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...
Learning, Connecting, and Birdwatching at the Belize Birding Festival
Guest post by Holbrook Ambassador Debbie JordanEarlier this month, I was honored to represent Holbrook as the keynote speaker at the fifth annual Belize Birding Festival. Way down in the southeast co
Photo of the Month: November 2025
Above: On the way to see baobab trees at sunset on the red dirt roads in the bush of Madagascar, we stopped as the young goat herders crossed directly in front of us, looking like majestic figures in the sunlit, dusty glow. It felt like the scene of a movie, and this photo captured the feeling of that moment perfectly.
eBird Trip Reports: South Africa
Want to know which species other Holbrook travelers have seen on their birding trips to South Africa? Check out these eBird trip reports shared by past groups to see their checklists and get an idea of what you might encounter on your own birding expedition.