swahilli

Teach Yourself Swahili
© Hassan O. Ali & Ali M. Mazrui
August 3, 2004

Contents
ABOUT THIS COURSE.............................................................................................................................. 1
ABOUT SWAHILI....................................................................................................................................... 1
LESSON 1:

ALPHABET ..................................................................................................................... 3

LESSON 2:

PRONUNCIATION GUIDE........................................................................................... 3

VOWELS ..................................................................................................................................................... 3
SYLLABLES ................................................................................................................................................. 3
SAME SOUND AS IN ENGLISH: F, H , L, M, N, S, V, W, Y, Z ............................................................................. 4
“HARD” CONSONANTS: B, D, G, J................................................................................................................. 4
“ROLLING” R .............................................................................................................................................. 4
TWO-CONSONANT COMBINATIONS: CH, DH, GH, KH, MB, MY, ND, NG, NG’, NJ, NY, SH, TH, VY .................... 5
TWO DISTICT SOUNDS: CH, K, P, T ............................................................................................................... 5
ADDITION OF “W”....................................................................................................................................... 6
LESSON 3:

LETTER SOUNDS .......................................................................................................... 7

LESSON 4:

SYLLABLE SOUNDS