There is a moment that every host knows. The knock at the door. The sound of a voice outside. The sudden shift from the quiet of your own life to the warmth of welcome. Someone has come to visit you. And now, everything changes.
In many African cultures, this moment is sacred. The guest is not an interruption. The guest is a blessing. In Swahili, there is a saying: Mgeni njoo, mwenyeji apone. Let the guest come, so that the host may benefit. The guest brings something with them. Not just their presence, but their story, their news, their humanity. To host is to receive a gift.
This course is about that gift. We are going to explore fifty questions and answers about entertaining guests across five languages: Swahili, Oromo, Amharic, Fulani, and Lingala. These are the phrases you use when someone comes to your home, when you want to make them comfortable, and when you want to say goodbye without saying “go away.”
Let us begin with a truth: in Fulani culture, a guest is called jagordo. The word carries weight. It means someone who has traveled, someone who has come from afar. The host is called jaɓoowo, the one who receives. The relationship between them is not casual. It is a contract of honor. The host must give the best of what they have. The guest must receive with gratitude.
So as we go through these fifty questions, think of them as a doorway. Each one is a way of saying, “You are welcome here. You are safe here. You are home.”
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The Fifty Questions and Answers
Below are fifty questions and answers about entertaining guests, 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 warmth.
Welcoming a Guest
# English Swahili Oromo Amharic Fulani Lingala
1 Welcome! Karibu! Baga nagaan dhuftu! Enkuan dehin! Biseno! Boyei malamu!
2 Welcome to my home Karibu nyumbani kwangu Garaa kootti baga nagaan dhuftu Betoche enkuan dehin Biseno e galle am Boyei malamu na ndako na ngai
3 Come in Ingia Seeni Giba Naatu Kota
4 Please sit down Tafadhali keti Maaloo taa'i Be'istu t'ek'emi Achu joodo Loba vanda
5 Make yourself comfortable Jisikie vizuri Of keessummeessi T'iru yihun A jaɓɓo hoore ma Salisa yo malamu
6 How are you? Habari? Akkam? Endet neh? Jam na? Ozali malamu?
7 I am happy you came Nimefurahi umekuja Dhuftuuf nan gammade Lemet'eh t'irign Mi weltaake warde ma Nasepeli oyaki
8 It has been a long time Ni muda mrefu Yeroon dheeraa ta'e Bizu gize new Dumunnde ɓennii Ntango molai eleki
9 We have missed you Tumekukumbuka Si yaadne Enatalehu Mi jaŋgii ma Tozali na yo na makanisi
10 Please feel at home Jifanye kama nyumbani Akka mana keetti of godhi Akka betih yihun Waɗɗo hoore ma e galle Salisa yo na ndako
Offering Food and Drink
# English Swahili Oromo Amharic Fulani Lingala
11 Would you like something to drink? Unataka kitu cha kunywa? Waan dhuguu barbaadda? Min met'at tefelegaleh? A yiɗi ko njarne? Olingi komela?
12 Would you like something to eat? Unataka kitu cha kula? Waan nyaachuu barbaadda? Min meblat tefelegaleh? A yiɗi ko nyaame? Olingi kolia?
13 Have some water Kunywa maji Bishaan dhugi Wuha t'iti Nyar ndiyam Mela mai
14 Have some tea Kunywa chai Shaayii dhugi Shay t'iti Nyar shaayee Mela thé
15 Have some coffee Kunywa kahawa Buna dhugi Buna t'iti Nyar kafe Mela kafe
16 Please eat Tafadhali kula Maaloo nyaadhu Be'istu bli Achu nyaamu Loba lia
17 The food is ready Chakula kiko tayari Nyaati qophaa'eera Migib tedegag new Nyamdu heblinaama Bilia ebongisami
18 I hope you like it Natumai unaipenda Akka jaallattu abdii qaba Endewededalehu Mi hoolaade a yiɗi Nasepeli olingi yango
19 There is plenty Kuna mengi Baay'een jira Bizu al Keewɗum woni Ebele ezali
20 Please have more Tafadhali ongeza Maaloo dabaladhu Be'istu t'emari Achu ɓeydu Loba lisusu
Conversation with Guests
# English Swahili Oromo Amharic Fulani Lingala
21 How was your journey? Safari ilikuwaje? Imalli kee akkam ture? Guzoh endet neber? Jahaale ma no waɗi? Mobembo na yo ezalaki ndenge nini?
22 Did you find the place easily? Ulipata mahali kwa urahisi? Bakka salphaatti argatte? Sirah be'istu agigneh? A tawaani nokku? Omonaki esika malamu?
23 What is new in your life? Kuna nini kipya maishani mwako? Jireenya kee keessatti maal haaraa? Behiwot min adis? Ndee kabaaru e nguurndam ma? Nini ya sika na bomoyi na yo?
24 Tell me about your family Niambie kuhusu familia yako Maatii kee irratti naaf himi Betesebihiginaw Haalanam e ɓesngu ma Yebisa ngai libota na yo
25 How is your work? Kazi yako ikoje? Hojiin kee akkam? Sirah endet new? Golle ma no weeyi? Mosala na yo ezali ndenge nini?
26 How are your children? Watoto wako hawajambo? Ijoolleen kee akkam? Lijochih endet? Ɓiɓɓe ma no weeyi? Bana na yo bazali malamu?
27 We have much to talk about Tuna mengi ya kuzungumza Waan hedduu dubbachu qabna Bezu linagedal Min naɓa ko ɗuuɗi haalde Tozali na makambo mingi ya kosolola
28 Do you remember when...? Unakumbuka wakati...? Yeroo...yaadatta? Gize...tasitaleh? A siftini tuma...? Okanisi ntango...?
29 Those were good times Hiyo ilikuwa nyakati nzuri Yeroon sun gaarii ture Yih gize t'iru neber Ndee sahaa moƴƴo Ntango yango ezalaki malamu
30 Let us talk more later Tutaongea zaidi baadaye Booda dabalataan haa dubbannu Behwal ininaged Ndeen haalde ɓeydaa caggal Tokosolola lisusu sima
Making the Guest Comfortable
# English Swahili Oromo Amharic Fulani Lingala
31 Are you comfortable? Uko vizuri? Mijataa? T'iru neh? A jaɓɓi? Ozali malamu?
32 Are you tired? Umechoka? Dadhabdee? Dinkeheh? A ronkii? Ozali na nzela?
33 Do you need to rest? Unahitaji kupumzika? Boqochuu barbaadda? Mawnet tefelegaleh? A yiɗi fooɗde? Olingi kopema?
34 Do you need anything? Unahitaji kitu? Waan barbaadda? Min tefelegaleh? A yiɗi ko? Olingi eloko?
35 Is the room okay? Chumba ni sawa? Kutaan gaarii? Kifil t'iru new? Suudu ndu moƴƴi? Shambre ezali malamu?
36 Are you warm enough? Una joto la kutosha? Ho'aan sirratti? Muk yihun? A ɗiɗi ndiyam? Ozali na molunge?
37 Are you cold? Unahisi baridi? Qorra sitti dhaga'ama? Qez yihisal? A ɗiɗi ɓuuɓri? Ozali na malili?
38 Let me get you a blanket Nikulettee blanketi Waan sii naaf fide Blanket ihignalehu Mi addanaa ma wuddu Nakomema yo couverture
39 Please stay longer Tafadhali kaa zaidi Maaloo dheeraa taa'i Be'istu t'emari k'oyi Achu jooɗo ɓeydaa Loba vanda lisusu
40 You are always welcome Unakaribishwa kila wakati Yeroo hunda baga nagaan dhuftu Hulum gize enkuan dehin A jaɓɓaaɗo kala tuma Ozali boyei ntango nyonso
Saying Goodbye
# English Swahili Oromo Amharic Fulani Lingala
41 Are you leaving already? Unaondoka tayari? Amma deemtaa? Ahun tit'ewaleh? A yahaa jooni? Okendaka sikoyo?
42 Please stay a little longer Tafadhali kaa kidogo Maaloo xiqqoo taa'i Be'istu t'ik'it k'oyi Achu jooɗo seeɗa Loba vanda moke
43 Thank you for coming Asante kwa kuja Dhuftuuf galatoomi Lemet'eh ameseginalow Jaraama warde ma Matondi mpo na koya
44 It was good to see you Ilikuwa vizuri kukuona Si arguu gaarii ture Si mayet t'iru neber Yiytude ma weltaare Komona yo ezalaki malamu
45 Come again Rudi tena Ammas dhufi Endegna na Waraa kadi Yaka lisusu
46 Greet your family for me Salimia familia yako Maatii kee naaf nagaa jedhi Betesebih enkuan bel Waraa ɓesngu ma jaraama Tinda libota na yo mbote
47 Have a safe journey Safari njema Imalli nagaa Dehna guzo Jahaale jam Mobembo malamu
48 Take care of yourself Jitunze Of eeggadhu T'ena yadreg A reena hoore ma Keba yo
49 Until next time Hadi wakati mwingine Hanga yeroo biraa Iske lega Haa tuma goɗɗum Kino mbala mosusu
50 Goodbye, my friend Kwaheri, rafiki yangu Nagaatti, michuu koo Dehna hun, wedaje Sey yeeso, sehil am Kende malamu, moninga na ngai
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The Grammar of Hospitality
The grammar of hosting is the grammar of giving. It is about making someone else the center of your world.
In Swahili, the word karibu means "welcome" or "come near." It is used for guests, for strangers, for anyone who arrives at your door. It is a word of inclusion. It says, “You are close to me now. You are part of my circle.”
In Oromo, the phrase baga nagaan dhuftu means "welcome with peace." The word nagaa means peace. The word dhuftu means "you came." So the greeting is literally, "You came in peace." It is a blessing.
In Amharic, the word enkuan dehin means "welcome." It is used for guests, for visitors, for anyone who enters your home. The word dehin means "safe" or "well." So the greeting is, "May you be safe." It is a protection.
In Fulani, the word biseno means "welcome." It is a word of the Sahel, a word of travelers. When you say biseno, you are saying, “You have arrived. You are here. You are safe.”
In Lingala, the phrase boyei malamu means "welcome." The word malamu means "good." So the greeting is, "You have come well." It is a celebration.
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How to Practice Hospitality Language
You cannot learn hospitality from a book. You learn it by opening your door.
Invite someone over. Find someone who speaks the language you are learning. Invite them to your home. Practice the phrases. Make them feel welcome.
Learn the offerings. Practice saying, "Would you like water?" "Would you like food?" "Please sit down." These are the words that make a guest comfortable.
Be a guest yourself. Accept invitations. Go to someone's home. Watch how they host. Learn from them.
Share your own culture. Hospitality is a two-way street. Tell your guests about your own traditions. Show them how you welcome people. Invite them into your world.
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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: Did I make them feel at home?
Hospitality is not about perfection. It is not about the food or the decorations or the cleanliness of your house. It is about the feeling you create. It is the warmth in your voice. It is the look in your eyes. It is the way you say Karibu. Baga nagaan dhuftu. Enkuan dehin. Biseno. Boyei malamu.
So learn these phrases. Use them. But remember that the most important thing you can offer a guest is not a word. It is your presence. It is your attention. It is the gift of your time.
And that gift needs no translation.
It is called love.
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