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Swahili
Swahili is a lingua franca that is spoken by more than 120 million people in East Africa. It’s roots date back cen-
turies. It developed as people from different parts of the world encountered for various purposes, mainly trade.
The interaction between the Arab world and East Africa has contributed significantly to the development of the
language. This interaction was not only limited to these two sides sides. There are historical accounts showing
that people from as far as China visited the East African coast in around 2nd Century AD.
So, you one who learns about the language will find that there is influence from all these places -- in terms of
vocabulary items, culture and architecture. However, the main composition of vocabulary items comes from the
local languages (mainly Bantu) and Arabic. The ratio can roughly be 65:35.
The language has many dialects. The kind of Kiswahili spoken along the coast of East Africa - Lamu, Malindi,
Mombasa, Tanga, Zanzibar -- is slightly different from the one spoken in Mainland Tanzania. In Kenya, and Nairobi
in particular, there is another dialect. The Comoro Islands also have their own Swahili dialects. All in all there is
Standard Swahili.
So, irrespective of the differences from one dialect to the other, people still communicate. Swahili in Nairobi has
been very much influenced by English-this form of swahili or street slang is known as “Sheng” . The reason is
almost everyone there communicates in English. In recent years, Swahili was taken up by the African Union as
another of its official languages. The language is continuously growing in popularity and coverage.
So, roughly, Kiswahili is spoken in the following areas: Tanzania (Both Mainland and Zanzibar) 99%; Kenya, parti-
cularly the southern half of the country; Uganda (people still relate it as the language of oppression because Idi
Amin’s soldiers used it to communicate = however, things are beginning to change now); Northern provinces of
Mozambique; Northern parts of Malawi; Northern parts of Zambia; Eastern provinces of the Democratic Repu-
blic of Congo; Burundi and Rwanda. In all these countries and areas one should be able to communicate in
Kiswahili -- even at the rudimentary level.
This guide is part of your welcome kit to the Global Voices Summit 2012
It aims at providing you words and expressions that might be useful during your stay in Nairobi
Why don’t you try it out? Come on, don’t be shy (: We bet you’ll love it!
Karibu!
Swahili for Summiteers
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Swahili for Summiteers
Pronunciation in Swahili Personal Pronouns and their Swahili Equivalents
Pronunciation in Swahili follows more or less the same formula as in Italian. The vowels are pronounced the way they are written and so do the consonants. For example the sound A in BABA is similar to the A in PAPA. (Please note Papa is also a Swahili word with two meanings: a shark (ocean creature) and Pope (Catholic leader). E sound is similar to E sound in PEN. I sound is similar to I in INK. O sound is similar to O in COMMON. U sound is similar to U in POUND.
I = Mimi
You = Wewe
He/She = Yeye (Swahili does not differentiate gender here)
It = kileWe = Sisi
You = Nyinyi/Ninyi
They = Wao
My = yanguYour = yako
His/Hers = yake
Its = yakeOur = yetu
Your = yenuTheir = yao
Examples:
My friend = Rafiki yanguYour friend = Rafiki yako
His/her friend = Rafiki yake
Its friend = Rafiki yakeOur friend = Rafiki yetu
Your friend = Rafiki yenuTheir friend = Rafiki yao
Sentence Construction is a Bit Complicated in Swahili
I have a book = Nina kitabu The word NINA shows the subject (NI = I), the act of possessing (NA) and the time (simple present) and then the object book
We will go to the summit = Tutakwenda kwenye mkutano (TU = We) (TA = time = future) (Kwenda = go = main verb)
I read a book = Nilisoma kitabu (NI = I) (LI = time = simple past) (Soma = read = main verb)
Relations
Father = BabaMother = MamaBrother = KakaSister = DadaHusband = MumeWife = Mke/Bibi (second is mostly used in Kenya)Grandfather = BabuGrandmother = Bibi (Tanzania) / Nyanya (Kenya)Uncle = MjombaAunt = ShangaziFriend = RafikiNeighbour = Jirani
4
Swahili for Summiteers
Tourist Information Citizen Media Vocabulary
Yes = NdioNo = la, hapanaI´m lost = NimepoteaWhich way to the airport / hotel = Naomba unielekeze Namna ya kufika uwanja wa ndege/hoteliniI´m staying at Pride Inn hotel = Nimefikia Hoteli ya Pride InnCould you please help me? = Unaweza kunisaida ta-fadhaliSpoon = KijikoFork = umaKnife = KisuFood = ChakulaBeverage = vinywajiDrink = KunywaWater = MajiNorth, South, East, West = Kaskazini Kusini, Mashariki magharibiThis is expensive = Hii ni ghali sanaThis is cheap = Hii ni nafuu sanaHow much does it cost? = Unauza shilingi ngapi?from which country are you? = Unatoka nchi gani?I come from (name of country) = Ninatoka (China, India, UK etc)Hotel = hoteliRestaurant = mkahawaTea = chaiCoffee = kahawaMilk = maziwaSoda = sodaBeer = bia/pombeTaxi = TaksiiCommuter bus = Matatu (in Nairobi), Daladala (in Dar es Salaam)Bar = baaShillings(Kenyan Currency) = ShillingiTourist = Mtalii
Blog = blogu
Blogger = mwanablogu
Blogosphere = ulimwengu wa wanablogu
Citizen media = vyombo vya habari vya kiraia
Freedom of expression = uhuru wa maoni / uhuru wa
Kujieleza
Global Voices = Sauti za ulimwengu
Censorship = udhibiti
Empowerment = kuwezeshwa
Translator = mtafsiri
Podcast = podikasti
Upload = pandisha
Video = video
Audio = ya sauti
Volunteer = mtu anayejitolea
Mainstream = vikuu
Media = vyombo vya habari
Divide = gawanya
Conversation = mazungumzo
Manifesto = ilani
Summit = mkutano
Subtitles = maandishi/maelezo
Twitter = Twita
Facebook = Facebook
Tweets = Twiti
Website = Tovuti
Email = baruapepe
Computer = kompyuta / Tarakilishi
Password = nywila / neno la siri
Citizen Media = uandishi wa habari wa kiraia
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Swahili for Summiteers
Numbers Days of the Week
One = Moja
Two = Mbili
Three = Tatu
Four = Nne
Five = Tano
Six = Sita
Seven = Saba
Eight = Nane
Nine = Tisa
Ten = Kumi
Twenty = Ishirini
Thirty = Thelathini
Forty = Arobaini
Fifty = Hamsini
Sixty = Sitini
Seventy = Sabini
Eighty = Themanini
Ninety = Tisini
One Hundred = Mia moja
One Thousand = Elfu moja
Ten Thousand = Elfu Kumi
One Hundred Thousand = laki moja
One Million = Milioni moja
Monday = Jumatatu
Tuesday = Jumanne
Wednesday = Jumatano
Thursday = Alhamisi
Friday = Ijumaa
Saturday = Jumamosi
Sunday = Jumapili
Months
January = Januari
February = Februari
March = Machi
April = Aprili
May = Mei
June = Juni
July = Julai
August = Agosti
September = Septemba
October = Oktoba
November = Novemba
December = Desemba
Seasons
Winter (Cold) = Majira ya baridi
Summer (warm/hot) = majira ya joto
Rainy season = majira ya mvua
Dry season = majira ya ukame
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Swahili for Summiteers
Slang & Bad Words Being Kind
Slang
Hi = Sasa, Niaje, Mambo
Hi (responding to above) = Fit, Fiti, Poa, Fit sanaForeigner = Mlami
Money = Ganji, Niado, DohBribe = Kitukidogo
Bad Words
Get lost = Ishia, wachana na mimiYou are bothering me = unanisumbua
Stop bothering me = usinisumbue
Good morning = Habari za asubuhi
Good afternoon = Habari za mchana
Good night = Usiku mwema
How nice of you = umekuwa mkarimu sana/mmekuwa
wakarimu sana
What a beautiful day = Siku imekuwa njema/nzuri sana
Please = Tafadhali
Thank you = Asante
What time is it? = Ni saa ngapi?
I love you = ninakupenda
I miss you = nina hamu na wewe
Would you go on a date with me? = Tunaweza kutoka
pamoja?
How are you? = Hujambo?
Good, well = safi, nzuri
My name is = Jina langu ni
What is your name? = Jina lako ni nani?
I want = ninataka
Would you like to dance = Ungependa kudensi
You look very attractive = wavutia sana, wewe ni
mrembo sana
Would you like a drink = ungependa kinywaji
What do you take/drink = Wewe hutumia/hunywa nini
Beer or water or wine = pombe au maji au mvinyo
I need = ninahitaji
I would like = Naomba
I am looking for = Ninatafuta
Bye bye = kwa heri
Hi, hello = Mambo! , Salama?
I’m ok/cool = Niko poa
How much is it? = Ni pesa Ngapi
My change/balance is = Change yangu ni
Locations
My room = Chumba changu
Bathroom = Bafu
Loo choo/msalaniMarket = sokoni
Hotel = hoteliCafe = Mkahawa
Club = Klabu
Disco = DiscoPlease take me to (location) = Naomba unipeleke
Where are we?/where is this place? = Tuko wapi?Are we lost? = Tumepotea?
No problem = hakuna matata / hakuna tabu/ hakuna
shida
Kiswahili or Swahili?
According to The Kamusi Project,"Swahili" is the English term for the Swahili language, while "Kiswahili" is the Swahili language term for the Swahili language.
ki = language u = place m = person wa = people
Kiswahili = Swahili language
Uswahili = Swahili speaking area
Mswahili = Swahili speaking person
Waswahili = Swahili speaking people
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Swahili for Summiteers
Kiswahili song with translationArtist: Fadhili WilliamsSong: Malaika
Malaika, nakupenda malaika Malaika, nakupenda malaika Nami nifanyeje, kijana Mwenzio nashindwa na mali sina we, ningekuoa malaika nashindwa na mali sina we, ningekuoa malaika
kidege, hukuwaza kidege kidege, hukuwaza kidege Nami nifanyeje, kijana Mwenzio nashindwa na mali sina we, ningekuoa malaika nashindwa na mali sina we, ningekuoa malaika
pesa za sumbua roho yangu pesa za sumbua roho yangu nami nifanyeje,kijana mwenzio , nashindwa na mali sina we, ningekuoa malaika nashindwa na mali sina we, ningekuoa malaika
Malaika, nakupenda malaika Malaika, nakupenda malaika Nami nifanyeje, kijana Mwenzio nashindwa na mali sina we, ningekuoa malaika nashindwa na mali sina we, ningekuoa malaika
Angel, I love you Angel. Angel, I love you Angel. And I, your young lover, what can I do. I can’t as I don’t have wealthI would have married you Angel. I can’t as I don’t have wealthI would have married you Angel.
Little bird, I dream of you little bird. Little bird, I dream of you little bird. And I, your young lover, what can I do. I can’t as I don’t have wealthI would have married you Angel. I can’t as I don’t have wealthI would have married you Angel.
Money is troubling my soul Money is troubling my soul And I, your young lover, what can I do, I can’t as I don’t have wealthI would have married you Angel. I can’t as I don’t have wealthI would have married you Angel.
Angel, I love you Angel. Angel, I love you Angel. And I, your young lover, what can I do. I can’t as I don’t have wealthI would have married you Angel. I can’t as I don’t have wealthI would have married you Angel.