Let us begin with a truth: in many African cultures, time is not a tyrant. It is a river. It flows. When you arrange to meet someone in Kinshasa or Addis Ababa or Nairobi, you are not just scheduling an appointment. You are entering into a relationship. The meeting itself is less important than the connection it represents. And so the language of arranging to meet is also the language of respect, flexibility, and warmth.
In Swahili, there is a proverb: Haraka haraka haina baraka. Hurry hurry has no blessing. This is a reminder that rushing is not always wise. When you arrange to meet, you are not just managing time. You are managing expectations. You are saying, “I value you enough to make a plan.”
So as we go through these fifty questions, think of them as tools. Each one helps you build a bridge. Each one helps you show up.
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The Fifty Questions and Answers
Below are fifty questions and answers about arranging to meet, organized by topic. Not every language has a direct translation for every phrase, but these are the ones that travel best. Learn them in the language you are studying, or learn a few in each. The goal is not perfection. The goal is connection.
Making the Initial Plan
# English Swahili Oromo Amharic Fulani Lingala
1 Do you want to meet? Unataka tukutane? Wal arguu barbaadda? Ande inigenagg? A yiɗi hawrugol? Olingi tokutana?
2 Can we meet? Tunaweza kukutana? Wal arguu dandeenya? Inigenagg? Min mbaawi hawrugol? Tokoki tokutana?
3 Let's meet Tukutane Haa wal arginu Inigenagg Ndeen hawru Tokutana
4 When can we meet? Tunaweza kukutana lini? Yoom wal arguu dandeenya? Meche inigenagg? Ndee tuma hawrutten? Tokutana ngonga nini?
5 When are you free? Uko huru lini? Yoom bilisa ta'e? Meche free neh? Ndee tuma ndimaani? Ozali libre ngonga nini?
6 What time works for you? Saa ngapi inakufaa? Sa'aatii meeqa siif mijata? Sint saat yifeligal? Ndee waktu moƴƴo? Ngonga nini ezali malamu?
7 I am free tomorrow Niko huru kesho Boru bilisaan jira Nege free negn Mi ndimaani jaŋngo Nazali libre lobi
8 I am free today Niko huru leo Har'a bilisaan jira Zare free negn Mi ndimaani hannde Nazali libre lelo
9 I am busy today Niko na shughuli leo Har'a hojii qaba Zare sira alehu Mi gollal hannde Nazali na mosala lelo
10 I am not busy tomorrow Sina shughuli kesho Boru hojii hin qabu Nege sira yellem Mi gollalali jaŋngo Nazali na mosala te lobi
Setting the Time
# English Swahili Oromo Amharic Fulani Lingala
11 What time? Saa ngapi? Sa'aatii meeqa? Sint saat? Ndee waktu? Ngonga nini?
12 At what time? Kwa saa ngapi? Sa'aatii meeqa? Be sint saat? E ndee waktu? Na ngonga nini?
13 Let's meet at three Tukutane saa tatu Sa'aatii sadii wal argina Be sost saat inigenagg Ndeen waktu tati Tokutana na ngonga misato
14 Let's meet at noon Tukutane saa sita Waaree wal argina Be k'en inigenagg Ndeen waktu caka Tokutana na midi
15 Let's meet in the morning Tukutane asubuhi Ganama wal argina Be t'ewat inigenagg Ndeen subaka Tokutana na ntongo
16 Let's meet in the evening Tukutane jioni Galgala wal argina Be mishet inigenagg Ndeen kikiiɗe Tokutana na mpokwa
17 Is that time good? Saa hiyo ni nzuri? Sa'aatiin sun gaarii? Yih saat t'iru new? Ndee waktu moƴƴo? Ngonga yango ezali malamu?
18 That time is good Saa hiyo ni nzuri Sa'aatiin sun gaarii Yih saat t'iru new Ndee waktu moƴƴo Ngonga yango ezali malamu
19 That time does not work Saa hiyo haifai Sa'aatiin sun hin mijatu Yih saat ayifeligim Ndee waktu moƴƴaani Ngonga yango ezali malamu te
20 Can we meet earlier? Tunaweza kukutana mapema? Dura wal arguu dandeenya? Beqidem inigenagg? Min mbaawi hawrugol ɓeydaa? Tokoki tokutana liboso?
Choosing the Place
# English Swahili Oromo Amharic Fulani Lingala
21 Where should we meet? Tukutane wapi? Eessa wal argina? Yet inigenagg? Toy hawrutten? Tokutana wapi?
22 Where do you want to meet? Unataka tukutane wapi? Eessa wal arguu barbaadda? Yet inigenaggnet tefelegaleh? Toy a yiɗi hawrugol? Olingi tokutana wapi?
23 Let's meet at the restaurant Tukutane kwenye mgahawa Mana nyaataa wal argina Be migib bet inigenagg Ndeen e nokku nyaamdu Tokutana na restaurant
24 Let's meet at the market Tukutane sokoni Gabaa wal argina Be gebeya inigenagg Ndeen e luumo Tokutana na zando
25 Let's meet at your house Tukutane nyumbani kwako Mana keetti wal argina Be betih inigenagg Ndeen e galle ma Tokutana na ndako na yo
26 Let's meet at my house Tukutane nyumbani kwangu Mana kootti wal argina Be bete inigenagg Ndeen e galle am Tokutana na ndako na ngai
27 Let's meet at the office Tukutane ofisini Waajjira wal argina Be biro inigenagg Ndeen e biro Tokutana na biro
28 I will send you the location Nitakutumia mahali Bakka sitti erga Bizih ilikalehu Mi neldataa ma nokku Nakotinda yo esika
29 Do you know the place? Unajua mahali? Bakka beektaa? Sirah tawkal? A anndi nokku? Oyebi esika?
30 I know a good place Najua mahali pazuri Bakka gaarii nan beeka T'iru sifira awwak'alehu Mi anndi nokku moƴƴo Nayebi esika malamu
Confirming and Changing Plans
# English Swahili Oromo Amharic Fulani Lingala
31 Is the plan still on? Mpango bado upo? Karriin amma jiraa? Planu ahun al? Peewal woni haa jooni? Plan ezali toujou?
32 Are we still meeting? Bado tunakutana? Ammayyuu wal arginaa? Ahun inigenaggn? Min keɓi hawrugol? Tokutana toujou?
33 I confirm Nathibitisha Nan mirkaneessa Awerdalehu Mi tabitini Nandimi
34 I cannot come Siwezi kuja Dhufuu hin danda'u Almetam Mi waawi warde Nakoki koya te
35 Something came up Kuna jambo limetokea Wanti tokko uumame Yihon tefetsere Ɗum waɗii Likambo esalaki
36 Can we reschedule? Tunaweza kupanga tarehe nyingine? Yeroo biraa qopheessuu dandeenya? Beleh inigenagg? Min mbaawi lottude? Tokoki kobongisa ntango?
37 Let's meet another day Tukutane siku nyingine Guyyaa biraa wal argina Lega inigenagg Ndeen ñalnde goɗɗe Tokutana mikolo mosusu
38 I will be late Nitachelewa Anan tursiisa Deqamiyalehu Mi leelotoo Nakoya nsima
39 I am on my way Niko njiani Karaa irra jira Meniged lay alehu Mi woni e laawol Nazali na nzela
40 I have arrived Nimefika Nan ga'e Deresku Mi yottii Nakomi
Polite Expressions for Meeting
# English Swahili Oromo Amharic Fulani Lingala
41 Thank you for coming Asante kwa kuja Dhuftuuf galatoomi Lemet'eh ameseginalow Jaraama warde ma Matondi mpo na koya
42 I am happy to see you Nimefurahi kukuona Si arguu nan gammachuu qaba Si mayet t'irign Mi weltaake yiytude ma Nasepeli komona yo
43 Sorry I am late Samahani kwa kuchelewa Tursiisaaf dhiifama Deqamihu yiqirta Hakkilo leelotoo Limbisa ngai nazali nsima
44 No problem Hakuna shida Rakkoo hin qabu Chigir yellem Hakkilo alaa Likambo te
45 Let's do this again Tufanye tena Irra deebinee haa godhu Endegna iniderg Ndeen kadi Tokosala lisusu
46 I enjoyed our time Nimefurahia muda wetu Yeroo keenya nan gammade Gizeyachin t'irign Mi weltaake sahaa amen Nasepelaki ntango na biso
47 See you next time Tutaonana wakati mwingine Yeroo biraa wal arganna Lega inigenagg Sey yeeso laawol goɗngol Tokomonana mbala mosusu
48 Take care Jitunze Of eeggadhu T'ena yadreg A reena Keba yo
49 Have a safe journey Safari njema Imalli nagaa Dehna guzo Jahaale jam Mobembo malamu
50 Until we meet again Hadi tutakapokutana tena Hanga wal arginu Iske inigenaggn Haa hawrutten Kino tokutana lisusu
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The Grammar of Meeting
The grammar of arranging to meet is the grammar of coordination. It is about linking two people, two times, two places.
In Swahili, the verb kukutana means "to meet." It is a reciprocal verb, which means it implies mutuality. You do not just meet. You meet each other. The prefix ku- shows that the action is shared. When you say Tukutane, you are saying, “Let us meet each other.”
In Oromo, the verb wal arguu means "to see each other." The word wal means "each other." The verb arguu means "to see." So meeting is literally seeing each other. It is a visual act. It is about presence.
In Amharic, the verb megenanyet means "to meet." It is a formal word. It implies intention. When you say Inigenagg, you are saying, "Let us meet." It is a commitment.
In Fulani, the verb hawrugol means "to meet." It is a word of the Sahel, a word of travelers. When you say Ndeen hawru, you are saying, "Let us meet." It is simple and direct.
In Lingala, the verb kokutana means "to meet." It is similar to Swahili, which is no coincidence. Both are Bantu languages. When you say Tokutana, you are saying, "Let us meet." It is a word of the city, of the street, of the people.
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How to Practice Arranging to Meet
You cannot learn to arrange meetings without arranging meetings.
Practice with a friend. Find someone who speaks the language you are learning. Arrange a meeting. Use the phrases. Make mistakes. Learn from them.
Use a calendar. Write down the days of the week and the times of day in the language you are studying. Practice saying, “Let's meet on Monday at three.”
Role-play. Imagine different scenarios. You are meeting a friend for coffee. You are meeting a colleague for work. You are meeting a stranger for the first time. Practice the phrases that fit each situation.
Be flexible. In many cultures, time is not rigid. A meeting at three might mean three-thirty. A meeting tomorrow might become next week. Learn to be patient. Learn to be flexible. The relationship is more important than the schedule.
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The Fifty-First Question
There is one question that is not on the list. It is the question you ask yourself when you have learned all fifty phrases: Will I show up?
Arranging to meet is easy. Showing up is harder. It requires effort. It requires sacrifice. It requires saying, “You are important enough for me to be here.”
In Swahili, there is a word, utayari. It means readiness. It means being prepared. When you arrange to meet someone, you are saying, “I am ready to be with you. I am ready to give you my time.”
So learn these phrases. Use them. But remember that the most important thing you can do is not to speak perfectly. It is to be there. It is to show up. It is to honor the small promise you made when you said, “Let's meet.”
And that presence needs no translation.
It is called respect.
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