Karibu kwangu; jisikie nyumbani.

Welcome to my place; make yourself at home.

Breakdown of Karibu kwangu; jisikie nyumbani.

• karibu kwangu: welcome to my place
• jisikie nyumbani: make yourself at home

Questions & Answers about Karibu kwangu; jisikie nyumbani.

What does karibu mean here?

Here, karibu means welcome or come in.

It is a very common Swahili word used when inviting someone in, offering something, or making someone feel received. In other contexts, karibu can also mean near or close, but in this sentence it clearly means welcome.

For example:

• Karibu! = Welcome! / Come in!
• Karibu chakula. = Please, have some food.

Why is it kwangu? What does that word mean?

Kwangu means to my place, at my place, or my home/place in this kind of sentence.

It is made from:

• kwa = a preposition often used for a person’s place, home, or area
• -angu = my

So:

• kwangu = at my place / to my place
• kwako = at your place
• kwake = at his/her place
• kwetu = at our place

So Karibu kwangu is very naturally understood as Welcome to my place.

Does Karibu kwangu literally mean Welcome near me?