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TABLE OF CONTENT

Swahili vowels 1Swahili consonants 2Swahili greetings 3Swahili nouns 4Swahili cardinal 6Swahili time 8Swahili week days 11Swahili months 11 Swahili adverbs 13Swahili adjectives 14Swahili preposition 15Proverbs 16Riddles 17Vocabularies 18

D A Y O N E

TO ACCESS TUTORIAL LESSON FOR DAY ONE CLICK HERE

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

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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

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D A Y T W O

SWAHILI CLASSES OF NOUNS

TO ACCESS TUTORIAL LESSON FOR DAY TWO CLICK HERE

NOUNS

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

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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

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D A Y T H R E E

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

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DID YOU KNOW ???

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.

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COMMON SWAHILI ADVERBS AND ADJECTIVES

A D V E R B S

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

Neck ShingoNose Pua Rib UbavuShoulder BegaSkin NgoziStomach TumboThing PajaThroat KooTooth Jino Waist Kiuno

COMMON HUMAN NAMES

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

COMMON ANIMALS

Chui LeopardChura FrogDubu BearDuma CheetahFahali BullFarasi Horse

Nyanya GrandmotherRaisi PresidentRafiki FriendRubani PilotSaisi BridegroomShangazi Dad sisterShemeji Brother inlawSogora DrumistSonara Gold smithTarishi MessangerWakili LawyerWifi Sister inlawYaya Babysitter

COMMON BIRDS

Bee eater Keremkereka Hen KukuBittern Mumbi Heron KorongoCaucal Dudu mizi Hornbill HondohondoChick Kifaranga Kingfisher DetepwaniCork Jogoo Parrot KasukuCrow Kunguru Partridge Kware Dove Njiwa

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Fisi HyenaGuruguru Borrowing lizardKasa TurtleKiboko HippoKifaru RhinoKima MonkeyKinyonga ChamelionKobe TortoiseKomba GalagoKondoo SheepKongoni HartebeestKulungu Bush buckKuro Water buckMamba CrocodileMbango WildpigMbega Columbus monkeyMbongo BuffalloMbuzi GoatMkunga Mud fishNdovu ElephantNgamia CamelNgawa Civet catNgendere Black monkeyNgiri Wild pigNg’ombe Cow.CattleNguchiro MongooseNgumbu MuleNguruwe PigNungunugu Porcupine

Nyani MonkeyNyangumi WhaleNyati BuffaloPaa SwaraPaka CatPalapala Sable antelopePanya RatPapa SharkPofa ElandPopo BatPunda DonkeyPundamilia ZebraSamaki FishSimbamarara TigerSokwe ChipanzeeTembo Elephant

SMALL ANIMALS

Buibui SpiderChawa Lice (human)Chungu White antJongoo MillipedeKaa CrabKereng’ende Dragon flyKipepeo ButterflyKiroboto FleaKomba mwiko CorkcroachKonokono SnailKumbikumbi Termite

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Kunguni BedbugMbu MosquitoMbung’o TsetseflyMchwa Ant hillsMende CorkcroachMinyoo WormNg’e ScorpionNyengere Black antNyenze CricketNyuki BeeNyungi WaspNyungunyungu EarthwormNondo MothNzi HouseflyNzige LocustPanzi GrasshopperSisimizi Black antTandu CentipedeTekenya JiggerUtitiri Lice(fowl)Vunjanyungu Praying mantis

COMMON TREES

Mbuni Coffee treeMbuyu Baobab treeMchungwa Orenge treeMdimu Lime treeMfenesi Jack fruit treeMforosadi Mulberry tree

Mfuu Black berry treeMgomba Banana treeMkoko Cocoa treeMkorosho Cashew treeMkunazi Jujube treeMkuyu Fig treeMkwaju Tamarind treeMlimau Lemon treeMnanasi Peniple plantMnazi Coconut treeMpamba Cotton plantMpaipai Pawpaw treeMpera Guaver treeMpingo Ebony treeMpunga Rice plantMtende Palm treeMti mbao Eucaliptus treeMtofaha Rose apple treeMuwa SugercaneMwembe Mango treeMzambarau Grape vine tree

COMMON FRUITS

Balungi PomeloBoga PumpkinChenza TangerinChungwa OrengeEmbe MangoFenesi Jackfruit

Forosadi MulberryFuu Black berryKitungu OnionKitungu sumu GarlicKoko CocoaKorosho Cashew nutsKunazi JujubeKuyu MulberryLimau LemonMalenge PumpkinNanasi PenipleNazi CoconutNdimu LimeNdizi BananaNyanya TomatoPapai PawpawPera GuaverPilipili PepperTende PalmTikiti Water melonTofaha Rose appleTomoko Custard appleUkwaju TamarindZabibu GrapeZaituni Olive

COMMON PAYMENTS

Ada Doctor feeArbuni Deposite

Arshi Murder fineBashishi TipBili BillDia Muder fineDhamana GuaranteeFaini Court fineFichuo ConcealmentFidia RansomHongo BribeKaradhaa Advance no interest loanKaro School feesKibarua WagesKiingilio Entry feeKiokozi RewardKivusho Ferry fareMahari DoweryMarupurupu Etra money from salaryMasrufu House keepinng moneyMchango ContributionsMkopo LoanMshahara SalaryNauli FareRiba InterestRidhaa Compesation feeRushwa BribeUjira Wage

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Urathi InheretenceUshuru TaxZawadi Present.prize

NAMES OF PLACES

Bandari Harbour.PortBaraza ReceptionBohari Ware houseBoma HomesteadBunge PaliamentDungu Stage plat formForodha Custom houseJukwaa StageGane DometryGhala StoreGhuba Bay InletHandaki Trench ChannelHekalu TempleHosipitali HospitalIkulu State houseJandoni Circumsion placeJoko OvenJosho Washing placeKanisa ChurchKilinge Dancing floorKisima WellKisiwa Island

Kiwanda FactoryKizimbi Bird cageKorokoroni CellMachijinjoni Slaughter houseMachungani LocutiveMahakama CourtMaktaba LibraryMimburi PulpitMkahawa Restrant Coffee houseMnadaa Action placeMsalani ToiletMskiti MosqueRoshina BalconySebule DometryUlingo PlatformWaba Marshy placeZahanati DispensaryZizi Cowshed

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