The coast
Kiswahili
The welcome language of the coast.
Beginner Intermediate Professional Kids yard Eré Methali
Yard school
A short path a child can clap.
Swahili welcomes the East African coast. Shikamoo is how a child greets an elder.
beginner
Irabu — vowels
Five vowels, always the same. No silent letters.
a e i o u Pure vowels. Stress the second-last syllable. Combined sounds ny ng’ ch dh — read them as one.beginner
Msisitizo — stress
Swahili is not a tone language. Stress almost always sits on the second-last syllable. That is the sign.
Where the voice sits Tap the second-last part.beginner
Habari
News, welcome, and the coastal hello.
Habari Habari asks for the news. Answer with nzuri. Hujambo The classic two-step greeting. Jina langu Names travel well in Swahili.beginner
Familia
Home on the coast, and inland too.
Baba na mama The household in five words. Chakula Water, food, sit down. Soko Count, then buy.beginner · kids
Rangi — colours
A child points. You name. That is the lesson.
Nyekundu Red, white, black, yellow. Kijani Green leaf, blue sky.beginner · kids
Wanyama — animals
Dog, cat, hen, goat, fish — the home menagerie.
Nyumbani Name them at the door. Wanavyofanya Run, jump, eat, drink, sleep.beginner · wisdom
Methali — first sitting
Methali ni nyenzo ya busara. A coastal sitting still opens with one. Elders may correct tone and town.
Methali — first sitting Five to keep in the mouth. Methali · sitting 3 Five more. Hear them. Say them. Methali · sitting 4 A third sitting. Still beginner.beginner · kids
Hisia — feelings
Happy, sad, tired, hungry.
Ninahisi Name the face.beginner · kids
Chakula — food
Rice, ugali, fruit.
Ninataka kula Ask at the table.beginner · kids
Hesabu — six to ten
Keep counting.
Sita hadi kumi After five.beginner
Maswali — questions
Who, what, where, why.
Nani na nini Ask clearly.beginner
Vitenzi — daily verbs
Do, see, know, give, hear.
The core five The spine of a sentence.