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Kiswahili
Kiswahili and English are the official languages of Kenya. In the remoter parts of Kenya, the people will not speak English and generally on speak their tribal tongue.
Kiswahili is a gentle blend of languages owing it to the various influences foreign countries have had in the history of Kenya. A mixture of English, Hindi and Portuguese, Kiswahili is pleasant to listen to and kindly phonetic.
The vowels in Kiswahili are pronounced as follows:
Double vowels together, or any two vowels together, are pronounces as two separate syllables.
Kiswahili is a gentle blend of languages owing it to the various influences foreign countries have had in the history of Kenya. A mixture of English, Hindi and Portuguese, Kiswahili is pleasant to listen to and kindly phonetic.
The vowels in Kiswahili are pronounced as follows:
- a - as in Father
- e - as in Better
- i - as in Bee
- o - as in Law
- u - as in Too
Double vowels together, or any two vowels together, are pronounces as two separate syllables.
USEFUL WORDS AND PHRASES
- Welcome ...................................... karibu
- How are you? ............................... habari
- I'm fine, thank you ....................... mzuri
- Goodbye ....................................... kwaheri
- Thank you .................................... asante
- Hello ............................................ jambo or salama
- Thank you very much ..................... asante dana
- Yes ............................................... ndiyo
- No ................................................ hapana
- There is ......................................... kuna
- There isn't ..................................... hakuna
- White people .................................. wazungu
- White person .................................. mzungu
- Today ............................................ leo
- Tomorrow ...................................... kesho
NUMBERS
- One ............................................. moja
- Two ............................................. mvili
- Three .......................................... taut
- Four ............................................ nne
- Five ............................................. tank
- Six ............................................... sita
- Seven .......................................... saba
- Eight ........................................... nane
- Nine ............................................ tisa
- Ten ............................................. kumi
