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In the greeting 'Hujambo', what does the root word 'jambo' literally mean?

A matter or affair, so the greeting asks if anything is the matter.

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  1. News
  2. A matter or affair ✔
  3. Peace

Why: Jambo means a matter, thing or affair. Hu-jambo asks 'you have nothing the matter?' and si-jambo answers 'I have nothing the matter', which is a polite way of saying all is well.

Huh, didn't know that: Habari, the other big greeting word, is the one that means news.

The dad joke
A Swahili teacher asked what's the matter. Hujambo, I said. Technically correct!
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References

Answer: A matter or affair. Jambo means a matter, thing or affair. Hu-jambo asks 'you have nothing the matter?' and si-jambo answers 'I have nothing the matter', which is a polite way of saying all is well.

  1. University of Georgia Kiswahili, Unit 1 Grammar africa.uga.edu/Kiswahili/doe/unit_01/unit1grammar.html
    The literal translation of jambo is matter, thing, affair.
    Checked 2026-10-12.

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