salamu
The Swahili word for "greeting" is salamu.
salamu refers to the acknowledgement of a person's presence or arrival. The phrase kupeana salamu is used to describe the act of exchanging greetings between people.
Meaning: acknowledgement of a persons presence or arrival (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Kenya, the greeting Sasa za? is used to mean "How is it?" In Tanzania, variations of Jambo are common, such as Mambo or Mambo vipi?
When do people say it?
When using the formal greeting Shikamoo (which literally means "I hold your feet"), the expected response from the respected person is Marahaba, meaning "I accept your respect".
Did you know?
- The word salamu is a loanword from Arabic, sharing the same root as the greeting As-salaam-alaikum. It refers to 'peace' as the fundamental core of a greeting.
- Swahili has a rich culture of 'greeting cycles' where several phrases are exchanged in a row before the actual conversation begins, making the process of kupeana salamu a significant social ritual.
- The formal greeting Shikamoo is used exclusively for elders or those of higher social status, and using it with a peer can be interpreted as a joke or sarcasm.
Examples in context
- Salamu zake zilikuwa nzuri sana.His greeting was very kind.
- Alitoa salamu baada ya kuwasili.He gave a greeting after arriving.
Example conversation
Aisha and Omari meet at a market.
- AishaHujambo Omari, salamu zangu!Hello Omari, my greetings!
- OmariAsante Aisha, salamu pia kwako.Thanks Aisha, greetings to you too.
- AishaJe, umeleta salamu kutoka nyumbani?Did you bring greetings from home?
- OmariNdiyo, wote wanatuma salamu.Yes, they all send greetings.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry salamu, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
