


KISWAHILI Words and their meanings
Here's some interesting facts to pack up & share with the children:
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Estimates say there may be over 3,000 languages spoken in Africa.
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Kiswahili, a Bantu language, is the most spoken language in Africa, with over 100 million speakers.
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Kiswahili is the official language of Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda, as well as what is used for instruction in schools. Other Kiswahili speaking nations include: Rwanda, Burundi, southern Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan northern Mozambique and the Comoros Islands.
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They say Kiswahili is the easiest African language for an English speaker to learn. One reason is that Kiswahili is easy to read. Kiswahili words read just the way they are written. Give it a try!

PHONICS
A – short a ah
E – long a
I – long e
O – long o
U – long u oo
PEOPLE
Baba
+ Respectfully address a wise man
Father
Mama
+ Respectfully address a wise woman
Mother
Babu
Grandfather
Bibi
+ Respectfully address a female elder
Grandmother / Mrs.
Kaka
Brother
Dada
Sister
Kijana
Youth
Mtoto / Watoto
+ Babies or the children
Child
Mwanafunzi
Student
Rafiki
Friend
Daktari
Doctor
Mzee / Wazee
Elderly person
Mzungu / Wazungu
White person
PLACES
Nyumbani
Home
Shule
School
EXPRESSIONS / PHRASES
Jambo
Hello
Hujambo?
Hello, how are you?
Sijambo
Hello, I'm fine
Njema
Fine (healthy)
Na wewe je?
And you?
Salama
Healthy, fine
Hodi!
May I come in?
Karibu!
Welcome
Asante
Thank you
Karibu kiti
Have a seat
Karibu chakula
Have some food
Karibu kahawa
Have some coffee
Nzuri
Fine
Nzuri tu
Just fine
Nzuri sana
Very fine
Safi (sana)
(Very) fine / Great
Yebo
Yes
La
No
NUMBERS
1 = Moja
2 = Mbili
3 = Tatu
4 = Nne
5 = Tano
6 = Sita
7 = Saba
8 = Nane
9 = Tisa
10 = Kumi
11 = Kumi na moja
20 = Ishirini
30 = Thelathini
40 = Arobaini
50 = Hamsini
60 = Sitini
70 = Sabini
80 = Themanini
90 = Tisini
100 = Mia