swahili

Everyday

1. Swahili is a language spoken by many millions of people in East Africa, especially in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and nearby countries; in Swahili itself it is called Kiswahili. tree →
2. The Swahili are also a people of the East African coast, and Swahili describes their culture, such as Swahili cities and Swahili food. tree →

In the lessons

In geography and language lessons Swahili is the most widely spoken language of East Africa, used for trade between people who speak different first languages. Some Swahili words are known in English: «safari» (journey), «jambo» (hello), and «Hakuna matata» (no worries) from «The Lion King». «Asante» means thank you. It is written in the Latin alphabet. Phrases: speak Swahili, Swahili words, the Swahili coast.

Examples

• Swahili is spoken in Kenya and Tanzania. tree →
• «Jambo» means hello in Swahili. tree →
• The word «safari» comes from Swahili and means journey. tree →
• «Hakuna matata» is Swahili for «no worries». tree →
• Our teacher taught us to count to ten in Swahili. tree →
• «Asante sana» means «thank you very much» in Swahili. tree →
• Swahili has borrowed many words from Arabic. tree →
• People on the Swahili coast have traded by sea for centuries. tree →

Note

A name, so it is written with a capital S: Swahili. Pronounced «swah-HEE-lee». It is a language and people of Africa, not a country. The word «Swahili» itself comes from Arabic, meaning «of the coasts».