Learn Swahili Online for free

Learn phrases in the Swahili language online. Free, fast and effective.

1. Select the phrases that you want to learn from the list on the right. These cover a wide variety of Swahili topics, including the numbers in Swahili, Swahili days, Swahili greetings and the months in Swahili. All the phrases have audio recorded by a native speaker.

2. Listen to and copy the native speech on the review page.

3. Learn the phrases using the learning methods which include flashcards and multiple choice to practice learning, speaking and recall.

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Learning Swahili Online

Our Swahili pages contain general phrases as well as some of the most common Swahili words. Swahili (Kiswahili) is the most important means of communication over a huge area to the East of Africa, and these pages will help you join in.

  • Our Swahili language learning resources are all completely free.
  • You can start learning essential Swahili immediately.
  • All the audio is recorded by a native speaker.
  • Fun learning methods.
  • No software to install or download.
  • Instant access to the latest content.

Benefits of learning phrases in Swahili

SurfaceLanguages is about speaking and having fun in Swahili and numerous other languages.

It is not about grammar or fluency. It is for the traveller who does not have much time, is interested and enjoys languages and language learning. It is for the aspiring polyglot.

  • Learn the key phrases you need.
  • This is fast and effective.
  • Learn the most common Swahili words here ...

Additional Swahili resources

These are mainly (all?) free.

Internet living Swahili dictionary. A non profit organization dedicated to creating a dictionary of Swahili and other African languages.

There must be more *completely* free Swahili language resources out there, but we couldn't find them.


Swahili Phrases

A few first words. 1
A few first words. 2
Bathroom. Items found in the bathroom
Bedroom. Items found in the bedroom
Buying things. General phrases
Buying things. Useful words
Countries and where I am from
Communication problems
Conversation. General. 1
Conversation. General. 2
Conversation. Small talk. Filler words and e-mail
Conversation. Small talk. Sport
Sport
Conversation. Small talk. The weather
Describing things. Colours
Describing things. Adjectives
Directions. 1
Directions. 2
Days. General
Days of the week
Eating. Phrases. 1
Eating. Phrases. 2
Eating. Items
Emergencies
Family
Food and Drink. At the Bar or Café. 1
Food and Drink. At the Bar or Café. 2
Food and Drink. At the Bar or Café. 3
Getting around. General words
Getting around. General phrases
Getting around. Train and bus
Getting around by taxi
Getting around by car
Health and at the chemist
Money
Months of the year
Numbers. 1 to 10
Numbers. 11 to 20
Numbers. 30 to 1000
Parts of the body
Places and buildings. 1
Places and buildings. 2
Useful words
Question and size words
Special occasions
Sightseeing
Somewhere to stay. 1
Somewhere to stay. 2
The house
Useful words to recognize
Words to do with food. General
Words to do with food. Fruit
Words to do with food. Vegetables
Words to do with food. Meat
Time
Clothing
Common nouns. 1
Common nouns. 2
Common nouns. 3
Common nouns. 4