Swahili: Learn the basics

Contrary to what one might think, the Kiswahili is not a very complicated language to learn. Indeed, we write Swahili the same way we speak it. 

I spent several months in Tanzania for do volunteering, thereby, I had to learn Swahili to make myself understood and to be able to teach English. Indeed, few people speak English when you move away from tourist areas.

Therefore, I advise you tolearn some basics of Swahili in order to get out of it quickly when you find yourself in complicated situations.

I assure you that learning the basics will allow you to be even more welcomed by the populations. Tanzanians are extremely happy when they see tourists making the effort to learn a few words of their language. 

Please note that I do not claim not be a swahili teacher, I am simply allowing myself to share with you what I was able to learn from Swahili during my few months in Tanzania. 

Swahili: A little culture

Before learning the basics of Swahili, it is interesting to understand the oronge of this language but also to integrate in which countries this language is spoken.

Where does Swahili come from?

Swahili is part of the Bantu language family which is spoken by many Africans. Swahili was inspired in particular by Arabic but also Creole.

« swahili "In Arabic means" shore". Indeed, Swahili was spread by the east coast of Africa between Somalia and Mozambique. During the XNUMXth century, this language was transported between countries and regions thanks to African, Arab and Indian traders.

Today it is the most taught African language in the world.

Where is Swahili spoken?

It is estimated that between 90 and 110 million people speak Swahili. Obviously, depending on the region and country, there are differences in the dialects.

This language is particularly spoken in East Africa because it is particularly the official language of the East African Community regrouping the Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi.

In large part, Swahili is a vehiculare language and not a mother tongue.

However, there are exceptions. Indeed, Swahili is the mother tongue en Tanzania in Kenya and Congo.

In contrast, Swahili is a vehiculare language to:

• Rwanda
• Uganda
• Burundi
• Mozambique (North)
• Somalia (South)
• Malawi
• Zambia
• Sudan (South)
• South Africa
• Comoros Islands

Learn the polite phrases in Swahili

I will first offer you the polite formulas in Swahili. If you need to remember something, try to remember these few formulas. They can be of great help to you in due course. 

Français	swahili
Hello to a stranger	Jambo
How is it going ?	“Mambo ?! "," Mzima "," Habari? "
I'm fine	"Nzuri", "Safi", "Poah", "freshy", "salama"
Good morning)	asubuhi njema
Good afternoon)	Mchana mwema
Bonsoir	jioni njema
Au revoir	Quahreli
See you later	Tutaonana / Tutaonana badae
Later	Later
Thank you very much	asante sana
You're welcome	Karibu
Yes	Ndiyo
No	District
Por favor	Tafadhali
Welcome	Karibu
Excuse me	I'm sorry
Sorry	Pole

Learn some key phrases in Swahili

Also, the following sentences, will allow you to exchange with the locals and if you know some expressions, know that the population will be delighted and will help you with great pleasure most of the time. 

Français	swahili
What's your name ?	Jina lako nani?
My name is …	Jina lange nor Margaux
How old are you ?	Unamiaga min gapi?
J'ai 25 ans	Nina miaka 25
Where do you come from ?	Unatokea wapi?
I am from Tanzania	NIna tokea Tanzania
Where do you live ?	Una ichi wapi?
I live in Dar es Salaam	Nina ichi Dar es Salaam
How much does it cost ?	Shin gapi?
I do not know	If jui
What time is it ?	San gapi?
I am hot	Nina nahisi joto
There is no problem / everything is fine	Hakuna matata / kila kitu poa
Give me	Nipe cute
I'm just looking	Na kwangalia
With you	Nanyinyi
I am married	Nime olewa
I do not understand	Siya Elewa
I understand	Nime Elewa
Do not worry	Usijali
Where are you ?	Uko wapi?
What are you doing ?	Una fanya nini?
Pleased to meet you	Nime furahi kukuona
I'm not hungry anymore	Nime shiba
Good night	Usiku mwema
Sleep well	lala salama
Hold on !	Wait
Viens!	njo
Hurry / Hurry	Quickly
Me too	Mimi pia

Learn Swahili Numbers

The numbers are easy to learn. In fact, you just need tolearn the numbers from 1 to 10, and then learn toutes les tens, cent, thousand and you will be able to count in Swahili. 

Indeed, it suffices to add the decade + na + unity.

Look at examples in the table to understand:

Français	swahili	Français	swahili
1	Moja	20	Ishirini (ichirini)
2	Two	30	Thelathini (celacini)
3	Tatu	40	Arobahini
4	Nne	50	Fifty
5	Tano	60	Sitini
6	Sita	70	Sabini
7	Saba	80	Themanini
8	Nane	90	Tisini
9	Tissa	100	Mia moja
10	Kumi (kumi)	110	Mia moja kumi
11	Kumi na moja	200	Mia mbili
12	Kumi na mbili	300	Mia tattoo
13	Kumi na tatu	1 000	elfu moja
14	Kumi na nne	2 000	Elfu mbili
15	Kumi na tano	10 000	elfu kumi

For example for:

• 325: Mia tatu ishirini tano
• 112: mia moja kumi na mbili
• 5 438: elfu tano mia nne
• 10 846: elfu kumi mia nane arobahini sita
• 50 167: elfu hamsini mia sitini na saba

Learn Personal Pronouns in Swahili

Here are the personal pronouns in Swahili that are easy to learn. 

Français	swahili
Je	Nina
Tu	Una
He she	Ana
I	Tuna
Looking	mna
They they	Wana

Français	swahili
Myself	Mimi
You	wewe
He she	Yule
I	Sisi
Looking	Nyinyi
They	whales

Learn the construction of a sentence in Swahili

Know that the Swahili is a simple language in comparison to French or English. 

Indeed, the construction of a sentence is done simply. In other words, we don't beat around the bush to say something.

When in French we say:

• " Can I have some water ? "
• "Can I have some water?" "
• " I can have water ? "
• ...

In Kiswahili, the literary translation would be " i want water ».

Indeed, the construction of a sentence in Kiswahili is done with the personal pronoun followed by the conjugated verb then the complement.

The Swahili translation of " I want some water "Or" can I have some water "is:" nataka maji ».

« na »Corresponds to personal pronoun « je ". As seen above, we could use "nina" to mean "I". However, "na" is the contraction of "nina". Nina is used very little.

« taka " is the Verbe « want to ».

« maji Means " water ».

Learn Swahili Verbs

You will find in the table below, some verbs allowing you to practice sentence construction.

Please note that a large part of verbes begin by " ku " who corresponds to the infinitive. In English, an infinitive verb is "to eat" but when you use it in a sentence, you conjugate it "I eat". The same is true in Swahili, but there are exceptions. 

For example: "I live in Zanzibar" translates to "ninaichi Zanzibar".

Français	swahili
Eat	kukula
Sleep	Sleep
Living / habitat	Kuichi
Go	kwenda
Give	kunipa
To be tired	Kuchoka
To cook	kupika
Like	Kupenda
Learn	Kujifunza
Teach	Kufundicha
Drink	Drink
Savoir	Kukata
Work	Kukaze
Marcher	Kutembea
Travel	Kusafiri
Dance / play	Kucheza
Vouloir	Kutaka
Do	kufanya
Speak	Kusema
Buy now	kununua
Listen	Kusikiliza
Try	Kujaribu
Come	Kuja
Request	kuliza

Learn Interrogative Pronouns in Swahili

In Swahili, interrogative pronouns are placed at the end of the question. 

For example, to say "  What do you do ? "We translate it" unafanya nini? ».

« a "Is the translation for" tu ».

« Fanya "Is the verb" kufanya Which means " doing ».

« nini Means " quoi ».

Français	swahili
Why?	Kwa nini?
What?	Nini
Who?	Nani
Where ?	Wapi?
How many ?	Shin Gapi?
When	Lini?

Learn the tenses in Swahili

La conjugaison in Swahili is not as complicated as in French. Indeed, it was explained to me that there is not so much different time.

Indeed, there is the present, pass and future. Also, there is the equivalent of Be + ing in English but I will just introduce you to the present, past and future in this article. 

Learn the present tense in Swahili

Français	swahili
I eat	NinaKula
You eat	Unakula
He / she eats	anakula
We eat	Tunakula
You eat	Mnakula
They eat	wanakula

Learn the future in Swahili

For the future in Swahili, just add " ta »At the end of the personal pronoun and before the verb.

Français	swahili
I will eat	nitakula
You will eat	Utakula
He / she will eat	Atakula
We will eat	Tunakula
You will eat	When you grow up
They will eat	Watakula

Learn the past tense in Swahili

For the past tense in Swahili, just add " li »At the end of the personal pronoun and before the verb.

Français	swahili
I was eating	Nilikula
You were eating	Ulikula
He / she ate	Alikula
We were eating	Tulikula
You were eating	Mulikula
They ate	Walikula

 

Learn the days of the week in Swahili

Here is the translation of the days of the week in Swahili.

Français	swahili
Monday	Jumatatu
Tuesday	jumanne
Wednesday	Jumatano
Thursday	Alhamis
Friday	Ijumane
Saturday	Jumamosis
Sunday	Jumapili
Today	leoh
Tomorrow	Queshō
Here	Jana
Day	Siku
Week	Wiki
Month	mwezi
Year	A year

Learn Swahili Negation

In Swahili, the negation is done as follows:

Français	swahili
I do not like	If hanged
You do not like	Hu hangi
He / she doesn't like	Ha hangi
We do not like	Hatu Pendi
You do not like	Hamu Pendi
They don't like	hawa pendi

In comparison, " I love "Said to himself" Na hanga ». 

Learn Swahili Words

You will find in the table below some vocabulary words which may be useful to you. This list is likely to be completed.

Français	swahili
Water	May
Easy-to-use	Rahisi
Friends	Rafiki
Voyage	Safari
A little bit	A little
Too much	Sana
Nothing	None
Food	Food
Hunger	Njaa
Fortunate	Bahati
Price	Beijani
Today	Sasa
More	But
Maison	House
Restaurant	Mkahawani
Highlights	Kitamu
Here	Water
Cold	Cold
Okay	Sawa
Really ?	True
With	Na
Fruits	Matunda
Squid	Pweza
Ginger	Tanga wizi
Pumpkin	Boce
banana	Bananas
Elephant	Tembo
Monkey	kima
Leo	Simba
Giraffe	Twiga
wildebeests	gnati
Deer	Sala
Eagle	A hawk
Zebra	Punda milia
Cheetah	Chui

If you liked this article and would like learn more words in Swahili or if you have any Questions, Do not hesitate to contact me so that I complete this article.