Introduction
Swahili is a language that fuses African Bantu with Arabic. Arab sailors and traders have established links and ties with East Africa for centuries, their language strongly merged with the local language to produce a creole derivative.
The word Swahili itself is derived from Arabic Sawahili سواحلي which is plural for ساحل meaning [Language] of the Coast.
This article gives some examples of Arabic words still in today's Swahili.
Here are some words.
| Swahili | Arabic | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| hatari | خطر | Danger. Also the title of a 1962 movie starring John Wayne, set in Africa. |
| Safari | سفر | Travel. Also: trip |
| mahali | محل | Place |
| vitabu | كتاب | Book |
| msumari | مسمار | Nail |
| kata | قطع | Cut, chop |
| habari | خبر | news |
| huru | حر | free |
| dhamiri | ضمير | conscience |
| kamusi | قاموس | dictionary |
| baridi | بارد | cold |
| samahani | سامحني | forgive me, excuse me |
| rafiki | رفيق | companion, friend |
| tafadhali | تفضل | please |
| furahi | فرح | happy |
Time
The terms for time are strongly influenced by Arabic. Many of it taken by the prayer times of Islam.
| Swahili | Arabic | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| asubuhi | صبح | morning |
| dakika | دقيقة | minute |
| saa | ساعة | hour |
| wakati | وقت | time |
| alasri | العصر | late afternoon |
| magharibi | المغرب | sunset |
| alfajiri | الفجر | dawn |
| karne | قرن | century |
The Swahili names for the first five days of the week all start with Juma, then the order of the day of the week, Saturday being the first day of the week. Jumaa is derived from the Arabic word جمعة which means Friday, as well as "week. Only two days of the week got the Arabic names:
| Swahili | Arabic | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| alkhamisi | الخميس | Thursday |
| ijumaa | الجمعة | Friday |
Animal Names
Animal names are all native African Bantu (e.g. simba lion). However, there are a few exceptions.
| Swahili | Arabic | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Tausi | طاوس | Peacock, being non-native to Africa, it took the Arabic name, which in turn took it from Persian. |
Numbers
The number system is also heavily Arabic, although not exclusively so.
| Swahili | Arabic | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| nusu | نص | Half. The proper classical Arabic word is نصف nisf. In many present day dialects it is "nus", like in Swahili. |
| robo | ربع | Quarter |
| sita | ستة | 6 |
| saba | سبعة | 7 |
| tisa | تسعة | 9 |
| ishrini | عشرين | 20 |
| thalathini | ثلاثين | 30 |
| arubaini | أربعين | 40 |
| hamsini | خمسين | 50 |
| sitini | ستين | 60 |
| sabini | سبعين | 70 |
| thamanini | ثمانين | 80 |
| tisini | تسعين | 90 |
| mia | مئة | 100. The middle letter in classical Arabic is Hamza, however, in present day dialects, like Swahili, it is a Y sound. |
| elfu | ألف | 1000 |
Resources
Here are some useful links on Swahili.
- List of useful Swahili words
- History of Swahili.
- Wikipedia page on Swahili.
- Ethnologue page on Swahili.
- Omniglot page on Swahili.
Comments
basil (not verified)
modernity in swahili, in arabic
Fri, 2012/11/02 - 15:55Hello,
Does anyone know how would we say 'modernity' in Swahili? What would the correct Arabic form be? From Google translate and such tools, I get
hdathh
'esryh
sha'esry
or
حداثة
عصرية
شىء عصري
I'm guessing usasa? Which loosely translates to now-ness. But I am looking for something that also captures the full breadth of what we mean by modernity, i.e. encounter, transformation, and continuation. Is it sufficient to say usasa? I haven't heard anyone using it, it just seems to be the first thing that comes to mind.
Anonymous (not verified)
Mamlaka (Swahili) Al-Mamlaka
Tue, 2012/11/13 - 02:29Mamlaka (Swahili) Al-Mamlaka (Arabic) meaning Kingdom
MK (not verified)
More words
Sat, 2019/03/23 - 20:24Dawa - Medicine
Marahaba - I'm fine
Shukran - Thankyou
Salamu - Greetings
Hanoub (not verified)
Some More Swahili Words of Arabic Origin
Sun, 2019/06/02 - 16:27According to many Swahili Linguists, the language has derived between 40% to 45% of its vocabulary from Arabic Language. Below are some of these words:
Swahili سواحل Inhabitants of the shores or coasts.
Lugha لغة Language
Nauli نوّل Bus or boat fare
Binti بنت Girl or daughter
Kadhalika كذلك Likewise, moreover
Aidha أيضاً Too.
Kitabu كتاب Book
Kalamu قلم Pen
Karatasi قرطاس Paper
Hewa هواء Air, oxygen, wind
Mahaba محبة Love, loveness
Hadithi حديث Sayings, talk, conversation
Kula كُل Eat, have a bite
Ardhi أرض Earth, soil
Maskani مسكن Home
Miskini مسكين Poor, underprivileged
Harusi عروس Pride, pridegroom
Miskiti مسجد Mosque
Kanisa كنيسة Church
Duka دكان Grocer, store
Amsha أمشى To make a move
Haraka حركة Movement
Sukari سكر Sugar, diabetes
Thabiti ثابت Constant
Kabidhi قبض Receive, receipt
Sura سورة A Chapter from the Quran
Salaama سلامة Security, peacefulness
Amani أمان Security, peacefulness
Hadhari حذر Care, caution
Zuluma ظلم Unjustice
Dhahabu ذهب Gold
Bei بيع Sell, sale, sales
Biashara بيع شراء Buying and selling (Trade)
Wizara وزارة Ministry
Haya حياء Bashfull
Rubu ربع Quarter
Thuluthi ثلث One third
Thumuni ثُمن One eighth
Thamani ثمن Price, value
Tamaduni تمدن Civilization
Maadini معادن Mines, mining
Istiwai إستواء Equality
Jumuia جمعية Community, association
Jamii جميع All, Pan-"something"
Khanga خنقة A wrapped peice of cloth
Fustani فستان A woman full dress
Bustani بستان Garden with fruits
Hakimu حكيم Doctor, wiseman or wisewoman
Hikima حكمة Wisedom
Barabara البر Street, road
Bara البر Mainland
Ananasi أناناس Pineaple
Tufaha تفاحة Apple
Mshahara شهري Monthly salary
Tratibu ترتيب Arrangement
Kamili كامل Perfect, full
Nuksi نقص Shortage
Kisa قصة Story
Riwaya رواية Novel
Madhabuti مضبوط Control
Mamlaka مملكة Dominion, kingdom
Malika ملائكة Angels
Adhabu عذاب Punishment, suffering
Shukrani شكراً Thanks, thank you
Stahili يستاهل Deserve
Stahiki يستحق Deserve, merit
Duniani الدنيا The World
Habari اخبار News
Taifa طائفة Nation
Rais رئيس President
Jamhuri جمهورية Republic
Shughuli شغل Work, works, business
Stahmili استحمل To bear with "something"
Daini دين Debt, credit
Hesabu حساب Mathematics, accountability
Mhasibu محاسب Accountant
Mudir مدير Manager, director
Dakika دقيقة A minute
Saa ساعة An hour, wrist watch, clock
Mhandisi مهندس An Engineer
Elimu علم Knowledge, science
Mualimu معلم Master, teacher
Kamata غمض To catch, arrest, pull together
Mali مال Money, treasure
Heri خير Goodness, wellness
Ruhusa رخصة Permission, clearance
Raia رعية A citizen subject "of another govt.
And so many more. Thank you.
Anonymous (not verified)
There are words with Arabic
Fri, 2021/03/19 - 08:18There are words with Arabic origin:
yabisi - arid, dry
dubu - bear
babara - tiger
samawati - blue
Pages