Today i am teaching you people some Swahili words i learnt…..Come with me!
In Kenya, both English and Swahili are official languages, but Swahili is also the national language and one thing I love about Swahili is how it sounds. There is something so melodic and rhythmic about the language. It just flows! No wonder it is one of Africa's most widely spoken languages, with speakers across East and parts of Central Africa. There have also been efforts to promote Swahili as a common language across Africa, and the African Union recognises it as an official language.
Now, let me show you the small Swahili I have picked up during my many visits to Kenya.
- Hello! / Hi! = Jambo
- How are you? / How is it? = Habari?
- Fine / Good = Nzuri
- Thank you = Asante
- Thank you very much = Asante sana
- Welcome / You are welcome = Karibu
- A very warm welcome = Karibu sana
- How are things? / How are you? = Habari gani?
- Very good = Nzuri sana
- Are you okay? = Uko sawa?
- I'm fine / I'm cool = Niko poa
- I'm safe / I'm well = Niko salama
- Okay / Alright = Sawa
- What's up? / What's happening? = Sasa? (A casual greeting in Kenya.)
- Okay, okay / All right, all right = Sawa sawa
- Good morning = Habari ya asubuhi?
- Let's go = Twende
- Friend = Rafiki
- Guests / Visitors = Wageni
- Our Kenya = Kenya yetu
- No worries / No problem = Hakuna matata
- Hippopotamus = Kiboko
- See you / Let's meet = Tukutane
- Goodbye = Kwaheri
- Thanks / Thank you = Shukran (This word comes from Arabic and is also used in Swahili-speaking communities.)
- See you later / We shall see each other = Tutaonana
- Again = Tena
- I am sorted / I am all set = Niko sorted (Kenyan English/slang.)
- Public bus = Matatu
- Motorcycle = Boda boda
- Tricycle = Tuk-tuk
I also have sisi ni sawa, wakari bishwa, and niko biye, on my list.
I am learning from conversations, greetings and the people I meet. And I believe that if I continue at this rate, I might become a professional Swahili speaker very soon.
But wait o! Come closer, lemme whisper something in your ears...
I think Kenyan Swahili is easier to learn than Tanzanian Swahili.
Please, don't tell them I said so o cos I still have plenty of visits to make to Tanzania, and I don't want thinking i like one Country more than the other…...
IT'S RON
xoxoxo
In Kenya, both English and Swahili are official languages, but Swahili is also the national language and one thing I love about Swahili is how it sounds. There is something so melodic and rhythmic about the language. It just flows! No wonder it is one of Africa's most widely spoken languages, with speakers across East and parts of Central Africa. There have also been efforts to promote Swahili as a common language across Africa, and the African Union recognises it as an official language.
Now, let me show you the small Swahili I have picked up during my many visits to Kenya.
- Hello! / Hi! = Jambo
- How are you? / How is it? = Habari?
- Fine / Good = Nzuri
- Thank you = Asante
- Thank you very much = Asante sana
- Welcome / You are welcome = Karibu
- A very warm welcome = Karibu sana
- How are things? / How are you? = Habari gani?
- Very good = Nzuri sana
- Are you okay? = Uko sawa?
- I'm fine / I'm cool = Niko poa
- I'm safe / I'm well = Niko salama
- Okay / Alright = Sawa
- What's up? / What's happening? = Sasa? (A casual greeting in Kenya.)
- Okay, okay / All right, all right = Sawa sawa
- Good morning = Habari ya asubuhi?
- Let's go = Twende
- Friend = Rafiki
- Guests / Visitors = Wageni
- Our Kenya = Kenya yetu
- No worries / No problem = Hakuna matata
- Hippopotamus = Kiboko
- See you / Let's meet = Tukutane
- Goodbye = Kwaheri
- Thanks / Thank you = Shukran (This word comes from Arabic and is also used in Swahili-speaking communities.)
- See you later / We shall see each other = Tutaonana
- Again = Tena
- I am sorted / I am all set = Niko sorted (Kenyan English/slang.)
- Public bus = Matatu
- Motorcycle = Boda boda
- Tricycle = Tuk-tuk
I also have sisi ni sawa, wakari bishwa, and niko biye, on my list.
I am learning from conversations, greetings and the people I meet. And I believe that if I continue at this rate, I might become a professional Swahili speaker very soon.
But wait o! Come closer, lemme whisper something in your ears...
I think Kenyan Swahili is easier to learn than Tanzanian Swahili.
Please, don't tell them I said so o cos I still have plenty of visits to make to Tanzania, and I don't want thinking i like one Country more than the other…...
IT'S RON
xoxoxo
Asante sana for this!
Enjoyment overload!
ReplyDeleteDOZZYBEST.
Man like Dozzy!!!
DeleteI hail oooo
Asante Ron.
ReplyDeleteKaribu rose.
DeleteTutaonana.......
ReplyDeleteTutaonana tena; π
DeleteI will not tell them π
ReplyDeleteAsante sana for the new language learnt today π
Asante dear Ron
Maybe I will buy you one Tuk-Tuk soonπ€£π€£π€£π€£
Asante jareeπ
Pls don't tell them ooo πππ Pls leave the tuktuk and get me a matatu. At least I got used dat one start business π
DeleteHello dear Ron,.
ReplyDeleteUhuuu since u love lingos, den u just must come to Europe wer d world's immigrants are gathered. Start wit Russian's niet niet n da da.
Enjoy ur stay.. CIAO.
So the Lion King cartoon really picked from Swahili. I thought they made up a number of terms and names.
ReplyDeleteRafiki was the wise ape in the cartoon if I recall. Hakuna matata was pretty much a song on the lips of everyone when we millennials were growing up as kids.
Swahili does roll off the tongue nicely. Ron, did you write about the food? Or maybe I missed that in a previous post.
I dare say that not only did they pick from it, all the non-English words are Swahili words.
DeleteI have written about their food. Will do so in the coming days.
Jambo Ron.
ReplyDeleteSasa
Only foreigners say Jambo π Nairobians like myself would say, 'sasa?' πππ
DeleteAdekunle Gold made me like the sound of Asante Sana π
ReplyDeleteWell done, bestie and baddie πππΎ
Na so I take turn to BB - bestie and baddie πππ
DeleteI love Zulu and Xhosa and kinda like twi too
ReplyDeleteI love languages in general i can understand and speak quite a handful and yeah just like you wherever i go i make sure i can understand and speak the basics .
But you see that one Stella speaks side eyes it's a struggle so anytime I'm there I just use a translator if I'm having a hard time.
Zulu and Xhosa with the click click sound-I love them both
ReplyDeleteSwahili I find sexy ...I use all three for my songs/music. Africa is blessed!
Sawobona chomi!!!!!
DeleteI love this ,..asante Sana dear
ReplyDeleteKaribu Sana.....
DeleteGood job dear ...
ReplyDeleteAsante sana
Karibu Sana π
DeleteJambo Ron, habari? π
ReplyDeleteI love this ❤️
Nzuri Sana π
DeleteGlad you love it.
Kudos Babe ππ»Asante Sana π
ReplyDeleteKaribu sana
DeleteAsante sana for the beautiful piece
ReplyDeleteYou're most welcome. Karibu π
DeleteI love this.
ReplyDeleteAsante sana Ron π
I'm glad you do. Karibu.
DeleteAsante sana
ReplyDeleteKaribu Sana π
DeleteYour interpretations are confusing. Why does how are you have different words
ReplyDeleteπ€£π€£π€£ My dear, English sef is confusing! How are you? How are you doing? How’s it going? How do you do? Different words, same gist!
DeleteYou gerrit now? ππ
This is lovely π π π
ReplyDeleteInteresting much! This is my first time of reading your corner and it slaps like no man's freaking business.
ReplyDeleteSwahili language is a pretty cool one.
Asante sana, Ron!!
Karibu Vincent, thanks for stopping in an welcome to a world of endless gist. Hoping you'll visit again. π
DeleteAsante sana my beautiful Ambassador Ron.
ReplyDeleteI've learned something new today.
You're most welcome, beautiful woman ππ
DeleteAsante Sana, Ron for this beautiful read. I also like learning languages. I'm currently on a 363-day streak on Duolingo for the Korean language. It used to be French.
ReplyDelete