Swahili

Swahili is a language spoken by an estimated 100 million people in East Africa, particularly in Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda.

Familiar with The Disney movie, The Lion King? You probably already familiar with a couple of Swahili words throughout the movie, everybody knows the famous Hakuna Matata, literally meaning "no problems" in Swahili. The names of characters like Simba (meaning lion) and Rafiki (meaning friend) are also borrowed from the Swahili language.

Why should I learn Swahili?

1. Travel: East Africa is a popular travel destination, and knowing Swahili can make your travels more enjoyable and enriching. Being able to speak the local language can also open up opportunities to interact with locals and learn more about the culture and customs of the region.

2. Cultural enrichment: East Africa has a rich culture and history, and learning Swahili can provide a window into this world. By learning the language, you can gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of East African culture, literature, and art.

How hard is it to learn Swahili?

Swahili is probably one of the easiest African languages for an English speaker to learn, that's not to say it's without its difficulties. Swahili has a complex grammar and is written in the Roman alphabet. It has a rich vocabulary, with many loanwords from Arabic, Portuguese, and other languages. Swahili is known for its use of noun classes, in which nouns are grouped into classes based on their meaning, and the use of prefixes and suffixes to indicate tense and other grammatical categories.

It can take an English speaker approximately 36 weeks of study to reach proficiency in Swahili.