hakuna matata
/hɑˈku.nɑ mɑˈtɑ.tɑ/
The Swahili phrase for "no worries" is hakuna matata.
The phrase is used to express that something does not bother you.
Meaning: it does not bother me (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
This phrase is composed of hakuna, meaning "there is/are no" and matata, meaning "problems" or "troubles".
How do you pronounce it?
/hɑˈku.nɑ mɑˈtɑ.tɑ/. The stress is on the second syllable of the five total syllables.
Did you know?
- In East Africa, hakuna matata is often viewed as a phrase specifically tailored for the tourism industry to make visitors feel welcome and relaxed.
- The word matata stems from the root word meaning 'to tangle', suggesting that problems are essentially things that have become knotted or twisted.
- While famous globally due to Disney's 'The Lion King', hakuna matata is rarely used by native Swahili speakers in daily conversation to mean 'no worries'. They are more likely to use hamna shida.
Examples in context
- Hakuna matata.No worries.This example shows how to use hakuna matata as a standalone expression.Tatoeba #1324046 by Vortarulo, translation #2409791 by FeuDRenais2
- Pole pole. Si tatizo.Take it easy. No problem.
Example conversation
Aisha apologizes to Bakari for being a few minutes late.
- BakariSamahani kwa kuchelewa, Aisha.Sorry for being late, Aisha.
- AishaHakuna matata, Bakari.No worries, Bakari.
- BakariAsante kwa kunisubiri.Thank you for waiting for me.
- AishaSio shida, twende sasa.It's no problem, let's go now.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry hakuna matata, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hakuna, hakuna matata, matata, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
