On this site I will start to write down basic words, phrases and also some grammar rules in swahili.
For this I am using the book Complete Swahili|teach yourself beginner to intermediate from Joan Russell published in 1996 by Hodder Education An Hachette UK Company and swahili english dictionary books or website
Contents[]
- General words
- Character Names and swahili meanings
- Places
- Verbforms
- grammar rules
- family
- Trivia
- References
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''General words''
Aisha - life
Afua - please
Ajali - Mistake, Accident
Amali - Hope
Asante - Thank you
Bakora - Walking Stick
Bila - Without
Chaka - Doubt
Cheka - Laugh
Daima - Always
Daktari - Doctor
Duka - business, store
Duma - cheetah
Fujo - Aggression
Furahi - Joy/Happiness
Gani - what
Giza - Darkness, dark
Habari - news
Karibu - welcome
Kesho - tomorrow
Kwaheri - Goodbye
Kwaherini - Goodbye (saying to multiple people)
Harufu - Smell
Hakuna - No or There are no
Hapana - No
Haraka - Hurry
Hiyo - Those, Those ones, That, That one
Hofu - Fear
Kuwezi - can do sth.
Jambo - Hello
Jenga - to build something, building
Ka - And then
Kali - Strong
Kabisa - complete
Karibu - Welcome
Kibado - Still
Kiboko - Hippopotamus
Kucheka - Laugh
Kuishi - Live, life
Kumbuka - Remember something or someone
Kupatana - Peace, harmony
Kwa - For, by
Kweli - Real, true, truth
Kweto - Home
Leo - lion, today
Lenga - To aim at sth.
Mashindano - Competition
Matata - Worries
Matunda - fruits
Mjuzi - Know
Miaji - Citizens
Moja - One as in number, but also meaning someone, something
Moto - fire
Moyo - heart
Musuli - Muscles
Mbwana - polite greeting of a mister, also means Lord
Nchi - Land
Ni - is or plural are
Nawaza - To think about sth.
Nzuri - Beautiful
Pamoja - Together
Poa - Cool
Ponda - Smash
Ruka - Jump
Saidia - help
Safari - journey
Sana - very much
Sawa - Similiar, ok
Shani - curiousity
Shwari - Calm
Siku - Day
Simama - Stand
Sisi - We
Tamasha - Concert
Taabu - trouble, worries
Teke - Kick
Teleza - Slide
Tujiinue - Lift ourselfs up
Tuliza- Calm Down
Twende - Let's go
Udugu - Kinship, close friend
Ukumbusho - Memorial
Utamu - Sweetness
Usiguse - Don't touch
Wa - Of
Wapa - Give it up
Walinda - Protect, guard
Walinzi - protector, guard
Wakozi - saviour, life safer
Woja - Come
Yaukoo - Pride as in lion pride
Zimwi - Ghoul
Zama - Dive in
Zuka - Pop up ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
''Characters of the Lion Guard but only those with swahilian names and their name meanings'':
Ajabu - Amazing, Wonderful
Aminifu - Devoted, Faithful, Honest
Askari - Police, Guard, Soldier
Anga - Sky, Air, The Heavens
Badili - Change, Switch
Basi - Ok, Alright
Beshte - derived from English word bestie meaning "best friend"
Boboka - Blabber
Bogino - Short
Bunga - dumb, foolish person
Bupu - Empty
Chama - Party, Society, Club, Group
Cheezi - Possibly derived from Chizi; Crazy
Chungu - Bitter
Chura - Toad
Dhahabu - Gold
Dogo - Small
Fahari - Splendor
Fikiri - to think
Fuli - the african season Vuli (September - November) period of lightest rainfall, and onset of Kaskazi (hottest time of year, with north-east monsoon (named Kaskazi)
Furaha - Happiness
Goigoi - Sluggish, Slow
Gumba - Thumb
Hadithi - Story, Myth, Legend
Hafifu - Weak, Poor
Hamu - Wish, Yearning
Haya - Shame, Modesty
Hodari - Brave, bold
Janja - Knowitall, creative person
Jana - yesterday
Jasiri - Brave
Jiona - Evening
Johari - Essence, Jewel
Juhudi - Effort
Kasi - Work
Kiazi - Potato
Kenge - Monitor lizard
Kiara - Bright, sparkling
Kiburi - Arrogance, Pride
Kifaru - Rhinoceros
Kijana - Young, youth (female)
Kinyonga - Chameleon
Kion - short for Kiongozi meaning Leader
Kitendo - Act, Action, Deed
Kongwe - Ancient, Very Old
Kovu - Scar
Kuchimba - to dig sth. /to really like sth. or to dig
Kulinda - to guard, protect so or sth.
Kwato - Hoof
Laini - Soft, Smooth
Madoa - Spots
Majinuni - Buffoon, Silly Talk
Makucha - Claws
Makini - Calmly, Quietly, With Dignity
Makuu - Chef, boss
Mapigano - Fighting, Battle, Clash
Matembo - Elephant
Mbeya - Bad
Mbuni - Ostrich
Mjomba - Uncle
Mpishi - Cook, Chef
Mtoto - Child
Muhanga - Aardvark
Muhimu - Important, Essential
Mwenzi - Companion
Mwoga - Fear, Cowardice
Mwizi - Thief, Burglar
Mzaha - Joke, Ridicule
Mzingo - Circumference
Masikio - Ears
Mufasa - King
Nabasu - Navas
Nala - Gift, Present (as in give a present to someone)
Nduli - Ruffian, Thug
Nirmala - Clean, Pure
Njano - Yellow
Nne - Four (number)
Nuka - Stink
Nyata - Sneak Along, Stalk
Nyeusi - Black
Nyuni - Bird
Ogopa - Fear
Ona - See from verb kuona to see
Ono - I see (maskulin form)
Ora - Komodo Dragon
Pasha - Net, Snare, Bond
Pua - Nose, Steel
Pumbaa - Dump
Pim - Possibly derived from Pimbi; Hyrax
Polina - Small
Raha - Comfort
Rafiki - Friend
Rani - Queen
Reirei - Possibly derived from Rairai; Flattering
Sarabi - Mirage
Shabaha - Target
Shauku - Enthusiasm
Shingo - Neck
Shujaa - Hero, Fighter
Shupavu - Tough, Stubborn, Pertinent
Simba - Lion
Sita - six (number)
Sokwe - Gorilla or Ape
Starehe - Rest, Comfortable
Swala - Gazelle
Sumu - Poison, Virus, Venom
Surak - Clue
Tafu - Tough
Tamaa - Greed
Tamka - Announce, State
Tano - Five (number)
Tazama - Look
Tiifu - Loyal, Faithful
Tumbili - Monkey
Tunu - Precious, Treasure, Dear
Twiga - Giraffe
Ullu - Owl
Ulaya - shortform Laya (from Kimba the white lion) Europe or european person
Upendo - love
Urafiki - frienship
Uroho - Greed, Gluttony
Ushari - Aggression
Varya - changing one derived from french variant (female person)
Vitani - at war, in Battle
Vuli - Period of lightest rainfall and onset of Kaskazi (Months September - October)
Vuruga - Distract, Mix, Disarrange
Waza - Assume, Think, Imagine
Wema - Good, Virtues, Goodness
Zazu - Movement
Zigo - Wildlife
Zira - Abreviated from word hasira meaning hate
Zito - Heavy
Zuri - Beautiful _____________________________________________________________________________________________________
''Places in the Lion Guard'':
Baridi - Cold
Chakula - Food or to eat
Chekundu - Red
Dirisha - Window
Embamba - Narrow
Kilio - to cry or mourn
Maji - Water
Mapango - Cave
Mapema - Early
Matope - Mud
Mbali - Far away
Mekundu - Red
Mirihi - Miracles
Mizimu - Spirits
Maumivu - Pain
Ndefu - Long
Nyani - Baboon
Poromoko - Flood
Pratibimba - image
Sehemu - Partially
Theluji - Snow
Ukuni - Firewood
Urembo - Beauty
Ziwa - Lake
Shangaza - Wonder
Cikha - possibly derived from the english word seeker or shortform of Masika african season (April-May) Period of heaviest rain _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
''Verb Forms'':
Kilio - to cry or mourn so. or sth.
Kimbia - to run
Kucheka - Laugh
Kuchimba - dig
Kulinda - protect, guard
Kupenda - to like or to love so. or sth.
Kuona - see or feel sth. or so.
Lala - to sleep
Ni - is or are
Starahe - rest
Tazama - to look at so. or sth.
Waza - think, assume
Zama - to dive
Zuka - to pop up somewhere ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
''Basic grammar rules'':
Here are some common used things like easy words, greetings adjectives or short phrases:
Building up conversation skills are possible if at first you learn some basic declination.
Mimi - I
Tu - you
Sisi - we
In the present tense the verb be kuwa is easy. No matter what the subject, the word for am/is/are is ni.
For example:
Mimi ni Mwingereza - I am English
''Family'':
Here are some family members and how they are called in Swahili:
Baba - Father, dad
Mama - Mother, mom
Binti - daughter
Mheetu - brother
Mwoga - uncle
''Trivia'':
Sarah Mirza has revealed a number of Swahili words that are planned to be used in The Lion Guard: Karibu (welcome), and Jenga (to build).
Sarah Mirza refers to the Swahili used in The Lion Guard as "Swinglish", which is "Half English and half Swahili." By this, she is most likely referring to the fact that though Swahili is incorporated into the show, English pronunciation and/or spelling is used for the words and phrases.
References:
1. https://www.amazon.de/Complete-Swahili-Beginner-Intermediate-Course/dp/1444105620/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= Complete Swahili book as mentioned above
2. Interview Swahili with Sarah Mirzwa https://ohmy.disney.com/tv/2015/11/22/zuka-zama-a-chat-with-the-lion-guards-swahili-expert-sarah-mirza/
''Kategorien'':
Directory Miscellaneous, Swahili