Plural

Swahili Lesson 3 (Plural and Languages)

Duration: 30 mins

Lessons Swahili Lessons
Linguistic Swahili Vocabulary
Culture Swahili Phrases
Structure Swahili Grammar

The 3rd lesson is about the plural in Swahili and how to create it from the singular form. In addition, I will include a list of vocabulary about languages, nationalities, and countries. Finally, you will find some common everyday sentences. I will try to give examples using both vocabulary and grammar. That way it will be easy for you to see the words when they are separate and when they are in a sentence. Going through the whole page should take about 30 min. Make sure to read the pronunciation and hear the audio as well. If you have any question about this course, please email me directly at Swahili Classes.

Plural

Knowing how to create the plural from the singular word can double the vocabulary you already know. It can make it easy to have a conversation about different topics by simply knowing some grammatical rules. For example how to change the word "book" to "books" or "woman" to "women".

Below is a list of singular words and their plural equivalent. I included examples about nature as well as about humans. The table contains 3 columns (English, Swahili, and Audio). Make sure you repeat each word after hearing it by either clicking on the audio button or by reading the pronunciation. That should help with memorization as well as improving your pronunciation.

Singular vs. Plural in Swahili

English Swahili Audio
Countrynchi
CountriesMataifa
Lakeziwa
Lakesmaziwa
LanguageLugha
LanguagesLugha
WomanMwanamke
WomenWanawake
ManMwanaume
MenWanaume
BoyMvulana
BoysWavulana
GirlMsichana
GirlsWasichana

Now we will try to implement some of the words above into full Swahili sentences. That way you will be able to see how both forms are used when embedded in a structure.

Singular vs. Plural in a Sentence

English Swahili Audio
We speak two languagestunaongea lugha mbili
They speak four languageswanaongea lugha nne
I visited one countrynilitembelea nchi moja
She visited three countriesalitembelea nchi tatu
She has one sisterAna dada mmoja
He has two sistersAna dada wawili

Questions?

If you have any questions, please contact me using the Swahili contact form on the header above.

Vocabulary List about Languages, Nationalities, and Countries

Below is a list of 50 words related to languages, nationalities, and countries. If you can memorize them by heart, you will be able to have a good conversation about how many languages you speak or where you came from.

Languages Nationalities and Countries List in Swahili

English Swahili Audio
ArabicKiarabu
MoroccanMoroko
MoroccoMoroko
Brazilian (language)Kibrazili
Brazilian (nationality)Ubrazili
BrazilBrazili
Chinese (language)Kichina
Chinese (nationality)Uchina
ChinaUchina
EnglishKiingereza
BritishUingereza
BritainUingereza
AmericanAmerika
AmericaAmerika
French (language)Kifaransa
French (nationality)Ufaransa
FranceUfaransa
German (language)Kijerumani
German (nationality)Ujerumani
GermanyUjerumani
Greek (language)Kigiriki
Greek (nationality)Ugiriki
GreeceUgiriki
HindiKihindi
IndianUbara Hindi
IndiaUbara Hindi
Irish (language)Seltiki
Irish (nationality)Useltiki
IrelandAyalandi
Italian (language)Kiitaliano
Italian (nationality)Uitaliano
ItalyItalia
Japanese (language)Kijapani
Japanese (nationality)Ujapani
JapanJapani
Korean (language)Kikorea
Korean (nationality)Korea
KoreaKorea
PersianKiajemi
IranianUajemi
IranUajemi (pia Irani)
Portuguese (language)Kireno
Portuguese (nationality)Ureno
PortugalUreno
Russian (language)Kirusi
Russian (nationality)Urusi
RussiaUrusi
Spanish (language)Kihispania
Spanish (nationality)Uhispania
SpainUhispania

Daily Conversation in Swahili

Finally, a list of sentences about languages, nationalities, and countries plus some bonus phrases. For a complete list of commonly used sentences, please visit our Swahili Phrases page. Enjoy!

Common Expressions in Swahili

English Swahili Audio
Languages
I don't speak Koreansizungumuzi kikorea
I love the Japanese languageninapenda lugha ya kijapani
I speak ItalianNinazungumuza kiitaliano
I want to learn SpanishNingependa kujifunza kihispania
My mother tongue is Germankijeremani ni lugha ya mama
Spanish is easy to learnni rahisi kujifunza kihispania
Origins
He has a Moroccan rugAna tambara ya Moroko
I have an American carNakuwa na gari ya Amerika
I love French cheeseNapenda chizi ya ufaransa
I'm ItalianMimi ni mwitaliano
My father is GreekBaba yangu ni Mgiriki
My wife is KoreanMke wangu ni Mkorea
Countries
Have you ever been to India?Umeshawahi kwenda India?
I came from SpainNilikuja kutoka Hispania
I live in AmericaNinaishi Marekani
I want to go to GermanyNataka kwenda Ujerumani
I was born in ItalyNilizaliwa Italia
Japan is a beautiful countryJapan ni nchi nzuri
Phrases
Long time no seeMuda mrefu hatujaonana
I missed youNilikumiss
What's new?Lipi jipya?
Nothing newHakuna jipya
Make yourself at home!Jifanye kuwa nyumbani!
Have a good tripSafari njema

Fun Facts

Language Quote that by simply knowing how to form the plural, you can double the number of nouns in your vocabulary, without having to memorize all the plural form.

Congratulations! You finished your third lesson in Swahili about singular, plural, languages, nationalities, and countries. Are you ready for the next lesson? We recommend Swahili Lesson 4. You can also simply click on one of the links below or go back to our Learn Swahili homepage.

Lessons Swahili Lessons
Linguistic Swahili Vocabulary
Culture Swahili Phrases
Structure Swahili Grammar