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VOWELS PRONUNCIATIONSRecall: These are letters that are used to represent certain sounds. In Swahili there are five main vowels sounds represented by letters A E I O U, . To listen to Swahili vowels sound click here.A is pronounced as a in ‘far’ for example.Baba-Father Mama-Mother Kaka-Brother
E is pronounced as e in ‘end’ for example. Debe-Tin Yeye-him/her Pembe-Horn
I is pronounced as i in ‘if ’ for example.Bibi-Wife Mimi-Me Sisi-We
O is pronounced as o in ‘off ’ for example.Popo-Bat Soko- Market Somo-lesson
U is pronounced as u in ‘pull’ for example. Kuku-Chicken Huyu-This Bubu-Dumb
CONSONANTS Recall: It is a speech sound or letter of the alphabet other than a vowel.
Nj is pronounced as nj in ‘inject’ for example. Njema-Good Njoo-Come
Nd is pronounced as nd in ‘under’ for example. Ndege-Bird Ndoto-Dream
Mb is pronounced as mb in ‘plumber’ for example. Mbavu-Ribs Pamba-Cotton
Ch is pronounced as ch in ‘chart’ for example. Chache-Few Cheka-Laugh
Sh is pronounced as sh in ‘shark’ for example. Shavu-Cheek Shamba-Land
Ms is pronounced as ms in ‘miss’ for example. Msitu-Forest Mstari-Line COMMON WORDS AND PHRASES Yes Ndiyo Good Nzuri/njema Please Tafadhali Talk/say Sema/ongea Here Hapa There Pale Sorry Pole Later Baadaye Go Enda Thank you Asante sana When? Lini?
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SWAHILI GREETINGS
Swahili greetings are similar to English greetings in references to state and conditions.Good morning Good morninghabari ya asubuhi Nzuri/njemaHow are you? I am fineHujambo? SijamboJambo? Sijambo/jamboUhali gani? Nzuri/njemaHow is he/she? He/she is fineYu mzima? Yu mzimaA hali gani? Yu hali nzuri/njemaHow are you? (plural) We are fineHamjambo? Hatujambo?Habari zenu? Nzuri/NjemaMhali gani? Nzuri/NjemaGood evening? Good eveningHabari ya jioni? NzuriGood bye Good byeKwa heri ya kuonana Kwa heri
TO ACCESS EXERCISE PRACTICES FOR DAY ONE CLICK HERE
Recall These are names of things, places and people. They function as subjects and objects of sentence. All Swahili sentences, possesives, verbs, adjectives, adverbs and interrogatives are prefixed / suffixed according to the class of noun it is in reference to.There are sixteen classes of noun but in this book we shall discus the basic class of nouns.
THE A-WA CLASS OF NOUNS
It basically contains names of humans beings and animals. Any human name that falls in this class and begins with letter m the preffix wa is used to give their plurals Examples SINGULAR PLURAL Mtoto-child watoto-children Mtu-person watu-people
Animals names donot necesarily follow the rule, their singular and plural are the same. Examples Singular Plural Simba(Lion) Simba Ndove(Elephant) Ndovu Tumbili(Monkey) TumbiliThe prefix pronoun a is used for singular form and wa is used for plural form. SENTENCE EXAMPLESSimba analala (The lion is sleeping)Simba wanalala (The lions are sleeping)Mtoto anakula (The child is eating)Watoto wanakula (The children are eating)The demonstratives huyu-- this,yule--that,hawa--these and wale--those are used. SENTENCE EXAMPLESSimba huyu analala. (This lion is sleeping)Mtoto yule anakula. (That child is eating)Simba hawa wanalala. (These lions are sleeping)Watoto wale wanakula (Those children are eating)
THE SWAHILI LANGUAGE
Swahili language has no pronouns for gender(he/she) and unlike in English, Swahili simple sentence consist of a pronoun, a tense maker and a verb stem all attached together (agglutinative). In some Swahili classes of nouns the plural forms are derived by adding prefixes andnot suffixes to their singular. N
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CARDINAL NUMBERS
0-Sufuri 7-Saba 50-Hamsini 1-Moja 8-Nane 60-Sitini 2-Mbili 9-Tisa 70-Sabini 3-Tatu 10-Kumi 80-Themanini 4-Nne 20-Ishirini 90-Tisini 5-Tano 30-Thelathini 100-Mia moja 6-Sita 40-Arubaini 1000-Elfu mojaTHE TENSTo get numbers between tens i.e 10-20,20-30 add the necessary single unit.ExamplesTo get: 11--add 1 moja to 10 kumi to give kumi na moja. 13--add 3 tatu to 10 kumi to give kumi na tatu. 76--add 6 sita to 70 sabini to give sabini na sita.
THE HUNDREDSTo get numbers between hundreds add the necessary single units.Examples 100--Mia moja 200--Mia mbili 600--Mia sita 900--Mia tisaBETWEEN THE HUNHDREDS AND THOUSANDSTo get numbers between the hundreds i.e 900-1000,200-300 add the necessary place value.
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ExamplesTo get: 462---add 62 sitini na mbili to 400 mia nne to get mia nne sitini na mbili. 250---add 50 hamsini to 200 to get mia mbili hamsini. 367---add 67 sitini na saba to 300 mia tatu to get mia tatu sitini na saba. 2673--- add 673 mia sita sabini na tatu to 2000 elfu mbili to get elfu mbili mia sita sabini na tatu.Examples Watu watatu---Three people Watu saba---Seven people Viti kumi ---Ten chairs Vikapu vitano--five baskets
HODII !!
When in one’s home, office or any private place, to announce youpresence knock the door first there after say ‘hodii’ to mean can I come in wait for the response if it is karibu it means welcome and if it is ng’onja it means wait.
TO ACCESS EXERCISE PRACTICES FOR DAY TWO CLICK HERE
TO ACCESS TUTORIAL LESSON FOR DAY THREE CLICK HERE
THE SWAHILI TIME ASPECT
Year Months Week Day Mwaka Mwezi Wiki Siku Night Morning Evening Hour Usiku Asubuhi Jioni Saa Minutes Seconds Dakika Sekunde Between 11:00 am to 3:00 pm Between 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm Mchana Jioni Between 1:00 am to 3:00 pm Between 4:00 am to 6:00 am Usiku wa manene Alfajiri A day before yesterday Yesterday Today Juzi Jana Leo Tomorrow A day after tomorrow Kesho Kesho kutwa Two days after tomorrow Mtondo
Swahili time starts at 7:00 a.m. It is six hours behind the 12 hour international time; one has to state whether it is day time, night, morning, or evening. There are two ways to state Swahili time. (i) Arithmetic way (ii) Analogue way
THE ARITHIMETIC WAY
DURING THE DAY(a) When the time is before noon minus 6 hours from the 12 hour time as illustrated below 7:00 am will be 7-6 = 1 saa moja asubuhi 8:00 am will be 8-6= 2 saa mbili asubuhi 12:00 pm will be--saa sita mchana (b) When the time is after noon add 6 hours to the 12 hour time asillustrated below. 1:00 pm will be 1+6 = 7 saa saba mchana 2:00 pm will be 2+6 = 8 saa nane mchana DURING THE NIGHT(a) When the time is before midnight minus 6 hours from the 12 hour time as illustrated below 7:00 pm will be 7-6 = 1 saa moja usiku 8:00 pm will be 8-6= 2 saa mbili usiku 12:00 am will be--saa sita usiku
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(b) When the time is after mid night add 6 hours to the 12 hourstime as illustrated below. 1:00 am will be 1+6 = 7 saa saba usiku 2:00 am will be 2+6 = 8 saa nane usiku
THE ANALOGUE WAY
This method is much easier. For example when the hour clock reads3:00 pm look at the hour that is directly opposite, in this case the light shaded arrow is pointing at hour nine to get saa tisa mchana.
When the clock hour reads 10 pm look at the hour that is directly opposite, in this case the light shaded arrow is pointing at hour four to get saa nne usiku.
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SWAHILI DAYS OF THE WEEK
Swahili days were derived from Arabic culture as the first day of theweek is Saturday Saturday Jumamosi (the first day) Sunday Jumapili (the second day) Monday Jumatatu (the third day) Tuesday Jumanne (the forth day) Wednesday Jumatano (the fifth day) Thursday Alhamisi (the second last day) Friday Ijuma (the last day)
MONTHS OF THE YEAR
Swahili months are counted in terms of the number of times the moon appears in a year January--Mwezi wa kwanza (first moon) February-- mwezi wa pili (second moon) March--Mwezi wa tatu (third moon) April -- mwezi wa nne (forth moon) May -- mwezi wa tano (fifth moon) June -- mwezi wa sita (sixth moon) July--mwezi wa saba (seventh moon) August--mwezi wa nane (eighth moon) September--mwezi wa tisa (ninth moon) October -- mwezi wa kumi (tenth moon) November --mwezi wa kumi na moja (eleventh moon) December --mwezi wa kumi na mbili (twelfth moon)
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TO ACCESS EXERCISE PRACTICES FOR DAY THREE CLICK HERE
T H E L E S O
A leso is a piece of colourful cloth that is wrapped around the waist by women. Most women wear leso that Swahili riddles or Proverbs are printed on. For instance, if the woman wants to pass a message to her lover, friend or enemy in a peaceful way she will wear a leso that contains the message that she wants to convey and visit the intended person.
ExamplesThis way Left side There Right sidehuku Kushoto pale KuliaBeside Anywhere Far All placeKando Popote Mbali Pahala poteHere NearHapa KaribuSuddenly Upright Truly ChildishGhafla Wima Kweli UtotoQuickly Easily Hurried SatisfactorilyUpesi Vyepesi Haraka BarabaraInhuman Being humanKinyama UtuVery scarce Half (1/2) Plenty Quarter (1/4)Haba Nusu Tele RoboSo/very much A third (1/3) More than A sixth (1/6)Sana Thuluthi Zaidi ya SudusiA Few/little An eighth (1/8)Chache Thumuni
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Common adjectives
In swahili most adjectives consist of stem that take various prefixes toagree to different classes of nouns COMMON COLOURSBlue Orange Red WhiteBuluu Hudhurungi Nyekundu NyeupeBlack Green Yellow Golden yellowNyeusi kijani kibichi Manjano Rangi ya dhahabuPurple Navy blue Brown Light blueUranjuani Samawati Kijivu Feruzi
COMMON ADJECTIVESGentle Rotten Bad Thin/slim Clean -anana -bovu -baya -embamba -safiFat Evil New Fierce Dangerous-enene -ovu Mpya -kali HatariComplete Much Good Soft Sweet-zima -tele -ema -ororo tamu
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Common Prepositions
After Instead of AmongBaada ya - Badala ya-- Baina ya--Without Below Under On top ofBila ya- Chini ya-- Juu ya-- Before Like Example Besides that-Kabla ya Kama vile- Kando na – Beside Near.Close to BetweenKando ya-- Karibu na-- Kati ya—In the middle In the middle of Because ofKatikati-- Katikati ya-- Kwa ajili-For the sake of For example Because ofKwa ajili ya Kwa mfano-- sababu—Far from In front of Inside ofMbali na- Mbele na-- Ndani ya—Outside Behind of SinceNje ya- Nyuma ya -- Tangu—
East African Proverbs (Methali)
1. Adui mpende Love your enemy2. Mla mbuzi hulipa ng’ombe He who eat a goat pays a cow3. Mwizi hushikwa na mwizi mwenza A thief catches a thief
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4. Mtoto akililia wembe mpe If a child cries for a razor, give it to him/her5. Dalili ya Mvua ni mawingu Clouds are signs of rain6. Hakuna kubwa lisilo na mwisho Every thing has an end7. Kusikia sio kuona To hear is not to see 8. Ubishi mwingi huleta magonvi Much arguing brings quarrels9. Kuuliza sio ujinga Asking is not foolishness10. Usifanye mashindano na mtu Never match one self with anybody11. Chembe na chembe ni mkate A grain and a grain makes a bread12. Mnyonge hana haki The weak has no right13. Udongo upatize uli maji Mould the clay while it’s wet14. Usipo ziba ufa utajenga ukuta If you do not fill a crack you will build a wall15. Msema kweli hakosi A truth teller makes no mistakes.16. Kufaa haku dhuru Being of use does no harm.17. Haraka haraka haina baraka Harry hurry has no blessing.18 Mpanda ngazi hushuka He/she who climbs a ladder descents.
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East African Riddles (vitendawili)
RIDDLE ANSWER 1. Fatuma mchafu Kifagio Dirty Fatuma Broom 2. Natembea na nyumba yangu Kobe I walk with my house Totoise 3. Popoo mbili zavuka mto Macho Two bats crossing a river Eyes 4. Mzungu mgeni hatembei mchana Mwezi A strange white man never walks in day light Moon 5. Mzungu ameshika kiuno Kikombe White man holding his waist Cup 6. Likitoka halirudi Jani Once out never returns A leaf 7. Nanywa supu na nyama naitupa Muwa I throw the meat but drink the soup Sugar cane
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HUMAN BODY PARTS
Arm Mkono Armpit Mkwapa Bone Mfupa Breast Titi Cheek Shavu Chest Kifua Chin Kidevu Ear Sikio Elbow Kisigudi Eye Jicho Eye lid Kope Face Uso Fingure Kidole Foot Mguu Hair Nywele Hand Mkono Head Kichwa Heart Roho Heel KisiginoHip NyongaIntestines MatumboJaw TayaKidney FigoKnee GotiLeg Mguu Liver IniLungs MapafuMouth MdomoNail Kucha
Ami Uncle (father)Baba FatherBaba kambo Step dadBabu Grand fatherBaharia Sailor.BoatboyBibi Wife/GrandmomBin SonBinadamu Human beingBinamu CousinBinti DaughterBubu Dumb personBwana HusbandDada SisterDalali AuctioneerDiwani CocalarDobi Cloth washerFukara Poor person
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Hakimu Magistrate JudgeHamali Porter CarrierJasusi SpyKaka BrotherKifunga mimba Last bornKifungua mimba First bornKilembwe Child of kituukuuKilembwekeza Child of kilembweKiningini Child of kitukuuKiranja PrefectKitukuu Child of mjuukuuKiwete Lame personKiziwi Deaf personMalaika AngleMalenga Professional composerMalkia QueenMama MotherMama kambo Step motherManju Song composerMashua BoatMbiomba Auntie (mother side)Mbunge Member of paliamentMchuuzi Hawker
Mfalme KingMfinyanzi PotterMhuni BachelorMhuunzi Stone cutterMjane WidowMjomba Uncle (Mother side)Mjukuu Grand sonMke WifeMke mwenza Co-wifeMkora CrookMkwe The inlawsMpwa Nephew./NiceMsajii RegisteryMsasi HunterMshenga A negotiatoerMsusi Hair plainterMtumwa SlaveMume HusbandMwalimu TeacherMwamu Brother in-law Sister in-lawMwana SonMwashi MasonMwenyekiti ChairpersonMwizi TheifMzazi ParentNahodha CaptainNaibu AssistantNgariba Circumiser
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Peacork Tausi Dove wild PugiQuail Tombo Duck Bata Sparrow Shore Eagle Mwewe Falcon Kipanga Egret Yangeyange Turkey Bata mzinga Sunbirds Chozi Oriole Kurumbizi Finches Chiriku Owl Bundi Flamingo Heroe Vulture Tai Guinea fowl Kanga Gulls Shakwe Goose Bata Weaver bird Mnandi Whimbrel Membe Woodpecker Kigong’ota