The Standard English Swahili Dictionary is based on Madan’s original Swahili dictionaries. Standard English Swahili Dictionary includes not only equivalent English words but also short explanations in Swahili. These cover words, phrases, and idioms use in modern English. Some definitions remain the same as Madan’s work, but many have been updated. Both English and Swahili Dictionary are expanded to help Swahili speakers understand English grammar.What is Swahili?Swahili, also known as Kiswahili (translation: coast language), is a Bantu language and the first language of the Swahili people. It is a lingua franca of the African Great Lakes region and other parts of eastern and south-eastern Africa. These include Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Mozambique, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Comorian, spoken in the Comoros Islands is considered to be a dialect of Swahili, though other authorities consider it a distinct language.Estimates of the total number of Swahili speakers vary widely, from 50 million to over 100 million. Swahili serves as a national language of four nations: Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, and the DRC. Shikomor, the official language in Comoros and also spoken in Mayotte (Shimaore), is related to Swahili.A significant fraction of Swahili vocabulary derives from Arabic through contact with Arabic-speaking Muslim inhabitants. For example, the Swahili word for "book" is kitabu, traceable back to the Arabic word ???? kit?bu (from the root k.t.b. "write"). However, the Swahili plural form of this word ("books") is vitabu, follows Bantu grammar rules.If you’re expanding your library with swahili -English books, check out the following on our website:SWAHILI - ENGLISH DICTIONARY - Provides equivalent English words, short explanations, phrases, and idioms in Swahili. Includes modern English terms and revised definitions.Swahili English Bible New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs - Features parallel Swahili and English texts, making it ideal for readers looking to improve their understanding of both languages.
