The Swahili language is widely spoken across southeast Africa, and is an official language of Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. If you're traveling to a Swahili speaking country, here are a few of the basics to get you started.
ALPHABET
A: a
B: be
C: che
D: de
E: e
F: ef
G: ge
H: he
I: i
J: je
K: ka
L: le
M: em
N: en
O: o
P: pe
R: re
S: se
T: te
U: u
V: ve
W: we
Y: ye
Z: ze
NUMBERS
1: Moja
2: Mbili
3: Tatu
4: Nne
5: Tano
6: Sita
7: Saba
8: Nane
9: Tisa
10: Kumi
11: Kumi na moja
20: Ishirini
30: Thelathini
40: Arobaini
50: Hamsini
60: Sitini
70: Sabini
80: Themanini
90: Tisini
100: Mia
Stay tuned for part 2 to learn some greetings and questions that might be helpful during your trip.
Up Next...
Photo of the Month: June 2026
This past summer, I led a group of students from the Pedro Menendez High School Academy of Future Healthcare Professionals on a medical outreach adventure to Costa Rica. I was looking for a way to exp
eBird Trip Reports: Peru
Want to know which species other Holbrook travelers have seen on their birding trips to Peru? Check out these eBird trip reports shared by past groups to see their checklists and get an idea of what y
Photo of the Month: May 2026
There is something very special about rising before dawn to leave our tented camp and visit the hippo pool where dozens of these giant creatures slowly make their way to the meeting point of the Seron