Swahili is a bantu language; It is used as a national or formal language in some countries of East and Middle African countries such as Tanzania, DRC, Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda. Until now the Swahili language is estimated to be spoken by more than 200 million people worldwide.
Other African countries that speak Swahili include Comoro, Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique. Swahili is also spoken in some Arab countries such as Yemen, UAE etc. Swahili is an official language of Africa Union (AU), East Africa Community (EAC), and Southern Africa Developing Countries (SADC). South Africa, Botswana, and Namibia have also initiated the use of Swahili as the subject in their schools.
Below are few among many Similarities between Bantu Swahili, Zulu, Shona, Sotho and Luhya
Elephant
Ndovu(Swahili) –
indlovu(Zulu) –
Nzou(Shona)
Inzofu – Luhya
Tlou – sotho
Meat
Nyama(Swahili) –
inyama(Zulu)
Nyama(Shona)
Inyama-Luhya
Nama – sotho
Two
Mbili(Swahili) –
Ezimbili(Zulu) –
Piri(Shona)
Tsibiri -Luhya
Tse peli – sotho
Twelve
Kumi na mbili(Swahili) –
ishumi na mbili(Zulu) –
Gumi nembiri(Shona)
Ekhumi ne tsibiri – Luhya
Leshome le metso e mmedi – sotho
Three
tatu(Swahili) –
ezintathu(Zulu) –
Tatu(Shona)
Tsitaru – Luhya
Tharo – sotho
Four
nne (Swahili) –
Ezine(Zulu) –
Ina(Shona)
Tsine – Luhya
Tse ne – sotho
Goat
Mbuzi(Swahili) –
Imbuzi(Zulu) –
Mbudzi(Shona)
Imbusi – Luhya
Poli – sesotho
Student
Fundi(Swahili) –
Umfundi(Zulu) –
Mufundi(Shona)
Mfundi – Luhya
Moithuti – sesotho
Ours
Yetu(Swahili)
Yetu(Zulu)
Yedu(Shona)
Yefu – Luhya
Rona – sesotho
Yours
Lako(Swahili) –
Lakho(Zulu) –
Rako (Shona)
Gago – tswana
Yao – luhya
Hau- sesotho
Tongue
Ulimi(Swahili) –
Ulimi(Zulu)
Rurimi(Shona)
Lurimi- Luhya
Leleme – sesotho
Sell
Thengisa – zulu
Tengesa – Shona
Rekisa – Sotho
Kuuza – swahili
Spirit
Mweya – Shona
Umoya – zulu
Moea – Sesotho
Roho – swahili
Written by UAT
