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What does the Swahili phrase pole pole mean?

Pole pole means slowly.

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  1. Quickly
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  3. Slowly ✔

Why: Pole pole means slowly or gently. A well known saying is Pole pole ndio mwendo: slow, slow is the way to go.

Huh, didn't know that: Said once, pole means sorry, so pole pole and pole are different phrases.

The dad joke
I learned pole pole on safari, mostly because the tortoise was giving directions.
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References

Answer: Slowly. Pole pole means slowly or gently. A well known saying is Pole pole ndio mwendo: slow, slow is the way to go.

  1. University of Kansas Kiswahili, Lesson 28 kiswahili.ku.edu/sites/kiswahili/files/documents/lessons/lesson_28.pdf
    Pole pole ndio mwendo. Slow, slow is the way to go.
    Checked 2026-10-12.
  2. University of Kansas Kiswahili, Lesson 2 kiswahili.ku.edu/sites/kiswahili/files/documents/lessons/lesson_02.pdf
    Pole [Sorry]
    Checked 2026-10-12.

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