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Swahili lessons

lessons (created by members)

kwenda sokoni

habari gani?
mboga ina bei gani?
mam'ako yuko wapi?
eleza nisikie bei, kama sivyo sitanunua

comment > 2013 NOV-02 18:13 (by Ujuzilugha)

Swahili - illnesses, diseases - magonjwa

tabibu (MA), daktari (MA) - doctor
mtaalamu (M/WA) - expert, specialist
magonjwa (MA) - illnesses, diseases
watoto wachanga (M/WA) - infants
walikuwa wamechubuka - They were bruised

Ni mtaalamu wa magonjwa ya watoto wachanga
(He) is an infant diseases specialist

-umwa - feel pain (in)
shingo (N) - neck
mgongo (M/Ml) - back (of the body)
uso (U/N) - face
jeraha (MA) - wound
dawa (N) - ointment, medicine
plasta (N) - plaster, adhesive dressing
operesheni (N) - operation
asubuhi na mapema - early in the morning
-pasua - operate on (also tear and split)
yu machahe - is awake (lit. ''he is eyes'')
-nena - speak, utter
yu dhaifu - he is weak
-pongea - recover (from a serious illness)

Mungu aklmjalia - God willing, if God enables him (to get better)
- - - - - - - - - -
illnesses, diseases - magonjwa [conversation]

1.Je, habari yake Yusuf? - Yupo hospitalini bado?
How Joseph is doing? - Is he stiil in the hospital?

2.Bado yupo. Jana walikata shauri kufanya operesheni. Leo asubuhi na mapema alipasuliwa. Sasa yu macho, lakini hawezi kunena, ila maneno machache tu. -
He is still (there). Yesterday they took a decision to make a surgery. He was operated today early in the morning. Now he is awake, but cannot speak, except few words.

3.Yu dhaifu? - Is he weak?

4.Yu dhaifu. Lakini atapongea, Mungu akimjalia. -
He is weak. But he wull recover, if God enables him

(from ''Teach Yourself Swahili'' - J. Russell)

comment > 2011 SEP-21 22:15 (by Malie)

Swahili - Polski - zwroty podstawe cz 2

od KPF Polska www.kenya.com.pl

JEDZENIE - CHAKULA
Jestem gĹ‚odny - Nina njaa
Chce mi sie pic - Nina kiu
Jedzenie - Chakula
Kawa - Kahawa
Herbata - Chai
Piwo (wĹ‚asnej roboty)-Tembo/Pombe
LĂłd - Barafu
Mieso - Nyama
Kurczak - Kuku
Ryba - Samaki
Chleb - Mkate
RyĹĽ - Wali
MasĹ‚o - Siagi
Cukier - Sukari
Warzywa - Mboga
Owoce Matunda
Woda - Maji
Mleko - Maziwa
SĂłl - Chumvi
Pieprz - Pilipili
Deser -Tamutamu

comment > 2011 NOV-25 00:17 (by Malie)

Swahili - Polski - zwroty podstawowe cz 3 - czas

od KPF www.kenya.com.pl

CZAS - NAFASI
KtĂłra godzina? - Saa ngapi?
Teraz - Sasa
Dzis - Leo
Jutro - Kesho
Wczoraj - Jana
Rano - Asubuhi
PopoĹ‚udnie - Alasiri
WieczĂłr - Jioni
Dzien - Siku
Tydzien - Wiki
Miesiac - Mwezi
Rok - Mwaka
Niedziela - Jumapili
PoniedziaĹ‚ek - Jamatatu
Wtorek - Jumanne
Sroda - Jumatano
Czwartek - Alhamisi
Piatek - I jumaa
Sobota - Jumamosi

comment > 2011 NOV-25 00:24 (by Malie)

Swahili - Polski podstawowe zwroty częĹ›ć 1

od KPF Poland

POWITANIA/ZWROTY
Czesc ! Jambo! - odpowiedz- Jambo
Do widzenia (jedna /wiecej osĂłb) - Kwaheri/ini
Dzien dobry - Habari ya asubuhi
Dobry wieczĂłr - Habari ya jioni
Do zobaczenia! - Tutaonana! /Kwaheri
Jak sie masz, co sĹ‚ychac Habari? - odpowiedz - Mzuri- dobrze
Dziekuje bardzo (jedna /wiecej osĂłb)- Asante/ni Sana
Prosze - Tafadahli
Prosze (wejdz, zapraszam, rĂłwnie' przy czestowaniu) - Karibu
Przepraszam, ... - Pole
Tak - Ndio
Nie- Hapana/ la
Nie - wiem Sijui
Gdzie?- Wapi?
Tutaj - Hapa
Kiedy? - Lini?
Teraz - Sasa
WkrĂłtce - Sasa hivi
Dokad? - Mpaka/hadi wapi?
Skad?- Kutoka wapi?
Przepraszam - Samahani
Nie ma problemu- Hakuna matata/ hakuna shida
Niebezpieczenstwo - Hatari!
Uwaga! - Angalia!/Onyo!
Zaczekaj! - Ngoja!
Nie rozumiem - Sifahamu/Sielewi
MĂłw powoli - Sema pole pole
Nie mĂłwie w suahili, ale ... - Sisemi kiswahili, lakini...
Jak sie mĂłwi w suahili...? - Unasemaje kwa kiswahili...?
Czy mĂłgĹ‚bys to powtĂłrzyc? - Sema tena/ waweza kurudia
W porzadku - Sawa
Swietnie - Safi

comment > 2011 NOV-25 00:17 (by Malie)

Swahili - survial part 1

BASICS
My name is / I am calledJina langu ni/ Ninaitwa
Where are you from?Unatoka wapi?
Where are you staying?Unakaa wapi
I am fromNinatoka
I am staying (at / in).Ninakaa
See youTutaonana (Lit. ''We shall meet'')
YesNdiyo (Lit. it is so)
NoHapana
I donâ€™t understandSifahamu / Sielewi
I donâ€™t speak Swahili butSisemi Kiswahili, lakini
How so you say in Swahili?Unasemaje na Kiswahili
Could you repeat that?Sema tena (Lit. speak again)
Speak slowlySema pole pole
I donâ€™t knowSijui
Where?Wapi?
HereHapa
When?Lini?
NowSasa
SoonSasa hivi
Why?Kwa nini?

comment > 2011 NOV-25 00:17 (by Malie)

Swahili Grammar Basics part 1

Basics(from www.kamusi.org)

1.There are no definite or indefinite articles in Swahili.
2.All other words in a sentence which refer to a given noun (i.e. adjectives, possessives, verb subjects or objects, etc.) must be made to agree with that noun. This is done by use of the appropriate prefix for that noun class.
There are two basic prefixes for each class: the NOMINAL PREFIX and the PRONOMIAL PREFIX.
3.The NOMINAL, or ''noun'' prefix determines to which class a noun belongs. This identical prefix occurs on adjectives which refer to that noun:
4. Clas. 1 to 10, in which the odd numbers denote singular nouns and even numbers the plurals. For example, in Class 1 mtu person, in Class 2, watu people. Swahili has a total of 15 noun Clas..
5.The PRONOMIAL, or ''pronoun'' prefix is used in all other constructions: verb subjects and objects, possessive and demonstrative pronouns, the interrogative -pi?, the A of relationship and the O of reference, as well as with the forms -enye and -ote (to be explaned later):

e.g. Class 6: matunda yetu haya yote yatakwisha leo this fruit of ours will all be finished today

comment > 2011 SEP-21 21:39 (by Malie)

Swahili Grammar Basics part 2

Basics(from www.kamusi.org)

6.Nouns in Class 1 (M(W)) - 2 (WA) are always animate, i.e. living beings of the animal kingdom

Class 1 (M(W)) - - - - Class 2 (WA)
m-geni - - - - wa-geni - guest
mwana - - - wana - child

In Class 1, the pronominal prefix is irregular, the two forms shown below reflect current (A) and ancient (YU) usage with verbs.
Noun prefix is mu, heard in Swahili as m before consonants. Before vowels, the u in this prefix is activated: mu > mw, with the except of before u where it is increasingly these days heard as mu.

The Class 2 noun prefix is wa. When it precedes a vowel, certain changes take place: wa a > wa, wa e > we, wa i > we. Note that the two vowels merge into one. Before o and u this shortening does not take place in nouns: wa o > wao, wa u > wau.

comment > 2011 SEP-21 21:45 (by Malie)

Swahili Grammar Basics part 3

Basics(from www.kamusi.org)

7. Class 3 (M) - sing. - Class 4 (MI) - plural
M-KATE MI-KATE

In Class 3 - 4, several categories of inanimate things, but many Class 3 - 4 nouns cannot be categorized in this way.

Class 3 (M) Class 4 (MI)
mti - miti - tree/ trees
mwanzi - mianzi - bamboo shoot/ bamboo clusters
mwembe - miembe - mango tree/ mango trees
mji - miji - town/ towns

Class 3 and 4 with Adjectival Prefix:
mti mrefu - a tall tree
milango mipya - new doors

Class 3 and 4 with Pronominal Prefix:
Mti umeanguka - The tree has fallen.
Mikate imekwisha - The bread (plural) is finished

comment > 2011 SEP-21 21:54 (by Malie)

Swahili Grammar Basics part 4

8. Class 5 ((JI)) sing. - 6 (MA) plural
Clas. 5 - 6 incorporate a number of categories of items like a large number of foreign words, many of which designate persons - either as terms of relationship or titles of rank or profession.
Class 5 nouns have either a JI prefix or no prefix at all. All mono-syllabic stems must have the JI prefix, which then takes the stress. Stems that begin with a vowel are all prefixed with JI but in this case the I disappears, leaving

only J.

One of the functions of Class 5 is to signify augmentative meaning, stems from other noun Clas., either without a prefix or prefixed with JI are thus made augmentative: mtu, a person (Class 1) becomes jitu, a giant (Class 5).
When so used, the JI is retained in the plural, with Class 6 MA prefix not replacing, but preceding JI: majitu, giants.

Class 5 ((JI)) sing Class 6 (MA) plural
jicho macho eye/ eyes
tawi matawi branch/ branches
jiji majiji large city/ cities (from mji)

Class 5 and 6 with the Adjectival Prefix
Adjective stems with more than one syllable of Bantu origin take no prefix when agreeing with Class 5, except those beginning with a vowel, which will take J of the JI prefix. All monosyllabic stems require the JI prefix. Class 6 agreement is MA.
- papai dogo - a small papaya
JI gari jipya - a new car
MA meneno machache - a few words

Class 5 and 6 with the Pronominal Prefix
The pronominal forms for Class 5 and 6 are LI and YA, respectively.
LI Gari lile limeharibika. - That car has broken down.
YA - Majani yote yamekatwa. - All the grass is cut.

comment > 2011 SEP-21 22:00 (by Malie)

Swahili Grammar Basics part 5.1

9. Class 7 (KI) sing. - 8 (VI) plural

Clas. 7 - 8 contain mainly names of inanimate objects, but also diminutives, and terms for people with physical defects, commonly taken to have a derogative connotation. Nouns of other Clas. are made diminutive prefixing

KI to the noun stem: kitoto, an infant. In the case of monosyllabic stems, JI is inserted: kijitu, a dwarf, if the stem begins with a vowel, J is inserted: kijoka, a little snake.

Class 7 - Class 8
KI-TABU - VI-TABU
kitu - vitu - thing/ things
kisu - visu - knife/ knives
kipofu - vipofu - blind person/ blind people
kiziwi - viziwi - deaf person/ deaf people
Diminutives from other noun Clas.:
kitoto - vitoto - infant/ infants - (from mtoto)
kijiji - vijiji - village/ villages - (from mji)
Nouns related to verbs:
kifuniko - vifuniko - cover, lid - (kufunika)

comment > 2011 SEP-22 14:21 (by Malie)

Swahili Grammar Basics part 5.2

Class 7 - 8 with Adjectival Prefixes
The prefixes by which adjectives agree with Class 7 and 8 are KI/ CH and VI/ VY respectively, the form depending on whether the adjective stem begins with a consonant or a vowel
KI - kitabu chema - a good book
VI - visu vikali - sharp knives

Class 7 - 8 with the Pronominal Prefixes
In Clas. 7 - 8, the prefixes for all pronominal forms are like the noun/ adjective prefixes: Class 7 takes KI/ CH, Class 8 takes VI/ VY.
KI - Kikombe changu kimevunjika. - My cup is broken.
VI - Vitambaa vyote vimefuliwa. - All the cloths have been washed.

comment > 2011 SEP-22 14:22 (by Malie)

Swahili Grammar Basics part 6.1

10. Class 9 - 10 ''N Class''
Clas. 9 - 10 have the largest number of foreign words of any noun class in Swahili, thus making the total vocabulary very large and very diverse as to content.
There is no singular-plural distinction in the Class 9 - 10 noun prefix: basically it is a nasal, but its actual form depends on the first sound of the noun stem.

a. Noun stems beginning with a voiced non-nasal consonant - b, v, d, z, j, g:
M before b and v - mbegu - seed - mvua - rain
N before d and z - ndizi - banana - nzige - locust
NY before j - njia - path, way - - -
NG' before g - ngozi - skin, hide - ngoma - drum, dance

b. Noun stems beginning with a nasal - m, n, ng':
These have no prefix before the noun stem: mama, mother, mende, cockroach, nazi, coconut, nundu, hump (on cattle), ng'ombe, ox or cow.

c. Noun stems beginning with voiceless consonants - p, f, t, s, sh, ch, k:
These have no prefix before the noun stem, but stronger aspiration is heard in the speech of some areas, particularly in p, t, ch, k.
pete - ring, fagio - brooms, tembo - elephant, simba - lion, shingo -neck, chupa - bottle, kuni - firewood, kiu - thirst.

comment > 2011 SEP-22 15:29 (by Malie)

Swahili Grammar Basics part 6.2

d. Noun stems beginning with a vowel - a, e, i, o, u:
These are prefixed with NY: nyama - meat, nyimbo - songs, nyongo - bile, nyumba - house, building.

e. Noun stems beginning with l or r:
The l or r changes to d and is then prefixed with N: ndimi - tongues.

d. Noun stems beginning with w:
The w changes to b and is then prefixed with M: mbati - building poles .
Following are a few words of foreign origin in Class 9 - 10. Plural forms are not listed since they are identical to the singular.
lugha - language, safari - journey, damu - blood , meza - table, motokaa - automobile

comment > 2011 SEP-22 16:38 (by Malie)

Swahili Grammar Basics part 6.3

(from mwanasimba.online.fr/E_Chap11.htm)

Clas. 9 to 10 with the Adjectival Prefixes

The adjective takes the prefix N if the adjectival root starts with D, G ou Z :
N - DOGO - NDOGO ( small, little)
N - GUMU - NGUMU ( hard)
N - ZURI - NZURI ( beautiful, nice)

The adjective takes the prefix M- if the adjectival root starts with B, P ou V :
M - BAYA - MBAYA ( bad)
M - PYA - MPYA ( new)
M - VIVU - MVIVU ( lazy)

The adjectives whose roots start with other consonants do not take any prefix, except for -REFU which makes : NDEFU ( long, high).

When stem is a vowel the prefis does not change.
SINGULAR (Class 9) and PLURAL (Class 10)
N E - NYE : Nguo nyeupe - A white cloth / White clothes
N I - NYI : Nguo Nyingine - Another cloth / Other clothes

except : N EMA - NJEMA ( good)

Clas. 9 and 10 with Pronominal Prefixes
For all verb subjects and objects and pronoun forms prefix is I, became Y before vowels, the Class 10 prefix is ZI.
I - Mvua ilinyesha mchana kutwa. - It rained the whole day.
ZI - Ndizi tulizozila - - - - - - -The bananas which we ate

comment > 2011 SEP-23 08:52 (by Malie)

Swahili Grammar Basics part 6.4

Special features of Clas. 9 and 10
i) Nouns in these Clas. which denote personal relationships need special attention. Because they are animate nouns, they are treated as Class 1 - 2 nouns for all agreements except possessive, which have normal Class 9 -10 agreements:
mama yangu my mother, dada zangu my sisters, rafiki zetu our friends, jirani zao wazuri their nice neighbors

Note also:
marafiki zetu our friends (i.e. circle of friends)
majirani zao their neighbors (neighborhood)

ii) Place names alone take Class 9 prefixes:
Moshi ipo sehemu ya kaskazini ya Tanzania. Moshi is in the northern part of Tanzania.
Uganda ipo kaskazini-magharabi ya Tanzania. Uganda is northwest of Tanzania.

But if the place name is used together with a noun, the class prefix agreeing with that noun is used:
Mji wa Moshi upo sehemu ya kaskazini ya Tanzania. The town of Moshi is in the northern part of Tanzania.

iii) Peke is a Class 9 noun meaning ''the condition of being alone''. It is always used with the possessive:
peke yangu - I alone, by myself
peke yetu - we alone, by ourselves

comment > 2011 SEP-23 09:18 (by Malie)

Swahili Grammar Basics part 7.1

Class 11/ 14

Swahili Class 11/ 14 is a combination of two Bantu noun Clas.. Historically, Bantu Class 11 nouns have their plural in Class 10, while Class 14 are abstract nouns lacking a plural. Others included in this class are mass nouns which also lack a plural, and names of a few countries which, although Class 11 in form, take Class 9 and 10 agreements.

The noun prefix is U, this being a singular form. Nouns which have plurals most commonly form them in Class 10, but a few in Class 6, and all Class 10 or Class 6 agreements apply to the plurals thus formed
U - SIKU - - -
Class 11/ 14 - Class 10 -
umio - - - mio - throat/ throat
upande - - pande - side, direction/ sides
usu - - - nyuso - face/ faces
wakati - - - nyakati - time, season, opportunity/ times
wimbo - - -nyimbo - song/ songs
ulimi - - - ndimi - tongue/ tongues
- Class 6 -
ugonjwa - magonjwa - disease/ diseases
Abstract nouns, Mass nouns, Names of countries, no plural:
uzuri - â€¦ - -â€¦.. - beauty
ugumu - - - - - difficulty
umoja - - - - - unity
unga - - - - - flour
wali - - - - - cooked rice
Ufaransa - - - France
Ulaya - - - Europe

comment > 2011 SEP-23 14:10 (by Malie)

Swahili Grammar Basics part 7.2

Class 11/ 14 with the Adjectival Prefix:
Class 11/ 14 is the sole except to a rule cited earlier: that noun and adjectival prefixes are identical. Adjectives agreeing with Class 11/ 14 nouns, instead of taking the Class 11/ 14 noun prefix, take an adjectival prefix

identical with that of Class 3: i.e., M(U).
udongo mgumu hard soil
wimbo mzuri a nice song
usiku mwema a good night

Class 11/ 14 with the Pronominal Prefix:
The Class 11/ 14 pronominal prefix is U, became W before vowels (again, identical to Class 3).
U
Uwindaji haramu ukomeshwe. Illegal hunting should be stopped.
Ugonjwa huu ndio tunaoogopa. This is the disease we fear.
Uzito wa mzigo ulitushinda. The load's weight was too much for us.

comment > 2011 SEP-23 14:12 (by Malie)

Swahili Greetings - part 2

from kamusi.org

Hujambo Mama/Baba How are you? (Usual reply: Sijambo [asante])
(Bibi grandmother, Babu grandfather)
Hamjambo How are you? (Plural)
Habari gani? familiarly, â€śany news?â€ť
Hodi! May I enter? (â€śKaribuâ€ť is usually the answer, welcoming you in)
Ninatoka New York I come from New York.
Salaam nyingi! many greetings
Shikamoo mzee (traditionally a respectful greeting to your elders)
Mimi Acacia. I am Acacia.
Jina langu Acacia I am Acacia.
Asante sana kwa ukarimu wako. Thank you for your hospitality.
Asante kwa chakula kizuri kabisa. I appreciate the fine food.
Shukrani! Thanks! (Nakushukuru sana Thanks very much)
Bila samahani! (Donâ€™t mention it! You are welcome!)
Hapana neno! (Thatâ€™s alright. No need to ..)
Natumaini afya yako ni njema. I hope you are in good health.
Nisamehe Kiswahili changu si bora sana. Excuse my Swahili. Itâ€™s not very good.
Mama/Baba mkwe mother/father-in-law
Mkwe wa kiume son-in-law
Mkamwana daughter-in-law
Nimefika kukusalimu.: (I have come to say â€śHelloâ€ť)
Nakutakia kila la heri! (good luck! I wish you all the best!)
Inshallah! (If God wishes). Although Islamic, itâ€™s ofter used as a generic wish)
Safari njema! Have a good trip!
Naomba â€¦.. Could I have? May I have? (Tafadhali please)
Safi sana! Great! Marvellous!

comment > 2011 NOV-24 23:53 (by Malie)

Swahili Greetings part 1

from kamusi.org

Very formal, older people

Shikamoo shangazi? Marahaba, mwanangu

Formal
Waambaje? Sina neno.
U hali gani? Njema
Hujambo Priscilla? Sijambo
Habari Priscilla? Mzuri or Nzuri

Informal

Hali Priscilla? Literally - what's the state of you? Contraction of U hali gani?
Sema Priscilla? Literally - tell me - I think this developed from Waambaje which means 'what are you saying'
Niambie Priscilla? Literally - tell me
Mambo Priscilla? Literally 'Issues'
Vipi Priscilla? Literally 'How'
Sasa? Literally 'now'

Salama (Literally safe) is the correct response to all of these - which could be loosely translated as 'what's up?', as is fiti, which is from the English 'fit'.

To tourists

Jambo? Jambo - singular of Mambo above. I have never heard any local say Jambo. Try not to say Jambo bwana - lyrics to old song.

comment > 2011 NOV-24 23:53 (by Malie)

Swahili Greetings part 3

USEFUL GREETINGS
Jambo or HujamboHello, good day, how are you? (multy-purpose greeting, means''problems?'')
Jambo or Sijambo(the response)No problems
Habari?How are things? (literally''news?'')
NzuriFine, good, terrible
Hodi!Hellow? Anyone in? (said on knocking or entering)
KaribuCome in, enter, welcome(also said on offering something)
Kwaheri/ niGoodbye to one/ many
Asante/ niThank you to one/ many
SanaVery(acommon emphasis)
BwanaMister, the equivalent of monsieur in French
MamaLike the French madame or madamoiselle, for adult women
KijanaYouth, teenager(pl, vijana)
MtotoChild, kid(pl, watoto)
Jina lako nani?Whatâ€™s your name?/ What
Unaitwaje?Are you called?

comment > 2011 NOV-25 00:18 (by Malie)