Language/Swahili-individual-language/Vocabulary/Useful-Sentenses
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What is Swahili?
Swahili belongs to the Bantu language group, a term for all the languages of Central, Eastern and Southern Africa. It borrows many words of Arabic origin, English, Portuguese and a little German.
Swahili serves as a national language of three nations: Tanzania, Kenya, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
For someone who has the facilities to grasp a new language, Swahili is easy. But for people who have trouble learning new vocabulary by heart and understand the logic of a language other than their own, Swahili is not so obvious!
Basic Vocabulary
- Mimi = I
- Sisi = We
- Wewe = You (singular)
- nyinyi = You (plural)
- Yeye = He
- Yeye = She
- Wao = They
- Habari! = Hello! (Local version)
- Karibu = Welcome
- Tafadhali = Please
- Asante = Thank you
- Asante Sana = Thank you very much
- Kwa heri = Goodbye
- Habari gani? = How are you?
- Nzuri! = Well, thank you!
- Ndio = Yes
- Hapana = No
- Pole Pole = Gently
- Nimefurahi = I'm happy
- Maji = Water
- Kunywa = Drink
- Kula = Eat
- Baridi = Cold
- Hongera! = Congratulations!
- Sizungumzi Kiswahili = I do not speak Swahili.
- Hiyo sijaelewa = I do not understand.
- Sijui = I do not know. (very useful and easy to remember!)
- Jina lako ni nani? = What is your name?
- Jina langu ni ______. = My name is ______ .
- Unatoka wapi? = Where are you coming from?
- Samahani. = Excuse me. (getting attention)
- Tafadhali nisamehe. = Please forgive me.
- Usiku mwema. = Good night.
- Lala Salama. = Sleep well.
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