The two official languages in Kenya are Kiswahili and English, but there are close to 100 different tribal languages also spoken. The Lake Victoria region where CGA is located is almost exclusively inhabited by the Luo tribe. The students attending CGA have grown up speaking primarily their Luo language (they call it “mother tongue”), but once they begin attending CGA they learn English and Kiswahili very quickly. Because of this, all of the students at CGA are tri-lingual. Here are the basics from their other two languages.
HELPFUL WORDS AND PHRASES IN KISWAHILI
Kiswahili is a very simple language but bears no resemblance to the romance languages so memorization is the way to learn. If you pronounce every single letter, you can speak it! And the accent is always on the second to the last syllable. “E” is pronounced like “A”, and “I” is pronounced like “E”.
Bwana Asifiwe! (Praise God!)
Jambo! (Hello!) Sana (extra emphasis)
Habari yako? (How are you? - singular)
Habari zenu? (How are you? – plural)
Nzuri sana (very well – always the answer to Habari?)
Karibu! (Welcome!) or Karibuni! (plural)
Kwaheri (Good bye)
Asante (Thank you) Sana (very much)
Yesu anakupenda (Jesus loves you)
Mungu akubariki (God bless you – singular)
Mungu awabariki (God bless you – plural, as in a church greeting)
Mzee (respectful name for an older man)
Mama (respectful name for an older woman – or one with children)
Duka (a small shop)
Chai (African tea – tea with milk and sugar)
Ugali (a staple African food – ground maize fixed like mashed potatoes)
Sukuma wiki (a fried or boiled vegetable like spinach, usually mixed with onions)
Choo (toilet) – or Loo (British term), or WC
Kanisa (church)
Shule (school)
Chakula (food)
Maji (water)
Mtoto (child) watoto (children)
Haraka (hurry)
Pole pole (slowly) OR if only Pole (sorry) Sana (very)
Hakuna or La (no)
Ndiyo (yes)
Safari (vacation, trip)
Askari (guard or watchman)
Where is the bathroom? Choo kiko wapi?
Come here please ….. Kuja hapa, tafadahli
How much is this? …… Hini bei gani?
I know only little Kiswahili …. Nina jua Kiswahili kidogo
There is none (I don’t have any) …. Hakuna
I don’t know ….. Sijui (si-jew-ee)
What is your name? …. Jina lako ni nani?
My name is …. Jina langu ni …..(Mary, etc.)
What is this? …. Hii ni nini?
HELPFUL WORDS AND PHRASES IN LUO (MOTHER TONGUE)
Jesu Paki! (Praise Jesus!)
Amosi! (How are you?)
Reply: Bear Ayena (I am very fine)
Ithinadi (How are you?)
Reply: Athimaber (I am fine)
Bear (good) Ma Bear (very good)
Ayaore (Good Morning)
Reply: Ayaore Ayena
Awimore (Good Afternoon)
Awimore Uruu (Good Afternoon to many)
Wathi (Let’s Go)
Bi (come)
Bikaa (come here)
