Karibu Kenya
The English phrase "welcome to kenya" is translated into Swahili as Karibu Kenya.
Karibu Kenya is a greeting used to welcome someone who has arrived in the country of Kenya. You can also adapt this phrase for specific locations, such as saying Karibu Mombasa to welcome someone to Mombasa or Karibu Lamu to welcome someone to Lamu in the Coastal Region.
What does it mean word for word?
The word Karibu literally means "near" or "close". In this context, it is used to mean "welcome" in the sense of inviting someone to "be near us".
Which one should you use?
Use Karibu when addressing a single person. If you are welcoming a group of people, use the plural form Karibuni Kenya.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Coastal Region, one can say Karibu Mombasa to welcome someone to Mombasa or Karibu Lamu to welcome someone to Lamu.
How does it change in a sentence?
The singular form is Karibu, while the plural form is Karibuni. You should use Karibuni if you are welcoming more than one person.
When do people say it?
When someone says Karibu Kenya to you, a response is Asante sana, which means "Thank you very much".
Did you know?
- In Swahili culture, saying Karibu is linked to uungwana, a concept describing a person's nobility of character and gentility.
- The word karibu is borrowed from the Arabic word qarīb, which means 'nearby'.
- The use of Karibu to mean 'you are welcome' after someone says 'thank you' is actually a 'calque', meaning it was modeled after the structure of English.
Examples in context
- Karibu Kenya, rafiki yangu.Welcome to Kenya, my friend.
- Karibu Kenya, mgeni wetu.Welcome to Kenya, our guest.
- Karibu Kenya na familia yako.Welcome to Kenya with your family.
Example conversation
Aisha meets Bakari at the airport.
- AishaHujambo Bakari! Karibu Kenya.Hello Bakari! Welcome to Kenya.
- BakariAsante sana, Aisha.Thank you very much, Aisha.
- AishaJe, safari yako ilikuwa nzuri?Was your journey good?
- BakariNdiyo, ilikuwa nzuri sana.Yes, it was very good.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries karibu, CC BY-SA 4.0.
