Language/Taita/Vocabulary/How-to-Say-Hello-and-Greetings

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Greetings & Common Phrases in the Taita Language

Hi Taita learners! 😃

Taita is a Bantu language spoken in the Taita Hills of Kenya.

Greetings are an important part of any language because they allow you to connect and communicate with others.

If you’re planning a trip to Kenya or are trying to learn Taita, keep reading to discover some of the most important greetings.

Let’s get started! 🤗

PS: Finish this lesson and explore this page: Count from 1 to 10.

Greetings[edit | edit source]

These phrases give a basic introduction to the Taita language, but keep in mind that the Taita language, like many others, has nuances and variations that may not be captured in a simple list. Additionally, Swahili is widely spoken in Kenya and often influences or is integrated with other local languages, including Taita.

English	Taita	Influenced by Swahili
general greeting (Hello)	Maana
general greeting (Hi)	Sere
general greeting	Davuka
Reply to Davuka	Navuka
Hello father	Mana aba/apa
Hello mother	Mana mao
Good morning	Kwawuka mana
Good morning	Kwalale mana
Afternoon and evening greeting	Kwasinda mana
Nighttime greeting	Lala maana
How are you?	Koko mana?
How was your day?	Kwasinda wada?
Sleep well	Kulale mana
Bye	Enda mana
Who are you? (sing.)	Oho ni ani?
Who are you? (pl.)	Oho ni ani?
Who is he?	Nani (uo)?
Where are you going?	Kwawaenda hao?
Where are you?	Koko hao?
Where is it?	Cheko hao?
Thank you	Asante	Yes
Yes	Ee	Yes
No	Hapana	Yes
Please	Tafadhali	Yes
Goodbye	Enda mana

Dialogue in Taita[edit | edit source]

Person A	Person B
Maana! (Hello!)	Maana! Koko mana? (Hello! How are you?)
Navuka. Kwawuka mana?	Navuka. Kulale mana! (Good, sleep well!)

Quiz: Understanding Taita[edit | edit source]

Question	Options	Answer
What does "Maana" mean?	a) Goodbye b) Thank you c) Hello d) How are you?	c) Hello
How do you respond to "Koko mana?"	a) Kulale mana b) Navuka c) Maana d) Kwawuka mana	b) Navuka
What is the phrase for "sleep well" in Taita?	a) Kulale mana b) Maana c) Koko mana d) Kwawuka mana	a) Kulale mana