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

D A Y

O N E

TO ACCESS TUTORIAL LESSON FOR DAY ONE CLICK HERE VOW E L S PRON U NC IAT ION S Recall: These are letters that are used to represent certain sounds. In Swahili there are ve 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

U is pronounced as u in pull for example. Kuku-Chicken Huyu-This Bubu-Dumb

Day One

O is pronounced as o in o for example. Popo-Bat Soko- Market Somo-lesson

S NANT CONSO

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 Please Tafadhali Talk/say Here Hapa There Sorry Pole Later Go Enda Thank you When? Lini?

Consonants

Nzuri/njema Sema/ongea Pale Baadaye Asante sana

NGS REETI HILI G SWA

TO ACCESS EXERCISE PRACTICES FOR DAY ONE CLICK HERE

Greetings

Swahili greetings are similar to English greetings in references to state and conditions. Good morning Good morning habari ya asubuhi Nzuri/njema How are you? I am ne Hujambo? Sijambo Jambo? Sijambo/jambo Uhali gani? Nzuri/njema How is he/she? He/she is ne Yu mzima? Yu mzima A hali gani? Yu hali nzuri/njema How are you? (plural) We are ne Hamjambo? Hatujambo? Habari zenu? Nzuri/Njema Mhali gani? Nzuri/Njema Good evening? Good evening Habari ya jioni? Nzuri Good bye Good bye Kwa heri ya kuonana Kwa heri

D A Y

T W O

SWAHILI CLASSES OF NOUNS TO ACCESS TUTORIAL LESSON FOR DAY TWO CLICK HERE

S NOUN

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 prexed / suxed 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.
CLASS OF THE A-WA NOUNS

It basically contains names of humans beings and animals. Any human name that falls in this class and begins with letter m the prex wa is used to give their plurals Examples SINGULAR PLURAL Mtoto-child watoto-children Mtu-person watu-people

D a y Tw o

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) Tumbili The prex pronoun a is used for singular form and wa is used for plural form. SENTENCE EXAMPLES Simba 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 EXAMPLES Simba 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) AGE ILI LANGU THE SWAH
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 prexes and not suxes to their singular.

Nouns

NUMBERS CARDINAL

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 moja THE TENS To get numbers between tens i.e 10-20,20-30 add the necessary single unit. Examples To 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.

Cardinals

THE HUNDREDS To get numbers between hundreds add the necessary single units. Examples 100--Mia moja 200--Mia mbili 600--Mia sita 900--Mia tisa BETWEEN THE HUNHDREDS AND THOUSANDS To get numbers between the hundreds i.e 900-1000,200-300 add the necessary place value.

Examples To 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--ve baskets
II !! HOD

When in ones home, oce or any private place, to announce you presence knock the door rst 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 ngonja it means wait.

TO ACCESS EXERCISE PRACTICES FOR DAY TWO CLICK HERE

Cardinals

D A Y

T H R E E

TO ACCESS TUTORIAL LESSON FOR DAY THREE CLICK HERE

TH

I HILI T E SWA

PECT ME AS

Time

Year Months Mwaka Mwezi Night Morning Usiku Asubuhi Minutes Seconds Dakika Sekunde Between 11:00 am to 3:00 pm Mchana Between 1:00 am to 3:00 pm Usiku wa manene A day before yesterday Juzi Tomorrow Kesho Two days after tomorrow Mtondo

Week Wiki Evening Jioni

Day Siku Hour Saa

Between 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm Jioni Between 4:00 am to 6:00 am Alfajiri Yesterday Today Jana Leo A day after tomorrow Kesho kutwa

??? NOW YOU K DID

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 ARITH

Y IMETIC WA

Time

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 as illustrated 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

(b) When the time is after mid night add 6 hours to the 12 hours time 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 ANALO GUE WAY

This method is much easier. For example when the hour clock reads 3:00 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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Time

I DAYS SWAHIL

W OF THE

EEK

Swahili days were derived from Arabic culture as the rst day of the week is Saturday Saturday Jumamosi (the rst day) Sunday Jumapili (the second day) Monday Jumatatu (the third day) Tuesday Jumanne (the forth day) Wednesday Jumatano (the fth day) Thursday Alhamisi (the second last day) Friday Ijuma (the last day) E YEAR MONTHS OF TH

Swahili months are counted in terms of the number of times the moon appears in a year January--Mwezi wa kwanza (rst moon) February-- mwezi wa pili (second moon) March--Mwezi wa tatu (third moon) April -- mwezi wa nne (forth moon) May -- mwezi wa tano (fth 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)

Time

11

TO ACCESS EXERCISE PRACTICES FOR DAY THREE CLICK HERE

L THE
The Leso

ESO

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.

12

COMMON SWAHILI ADVERBS AND ADJECTIVES

A D V E R B S
Examples This way huku Beside Kando Here Hapa Suddenly Ghaa Quickly Upesi Inhuman Kinyama Very scarce Haba So/very much Sana A Few/little Chache Left side Kushoto Anywhere Popote Near Karibu Upright Wima Easily Vyepesi Being human Utu Half (1/2) Nusu A third (1/3) Thuluthi An eighth (1/8) Thumuni There pale Far Mbali Truly Kweli Hurried Haraka Plenty Tele More than Zaidi ya Right side Kulia All place Pahala pote Childish Utoto Satisfactorily Barabara Quarter (1/4) Robo A sixth (1/6) Sudusi

Adverbs

13

djectives ommon a C
In swahili most adjectives consist of stem that take various prexes to agree to dierent classes of nouns COMMON COLOURS Blue Orange Red White Buluu Hudhurungi Nyekundu Nyeupe Black Green Yellow Golden yellow Nyeusi kijani kibichi Manjano Rangi ya dhahabu Purple Navy blue Brown Light blue Uranjuani Samawati Kijivu Feruzi Gentle -anana Fat -enene Complete -zima Rotten -bovu Evil -ovu Much -tele COMMON ADJECTIVES Bad Thin/slim Clean -baya -embamba -sa New Fierce Dangerous Mpya -kali Hatari Good Soft Sweet -ema -ororo tamu

14

Adjectives

s eposition mmon Pr Co
After Baada ya Without Bila yaBefore Kabla ya Beside Kando ya-In the middle Katikati-For the sake of Kwa ajili ya Far from Mbali naOutside Nje yaInstead of Badala ya-Below Under Chini ya-Like Example Kama vileNear.Close to Karibu na-In the middle of Katikati ya-For example Kwa mfano-In front of Mbele na-Behind of Nyuma ya -Among Baina ya-On top of Juu ya-Besides thatKando na Between Kati ya Because of Kwa ajiliBecause of sababu Inside of Ndani ya Since Tangu

East African Proverbs (Methali)

1. Adui mpende Love your enemy 2. Mla mbuzi hulipa ngombe He who eat a goat pays a cow 3. Mwizi hushikwa na mwizi mwenza A thief catches a thief

Pr e p o s i t i o n

15

16

Proverbs

4. Mtoto akililia wembe mpe If a child cries for a razor, give it to him/her 5. Dalili ya Mvua ni mawingu Clouds are signs of rain 6. Hakuna kubwa lisilo na mwisho Every thing has an end 7. Kusikia sio kuona To hear is not to see 8. Ubishi mwingi huleta magonvi Much arguing brings quarrels 9. Kuuliza sio ujinga Asking is not foolishness 10. Usifanye mashindano na mtu Never match one self with anybody 11. Chembe na chembe ni mkate A grain and a grain makes a bread 12. Mnyonge hana haki The weak has no right 13. Udongo upatize uli maji Mould the clay while its wet 14. Usipo ziba ufa utajenga ukuta If you do not ll a crack you will build a wall 15. 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.

les East African Ridd

(vitendawili)

i on RCd d lveesr s a t i o n s

RIDDLE 1. Fatuma mchafu Dirty Fatuma 2. Natembea na nyumba yangu I walk with my house 3. Popoo mbili zavuka mto Two bats crossing a river 4. Mzungu mgeni hatembei mchana A strange white man never walks in day light 5. Mzungu ameshika kiuno White man holding his waist 6. Likitoka halirudi Once out never returns 7. Nanywa supu na nyama naitupa I throw the meat but drink the soup

ANSWER Kifagio Broom Kobe Totoise Macho Eyes Mwezi Moon Kikombe Cup Jani A leaf Muwa Sugar cane

17

HUMAN BODY PARTS Arm Armpit Bone Breast Cheek Chest Chin Ear Elbow Eye Eye lid Face Fingure Foot Hair Hand Head Heart Heel Hip Intestines Jaw Kidney Knee Leg Liver Lungs Mouth Nail Mkono Mkwapa Mfupa Titi Shavu Kifua Kidevu Sikio Kisigudi Jicho Kope Uso Kidole Mguu Nywele Mkono Kichwa Roho Kisigino Nyonga Matumbo Taya Figo Goti Mguu Ini Mapafu Mdomo Kucha

Neck Nose Rib Shoulder Skin Stomach Thing Throat Tooth Waist

Shingo Pua Ubavu Bega Ngozi Tumbo Paja Koo Jino Kiuno

COMMON HUMAN NAMES Ami Baba Baba kambo Babu Baharia Bibi Bin Binadamu Binamu Binti Bubu Bwana Dada Dalali Diwani Dobi Fukara Uncle (father) Father Step dad Grand father Sailor.Boatboy Wife/Grandmom Son Human being Cousin Daughter Dumb person Husband Sister Auctioneer Cocalar Cloth washer Poor person

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Hakimu

Magistrate Judge Hamali Porter Carrier Jasusi Spy Kaka Brother Kifunga mimba Last born Kifungua mimba First born Kilembwe Child of kituukuu Kilembwekeza Child of kilembwe Kiningini Child of kitukuu Kiranja Prefect Kitukuu Child of mjuukuu Kiwete Lame person Kiziwi Deaf person Malaika Angle Malenga Professional composer Malkia Queen Mama Mother Mama kambo Step mother Manju Song composer Mashua Boat Mbiomba Auntie (mother side) Mbunge Member of paliament Mchuuzi Hawker

Mfalme Mnyanzi Mhuni Mhuunzi Mjane Mjomba

King Potter Bachelor Stone cutter Widow Uncle (Mother side) Mjukuu Grand son Mke Wife Mke mwenza Co-wife Mkora Crook Mkwe The inlaws Mpwa Nephew./Nice Msajii Registery Msasi Hunter Mshenga A negotiatoer Msusi Hair plainter Mtumwa Slave Mume Husband Mwalimu Teacher Mwamu Brother in-law Sister in-law Mwana Son Mwashi Mason Mwenyekiti Chairperson Mwizi Theif Mzazi Parent Nahodha Captain Naibu Assistant Ngariba Circumiser

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Nyanya Raisi Raki Rubani Saisi Shangazi Shemeji Sogora Sonara Tarishi Wakili Wi Yaya

Grandmother President Friend Pilot Bridegroom Dad sister Brother inlaw Drumist Gold smith Messanger Lawyer Sister inlaw Babysitter

COMMON BIRDS Bee eater Hen Bittern Heron Caucal Hornbill Chick Kingsher Cork Parrot Crow Partridge Dove Keremkereka Kuku Mumbi Korongo Dudu mizi Hondohondo Kifaranga Detepwani Jogoo Kasuku Kunguru Kware Njiwa

Peacork Dove wild Quail Duck Sparrow Eagle Falcon Egret Turkey Sunbirds Oriole Finches Owl Flamingo Vulture Guinea fowl Gulls Goose Weaver bird Whimbrel Woodpecker

Tausi Pugi Tombo Bata Shore Mwewe Kipanga Yangeyange Bata mzinga Chozi Kurumbizi Chiriku Bundi Heroe Tai Kanga Shakwe Bata Mnandi Membe Kigongota

COMMON ANIMALS Chui Chura Dubu Duma Fahali Farasi Leopard Frog Bear Cheetah Bull Horse

120

Fisi Guruguru Kasa Kiboko Kifaru Kima Kinyonga Kobe Komba Kondoo Kongoni Kulungu Kuro Mamba Mbango Mbega Mbongo Mbuzi Mkunga Ndovu Ngamia Ngawa Ngendere Ngiri Ngombe Nguchiro Ngumbu Nguruwe Nungunugu

Hyena Borrowing lizard Turtle Hippo Rhino Monkey Chamelion Tortoise Galago Sheep Hartebeest Bush buck Water buck Crocodile Wildpig Columbus monkey Buallo Goat Mud sh Elephant Camel Civet cat Black monkey Wild pig Cow.Cattle Mongoose Mule Pig Porcupine

Nyani Nyangumi Nyati Paa Paka Palapala Panya Papa Pofa Popo Punda Pundamilia Samaki Simbamarara Sokwe Tembo

Monkey Whale Bualo Swara Cat Sable antelope Rat Shark Eland Bat Donkey Zebra Fish Tiger Chipanzee Elephant

SMALL ANIMALS Buibui Chawa Chungu Jongoo Kaa Kerengende Kipepeo Kiroboto Komba mwiko Konokono Kumbikumbi Spider Lice (human) White ant Millipede Crab Dragon y Buttery Flea Corkcroach Snail Termite

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Kunguni Bedbug Mbu Mosquito Mbungo Tsetsey Mchwa Ant hills Mende Corkcroach Minyoo Worm Nge Scorpion Nyengere Black ant Nyenze Cricket Nyuki Bee Nyungi Wasp Nyungunyungu Earthworm Nondo Moth Nzi Housey Nzige Locust Panzi Grasshopper Sisimizi Black ant Tandu Centipede Tekenya Jigger Utitiri Lice(fowl) Vunjanyungu Praying mantis COMMON TREES Mbuni Mbuyu Mchungwa Mdimu Mfenesi Mforosadi Coee tree Baobab tree Orenge tree Lime tree Jack fruit tree Mulberry tree

Mfuu Mgomba Mkoko Mkorosho Mkunazi Mkuyu Mkwaju Mlimau Mnanasi Mnazi Mpamba Mpaipai Mpera Mpingo Mpunga Mtende Mti mbao Mtofaha Muwa Mwembe Mzambarau

Black berry tree Banana tree Cocoa tree Cashew tree Jujube tree Fig tree Tamarind tree Lemon tree Peniple plant Coconut tree Cotton plant Pawpaw tree Guaver tree Ebony tree Rice plant Palm tree Eucaliptus tree Rose apple tree Sugercane Mango tree Grape vine tree

COMMON FRUITS Balungi Boga Chenza Chungwa Embe Fenesi Pomelo Pumpkin Tangerin Orenge Mango Jackfruit

22

Forosadi Fuu Kitungu Kitungu sumu Koko Korosho Kunazi Kuyu Limau Malenge Nanasi Nazi Ndimu Ndizi Nyanya Papai Pera Pilipili Tende Tikiti Tofaha Tomoko Ukwaju Zabibu Zaituni

Mulberry Black berry Onion Garlic Cocoa Cashew nuts Jujube Mulberry Lemon Pumpkin Peniple Coconut Lime Banana Tomato Pawpaw Guaver Pepper Palm Water melon Rose apple Custard apple Tamarind Grape Olive

Arshi Bashishi Bili Dia Dhamana Faini Fichuo Fidia Hongo Karadhaa Karo Kibarua Kiingilio Kiokozi Kivusho Mahari Marupurupu Masrufu Mchango Mkopo Mshahara Nauli Riba Ridhaa Rushwa Ujira

COMMON PAYMENTS Ada Arbuni Doctor fee Deposite

Murder ne Tip Bill Muder ne Guarantee Court ne Concealment Ransom Bribe Advance no interest loan School fees Wages Entry fee Reward Ferry fare Dowery Etra money from salary House keepinng money Contributions Loan Salary Fare Interest Compesation fee Bribe Wage

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Urathi Ushuru Zawadi

Inheretence Tax Present.prize

NAMES OF PLACES Bandari Baraza Bohari Boma Bunge Dungu Forodha Jukwaa Gane Ghala Ghuba Handaki Hekalu Hosipitali Ikulu Jandoni Joko Josho Kanisa Kilinge Kisima Kisiwa Harbour.Port Reception Ware house Homestead Paliament Stage plat form Custom house Stage Dometry Store Bay Inlet Trench Channel Temple Hospital State house Circumsion place Oven Washing place Church Dancing oor Well Island

Kiwanda Kizimbi Korokoroni Machijinjoni Machungani Mahakama Maktaba Mimburi Mkahawa Mnadaa Msalani Mskiti Roshina Sebule Ulingo Waba Zahanati Zizi

Factory Bird cage Cell Slaughter house Locutive Court Library Pulpit Restrant Coee house Action place Toilet Mosque Balcony Dometry Platform Marshy place Dispensary Cowshed

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