Common Swahili Words

Some Common Words In  Kenya

• Habari/habari yako - How are you
• Jambo - Hi
• Asibuhi - Morning
• Mchana - Daytime or noon
• Jioni - Evening
• Usiku - Night
• Mtu - a person/a man/ a woman
• Mtoto - a child
• Mtoto mdogo - an infant
• Fupi - short
• Ndefu - Long
• Ndevu - Beard
• Kidevu - Chin
• Kichwa - Head
• Mkono - Hand
• Mguu - Leg
• Mwili - body
• Nguo - Clothes
• Viatu - Shoes
• Kiatu - a show
• Ng'ombe - Cow
• Kuku - Chicken
• Jua - Sun
• Jua - to know
• Tembea - to go
• Enda - go
• Mama - woman or mother
• Baba - a man or father/daddy
• Nyumba - House
• Gari - Car
• Gari la moshi - train
• Basi - bus
• Mlango - door
• Dirisha - Window
• Sahani - Plate
• Kikombe - Cup
• Kijiko - spoon
• Uma - Fork
• Kalamu - pen
• Chakula - Food
• Kula - to eat
• Lala - sleep
• Kulala - to sleep
• Mdomo - mouth
• Meno - teeth
• Jino - tooth
• Samaki - Fish

Swahili Lesson – Swahili Alphabet - C

3.         The Vowels can then be used to in conjunction with three consonants:

CHWA            CHWE                        CHWI             CHO               CHWU

4. Certain letters sound similar only that the ones on the left are more stressed while the ones on the right are pronounced lightly. Double vowels means long sound (keep the mouth open longer)

G         K

GA      KA

GOGO                        KOKO

GAA               KAA

J                       CH

JA                    CHA

JIJI                  CHICHI

JEMPE            CHEMPE

Swahili Lesson – Swahili Alphabet - B

2.         The Vowels can then be used to in conjunction with two consonants:

A

BWA BWE BWI BWO BWU

CHA   CHE    CHI     CHO   CHU

DHA   DHE    DHI     DHO   DHU

E

FWA   FEW    FWI     FWO   FWU

FYA    FYE    FYI     FYO    FYU

GHA   GHE    GHI     GHO   GHU

H

I

JWA    JWE    JWI     JWO    JWU

KHA   KHE    KHI     KHO   KHU

KWA  KWE   KWI    KWO  KWU

LWA   LWE   LWI    LWO   LWU

MWA  MWE  MWI   MWO  MWU

MKA   MKE   MKI    MKO   MKU

NWA  NEW   NWI    NOW  NWU

NYA   NYE    NYI     NYO   NYU

NKA   NKE    NKI     NKO   NKU

NGA   NGE    NGI     NGO   NGU

O

PWA   PWE    PWI     PWO   PWU

Q

RWA   RWE   RWI    RWO   RWU

SHA    SHE    SHI     SHO    SHU

SWA   SWE    SWI     SWO   SWU

TWA   TWE    TWI     TWO   TWU

U

VWA  VWE   VWI    VWO  VWU

VYA   VYE    VYI     VYO   VYU

W

X

YWA  YWE   YWI    YWO  YWU

ZWA   ZWE   ZWI    ZWO   ZWU

Swahili Lesson – Swahili Alphabet - A

1.         The best way to start learning Swahili is to start with Vowels:

A         E          I           O         U

2.         The Vowels can then be used to in conjunction with one consonant:

A

BA      BE       BI       BO      BU

C

DA      DE       DI        DO      DU

E

FA       FE       FI        FO       FU

GA      GE       GI        GO      GO

HA      HE       HI        HO      HU

I

JA        JE        JI         JO        JU

KA      KE       KI        KO      KU

LA       LE       LI        LO       LU

MA      ME      MI       MO      MU

NA      NE       NI        NO      NU

O

PA       PE       PI        PO       PU

Q

RA      RE       RI        RO      RU

SA       SE       SI        SO       SU

TA       TE       TI        TO       TU

U

VA      VE       VI        VO      VU

WA     WE      WI       WO     WU

X

YA      YE       YI        YO      YU

ZA       ZE       ZI        ZO       ZU

Introducing ONLINE SWAHILI CLASSES

A native Swahili Speaker will be offering Swahili classes.  Swahili is a language spoken widely in Eastern, Central and parts of Southern Africa. The current openings are:

·         Swahili for beginners – Part 1 – Children ages 4-10

·         Swahili for beginners – Part 2 – Adults and Children above 11 yrs old

·         Conversation and language practice – ideal for those planning to practice Swahili or visit East Africa – Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania etc

Rates: Each online/telephone session lasts for 30 min.  The full course requires a total of 8 lessons offered over a period of 8 weeks.  The online rate is $200 for 8 weeks. 

For those living in Maryland and Washington DC Metro Area preferring in person classes will need to send an e-mail for a separate arrangement. 

 areas covered: Online classes (payment by Paypal), Severn, Odenton, Fort-Meade, Jessup, Glen-Burnie, Crofton, Severna-Park, Gambrills, Laurel and Washington DC