馃嚢馃嚜 Swahili phrases

How to Say "Please speak slowly" in Swahili

The SPAIKING TeamJuly 27, 2026
Tafadhali ongea polepole
"Please speak slowly" in Swahili 路 say it like tah-fah-dah-lee on-geh-ah poh-leh-poh-leh

The most natural way to say "Please speak slowly" in Swahili is Tafadhali ongea polepole. Tap the speaker above to hear it, then say it back out loud. That is the fastest way to make it stick.

Other ways to say it

Tafadhali sema taratibu
Used in more formal contexts
Tafadhali ongea kwa upole
Casual way to ask someone to speak gently

When to use it

You can use this phrase when you are having difficulty understanding someone due to their speaking speed. It is polite and shows that you want to engage in the conversation. It can be used in both formal and informal settings.

Say it out loud, get corrected

Reading it is not the same as saying it. Practice "Please speak slowly" and thousands more with an AI coach that listens.

Examples in Swahili

SwahiliEnglish
Samahani, tafadhali ongea polepole.Excuse me, please speak slowly.
Common mistake
Learners often forget to use 'tafadhali', which makes the request less polite.

The fastest way to remember it

Vocabulary you only read fades fast. Vocabulary you say out loud sticks. Hear Tafadhali ongea polepole, repeat it a few times, then use it in a real sentence. SPAIKING lets you practice exactly that, speaking Swahili with a coach that corrects your pronunciation in real time. You can start with two free conversations.

Frequently asked questions

Is it rude to ask someone to speak slowly?

No, it's a common request when you need clarification.

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