The Swahili Language

Swahili is spoken by over 100 million people in East Africa. It is the main language in countries like Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda. Swahili is also called Kiswahili. It is one of the official languages of the African Union. Many people in East Africa use Swahili to talk to people from other tribes.

How Swahili Started

Swahili started along the east coast of Africa. Traders from Arabia and Africa met there long ago. They mixed their words together to make Swahili. That is why Swahili has some words from Arabic. The word 'safari' is a Swahili word. It means journey.

A monument plaque with Swahili writing in Arabic letters.
A monument plaque with Swahili writing in Arabic letters. (Kipala / Wikimedia Commons)

Swahili in Movies

You might have heard Swahili words without knowing it. The movie The Lion King uses many Swahili words. Simba means lion, and rafiki means friend. Hakuna matata means no worries. These words come straight from Swahili.

Fun Facts

  • The word 'safari' comes from Swahili and means journey.
  • Simba, the name of the lion in The Lion King, means 'lion' in Swahili.
  • Swahili is the most spoken language in Africa.

Did You Know?

Hakuna matata really is a Swahili phrase, and it truly means 'no worries' or 'no problems!'