tuonane tena
In Swahili, goodbye can be expressed as tuonane tena. Wiktionary also lists wasalimie and tutaonana.
Meaning: farewell (intj)
Ways to say it
| Swahili |
|---|
| tuonane tena |
| wasalimie |
| tutaonana |
While you can use several expressions to say goodbye, they often carry different nuances. You can use tuonane tena to express a wish to meet again, or wasalimie to ask the person leaving to pass on your greetings to others.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase tuonane tena literally translates to let us see each other again. The phrase tutaonana literally means we will see each other.
Which one should you use?
Tuonane tena acts as a suggestion or a wish to meet again, whereas tutaonana is a more direct statement that a future meeting will occur.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the word tutaonana, the prefix tu- denotes the first-person plural we.
Did you know?
- In many East African cultures, a 'goodbye' is rarely a quick exchange. It is customary to spend several minutes discussing your health and family before finally departing.
- Swahili is a Bantu language, but its vocabulary for greetings and farewells was heavily influenced by centuries of trade with Persians and Arabs along the coast.
- The word salimia within wasalimie is rooted in the concept of 'salama', which means 'peace' or 'safety'.
Examples in context
- Tutaonana keshoSee you tomorrow
- Kwaheri na safari njema!Goodbye and have a safe journey!
- Haya, tuonane tena kesho.Alright, see you again tomorrow.
- Nenda salama, tuonane tena.Go safely, see you again.
- Asante kwa msaada, tuonane tena.Thanks for the help, see you again.
Example conversation
Bakari and Aisha are finishing a meeting at a cafe.
- BakariNimefurahi kukuona leo, Aisha.I was happy to see you today, Aisha.
- AishaMimi pia, Bakari.Me too, Bakari.
- BakariHaya, tuonane tena wiki ijayo.Alright, see you again next week.
- AishaSawa, tuonane tena.Okay, see you again.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “goodbye” translations and entries tuonane tena, tutaonana, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
