Quick Swahili Tips
Noun Classes
Swahili has about 18 noun classes that determine prefixes for nouns and their modifiers. Learn the most common classes first, such as M-/Wa- for people, Ki-/Vi- for objects, and N- for animals. These prefixes affect agreement throughout the sentence.
Greetings Matter
Greetings are highly valued in Swahili culture. "Jambo" (Hello) is common for tourists, but "Habari" (How are you/What's the news?) is more authentic. Learn responses like "Nzuri" (Good) and the more formal "Sijambo" (I am well).
Verb Tenses
Swahili verbs use prefixes and suffixes to indicate tense. The present tense uses "na-" (e.g., "ninasoma" - I read), past tense uses "li-" ("nilisoma" - I read/past), and future uses "ta-" ("nitasoma" - I will read). Master these three basic tenses first.
Pronunciation
Swahili pronunciation is relatively straightforward - vowels are pronounced clearly as in Spanish or Italian, and most consonants are similar to English. Stress usually falls on the second-to-last syllable of words. Practice with your AI coach to perfect your accent.
Adjective Agreement
Adjectives in Swahili must agree with the noun class they modify. For example, "mtu mzuri" (good person) becomes "watu wazuri" (good people) in plural. Learning adjective agreements for each noun class is essential for speaking correctly.
Borrowed Words
Swahili has borrowed many words from Arabic, English, Portuguese, and other languages. Recognizing these loanwords can expand your vocabulary quickly. For example, "kitabu" (book) from Arabic, "baiskeli" (bicycle) from English, and "bendera" (flag) from Portuguese.