Mwangi Swahili

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ELEMENTARY SWAHILI

Lugha na Utamaduni
Peter Mwangi

Northwestern University Libraries: Open Textbook Series


ELEMENTARY SWAHILI

This is the development version of the ELEMENTARY SWAHILI.


The first edition is slated to be published Summer, 2021.

Peter Mwangi. 2020. Elementary Swahili. Evanston: Northwestern University


Libraries.

This title can be downloaded at: [DOI]

Copyright © 2020. Peter Mwangi.

Published under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC


BY-SA 4.0): https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

ISBN:

DOI:

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Disclaimer: Northwestern makes online resources available to all segments of


our community but does not review, edit, or endorse all items accessible from
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ELEMENTARY SWAHILI

Contents
1. Introduction to Swahili ................................................................................................................................................ 5
Swahili Alphabets ............................................................................................................................................... 6
Vowels ................................................................................................................................................................. 6
Consonants....................................................................................................................................................... 6
Important Words/Prases in Swahili ........................................................................................................... 7
2. Salamu za Kiswahili/Swahili Greetings.............................................................................................................. 9
Msamiati/Vocabulary ........................................................................................................................................ 9
Salamu I: Hujambo ......................................................................................................................................... 10
Mazungumzo I: Hujambo ............................................................................................................................ 10
Mazungumzo II: Hamjambo ....................................................................................................................... 11
Sarufi/Grammar: Swahili Pronouns ........................................................................................................ 11
Mazungumzo III ................................................................................................................................................ 12
Salamu II: Habari Gani?/What is the News? ..................................................................................... 12
Mazungumzo IV ............................................................................................................................................... 12
Salamu III: Hujambo?/Habari gani?/Shikamoo?.............................................................................. 13
Mazungumzo V: Mwanafunzi na Mwalimu ......................................................................................... 13
Mazungumzo VI: Mwalimu na Wanafunzi ........................................................................................... 14
Salamu IV: Mambo?/Mambo vipi?/Sasa?/Niaje?............................................................................ 14
Mazungumzo VII: Mazungumzo ya vijana .......................................................................................... 14
3. Shughuli za Kila Siku/Daily Activities................................................................................................................ 16
Msamiati/Vocabulary ..................................................................................................................................... 16
Mazungumzo I: Shughuli za Asubuhi .................................................................................................... 17
Shughuli za Mchana.................................................................................................................................. 18
Shughuli za Jioni ......................................................................................................................................... 18
Shughuli za Usiku....................................................................................................................................... 19
Note on Sarufi/Grammar.............................................................................................................................. 19
4. Nyakati za Kiswahili/Swahili Tenses ................................................................................................................. 20
5. Kumkaribisha Mgeni/Welcoming the Visitor.................................................................................................. 23
Msamiati/Vocabulary ..................................................................................................................................... 23
Mazungumzo I .................................................................................................................................................. 24
Mazungmzo II: Fatuma na Erin ................................................................................................................ 24
6. Familia/Family .............................................................................................................................................................. 26
Msamiati/Vocabuary ...................................................................................................................................... 26

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ELEMENTARY SWAHILI

Verbs...................................................................................................................................................................... 26
Possessives ....................................................................................................................................................... 27
Adjectives ............................................................................................................................................................ 27
Mti wa Familia/Family Tree ........................................................................................................................ 28
Mazungumzo I: Kusema kuhusu Familia ............................................................................................ 28
Possessives in Swahili.................................................................................................................................. 29
Mifano/Examples ............................................................................................................................................. 30
Swahili Adjectives ........................................................................................................................................... 30
7. Kazi/Occupation .......................................................................................................................................................... 32
Msamiati ............................................................................................................................................................... 32
Kusema kuhusu familia na kazi................................................................................................................ 33
8. Familia, Nchi, Uraia, na Lugha/Family, Country, Nationality, and Language............................... 34
Unatoka Wapi na Unaishi Wapi?/Where Are You From and Where Do You Live? ...... 36
9. Nina Lakini Sina/I have but I do not have ....................................................................................................... 37
Msamiati/Vocabulary ..................................................................................................................................... 37
Kuuliza/Inquiring .............................................................................................................................................. 37
Mifano katika sentensi: ................................................................................................................................. 38
10. Ninapenda lakini sipendi/I Like but I Do Not Like ....................................................................................... 39
Msamiati/Vocabulary................................................................................................................................. 39
Mifano.................................................................................................................................................................... 40
11. Je, Unasoma Wapi?/Where Do You Study?................................................................................................. 42
Msamiati/Vocabulary ..................................................................................................................................... 42
Mazungumzo I: Neema na Erin wanakutana katika kongamano la masomo ya Kiafrika.
.................................................................................................................................................................................. 43
12. Nambari/Nominal Numbers ................................................................................................................................... 46
Msamiati/Vocabulary ..................................................................................................................................... 46
Ordinal Numbers.............................................................................................................................................. 55

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ELEMENTARY SWAHILI

1. Introduction to Swahili
Swahili or Kiswahili is a bantu language that is spoken in East Africa/Afrika
Mashariki. It is both a national and official language in Kenya and Tanzania and
is the official language of the East African Community member states which
include: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and South Sudan. Swahili
is spoken in other African countries such as Democratic Republic of Congo
(DRC), Mozambique, and the Comoros Islands. It is also taught in Ghana, South
Africa, Zimbabwe, and many countries outside Africa. In the U.S. Swahili is the
leading sub-saharan African language that is taught in colleges and universities.

Can you identify the East African countries that use Swahili on the map below?

What do you think is the importance


of having Swahili as a national
language in Kenya and Tanzania?

What is the population of Kenya and


Tanzania? Can you calculate the
population in East Africa that at least
speaks Swahili based on the
population of the two countries?

Swahili is used as a language of


instruction in Tanzania up to high
school but taught as a subject at
schools in other East African
countries.

The Swahili speakers have interacted


with many speakers of other
languages over a long period of time.
For this reason, Swahili has
borrowed words from some of these
languages, especially Arabic. Swahili
uses Roman alphabets and is written
from left to right. However, there are certain English alphabets that do not exist in
Swahili and there are a couple of Swahili alphabets that are not in English.

Swahili is an agglutinative language and for that reason, a verb can be a


sentence on its own because it may contain all the grammatical elements of a
Swahili sentence. Further, Swahili is spoken the way it is written and written the
way it is spoken.

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ELEMENTARY SWAHILI

Swahili Alphabets
Vowels

Letter Swahili English

A amka get up

E embe mango

I ita call

O oga shower

U uma bite

Consonants

Letter Swahili English

B baba father

Ch chai tea

D dada sister

Dh dhahabu gold

F familia family

G gauni gown

Gh ghali expensive

H heri good luck

Kh kheri good luck

J jaa become full

Nj njaa hunger

K kaka brother

L lala sleep

M mama mother
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ELEMENTARY SWAHILI

Mb mbaya bad

N nani? who?

Nd ndani inside

Ng ngamia camel

Ng’ ng’ombe cow

Ny nyanya tomato or grandma (Kenya)

Nz nzito heavy

P papa shark

R rais president

S sasa now

Sh shamba farm

T tamu sweet

Th thamani value

V vaa wear

W watu people

Y yaya babysitter

Z zawadi gift

Important Words/Prases in Swahili


Here is a list of words that you will mostly need to use while learning Swahili.

Swali Question Jibu Answer

Asante Thank you Karibu Welcome

Tafadhali Please Tafadhali sema tena Please say it again

Sijui I do not know Samahani I am sorry or excuse


me

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ELEMENTARY SWAHILI

Umeelewa Do you understand? Sielewi I do not understand

Ndiyo Yes Hapana No

Nimesahau I have forgotten Siwezi kukumbuka I cannot remember

Pole Sorry Mwalimu Teacher

Sawa Ok Sawa Not ok

Samahani, naomba kwenda msalani, nje ... Excuse me, I would like to go to the bathroom
outside, etc

Unasemaje X kwa Kiswahili? How do you say X in Swahili?

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ELEMENTARY SWAHILI

2. Salamu za Kiswahili/Swahili Greetings


Swahili greetings depend on the age of the participants, time of the day, and the
context (formal or informal). Swahili greetings tend to be long and are usually
initiated by the young persons to the older ones although the vice versa does
happen.

Msamiati/Vocabulary
Habari news Nzuri, salama, safi, fine
njema

Habari za X, Y, Z News of X, Y, Z Asubuhi morning

Mchana day time Jioni evening

Usiku night Familia family

Baba dad Mama mom

Dada sister Kaka brother

Chuo university Kazi job

Rafiki friend Mbwa dog

Paka cat Nyumbani home

Hujambo How are you? Sijambo I am fine

X hajambo how is he or she? Hajambo He or she is fine

X na Y hawajambo How are X and Y Hawajambo they are fine

sina I do not have Kwaheri Goodbye (1)

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ELEMENTARY SWAHILI

Kwaherini Goodbye all Asanteni Thank you all

Shikamoo a respectful greeting used by a young


person to an older person

Marahaba Response of Itwa called


shikamoo

jina langu ni My name is Nina I have

Mambo?; Sasa?; Niaje?; Mambo vipi?; Vipi? What's Up?

Poa, freshi, safi cool

Salamu I: Hujambo
Hujambo is one of the most common greetings in Swahili. It is usually used
among agemates. However, if someone who is older than you greets you using
hujambo, you respond to the greeting word and greet them back using an age
appropriate greeting that we shall learn.

Mazungumzo I: Hujambo
Asha: Hujambo, Ali?

Ali: Sijambo, Asha. Na wewe je, hujambo?

Asha: (Mimi) sijambo.

Ali: Kaka hajambo?

Asha: (Yeye) hajambo. Je, dada hajambo?

Ali: Hajambo pia.

Asha: Kwaheri Ali.

Ali: Kwaheri Asha.

Zoezi I: Hujambo
In pairs, practice to greet in Swahili using jambo

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ELEMENTARY SWAHILI

Mazungumzo II: Hamjambo


Ali: Hamjambo Asha na Jamila?

A & J: (Sisi) hatujambo Ali. Wewe hujambo?

Ali: (mimi) sijambo. Baba na mama hawajambo?

A & J: (wao) hawajambo, asante. Je, dada zako hawajambo?

Ali: (wao) hawajambo. Kwaherini.

A & J: Kwaheri, tutaonana baadaye.

Zoezi II: Hamjambo


In groups of 3s, practice to greet in Swahili using hamjambo.

Sarufi/Grammar: Swahili Pronouns


You may have noticed that the jambo greeting changes depending on how many
people are involved. The participants are indicated in the brackets in
mazungumzo II above. There are 3 personal pronouns that exist both in singular
and plural. The pronouns are also marked in verbs to make them grammartical
as shown in the table below.

Person Pronoun Pronoun and Verb itwa/called

Singular

1st Mimi /me or I Mimi ninaitwa Asha

2nd Wewe /you Wewe unaitwa Ali

3rd Yeye /him or her Yeye anaitwa Jamila

Plural

1st Sisi/us or we Sisi tunaitwa Wildcats

2nd Nyinyi/ you all Nyinyi mnaitwa Buckeyes

3rd Wao/they Wao wanaitwa Spartan

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ELEMENTARY SWAHILI

Mazungumzo III
Baraka: Hujambo rafiki?

Pili: Sijambo rafiki. Mimi ninaitwa Pili. Na wewe je, unaitwa nani?

Baraka: Mimi ninaitwa Baraka. Nimefurahi kukufahamu, Pili.

Pili: Nimefurahi kukufahamu pia, Baraka. Je, unatoka wapi?

Baraka: Mimi ninatoka Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Na wewe je, unatoka


wapi?

Pili: Mimi ninatoka Mombasa, Kenya.

Baraka: Kwaheri Pili.

Pili: Kwaheri Baraka.

Zoezi III: Ninaitwa


In pairs, greet each other and introduce yourselves in Swahili.

Salamu II: Habari Gani?/What is the News?


The habari? habari gani? greeting is also a general form of greeting in Swahili.
Just like with hujambo, it is mostly used among agemates. If an older person
greets a younger person using the habari greeting, the younger person responds
to the habari greeting and then greets the older person using the age appropriate
greeting, shikamoo. The response to the habari greeting can either be nzuri,
njema, salama, or safi, all which translate to fine or good. Just like with hujambo
greeting, you can use the habari to inquire about the state of affairs of the person
whom you are greeting such as work, school, pet, family, e.t.c.

Mazungumzo IV
Bahati: Habari gani rafiki yangu?

Musa: Salama rafiki, jina langu ni Musa; ninatoka Nairobi, Kenya.

Bahati: Mimi ninaitwa Bahati; ninatoka Arusha, Tanzania. Habari za


asubuhi?

Musa: Nzuri sana na wewe je?

Bahati: Safi. Habari za safari?

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ELEMENTARY SWAHILI

Musa: Njema. Nyumbani hawajambo?

Bahati: Hawajambo.

Musa: Karibu Nairobi.

Bahati: Asante.

Musa: Ninakutakia siku njema.

Bahati: Asante, ninakutakia siku njema pia.

Zoezi IV: Habari


In pairs, greet each other using habari/habari gani greeting, introduce
yourselves, and bid each other goodbye.
How would you greet someone in Swahili using the habari greeting at the
following times of the day?

 Asubuhi
 Mchana
 Jioni
 Usiku

How would you bid one goodbye in Swahili at the different times of the
day shown below?

 Asubuhi
 Mchana
 Jioni
 Usiku

Salamu III: Hujambo?/Habari gani?/Shikamoo?


In this section, we shall learn how to use the shikamoo greeting together with
hujambo and habari greeting words. Shikamoo is used by a young person to an
adult, professor, or parent figure.

Mazungumzo V: Mwanafunzi na Mwalimu


Mwanafunzi: Shikamoo mwalimu.

Mwalimu: Marahaba. Hujambo?

Mwanfunzi: Sijambo, mwalimu. Habari za mchana?

Mwalimu: Salama, asante. Nyumbani hawajambo?


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ELEMENTARY SWAHILI

Mwanafunzi: Hawajambo.

Mwalimu: Karibu kiti.

Mwanafunzi: Asante sana, mwalimu.

Mazungumzo VI: Mwalimu na Wanafunzi


Mwalimu: Hamjambo wanafunzi?

Wanafunzi: Hatujambo mwalimu, shikamoo?

Mwalimu: Marahaba. Habari za asubuhi?

Mwanafunzi I: Salama, asante.

Mwanafunzi II: Njema.

Mwanafunzi III: Nzuri sana.

Mwalimu: Karibuni ofisini.

Wanafunzi: Asante sana, mwalimu.

(baada ya mazungumzo/after the conversation)

Mwalimu: Kwaherini na muwe na siku njema.

Wanafunzi: Kwaheri na uwe na siku njema pia.

Zoezi V: Kazi ya Vikundi


In pairs, rehearse how you will initiate a Swahili conversation with your
Swahili instructor during the office hour by using the age and time
appropriate greetings.

Salamu IV: Mambo?/Mambo vipi?/Sasa?/Niaje?


In this section, we shall focus on the informal greetings that Swahili speakers use
in their informal interactions. You can use any of the following greeting words in
informal greetings: mambo?, mambo vipi?, sasa?, or niaje?, all which translate to
what’s up?/how is the going? The following responses are used interchangeably:
poa, freshi, or fiti, all which translate to cool.

Mazungumzo VII: Mazungumzo ya vijana


Juma: Mambo vipi Tatu?

Tatu: Freshi! Niaje?

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ELEMENTARY SWAHILI

Juma: Poa sana. Za mchana?

Tatu: Safi! Mambo yanakwendaje?

Juma: Salama na wewe je?

Tatu: Freshi! Baadaye.

Juma: Baadaye.

Zoezi VI: Kazi ya Vikundi


In pairs, practice to use informal Swahili greetings.

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ELEMENTARY SWAHILI

3. Shughuli za Kila Siku/Daily Activities


Msamiati/Vocabulary
Asubuhi morning mchana day time
(afternoon)

Jioni evening Usiku night

amka wake up oga shower

Nawa uso wash face nawa mikono wash hands

sugua meno brush teeth Tayarisha prepare

vaa nguo wear clothes vaa viatu wear shoes

Chakula cha breakfast chakula cha lunch


asubuhi mchana

chakula cha dinner Kiamsha kinywa breakfast


usiku

Kunywa to drink kula to eat

Angalia simu check the phone fanya mazoezi work out

enda chuoni go to school Soma read

pumzika rest or relax rudi nyumbani go back home

Cheza play pika cook

ona televisheni watch tv Zungumza na chat with friends


marafiki

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ELEMENTARY SWAHILI

tembea walk Kimbia run

tembeza mbwa walk dog endesha baiskeli ride a bike

Ona filamu watch a film cheza michezo play video games


ya video

Fanya do kawaida usually

mara kwa mara occasionally Choka be tired

lakini but mapema early

Mazungumzo I: Shughuli za Asubuhi


Rajabu: Mambo Pendo!

Pendo: Poa! Za asubuhi?

Rajabu: Freshi lakini nimechoka kidogo.

Pendo: Pole kwa kuchoka. Je, wewe hufanya nini kabla ya darasa?

Rajabu: Asante. Kawaida, mimi huamka mapema, husugua meno, hunawa


uso, hufanya mazoezi ya futiboli ya Marekani, hurudi chumbani,
huoga, hula chakula cha asubuhi, na huenda darasani. Na wewe
je?

Pendo: Lo! Unafanya mambo mengi sana. Mimi kawaida huamka,


huangalia simu, husugua meno, hunawa uso, humtembeza mbwa,
husikiliza muziki, hujitayarisha, na huenda chuoni kwa basi.

Rajabu: Una bahati sana! Siku njema rafiki yangu.

Pendo: Asante. Siku njema pia.

Zoezi I: Shughuli za Asubuhi


Pamoja na rafiki, sema wewe hufanya nini asubuhi kabla ya darasa.

Zoezi II: Shughuli za Mchana, Jioni, na Usiku


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ELEMENTARY SWAHILI

With a friend, fill out the venn diagrams below with what each of you does
at the different times of the day shown below and what both of you do in
common in the intersection.

Shughuli za Mchana

Shughuli za Jioni

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ELEMENTARY SWAHILI

Shughuli za Usiku

Note on Sarufi/Grammar
You might have noticed that we have attached a prefix hu- to the verbs
describing the activities that we perform at different times of the day. Prefix hu-
indicates the habitual tense. In the next topic, we shall explore how different
tenses in Swahili are marked.

Zoezi III: Scenario

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ELEMENTARY SWAHILI

Your potential host family in East Africa would like to have an idea of how
your normal weekday looks like. Please use the table below to provide
them with the information they have requested from you.

Saa/Time Shughuli/Activity

Asubuhi

Mchana

Jioni

Usiku

4. Nyakati za Kiswahili/Swahili Tenses


Swahili has the following major tenses: past, present, future, past perfect, and
habitual tense. Each of these tenses has a marker that is attached to the verb.
With the exception of the habitual tense marker all the other markers are
attached after the subject/personal pronoun marker. Thus, the Swahili verbal
structure will look as follows for now.

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ELEMENTARY SWAHILI

Subject Marker (SM) + Tense Marker (TM) + Verb (V)

The different markers that are used for different tense markers are as follows.

Past tense = -li- Mimi nilisoma

Present tense = -na- Wewe unasoma

Future tense = -ta- Yeye atasoma

Past perfect = -me- Sisi tumesoma

Habitual tense = hu- Nyinyi husoma

Zoezi I: Swahili Personal Pronouns


Fill the table given below of Swahili pronouns and their markers

Person Singular Marker Plural Marker

1st

2nd

3rd

Zoezi II: Swahili Tenses and Daily Activities


Fill the table given below of Swahili tenses and daily activities by attaching
the personal pronoun markers and tense markers to the verb given in
each row.

Person Past (-li-) Present (-na-) Future (-ta-) Habitual Past


(hu-) perfect (-
me-)

Mimi ____amka

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ELEMENTARY SWAHILI

Sisi ______oga

Wewe _____nawa

Nyinyi ______sugua
meno

Yeye _____kula
kiamsha
kinywa

Wao _____ enda


chuoni

Zoezi III: Talking about Daily Activities Using Different


Tenses
 Je, kawaida wewe hufanya nini kabla ya darasa?
 Je, utafanya nini baada ya darasa?
 Je, ulifanya nini jana jioni?
 Je, utafanya nini leo jioni?
 Je, ulifanya nini wikendi jana?
 Je, utafanya nini wikendi hii?

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ELEMENTARY SWAHILI

5. Kumkaribisha Mgeni/Welcoming the Visitor


In many communities in East Africa, people visit each other with or without a
notice. Culturally, the host is expected to welcome the guest/visitor by serving
them with tea and food. On the other hand, it would be considered rude for the
visitor not to accept what they are served. Guests request to be allowed into the
house by saying, “hodi!” which can either be accompied by a knock on the door
or not.

Msamiati/Vocabulary
Hodi! May I come in? Karibu welcome

Asante thank you Salamu Greetings

kiti seat chai tea

Chakula food safari journey

familia family Kazi work

chuo university toka leave

Fika arrive mgeni visitor

mwenyeji host Maktaba library

bafu bathroom rudi return

Choka tired Pumzika rest

bahati luck kwa hiyo au therefore


hivyo

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ELEMENTARY SWAHILI

Mazungumzo I
Mgeni: Hodi! Hodi!

Mwenyeji: Karibu! (baada ya kufungua mlango). Karibu ndani.

Mgeni: Asante. Shikamoo mama. Jina langu ni Erin.

Mwenyeji: Marahaba. Hujambo? Mimi ninaitwa Mama Fatuma. Karibu kiti.

Erin: Sijambo. Asante sana, Mama Fatuma.

Mama F: Hamna shida. Habari za safari?

Erin: Nzuri sana lakini imekuwa ndefu sana.

Mama F: Pole kwa safari. Habari za familia?

Erin: Salama sana.

Mama F: Baba na mama hawajambo?

Erin: Hawajambo.

Mama F: Vizuri sana. Kaka na dada je hawajambo?

Erin: Hawajambo pia.

Mama F: Karibu Kenya.

Erin: Asante sana. Fatuma yuko wapi?

Mama F: Yeye anasoma maktabani lakini atarudi karibuni. Je, utaoga


kwanza ama utakunywa chai?

Erin: Naomba kuoga kwanza.

Mama F: Sawa. Nitakuonyesha bafu ilipo.

Erin: Asante sana, mama.

Zoezi I: Mazungumzo na baba/mama wa Afrika Mashariki


With a partner, rehearse a conversation that you would have with your
host mom/dad upon your arrival in East Africa.

Mazungmzo II: Fatuma na Erin


Fatuma: Mambo Erin!

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ELEMENTARY SWAHILI

Erin: Poa. Habari gani?

Fatuma: Safi sana. Karibu Nairobi!

Erin: Asante sana dadangu. Habari za masomo?

Fatuma: Nzuri kabisa lakini nina wasiwasi wa mitihani wiki kesho. Habari za
familia?

Erin: Bahati njema katika mitihani. Familia haijambo. Nimependa


nyumbani kwenu sana!

Fatuma: Asante. Ungependa kufanya nini leo jioni?

Erin: Karibu dadangu. Labda nitalala mapema kwa sababu nimechoka


sana.

Fatuma: Naelewa. Pole kwa safari.

Erin: Asante, lakini kesho ningependa kwenda mjini kama utakuwa na


nafasi.

Fatuma: Bila shaka. Kesho sina madarasa, kwa hiyo tunaweza kwenda
mjini.

Erin: Asante. Nitaenda kulala sasa.

Fatuma: Karibu na usiku mwema.

Erin: Usiku mwema pia.

Zoezi II: Mazungumzo na kaka au dada wa Afrika Mashariki


In pairs, rehearse a conversation that you might have with your host
brother or sister in East Africa.

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ELEMENTARY SWAHILI

6. Familia/Family
In many African families, the grandparents live together with one of their children.
For this reason, we shall include them in the family tree of a typical immediate
family in East Africa shown below.

Msamiati/Vocabuary
Babu grandfather bibi (Tanzania) grandmother
au nyanya
(Kenya)

Baba dad mama mom

Kaka brother dada sister

baba mkubwa au uncle (dad's Mama mkubwa aunt (mom's


mdogo brother) au mdogo sister)

shangazi aunt (dad's sister) Binamu cousin

ndugu sibling

Verbs
-penda like or love sipendi I do not like

hapendi he or she does not soma read or study


like

toka come from ishi live

ku (+verb) to (infinitive verb) Nina I have

Una You have ana he or she has

Tuna we have mna you all have

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ELEMENTARY SWAHILI

wana they have sina I do not have

huna you do not have hana He or she does not


have

hatuna we do not have hamna you all do not have

hawana They do not have

Possessives
-angu mine -ako yours

-ake his or hers ours -etu

-enu yours (all) -ao theirs

Adjectives
-kubwa big or elder -dogo small or younger

-fupi short -refu tall

-nene stout -embamba slim

-rembo beautiful -pole quiet

-cheshi humorous -zuri good

-baya bad -tiifu obedient

-tundu naughty -zembe lazy

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ELEMENTARY SWAHILI

Mti wa Familia/Family Tree

Mazungumzo I: Kusema kuhusu Familia


Mimi nina familia kubwa.

1. Huyu ni babu yangu, baba wa baba, yeye anaitwa Juma. Yeye anatoka
Kenya na anaishi katika mji wa Naivasha Kenya. Yeye anapenda
kutembea na kulima, lakini hapendi kusafiri.

2. Huyu ni bibi yangu, mama wa baba, yeye anaitwa Tatu. Yeye anatoka
Kenya na anaishi katika mji wa Naivasha pia. Yeye anapenda kupika na
kufuma, lakini hapendi kulima.

3. Huyu ni babu, baba wa mama, yeye anaitwa Yohana lakini aliaga. Yeye
alitoka Kenya katika mji wa Kisumu. Alipenda kusoma gazeti sana.

4. Huyu ni bibi, mama wa mama, yeye anaitwa Achieng’. Yeye anatoka


Kenya na anaishi katika mji wa Nairobi. Yeye anapenda kufuma na
kwenda kanisani, lakini hapendi kuishi mashambani.

28
ELEMENTARY SWAHILI

5. Huyu ni baba yangu. Yeye anaitwa Mbogo. Babangu anatoka Kenya na


anaishi katika mji wa Nakuru. Yeye anapenda soka sana lakini hapendi
kuogelea.

6. Huyu ni mamangu. Yeye anaitwa Zawadi. Mamangu anatoka Kenya na


anaishi katika mji wa Nakuru pia. Yeye anapenda kupika na kununua,
lakini hapendi kulima.

7. Kakangu mkubwa anaitwa Juma, kama babu yangu. Yeye anasoma


katika Chuo Kikuu cha Nairobi. Yeye anapenda kusoma na kusafiri, lakini
hapendi kuogelea.

8. Dadangu anaitwa Tatu, kama bibi yangu. Yeye anasoma katika Chuo
Kikuu cha Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Yeye anapenda muziki na sanaa,
lakini hapendi kupika.

9. Kakangu mdogo anaitwa Mambo. Yeye anasoma katika shule ya


sekondari katika mji wa Nakuru. Kwa hiyo, anaishi pamoja na wazazi
wangu. Yeye anapenda kucheza soka na kukimbia, lakini hapendi
kununua.

10. Mimi ninaitwa Yohana, kama babu yangu. Ninatoka katika mji wa Nakuru,
Kenya, lakini sasa ninaishi katika Mji wa Evanston, IL. Ninapenda
kutazama filamu na kuendesha baiskeli, lakini sipendi kuogelea.

Zoezi I: Familia Yangu


Draw a family tree of your immediate family.
Follow the examples given above to talk about members of your family.

Possessives in Swahili
Here, we shall learn how to use the possessives in Swahili based on the Swahili
personal pronouns as follows

Person Singular Plural

1st -angu -etu

2nd -ako -enu

3rd -ake -ao

29
ELEMENTARY SWAHILI

Mifano/Examples
1. Mama yangu anapenda kupika.

2. Mama yetu anapenda kupika pia.

3. Dada yako anaitwa nani?

4. Kaka yenu anaitwa nani?

5. Rafiki yake anatoka wapi?

6. Rafiki zao wanatoka wapi?

Zoezi II: Possessives


In pairs, use examples of Swahili possessives to talk about members of
your families.

Swahili Adjectives
All Swahili nouns are categorized into specific groups called noun classes. Each
noun class has both the singular and plural form. The noun class for animate
beings belongs to the M/WA noun class(es). M indicates singular while WA
indicates the plural form. These markers are used to mark the adjectives also.
The verbs in M/WA take the subject marker (noun class marker) a- in singular
and wa- in plural. Look at the examples below.

Zoezi III: Adjectives


Follow the examples shown in the table below to fill in the blanks of
possissives, adjectives , and verbs by attaching the appropriate markers.

Noun Noun Class Noun Possessive Adjective Verb


Class Marker

M a- babu yangu mzee analala


WA
wa- babu zetu wazee wanalala

M a- bibi yako mcheshi anafuma


WA
wa- bibi zenu wacheshi wanafuma

M a- baba yake ___refu _________cheza (play)

30
ELEMENTARY SWAHILI

WA
wa- baba zao ____refu _________cheza

M a- mama yangu ___zuri _______pika (cook)


WA
wa- mama zetu ____zuri ______pika

M a- dada ____ako ____rembo ________soma(read)


WA
wa- dada ____enu ____rembo ________soma)

M a- kaka _____ake ____dogo ________kimbia (run)


WA
wa- kaka _____ao _____dogo ________kimbia

M a- mbwa wangu _____pole _______kula


WA
wa- mbwa wangu _____pole ______kula

M a- paka wako _____tundu ______kunywa maziwa


WA
wa- paka wenu _____tundu ________kunya maziwa

Note: We have only used examples of family names and pets. Also, we have
only used adjectives that are originally Swahili that take the adjective markers M
in singular and WA in plural. In the subsequent chapters, we shall use diverse
nouns and adjectives but basically, this is how the noun classes work. See the
following examples of sentences using possessives and adjectives.

Zoezi IV: Adjectives


Follow the examples given below to describe your family members, friend,
and pets.
1. Mama yangu ni mrefu kidogo, mrembo, na mcheshi sana.
2. Baba yangu ni mrefu, mwembamba na mpole.
3. Babu
4. Bibi
5. Dada
6. Kaka
7. Mimi
8. Rafiki
9. Mbwa
10. Paka

31
ELEMENTARY SWAHILI

7. Kazi/Occupation
Msamiati
Askari police daktari doctor

dereva driver Hakimu judge

karani clerk kasisi pastor

kocha coach nahodha captain

mbunge congressman/woman mchezaji player

Meneja Manager mfanyibiashara businessman/woman

Mhandisi Engineer mhasibu accountant

Mhudumu waiter or waitress mkulima farmer

Mkunga midwife Mlinzi guard

mpiga picha photographer Mpishi chef

mshauri advisor mtafiti researcher

Mtangaji broadcaster Muigizaji actor/actress

muuguzi au nurse Mwalimu teacher


nesi

mwanajeshi military officer mwandishi wa journalist


habari

32
ELEMENTARY SWAHILI

mwanasanaa artist naibu raisi deputy president

mwimbaji au musician profesa professor


mwanamuziki

Raisi president Refa referee

Rubani pilot seneta senator

Staafu retire wakili lawyer

Kusema kuhusu familia na kazi


Je, baba yako anafanya kazi gani?

Unaweza kusema:

 Baba yangu ni mwalimu.

 Baba yangu anafanya kazi ya ualimu.

Zoezi I: Familia na Kazi


Je familia yako hufanya kazi gani?

33
ELEMENTARY SWAHILI

8. Familia, Nchi, Uraia, na Lugha/Family,


Country, Nationality, and Language

Nchi/Country Uraia/Nationality Lugha/Language

Afrika Kusini/South Mwafrika Kusini Kizulu, Kikhosa, Kiingereza, ...


Afrika

Marekani/America Mmarekani Kiingereza/English

India Mhindi Kihindi

Italia/Italy Mtaliano Kitaliano

Kanada/Canada Mkanada Kiingereza na Kifaransa/french

Kenya Mkenya Kiswahili, Kiluhya, Kikuyu, Kiingereza


..

Misri/Egypt Mmisiri Kiarabu/Arabic

Meksiko/Mexico Mmeksiko Kihispania

Nigeria Mnaigeria Kiyoruba, Kihausa, Kiingereza ...

Polishi/Poland Mpolishi Kipolishi

Rwanda Mrwanda Kirundi, Kihutu, Kitutsi, Kiswahili,


Kifaransa

Tanzania Mtanzania Kiswahili, Kihaya, Kimaasai ...

Uchina/China Mchina Kichina

Ufaransa Mfaransa Kifaransa

Uganda Mganda Kibaganda, Kiteso, Kiswahili,


Kiingereza ...

Ugiriki/Greece Mgiriki Kigiriki

Uhispania/Spain Mhispania Kihispania

Uholanzi/Holland Mholanzi Kiholanzi

Uingereza/UK Muingereza Kiingereza

34
ELEMENTARY SWAHILI

Ujapani/Japan Mjapani Kijapani

Ujerumani/Germany Mjerumani Kijerumani

Ureno/Portugal Mreno Kireno

Urusi/Russia Mrusi Kirusi

Uswidi/Sweden Mswidi Kiswidi

Uswizi/Switzerland Mswizi Kiswizi

Uturuki/Turkey Mturuki Kituruki

Zoezi I: Kusema Kuhusu Familia


i. Je, watu katika familia yako wanatoka/walitoka wapi?
a. Babu yangu, baba wa baba, anatoka Kenya.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
ii. Je, watu katika familia yako ni raia wa nchi gani?
a. Babu yangu, baba wa baba, ni raia wa Kenya. Kwa hiyo, yeye ni
Mkenya.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
iii. Je, watu katika familia yako wanasema lugha gani?
a. Babu yangu, baba wa baba, anasema Kiswahili na Kiingereza kidogo.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.

35
ELEMENTARY SWAHILI

i.
j.

Unatoka Wapi na Unaishi Wapi?/Where Are You From and Where


Do You Live?
 Mimi ninatoka katika nchi ya Kenya

 Mimi ninatoka katika kaunti ya Nairobi

 Mimi ninatoka katika mji wa Nairobi

Kwa hiyo: Mimi ninatoka katika mji wa Nairobi, kaunti ya Nairobi, nchi ya
Kenya.

Lakini sasa, mimi ninaishi katika mji wa Evanston, jimbo la Ilinois, nchi ya
Marekani.

Sarufi: Notice that nchi, kaunti, mji, and jimbo take different forms of -a. This is
because they belong to different noun classes. We shall learn more about the
use of this -a in the later units.

Zoezi II: Je, watu katika familia yako wanatoka wapi na


wanaishi wapi?
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
vii.
viii.
ix.
x.

Zoezi II: Umetembelea wapi?/Where have you visited?


i. Mimi nimetembelea nchi ya/nchi za ....

ii. Mimi nimetembelea jimbo la/majimbo ya ...

iii. Mimi nimetembelea mji wa/miji ya ...

36
ELEMENTARY SWAHILI

9. Nina Lakini Sina/I have but I do not have


Msamiati/Vocabulary
Paka cat mbwa dog

kompyuta computer simu phone

Kamera camera nyumba house

apatimenti apartment gari car

Baiskeli bicycle pikipiki motorbike

televisheni tv rafiki friend

Mpenzi boy/girl friend kalamu pen

penseli pencil kitabu book

Daftari notebook Ubao wa skatingboard


kuteleza

Mfano: Je, wewe una vitu gani?

Mimi nina kompyuta, simu, na gari, lakini sina paka wala mbwa.

Zoezi 1: Mimi na Rafiki


Je, wewe una vitu gani?
Rafiki yako ana vitu gani?

Kuuliza/Inquiring
We attach the personal pronoun marker to -na followed by the item you are
inquiring about to form a question, which can elicit either a positive or a negative
response.

37
ELEMENTARY SWAHILI

Person +ve response -ve response

Mimi _____na .... sina ...

Wewe _____na ... huna ...

Yeye _____na... hana ...

Sisi _____na ... hatuna ...

Nyinyi _____na ... hamna ...

Wao ____na ... hawana ...

Mifano katika sentensi:


i. Je, wewe una paka?
a. Affirmative: Ndiyo, mimi nina paka.
b. Negative: Hapana, mimi sina paka.
ii. Je, yeye ana mbwa?
a. Affirmative: Ndiyo, yeye ana mbwa.
b. Negative: Hapana, yeye hana mbwa.

Zoezi II: Kuuliza Maswali


With classmates, inquire from each other things that you expect them to
have and the ones you do not expect them to have in order to elicit both
positive and negative responses from them.

38
ELEMENTARY SWAHILI

10. Ninapenda lakini sipendi/I Like but I Do Not


Like
Msamiati/Vocabulary

Kuogelea swimming Kununua buying

kucheza playing Kukwea mlima hiking

kusafiri traveling kufuma knitting

Kupika cooking kutembea walking

kumtembeza walking the dog Kuendesha cycling


mbwa baiskeli

kukimbia running kuendesha gari driving

Kucheza densi dancing kusoma reading

kutazama watching tv Kuvua samaki fishing


televisheni

kawaida usually mara kwa mara occasionally

Kwenda going to the library kenda filamuni going to the


maktabani movies

Kucheza playing video kuosha vyombo doing dishes


michezo ya video games

kusoma reading in the kulima farming or


maktabani library gardening

kupiga picha taking pictures kufanya mazoezi working out

39
ELEMENTARY SWAHILI

kucheza karata playing cards kuzungumza na chatting with


marafiki friends

kwenda ufukweni going to the beach kukutana na meeting with


marafiki friends

Mifano
Juma: Je, kawaida wewe unapenda kufanya nini jioni?

Karim: Kawaida mimi hupenda kutazama televisheni lakini sipendi kufanya


mazoezi. Kawaida mimi hufanya mazoezi asubuhi na mara kwa
mara mchana. Na wewe je?

Juma: Mimi hupenda kuzungumza na marafiki wangu na kucheza


michezo ya video lakini sipendi kusoma maktabani. Kawaida, sisi
husoma nyumbani. Je, utafanya nini wikendi?

Karim: Wikendi nitaenda mjini kukutana na rafiki yangu. Sisi tutakula


chakula mkahawani na tutaenda filamuni. Na wewe je?

Juma: Mimi nitasoma maktabani sana kwa sababu nina mtihani wiki
kesho. Pia, nitaenda sokoni kununua chakula.

Karim: Utaenda sokoni pamoja na nani?

Juma: Nitaenda sokoni pamoja na mkazi mwenza wangu (roommate).

Karim: Mkazi mwenza wako anaitwa nani na anatoka wapi?

Juma: Mkazi mwenza wangu anaitwa Tim. Yeye anatoka katika mji wa
Madison, jimbo la Wisconsin. Rafiki yako anaitwa nani na anatoka
wapi?

Karim: Rafiki yangu anaitwa Peris. Yeye anatoka Nairobi, Kenya. Je, rafiki
yako anapenda kufanya nini?

Juma: Tim anapenda kucheza michezo ya video sana na kumtembeza


mbwa. Na rafiki yako je?

Karim: Peris anapenda kusafiri, kula chakula, na kutazama filamu.

Juma: Je, Peris ni mpenzi wako?

Karim: Ndiyo! Peris ni mpezi wangu. Ninampenda sana! Je, wewe una
mpenzi?

40
ELEMENTARY SWAHILI

Juma: Hapana, mimi sina mpenzi, lakini mkazi mwenza wangu ana
mpenzi. Asante rafiki yangu. Ninakutakia wikendi njema.

Karim: Asante. Wikendi njema pia na bahati njema katika mtihani.

Juma: Asante sana.

Zoezi I: Familia inapenda kufanya nini?


Mwambie rafiki yako watu katika familia yako wanapenda kufanya nini

41
ELEMENTARY SWAHILI

11. Je, Unasoma Wapi?/Where Do You Study?


Msamiati/Vocabulary

Chuo kikuu University Darasa class

Kozi course Mwaka year

Maktaba library Soma study

Kazi ya Homework kazi nyingi a lot of work


nyumbani

kazi chache little work mtihani exam

Karatasi paper mwanafunzi student

Mwalimu teacher profesa professor

Mshauri advisor Kalamu pen

Kompyuta computer Insha essay

Kwenda to go -enda kwa go by

Kurudi to go back nyumbani at home

Gari car Baiskeli bicycle

pikipiki motor bike kutembea to walk

Basi bus treni train

42
ELEMENTARY SWAHILI

kupumzika to rest kuchoka to get tired

-gumu hard Rahisi Easy

fanya marudio review Wasiwasi anxiety

shahada ya first degree Uzamili masters


kwanza

Uzamifu doctorate utafiti research

tasnifu thesis or kuwasilisha to present


dissertation

Wasilisho presentation Kongamano conference

mkutano Meeting programu program

mahojiano Interview

Masomo ya Chuoni/Majors

Mazungumzo I: Neema na Erin wanakutana katika kongamano la


masomo ya Kiafrika.
Neema: Hujambo rafiki! Jina langu ni Neema.

Erin: Sijambo rafiki. Mimi ni Erin. Je, unatoka wapi Neema?

Neema: Ninatoka Dar es Salam, Tanzania. Na wewe je?

Erin: Mimi ninatoka katika mji wa Columbus, Ohio, Marekani. Je


unasoma wapi?

Neema: Mimi ni mwanafunzi katika Chuo Kikuu cha Ohio State. Na wewe
je?

43
ELEMENTARY SWAHILI

Erin Mimi ninasoma katika Chuo Kikuu cha Northwestern. Unasoma nini
chuoni?

Neema: Ninasoma elimu ya siasa. Na wewe je, unasoma nini?

Erin Ninasoma uandishi wa habari. Je, uko mwaka wa ngapi?

Neema: Mimi ni mwanafunzi wa mwaka wa tatu. Na wewe je?

Erin Mimi ni mwanafunzi wa uzamili. Niko katika mwaka wangu wa pili.


Unapenda programu yako?

Neema: Ndiyo, ninaipenda programu yangu lakini nina kazi nyingi za


nyumbani na mitihani mingi. Je, wewe unafanya mitihani?

Erin Mimi kawaida ninaandika insha na kufanya utafiti kwa sababu


ninaandika tasnifu.

Neema: Una bahati sana. Je, unaendaje chuoni?

Erin Kawaida huenda kwa kutembea lakini mara kwa mara ninaenda
kwa basi. Na wewe je?

Neema: Nilienda chuoni kwa kutembea mwaka jana kwa sababu niliishi
katika bweni, lakini mwaka huu ninaenda kwa baiskeli kwa sababu
ninaishi nje ya chuo. Jamani nimefurahi kukufahamu. Ningependa
kuhudhuria wasilisho la mwisho.

Erin Nimefurahi kukufahamu pia. Mimi ninasubiri mahojiano ya kazi

Neema: Kila la heri rafiki yangu.

Erin Asante.

Zoezi I: Maswali ya Mazungumzo


I. Neema anatoka wapi?
II. Je, Erin anatoka wapi?
III. Je, wewe unatoka wapi?
IV. Neema anasoma katika chuo gani?
V. Erin anasoma katika chuo gani?
VI. Je, wewe unasoma katika chuo gani?
VII. Neema yuko katika mwaka gani na yuko katika programu gani?

44
ELEMENTARY SWAHILI

VIII. Je, wewe uko katika mwaka gani na uko katika programu gani?
IX. Erin anasoma nini chuoni?
X. Ni nani anafanya kazi za nyumbani na mitihani chuoni?
XI. Je, wewe unapenda kazi ya nyumbani au mitihani zaidi?
XII. Kwa nini Neema anafanya utafiti?
XIII. Je, wewe unafanya utafiti? Kuhusu nini?
XIV. Wewe ni mwanafunzi wa shahada gani?
XV. Je, wewe unaishi katika bweni au nje ya chuo?
XVI. Neema na Erin wanaendaje chuoni?
XVII. Je, wewe huendaje chuoni?
XVIII. xviii. Je, Neema na Erin wamekutana wapi?

Zoezi II: Familia na Chuo


Je, watu katika familia yako wanasoma/walisoma katika chuo/vyuo
gani?

Zoezi III: Wasilisho/Presentation


Tayarisha wasilisho fupi kuhusu maisha yako ya chuoni/Prepare a
short presentation about your life at school.

45
ELEMENTARY SWAHILI

12. Nambari/Nominal Numbers


Msamiati/Vocabulary
sufuri 0 moja 1

mbili 2 tatu 3

nne 4 tano 5

sita 6 saba 7

nane 8 tisa 9

kumi 10 kumi na moja 11

kumi na tano 15 kuma na tisa 19

ishirini 20 ishirini na tisa 29

thelathini 30 thelathini na sita 36

arobaini 40 arobaini na saba 47

Hamsini 50 hamsini na nane 58

sitini 60 sitini na sita 66

sabini 70 sabini na nne 74

themanini 80 themanini na 88
nane

tisini 90 tisini na tisa 99

46
ELEMENTARY SWAHILI

mia moja 100 mia moja na 101


moja

mia moja na 153 mia moja na 199


hamsini na tatu tisini na tisa

mia mbili 200 mia mbili na 240


arobaini

mia tatu 300 mia tatu na 333


thelathini na tatu

mia nne 400 mia nne na 445


arobaini na tano

mia tano 500 mia tano na sitini 567


na saba

mia sita 600 mia sita na tisini 696


na sita

mia saba 700 mia saba na 777


sabini na saba

mia nane 800 mia nane na 811


kumi na moja

mia tisa 900 mia tisa na sitini 969


na tisa

elfu moja 1000 elfu moja na 1001


moja

elfu moja na mia 1500 elfu moja na mia 1999


tano tisa na tisini na
tisa

47
ELEMENTARY SWAHILI

elfu mbili 2000 elfu mbili na tatu 2003

elfu tatu 3000 elfu kumi 10000

I have Nina Nilizaliwa I was born

mwaka Year Umri age

nina miaka x I am x years old anwani address

barua pepe email nambari yangu my phone number


ya simu

andika write Tuma send

ujumbe message Nambari ya simu phone number

piga simu make a phone call shilingi ya Kenya Kenyan shilling

Shilingi ya Tanzanian shilling Shilingi ya Ugandan shilling


Tanzania Uganda

dola ya Marekani American dollar Nina shilingi X I have X shillings

shilingi x ni dola X shillings is Pesa/Hela Money


y/ Ydollars

Zoezi I: Nambari ya simu


Complete the dialogue below between Jamila and Rafiki. You will be
Jamila’s rafiki.
Jamila: Hujambo rafiki?
Rafiki: _______________________.
Jamila: Salama rafiki yangu. Je, una simu?

48
ELEMENTARY SWAHILI

Rafiki: _______________________________________.
Jamila: Nambari yako ya simu ni gani?
Rafiki: _______.Na wewe je?
Jamila: Nambari yangu ni tatu mbili saba – nne tano sita – tisa moja
sufuri nane (327-456-9104).
Rafiki: Asante, nitakupigia jioni.
Jamila: Nitashukuru. Kama sitaweza kuipokea, tafadhali niandikie
ujumbe.
Rafiki: Sawa. Kwaheri.
Jamila: Kwaheri.

Zoezi II: Vivumishi vya Nambari/Adjectives of Quantity and


Quality
As we previously mentioned, adjectives are marked using the noun class
markers. We shall use M/WA nouns that we have learned so far to demonstrate
how numbers are marked when used as adjectives. Follow the examples given
below to complete the table of nouns, adjectives of quantity/quality, and the
verbs.

NC NCM Noun Quantity Quality Verb

M a- mbwa (1) mmoja mzuri alicheza


WA
wa- mbwa (2) Wawili wazuri walicheza

M a- babu (1) ____refu ______tembea


WA
wa- babu (3) ____refu ______tembea

M a- bibi (1) _____cheshi ______cheka (laugh)


WA
wa- (4) _____cheshi ______ cheka

M a- (1) ______nene ______soma


WA
wa- baba (5) ______nene ______soma

M a- Mama (1) ______dogo _______nunua


WA
wa- (6) sita ______dogo ______nunua

49
ELEMENTARY SWAHILI

M a- dada (1) ______rembo ______imba


WA
wa- (7) saba _____rembo ______imba

M a- (1) _____fupi ______fanya mazoezi


WA
wa- kaka (8) _____fupi ______fanya mazoezi

M mpenzi (1) _____zuri _______pika


WA
(9) _____zuri ______pika

M paka (1) _____dogo ______lala

WA (10 kumi _____dogo ______lala


Note: 6, 7, 9, and 10 are not marked because they are borrowed from Arabic.

Zoezi III: Je, mko wangapi katika familia yako?


i. Nina babu wawili
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
vii.
viii.
ix.
x.

Zoezi IV: Je, watu katika familia yako wana miaka mingapi?
i. Babu yangu ana miaka ______________________.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
vii.
viii.
ix.
x.

Zoezi V: Je, watu katika familia walizaliwa lini?/walizaliwa


mwak gani?

50
ELEMENTARY SWAHILI

i. Bibi yangu alizaliwa mwaka wa elfu moja na mia tisa na hamsini


(1950).
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
vii.
viii.
ix.
x.

Zoezi VI: Wanyama wa Nyumbani (pets)


Je, una wanyama wangapi wa nyumbani?
Je, wanyama wana miaka mingapi?

Zoezi VII: Kuhesabu pesa


Convert the Kenyan shillings shown in the pictures below into Tanzanian
shillings, Ugandan shillings, and the US dollar

Shilingi ya Tanzania Shilingi ya Uganda Dola ya Marekani

51
ELEMENTARY SWAHILI

Shilingi ya Tanzania Shilingi ya Uganda Dola ya Marekani

Shilingi ya Tanzania Shilingi ya Uganda Dola ya Marekani

52
ELEMENTARY SWAHILI

Shilingi ya Tanzania Shilingi ya Uganda Dola ya Marekani

Shilingi ya Tanzania Shilingi ya Uganda Dola ya Marekani

53
ELEMENTARY SWAHILI

Shilingi ya Tanzania Shilingi ya Uganda Dola ya Marekani

Shilingi ya Tanzania Shilingi ya Uganda Dola ya Marekani

54
ELEMENTARY SWAHILI

Shilingi ya Tanzania Shilingi ya Uganda Dola ya Marekani

Ordinal Numbers
You can use the numbers to rank nouns such as
i. Mimi ni mtoto wa nne katika familia.

a. Je, wewe ni mtoto wa ngapi katika familia?

ii. Mimi ni mwanafunzi wa mwaka wa kwanza katika chuo kikuu.

a. Je wewe ni mwanafunzi wa mwaka wa ngapi (mwaka gani?) katika

chuo kikuu?

Zoezi VIII: Insha Kuhusu Rafiki Yangu


Andika insha kuhusu rafiki yako kwa kutumia vidokezo vifuatavyo/Write
an essay about your friend using the following pompts. Respond to the
prompts in one paragraph.
i. Jina lake ni nani?
ii. Anatoka wapi? (nchi, jimbo, mji)
iii. Anakaa/anaishi wapi?

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ELEMENTARY SWAHILI

iv. Ana kaka au dada?


v. Ana nini? (paka, mbwa,…)
vi. Anaenda chuo gani?
vii. Anaendaje chuoni?
viii. Anasoma nini?
ix. Anasema lugha ngapi?/gani?
x. Anapenda nini?
xi. Hapendi nini?
xii. Kwa nini unampenda rafiki yako?

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