Alphabet

  

Kiswahili Alphabet

 

 

Vowels and their sounds

 

	Kiswahili pronunciation examples	Pronunciation Examples
A	Kama, baba	Father, car
E	Yeye, pete	Bet, bed
I	Kiti, viti	See,
O	Moto, joto	Go
U	Huru, nusu	mood

 

 

Kiswahili Consonants

 

Letters Q and X do not exist in the Swahili alphabet, and letter C comes as a combination of CH.

 

	Kiswahili pronunciation examples	Pronunciation Examples
B	Baba	Bake
D	Dada	Day
F	Fanya	Far
G	Goti	Go
H	Hata	Hat
J	Jana	Jar
K	Kiti	Keep
L	Lala	Lion
M	Mama	Moon
N	Nono	Not
P	Papa	Pull
R	Rangi	Rake
S	Sasa	Sack
T	Tatu	Top
V	Vazi	Very
W	Wewe	Wake
Y	Yeye	Yes
Z	Zuri	Zoo

 

 

 

Kiswahili consonant letters combinations

 

	Kiswahili pronunciation examples	Pronunciation Examples
Ch	Chote	Choice
Dh	Fedha	Either
Gh	Ghali	French r
Kh	Khadija	German ch in Bach
Sh	Shika	Ship
Th (soft sound)	Thelathini	Think
Ny	Nyanya	Canyon
Ng	Nguo	Finger
Ng’	Ng’ombe	Sing