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what we offer
One stop for all your Kiswahili needs
This website meets all your needs for learning Kiswahili for practical purposes. There is abundant content you can learn right off the website, to help you decide whether you want to learn more in a conversational way with Dr. Mushi. Greetings, days of the week, times of the day, and short phrases to start conversation are available free of charge. When you call Dr. Mushi you will learn additional key vocabulary, phrases and sentences of your choice, as well as some tips for effective communication in Kiswahili. Visitors to Tanzania will find this website very useful, because it provides important basics for learning to speak Kiswahili with native speakers.
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Kiswahili dinner at a nearby restaurant. Stay tuned for specific address, day and time.
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Sunday Deals
Calls on Sundays between 2 and 6 are half price.
Popularity of Kiswahili
The popularity of Kiswahili is growing around the world. Kiswahili is taught in many universities and colleges.
FAQs
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The Very First Step
Correct pronunciation of Kiswahili words depends heavily on ability to pronounce the five Kiswahili vowels, which are:
1. /a/ as in cart
Sample words: dada (sister), barabara (road), mama (mother), baba (father)
2. /e/ as in egg
Sample words: wewe (you), lete (bring), embe (mango), twende (let's go)
3. /i/ as in ink
Sample words: sisi (us/we), pikipiki (motorcycle), wimbi (wave), kiti (chair)
4. /o/ as in orange
Sample word: popo (bats), moto (fire) kopo (tin/can) robo (one fourth/quarter)
5. /u/ as in June
Sample words: uhuru (independence), utu (humanity), kuu (main), supu (soup)
Sample Casual Conversation
A First Encounter
Learning some key Kiswahili words and phrases that will enable you to navigate your way with native speakers as you visit different parts of Tanzania
Preparation for travel to Tanzania or any other Kiswahili speaking country needs to include ability to correctly pronounce a few important words in Kiswahili. Words and phrases that are often used in casual conversations are important to know. These include:
"Habari gani" (how are you); and the response is "nzuri" or "salama" (I am fine/ I am well)
"Tafadhali" (please) - as in "Tafadhali naomba kuuliza" [May I ask you (something) please?] The response can be "uliza tu" (ask) or "bila shaka" (without hesitation)
"Samahani" (forgive me) - as in "Samahani nimechelewa kidogo" (Forgive me I am a little late). The response can be "usijali" (don't worry), or "si tatizo" (not a problem).
"Pole" (I am sorry/take it easy) - as in - "Pole kwa maumivu" (sorry for the pain) or "Pole kwa safari" (take it easy - from the journey (implication - "You are tired"). The response is "Asante" (thank you) or "Asante sana" (thank you very much).
preliminary lessons
Learn to Say Days of the Week in Kiswahili
Learn to Say Days of the Week in Kiswahili
Learn to Say Days of the Week in Kiswahili
Siku za Juma (Days of the Week)
Jumatatu = Monday
Jumanne = Tuesday
Jumatano = Wednesday
Alhamisi = Thursday
Ijumaa = Friday
Jumamosi = Saturday
Jumapili = Sunday
Times of the Day
Learn to Say Days of the Week in Kiswahili
Learn to Say Days of the Week in Kiswahili
Alfajiri = Dawn
Asubuhi - Morning
Alasiri - Midday
Mchana = Afternoon
Jioni = Evening
Usiku = Night
About Kiswahili
Kiswahili is a fast growing lingua franca in the eastern part of Africa. It is the national language in Tanzania where it is spoken by literally every Tanzanian, young and old. Kiswahili is also spoken in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi. Being able to speak a little Kiswahili can go a long way to make your travel experience more rewarding
Friendly People
It is a well-known secret to world travelers that Tanzanians are super-friendly people who welcome visitors with open minds and hearts, generosity and willingness to interact and share experiences. Being able to exchange greetings and a few words in Kiswahili is considered polite on the part of visitors, and attracts more warmth and friendliness from hosts.
to travel is to learn
Travel is more than Pleasure
To Travel is to Learn
Selina Lesiaki Prosper Mushi understands that there is no better way to learn about our world, than to travel. The decision to travel is a decision to learn about places, people, different cultures, and ways of life that are different from our own. In this learning process, language is a central tool.
Kusafiri ni Kujifunza (The paragraph above is translated to Kiswahili)
Selina Lesiaki Prosper Mushi anatambua kwamba hakuna njia bora ya kujifunza kuhusu dunia yetu, kuliko kusafiri. Uamuzi wa kusafiri ni uamuzi wa kujifunza kuhusu watu, tamaduni mbalimbali na maisha ambayo ni tofauti na tuliyoyazoea. Katika kujifunza huku, lugha ni chombo muhimu
Need to buy something?
At the Market
Mgeni (visitor): Habari gani (How are you?)
Mwenyeji (Host/s): Nzuri, habari za leo? (Fine, how are you today?)
Mgeni (visitor): Nzuri /salama tu (fine)
Mwenyeji (Host/s): Tukusaidie nini? (How can we help you?
Mgeni (visitor): Machungwa bei gani? (What is the price of the oranges?)
Mwenyeji (Host/s): Moja shilingi hamsini (One is fifty shillings)
Mgeni (visitor): Naomba machungwa mawili (Give me two oranges)
Mwenyeji (Host/s): Shilingi mia moja (One humdred shillings)
Mgeni (visitor): Hela hizi hapa (Here's the money)
Mwenyeji (Host/s): Asante (thank you).
Unaelewa Kiswahili? (Do you speak Kiswahili?)
Mgeni (visitor): Nimejifunza kidogo tu (I learned only a little)
Mwenyeji (Host/s): Unatoka nchi gani? (What country are you from?)
Mgeni (visitor): Natoka Marekani. (I am from Amerika) Haya, Kwa heri (Bye bye now)
Mwenyeji (Host/s): Karibu sana. (You are most welcome)
Mgeni (Visitor): Asante (Thank you).
want to specialize in the science of kiswahili?
Study Academic Kiswahili at the University of Dar es Salaam
Do You Want to Specialize in the Science of Kiswahili?
Study Standard Academic Kiswahili at the Taasisi ya Uchunguzi wa Kiswahili (TUKI), (Institute of Kiswahili Research) University of Dar es Salaam
Here are some useful links:
http://www.princeton.edu/~sap/programs/tanzania/location.html
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6543910.Tanzania_Institute_Of_Kiswahili_Research
http://www.elimuyetu.co.tz/subjects/arts/eng-swa/4.html
http://www.global.oup.com/academic/product/standard-swahili-swahili-dictionary/
http://www.cedol.org/organisation/institute_of_kiswahili_research_47/
Email: tuki@ikr.udsm.ac.tz
Study the Kiswahili language, use it with native speakers at the same time, and interact with them within Kiswahili cultures. You will learn more than just the language.