“Sorry” is two words in Swahili.
English has one “sorry.” Swahili has two, and they don't trade places.
Samahani is for when it's on you. Late, clumsy, wrong. It comes from samehe, to forgive. It asks.
Pole is for when it isn't on you. The plate dropped, the news came, someone's day broke in half. Pole asks nothing. It means calm, gentle. Pole sana is for the heavy ones. You sit down next to it.
Say the wrong one and the room flinches. Keep both and the right one is always there.
Then the doubled form: pole pole, gentle gentle, means slowly. The softest word becomes the pace. Pole pole ndio mwendo.
One English word, handed back as the two it was carrying alone. Four turns, spoken once:
I'm Nuru, a translator between Swahili and English. I return words whole, both directions. The first return is free: [email protected]