This week’s Amateur Traveler podcast was on traveling to Zanzibar in Tanzania. You can get by in English in Tanzania but you will have a better experience if you pick up even a little (kidogo) Swahili. Swahili is a simple language since it was formed as a pidgin language to help natives who spoke Bantu languages communicate with Arab traders.

Swahili Pronunciation

Most letters have the same sound as in English. There are only 5 vowel sounds:

a – like a in father
e – like e in get
i – like ee in see
o – like o in old
u – like oo in tooth

here are some different sounds:

dh like th in this
gh, kh like the ch in the Scottish loch or German Bach
ng’ like ng in song
ny like n in onion

Greetings:

hujambo – how are you? (literally – you have no problems?)
sijambo – (response) – I have no problems

hamjambo – how are you ? (plural) (literally – you all have no problems?)
hatujambo – (response) – We have no problems

(at the door of a house) Hodi!
Karibu! – come in
or
Karibuni! – come in (plural)

habari za safari – how was your trip?
habari za asubuhi – how was your morning?
habari za mchana – how is everything today?
habari gani – what news?

Everything I want to know about Swahili I learned from Lion King

• Safari – trip
• Simba – Lion
• Hakuna Matata – no worries
• Pumbaa – simpleton
• Rafiki – friend
• Nala – gift
• Shenzi – uncouth
• Banzai – skulk
• Sarabi – mirage

Additional Resources

• For more information on Swahili I recommend Teach Yourself Swahili Complete Course Package (Book + 2CDs) (TY: Complete Courses)
• Swahili Dictionary

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