Language/Swahili-individual-language/Vocabulary/Useful-Sentenses
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Revision as of 12:32, 10 October 2016 by Vincent (talk | contribs) (Vincent moved page Language/Swahili/Vocabulary/Useful sentenses to Language/Swahili/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
- Habari! = Hello! (Local version)
- 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!)
- What is your name? = Jina lako ni nani?
- My name is ______ . = Jina langu ni ______.
- Where are you coming from? = Unatoka wapi?
- Excuse me. (getting attention) = Samahani.
- Please forgive me = tafadhali nisamehe
- Goodbye = Kwa heri.
- Good night. = Usiku mwema.
- Sleep well. = Lala Salama.