How does Kiswahili Sound like?

Because Kiswahili is spoken both as a first and second language, you may hear different pronunciation. However, there is a set of vowels and consonants that are crucial for your pronunciation.

Vowels

There are five distinct vowel sounds in Kiswahili.aalama sign

eeleza explain

iili so that

ookota pick up

uukuta wall

Consonants bbaba father

cchai tea

ddada sister

ffika arrive

ggari motorcar

hhabari news

jjana yesterday

kkaka brother

llala sleep

mmama mother

nnazi coconut

ppaka cat

rramani map

ssoko market

ttia put

vvizuri good

wwatu people

yyai egg

zzawadi present

ththelujisnow

dhdhahabugold

ghghasiachaos

shshimopit

The following chart represents the nasal consonants and nasal consonant clusters found in this language. nynyanyagrandmother

ng'ng'ombecow

ngngomadrum/dance

ndndegebird

mbmbuzigoat

mwmwalimuteacher

mchanaday time

mdudubug

mfalmeking

mgangamedicinal healer

mhengaa wise person

mjitown or city

mkiatail

mlinziguard

mmeaplant

mnenefat

mpiraball

mrefutall

msituforest

mtotochild

mvuvifisherman

mzaziparent

mbwadog

mchwatermit

mnyamaanimal

nchatip

nywelehair