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Learn To Speak Modern Swahili

Swahili language is like an art once you learn how to pronounce the alphabet the rest is as you read. Nothing much is complicated.

This is Learn To Speak Modern Swahili – Kids that you will be able to commutate with anyone around. The Learn To Speak Modern Swahili – Intermediate will contain more the uses of grammar etc

History of Swahili

Swahili (AKA Kiswahili) is a Bantu language spoken mostly in eastern and Central Africa. Swahili language has some borrowed words from Arabians, Persians and Portuguese people who visited the regions as traders. Given the fact that the only thing can associate with these groups of people are some words but the syntax or grammar of the language is Bantu.

Christian missionaries learned to speak Swahili as the language of communication to spread the Gospel in Eastern Africa.

For centuries Swahili has been the language of east cost of Indian Ocean but now the migration and long interactions with people Swahili is spoken in many countries such as Zambia, Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Mozambique, Malawi and distance places such as Madagascar and Comoro Islands. The country that almost all of its citizens speak Swahili is Tanzania. Many people in the cost area speak the so-called fluent Swahili language but the main landlers mixed Swahili with some dialect.

The presence of Swahili language in institutions and international now is well spread and it now feature in some well known Radio such as BBC in United Kingdom, Voice of America in the USA, Radio Deutschewelle in Germany, Radio Moscow International in Russia, Radio International in Japan and Radio International in China. It also makes its way international into song lyrics, movies, ethnic celebrations and TV programs. Example of the movie Lion King the word Hakuna Matata means no problem and Simba means Lion in Swahili. Also the seven principles and the title of African American celebration all are from Swahili language. Kwanza means first, Nguzo saba means seven principles, Umoja means unity, Kujichagulia means self determination or to choose something, Ujima means collective work, Nia means a purpose to do something, Kuumba means creativity and Imani means Faith in Swahili language.

Pronunciation

Swahili pronunciation is relatively straightforward. This book contains key sentences for many different scenarios.

LEARN YOUR ABC - VOWELS

a	like 'u' in "Hub", 'a' in "Carpet"
e	like 'e' in "empty", 'a' in "cake"
i	like 'i' in "King"
o	like 'oo' in "door", like 'o' in "top"
u	like 'ou' in "you"

CONSONANTS

b	like 'b' in "bed"
c	like 'ch' in "Chain"
d	like 'd' in "david"
f	like 'ph' in "phone"
g	like 'g' in "go" (never as in "giraffe")
h	like 'h' in "hefty"
j	like 'j' in "Jen"
k	like 'k' in "cat" or "Kitten"
l	like 'l' in "love"
m	like 'm' in "mother"
n	like 'n' in "nice"
p	like 'p' in "pig"
q	like 'q' in "quest" not used that much
r	like 'r' in "right"
s	like 's' in "smile"
t	like 't' in "top"
v	like 'v' in "very", or like "v" in "victory"
w	like 'wh' in "whisky"
x	like 'cks' in "kicks" hardly used
y	like 'ye' in "yule" or Young
z	like "ze" in zebra

Personal Pronouns

English	Swahili	English	Swahili
Nominative		Objective
I	Mimi	Me	Mimi
You	Wewe	You	Nyinyi
He	Yeye	Him	Nyie
She	Yeye	Her	Nyie
We	Sisi	Us	Sisi
It	Yeye	It	Nyie
They	Wao	Them	Wao

Possessive

English	Swahili
Mine	Changu
Your/Yours	Chako
His	Chake
Her/Hers	Chake
Its	Chao
Our/Ours	Chetu/Vyetu
Their	Chao

Gender

Boy – Mvulana

Mmm- vuu-laa- na

Mmm – VU lgar – LA p – NA ive

Girl – Msichana

Mmm-si-cha- na

Mmm- SI ck – CHA mp- NA ïve

Man – Mwanaume

Mwaaa-naa-mmm-meee

Woman – Mwanamke

Mwaaa-naaa-mmm-keee

General Greeting in Swahili

Shikamoo is the salutation that a any young person must say when they greet adults .

Shikamoo Baba – Shi eld –Co me – Mo re- O ver

Shikamoo Mama

Shimakoo Mwalimu

Shikamoo Mjomba

Shikamoo Babu

The older person has or should reply by saying: Marahaba

Mo m – ru g – hu t – bu ck

Normal daily greetings

Good morning - Habari za asubuhi?

Good afternoon - Habari za mchana?

Good evening - Habari za jioni?

Good night - Habari za usiku? Or Usiku Mwema

Good – Nzuri, Salama

Fine - Njema

Bad - Mbaya

Say goodbye to other and say that you will see him/ them later:

Goodbye - Kwa heri (one), Kwa herini (many)

Bye, See You later - Kwaheri, tutaonana baadaye

Introduction

What is your name? – Jina lako nani?

My name is Jane - Jina langu ni Jane

Who is this? – Huyu ni nani?

This is my new Friend – Huyu ni rafiki yangu mpya

I am ten years old – Nina miaka kumi

Where are you from – Wewe umetokea wapi?

I am from America – Nimetokea Marekani

I am from United Kingdom – Nimetokea Uingereza

I am here visiting with my family – Niko hapa kwa matembezi na familia yangu

I am here visiting my grandma – Niko hapa kumtembelea bibi yangu

Learn Your Numbers

1	Moja
2	Mbili
3	Tatu
4	Nne
5	Tano
6	Sita
7	Saba
8	Nane
9	Tisa
10	Kumi
11	Kumi na moja
12	kumi na mbili
13	Kumi na tatu
14	Kumi na nne
15	Kumi na tano
16	Kumi na sita
17	Kumi na saba
18	Kumi na nane
19	Kumi na tisa
20	Ishirini
30	Thelathini
40	Arobaini
50	Hamsini
60	Sitini
70	Sabini
80	Themanini
90	Tisini
100	Mia
1000	Elfu
1,000,000	Laki
1,000,000,000	Milioni
1,000,000,000,000	Bilioni
Half	Nusu
Less	Pungufu
More	Zaidi

Basic Time Table

Now	Sasa hivi
Later	Baadaye
Before	Kabla
Morning	Asubuhi
The day before yesterday	Juzi
Yesterday	Jana
Tomorrow	Kesho
Afternoon	Mchana
The day after tomorrow	Kesho kutwa
Evening	Jioni
Night	Usiku

What Time Is It?

What time is it? – Sasa ni saa ngapi?

It is twelve noon - Ni saa sita mchana

It is quarter to 10 – Ni saa kumi kasorobo

It is 10 minutes to 10 – Ni saa kumi kasoro dakika kumi

It is 15 past nine – Ni saa tatu na robo

It is 20 minutes past nine – Ni saa tatu na dakika ishirini

It is one O’clock – Ni Saa moja kamili

Days Of The Week

Week – Juma

Monday – Jumatatu

Tuesday – Jumanne

Wednesday – Jumatano

Thursday - Alhamisi

Friday - Ijumaa

Saturday – Jumamosi

Sunday - Jumapili

Months

January – Januari or Mwezi wa Kwanza

February – Februari or Mwezi wa Pili

March – Machi or Mwezi wa Tatu

April – Aprili or Mwezi wa Nne

May – Mei or Mwezi wa Tano

June – Juni or Mwezi wa Sita

July – Julai or Mwezi wa Saba

August – Agost or Mwezi wa Nane

September – Septemba or Mwezi wa Tisa

October – Oktoba or Mwezi wa Kumi

November – Novemba or Mwezi wa Kumi na Moja

December – Disemba or Mwezi wa Kumi na mbili

Learn Your Colors

Black	Nyeusi
White	Nyeupe
Gray	Kijivu
Red	Nyekundu
Blue	Bluu
Yellow	manjano
Green	Kijani
Orange	Machungwa
Purple	Zambarau
Brown	Udongo

Family And Friends

English	Swahili
Father	Baba
Mother	Mama
Sister	Dada
Brother	Kaka
Uncle	Mjomba
Aunt	Shangazi
Grand Father	Babu
Grand Mother	Bibi
Cousin	Binamu
Friend	Rafiki
Teacher	Mwalimu
Police	Polisi
Doctor	Daktari

Farm and Zoo Animals

Ants – Siafu

Ape – Tumbili

Baboon – Tumbili

Bat – Popo

Bear - Dubu

Bees – Nyuki

Bird – Ndege

Buffalo – Kifaru

Camel – Ngamia

Cat – Paka

Catfish – Kambale

Cheeter – Duma

Chicken – Kuku

Chimpanzee – Sokwe mtu

Cow – Ng’o mbe

Crabs - Kaa

Crocodile – Mamba

Deer – Swala

Dog – Mbwa

Dolphin – Pomboo

Donkey – Punda

Duck – Bata

Eagle - Tai

Elephant – Tembo

Fish – Samaki

Fleas – Utititri

Flies – Nzi

Fox – Mbwa mwitu

Frog – Chura

Giraffe – Twiga

Goat – Mbuzi

Grasshopper- Panzi

Hippopotamuses – Kiboko

Horse – Farasi

Hyena - Fisi

Leopard – Chui

Lion – Simba

Monkey – Nyani

Mouse – Panya

Owl – Bundi

Parrot – kasuku

Rabbit – Sungura

Rat – Panya

Rhinoceroses – Kifaru

Shark – Papa

Snail – Konokono

Snake – Nyoka

Spider – Buibui

Swans - Korongo

Tick – Viroboto

Tortoise – Kobe

Turkey – Bata mzinga

Whale – Nyamgumi

Worm – Mnyoo

Zebra – Punda milia

Wildlife Animals – Wanyama wa mwituni

Domestic Animals – Wanyama wa nyumbani

Restaurant

I would like to use a fork please – Tafadhali, Ningependa kutumia uma

I would like to use a spoon please – Tafadhali, Ningependa kutumia kijiko

Mom, do they have any bread? – Mama wanayo mkate wowote?

I would like to have some bread please - Tafadhali ningependa kupata mkate

I will take two of those – Nitachukua mbili ya hizo hapo

I will take one of these – Nitachukua moja ya hizi hapa

I don’t drink milk – sinywi maziwa

I don’t eat anything with meat, dairy or eggs - Mimi sili kitu chochote chenye nyama, maziwa au mayai.

How do I eat this? - Ninakulaje hii?

Is this too hard? - Ni ngumu sana

That is this too sweet? - Hiyo ni tamu sana

Is this too bitter? - Ni chungu sana

It is too spice? – Inawasha sana

I want to wash my hands – Ninataka kuosha mikono yangu

Food and Drink

Breakfast - Kifungua kinywa.

Lunch - Chakula cha mchana

Dinner - Chakula cha usiku

Sugar – Sukari

Salt- Chumvi

Onion – Kitunguu

Tomato – Nyanya

Potatoes – Viazi

Rice – Mchele

Tea – Chai

Milk – Maziwa

Fruit - Tunda

Meat - Nyama

Water - Maji

Salad - Saladi

Ice cream – Maziwa ya barafu or Ice cream

Candy - Pipi

Food – Chakula

Drinks – Vinywaji

Body Parts

English	Swahili
Arm	Nkono
Back	Mgongo
Chest	Kifua
Ears	Masikio
Eyes	Macho
Finger	Mkono
Head	Kichwa
Leg	Mguu
Mouth	Mdomo
Neck	Shingo
Nose	Pua
Stomach	Tumbo

Here is a list of sentences most commonly used: -

My leg hurts – Mguu wangu unauma

My finger hurts – Kidole changu kinauma

My stomach hurts – Tumbo langu linauma

I broke my arm when I fall down the stairs – Nimevunja mkono wanu nilivyoanguka kwenye ngazi

Vocabulary Builder / General words and terms

All (people) – Wote

All (Thing) – Yote

Angel - Malaika

Baby – Mtoto

Bed – Kitanda

Book – kitabu

Chair – Kiti

Cold – Baridi

Come here – Njoo hapa

Computer – Computer

Down – Chini

Fire – Moto

Flowers - Maua

Forest – Msitu

Hot – Joto

Internet – Mtandao

Left - Kushoto

Mountain – Mlima

New – Mpya

Ocean – Bahari

Oil – Mafuta

Paper – Karatasi

Play - kucheza

Rain – Mvua

Right – Kulia

River - Mto

Room – Chumba

Run – Kimbia

Shoes – Viatu

Simple – Rahisi

Sit down – Kaa Chini

Snow – Theluji

Stand up – Simama juu

Sun – Jua

Telephone – Simu

Try – Jaribu

Up – Juu

Very Nice – Vizuri sana

Walk – Tembea

Watch – Saa

Where – Wapi

Which – Ipi

Who – Nani

Why – Kwanini