hodi

Hodi is a term used in Swahili-speaking regions as a customary greeting when arriving at a home. Visitors commonly say “Hodi” to announce their presence and request entry, to which the host may respond with “Karibu,” meaning welcome. The expression functions similarly to knocking or asking for permission to enter in other languages and is a familiar part of door etiquette in East Africa.

In everyday life, Hodi appears in conversations, literature, music, and media from Swahili-speaking communities. It reflects social norms around hospitality and respectful entry, and it is frequently heard in urban and rural settings across countries where Swahili is spoken, such as Kenya and Tanzania, as well as in surrounding areas where Swahili influence is strong.

Beyond its use as a common phrase, Hodi may also appear as a proper noun in various contexts. It can be encountered as a surname or as part of place or organizational names in different regions. Because it is not associated with a single widely known individual, location, or institution, identifying a specific “Hodi” typically requires additional context to disambiguate the reference.