ALPHABET MATCHING GAME VOCABULARY FLASHCARDS
Why learn Swahili?
Communication skills developed while learning Swahili can improve your interpersonal skills in your native langauge as well. Your marketable skills in the global economy are improved when you master Swahili. Analytical skills improve when you study Swahili. Studying Swahili offers a sense of the past: culturally and linguistically.
How Long Does it Take to Learn Swahili?
Swahili is rated as a category 2 language by the Foreign Service Institute. It is considered moderately easy for English speakers to learn and takes an average of 36 weeks (or 900 class hours) to gain professional working proficiency.
Swahili Alphabet & Pronunciation
Aa
(a)
(a)
Bb
(be)
(be)
Cc
(che)
(che)
Dd
(de)
(de)
Ee
(e)
(e)
Ff
(ef)
(ef)
Gg
(ge)
(ge)
Hh
(he)
(he)
Ii
(i)
(i)
Jj
(je)
(je)
Kk
(ka)
(ka)
Ll
(le)
(le)
Mm
(em)
(em)
Nn
(en)
(en)
Oo
(o)
(o)
Pp
(pe)
(pe)
Rr
(re)
(re)
Ss
(se)
(se)
Tt
(te)
(te)
Uu
(u)
(u)
Vv
(ve)
(ve)
Ww
(we)
(we)
Yy
(ye)
(ye)
Zz
(ze)
(ze)
Basic Phrases in Swahili
| Hello | Hujambo |
|---|---|
| Goodbye | Kwaheri |
| Yes | Ndio |
| No | Hapana |
| Excuse me | Samahani |
| Please | Tafadhali |
| Thank you | Asante |
| You are welcome | Karibu |
| Do you speak english | Unaongea kiingereza? |
| Do you understand | Unaelewa? |
| I understand | Naelewa |
| I do not understand | Sielewi |
| How are you | Habari yako? |
| Fine thanks | Vyema, ahsante! |
| What is your name | Jina lako nani? |
| My name is | Jina langu ni |
| Pleased to meet you | Nimefurahi kukutana nawe |
Swahili Grammar
Swahili Nouns
| Man | Mtu |
|---|---|
| Woman | Mwanamke |
| Boy | Mvulana |
| Girl | Msichana |
| Cat | Paka |
| Dog | Mbwa |
| Fish | Samaki |
| Water | Maji |
| Milk | Maziwa |
| Egg | Yai |
| House | Nyumba |
| Flower | Ua |
| Tree | Mti |
| Shirt | Shati |
| Pants | Suruali |
Swahili Adjectives
Colors in Swahili
| Black | Nyeusi |
|---|---|
| White | Nyeupe |
| Red | Nyekundu |
| Orange | Machungwa |
| Yellow | Njano |
| Green | Kijani |
| Blue | Bluu |
| Purple | Zambarau |
| Pink | Pinki |
| Gray | Kijivu |
| Brown | Kahawia |
Numbers in Swahili
| Zero | Sufuri |
|---|---|
| One | Moja |
| Two | Mbili |
| Three | Tatu |
| Four | Nne |
| Five | Tano |
| Six | Sita |
| Seven | Saba |
| Eight | Nane |
| Nine | Tisa |
| Ten | Kumi |
| Eleven | Kumi na moja |
| Twelve | Kumi na mbili |
| Twenty | Ishirini |
| Thirty | Thelathini |
| Forty | Arobaini |
| Fifty | Hamsini |
| Sixty | Sitini |
| Seventy | Sabini |
| Eighty | Themanini |
| Ninety | Tisini |
| Hundred | Mia |
| Thousand | Elfu |
Swahili Verbs
| To be | Kuwa |
|---|---|
| To have | Kuwa na |
| To want | Kutaka |
| To need | Kuhitaji |
| To help | Kusaidia |
| To go | Kwenda |
| To come | Kuja |
| To eat | Kula |
| To drink | Kunywa |
| To speak | Kuongea |
Building Simple Sentences
More Complex Swahili Sentences
| And | Na |
|---|---|
| Or | Au |
| But | Lakini |
| Because | Kwa sababu |
| With | Na |
| Also | Pia |
| However | Walakini |
| Neither | Hata |
| Nor | Wala |
| If | Kama |
| Then | Basi |
Useful Swahili Vocabulary
Swahili Questions
| Who | Nani |
|---|---|
| What | Nini |
| When | Lini |
| Where | Wapi |
| Why | Kwanini |
| How | Vipi |
| How many | Ngapi |
| How much | Kiasi gani |
Days of the Week in Swahili
| Monday | Jumatatu |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | Jumanne |
| Wednesday | Jumatano |
| Thursday | Alhamisi |
| Friday | Ijumaa |
| Saturday | Jumamosi |
| Sunday | Jumapili |
| Yesterday | Jana |
| Today | Leo |
| Tomorrow | Kesho |
Months in Swahili
| January | Januari |
|---|---|
| February | Februari |
| March | Machi |
| April | Aprili |
| May | Mei |
| June | Juni |
| July | Julai |
| August | Agosti |
| September | Septemba |
| October | Oktoba |
| November | Novemba |
| December | Desemba |
Seasons in Swahili
| Winter | Msimu wa baridi |
|---|---|
| Spring | Chemchemi |
| Summer | Kiangazi |
| Autumn | Vuli |
Telling Time in Swahili
| What time is it | Ni saa ngapi? |
|---|---|
| Hours | Masaa |
| Minutes | Dakika |
| Seconds | Sekunde |
| O clock | Saa |
| Half | Nusu |
| Quarter past | Robo iliyopita |
| Before | Kabla |
| After | Baada ya |
