Dang! You’ve offended your friend or that special someone, and you didn’t mean to. But you know what? We both know that what can make things better is to apologize. And I think you will agree that an apology hits differently if it is in our native language. Therefore, I am here to teach you some basic apology phrases that you can use to apologize in Swahili. These phrases are sure to get you out of trouble and melt the heart of your Swahili friends.
Africans, including Swahili people, often appreciate a sincere apology when offended. They believe you are sincerely sorry if you take the time to apologize and explain yourself. Often they think that someone that apologizes is sorry for their actions and will not repeat the same mistakes. However, the sincerity of your apology matters. So, how do you express regret in Swahili? Let’s find out.
Common Ways To Apologize In Swahili
So, what are the common ways to apologize in Swahili? Let’s take a look.
Samahani – I am sorry
The first way to apologize in Swahili is Samahani which means I am sorry. This is one of the most common ways to let a person know that you are not happy about your actions, and it should precede any explanation you have. Saying samahani sincerely will show the other person that you are really not happy about what you’ve said. However, samahani can also mean excuse me, so this should be supported with more explanation.
Sitafanya hivyo tena – I won’t do it again
No one is above mistakes, and sometimes the mistake may cost us our friendship or make the other person mad. However, letting the other person know that it was a mistake and it won’t repeat itself again is by saying sitafanya hivyo tena. This shows that you’ve considered your actions.
Singefanya hayo – I shouldn’t have done it
Sitafanya hayo means almost the same thing to the locals. Therefore, feel free to interchange both depending on the situation.
Ningependa kuomba msamaha – I would like to apologize
Starting your explanation with this Swahili phrase shows that you regret what you’ve done and you would like to apologize for your actions. Use ningependa kuomba msamaha when you have further explanation to give about your previous actions.
Ni kosa langu – It is my fault
Sometimes, the other person does not want an explanation but a simple admission of what you’ve done. Not just that, accepting that it was your fault shows that you’ve thought about what happened and you are feeling guilty about the whole situation. Therefore, another way to make a sincere apology is by letting the person know it was your fault and supporting it with a simple samahani (I am sorry).
Nachukua jukumu kamili – I take full responsibility
Courtney Lynch once said, “Leaders inspire accountability through their ability to accept responsibility before they place blame.” Admitting to your faults and taking full responsibility shows your integrity and also tells the person that you are sincerely sorry for your actions. So, another great way to apologize in Swahili is Nachukua jukumu kamili.
Tafadhali naomba unisamehe – Please forgive me
At the end of the day, it is up to the person to forgive you or not, even after an apology. A way to let the person know that you really want their forgiveness is to say Tafadhali naomba unisamehe. This will let the person know that you want their forgiveness and friendship back.
Naomba msamaha wako – I ask for your forgiveness
An alternative to Tafadhali naomba unisamehe is naomba msamah wako, which means ‘I ask for your forgiveness. Use any of these sentences depending on your preference. Both sentences are driving at the same thing anyway.
Other Ways To Say I Am Sorry
Here are some other Swahili words to show your remorse for your actions with the relative Swahili translation.
| English | Swahili | Pronunciation |
| Can you forgive me | Unaweza kunisamehe. | |
| Pardon me | Niwie rahdi. | |
| Please don’t be mad at me | Tafadhali usinikasirikie mimi. | |
| I behaved foolishly | Nilijifanya mjinga. |
How To Reply To An Apology In Swahili
Let’s take a look at the common way to reply to an apology
Rejecting An Apology
| English | Swahili | Pronunciation |
| No | Hapana | |
| I won’t forgive you | Sitakusamehe | |
| I will never forgive you | Sitawahi kukusamehe. | |
| It is too late | Umechelewa |
Accepting An Apology
| English | Swahili | Pronunciation |
| I forgive you | Nimekusamehe | |
| You don’t need to apologize | Huna haja ya kuomba msamaha. | |
| I am not angry | Sina hasira. |
Over To You
Apologizing to your loved one after an upsetting situation is the best way to win their heart back. That is why we’ve gone through the best ways to apologize in the Swahili language. I hope you were able to catch one or two phrases and use them when necessary. I wish you luck!
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