Intro to Learning Swahili

This week’s Amateur Traveler podcast was on traveling to Zanzibar in Tanzania. You can get by in English in Tanzania but you will have a better experience if you pick up even a little (kidogo) Swahili. Swahili is a simple language since it was formed as a pidgin language to help natives who spoke Bantu languages communicate with Arab traders.

Swahili Pronunciation

Most letters have the same sound as in English. There are only 5 vowel sounds:

• a – like a in father
• e – like e in get
• i – like ee in see
• o – like o in old
• u – like oo in tooth

here are some different sounds:

• dh like th in this
• gh, kh like the ch in the Scottish loch or German Bach
• ng’ like ng in song
• ny like n in onion

Greetings:

• hujambo – how are you? (literally – you have no problems?)
• sijambo – (response) – I have no problems
• hamjambo – how are you ? (plural) (literally – you all have no problems?)
• hatujambo – (response) – We have no problems
• (at the door of a house) Hodi!
• Karibu! – come in

or

• Karibuni! – come in (plural)
• habari za safari – how was your trip?
• habari za asubuhi – how was your morning?
• habari za mchana – how is everything today?
• habari gani – what news?

Everything I want to know about Swahili I learned from Lion King

• Safari – trip
• Simba – Lion
• Hakuna Matata – no worries
• Pumbaa – simpleton
• Rafiki – friend
• Nala – gift
• Shenzi – uncouth
• Banzai – skulk
• Sarabi – mirage

Additional Resources

• For more information on Swahili, I recommend Teach Yourself Swahili Complete Course Package (Book + 2CDs) (TY: Complete Courses)
• Swahili Dictionary