LearnSwahili

What is Swahili

Swahili also known as Kiswahili is a Bantu language originally spoken by the swahili people, who are found primarily in Tanzania,Keyna and Mozambique.

What countries speak Swahili(native)

  1. Tanzania

    Swahili is the sole official language and is spoken by 95% of the population.

  2. Kenya

    It is a national language alongside English

  3. Uganda

    Swahili is an official language alongside English and several other local languages.

  4. Mozambique

    Swahili is spoken in some areas

  5. Rwanda

    Swahili is one of four official Language

  6. Burundi

    Swahili is an official language.

  7. The eastern part of Democratic Republic of Congo(DRC)

    It is an official language, widely spoken in the eastern parts of the country.

  8. The Bajuni Islands and Brava

  9. Southern Somalia

    Swahili is spoken, though figures on the number of speakers vary.

Where does Swahili come from

The core of the Swahili language originates in Bantu Languages of the coast of East Africa.Much of Swahili's Bantu vocabulary has cognates in the Unguja,Pemba and Mijikenda languages and to a lesser extent, other East African Bantu languages.While opinions vary on the specifics, it has been historically purportated thet arount 16-20% of swahili vocabuarly is derived from loan words, the vast majority Arabic, but also other contributing languages, including Persian, Hindustani, Portuguese, and Malay.

Swahili originated as a Bantu language on the East African coast, developing through interaction with Arab traders who arrived for commerce

FAQ

How many people speak Swahili

Estimates of the number of Swahili speakers, including both native and second-language speakers, vary widely.They generally range from 150 million to 200 million.