Learn Hardcore Swahili: Shikamoo, bibi; marahaba, karibu ukae. - Respectful greetings, grandmother; I receive your respect, please have a seat.

The younger or lower-status person says: Shikamoo, bibi.
The older or higher-status woman replies: Marahaba, karibu ukae. So it’s a respectful greeting followed by an acknowledgment and an invitation to sit.

When should I use Shikamoo?

Use Shikamoo when addressing someone clearly older than you or someone you wish to honor (teachers, community leaders, in‑laws, etc.). It’s not used between peers or to children. It’s safest to err on the side of using it if you’re unsure and the person seems older or distinguished.

Can I say Shikamoo to a man too?

Yes. Shikamoo itself doesn’t change with gender. What changes is the form of address:

To an older man: Shikamoo, mzee/bwana/baba.
To an older woman: Shikamoo, mama/bibi.

What does bibi mean here, and is it always appropriate?

Bibi can mean:

Grandmother
Madam/Ma’am (a polite form of address) In everyday address, many speakers prefer mama for an adult woman who isn’t literally your grandmother. If she is clearly elderly, bibi works fine. As a title before a name, you may also see Bi (e.g., Bi Asha).

Why is the reply marahaba and not something like “hello”?

Marahaba is a fixed, formal response that acknowledges the respect shown by Shikamoo. It’s not interchangeable with casual greetings. The older person typically says marahaba once (or sometimes repeats it for warmth), and may add a term of address, e.g., Marahaba, mwanangu.

Is marahaba the same as “you’re welcome”?

No. Marahaba responds specifically to Shikamoo. “You’re welcome” (after someone says asante) is typically karibu.

What should the invited person say after karibu?

They normally answer with asante (or asante sana for extra politeness).

Why does it say karibu ukae instead of using a simple imperative like kaa or keti?

After invitations such as karibu or verbs like “come” (njoo), Swahili commonly uses the subjunctive with the consecutive marker to soften the instruction:

Karibu ukae ≈ “Welcome, (and) please have a seat.” It sounds more gracious than a bare command.

Can you break down ukae?

Yes: u‑ka‑e

u‑ = you (singular) subject marker
‑ka‑ = consecutive/sequence marker (“and then”)
Verb stem: kaa (sit/stay); in the subjunctive, final ‑a becomes ‑e
Result: ukae = “(that) you then sit”

Could I say karibu keti or karibu kaa instead?

Yes. All are acceptable, with slight nuances:

Karibu ukae = very natural, gently polite.
Karibu keti = direct “please sit.”
Karibu kaa = also used; in some contexts kaa can feel like “stay/be seated,” and you may hear kaa chini (“sit down”).

How do I pronounce the words here?

Shikamoo: shi-ka-MOO (final oo is long)
bibi: BEE-bee
marahaba: ma-ra-HA-ba (the h is pronounced)
karibu: ka-REE-boo
ukae: oo-KAH-eh (say a and e separately; not “oo-kay”)

What does the double oo in shikamoo indicate?

It signals a long vowel. Lengthening that final oo is part of the customary way the greeting is pronounced.

Are there plural or more formal variants?

To greet more than one elder: Shikamooni.
Reply can still be Marahaba (optionally repeated).
Inviting more than one person to sit: Karibuni mkae.
Here, mkae = m‑ka‑e (you-plural + consecutive + subjunctive).

Is the punctuation (comma and semicolon) typical in Swahili?

Swahili uses commas and semicolons much like English. For dialogue, many writers would format it on separate lines or use quotation marks, but a semicolon here is fine to show two turns in one line.

Should I capitalize bibi?

As a common noun/form of address: bibi is lowercase (like mama, mzee).
As part of a title before a name: capitalize (e.g., Bibi Asha).