Swahili For Dummies

Learn the official language of Kenya and Tanzania Swahili For Dummies will teach you the basics of Swahili, so you can start conversing in Africa's language of commerce. This book introduces you to the foundations of Swahili grammar and enables you to engage in basic conversations. With the simplified Dummies learning process, you'll quickly get a grasp on the language, without complex terms and confusing explanations. You'll also move through the book at a comfortable pace, so you'll be familiar with what you've learned before moving on to more complex stuff. Focus on communication and interaction in everyday situations, so you can actually use the language you're studying--right away. * Understand the basics of Swahili * Learn everyday words and phrases * Gain the confidence to engage in conversations in Swahili * Communicate while traveling and talk to Swahili-speaking family members Swahili For Dummies is for readers of all ages who want to learn the basics of Swahili in a no-stress, beginner-friendly way. Swahili teachers will also love sharing this practical approach with their students.

Seline Ayugi Okeno was born and raised in Siaya, Kenya. She holds a B.Ed. Arts from Maseno University in Kenya and an M.A. in Applied Lin­guistics from Ohio University. She is currently a Swahili and English Teaching Fellow at The University of Edinburgh in Scotland. Asmaha Heddi hails from Arusha, Tanzania. She is a Kiswahili lecturer at the University of Kansas. She holds a B.A. from the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania and an M.A. in Applied Linguistics from Ohio University.

Introduction 1 Part 1: Getting Started with Swahili 7 Chapter 1: The Swahili You Already Know 9 Chapter 2: Getting Started with Basic Expressions 19 Chapter 3: Navigating Nouns and Pronouns in Swahili 35 Chapter 4: Adding Action to Your Words: Verbs 57 Chapter 5: Getting Your Numbers and Dates Right 81 Part 2: Swahili in Action 111 Chapter 6: Making Small Talk 113 Chapter 7: Finding Your Way 131 Chapter 8: Eating in and Dining Out 145 Chapter 9: Using Technology to Keep in Touch. 157 Chapter 10: Shopping Made Easy 173 Chapter 11: Dressing Your Best 187 Chapter 12: Swahili at Work 199 Part 3: Swahili on the Go 213 Chapter 13: Planning a Safari 215 Chapter 14: Getting Around: Planes, Trains, Taxis, Buses, and More 229 Chapter 15: Arranging Accommodations 243 Chapter 16: Taking Care of Your Health 261 Part 4: The Part of Tens 275 Chapter 17: Ten Common Swahili Proverbs and Their Meanings 277 Chapter 18: Ten Ways to Pick Up Swahili Quickly 283 Chapter 19: Ten Words You Should Never Say in Swahili 287 Part 5: Appendixes 291 Appendix A: Swahili Noun Classes 293 Appendix B: Swahili Verbs 297 Appendix C: Swahili-English Mini-Dictionary 311 Appendix D: Answer Key 329 Index 335