Kenya Languages: Difference between revisions

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==Swahilli==
{{CountrySidebar
[http://www.magicalkenya.com/visit-kenya/learn-swahili/ Swahili is Kenya’s national language.]
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[http://www.kenya-information-guide.com/kenya-language.html Languages spoken in Kenya]
|Name=Kenya
|Type=Topic
|Topic Type=Background
|Background=Languages
|Content=Standardized
}}{{breadcrumb
| link1=[[Kenya Genealogy|Kenya]]
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| link5=[[Kenya Languages|Languages]]
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==Description==
Kenya's various ethnic groups typically speak their mother tongues within their own communities. There are a total of 68 languages spoken in Kenya.<br>
Kenya is a multilingual country. The two official languages, English and Swahili, are used in varying degrees of fluency for communication with other populations. English is widely spoken in commerce, schooling, and government. There are more speakers of Swahili than English in Kenya. <ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Kenya," in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenya#Languages, accessed 3 Feb 2022.</ref> <ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Languages of Kenya," in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Kenya, accessed 3 Feb 2022.</ref><br><br>
Official Languages are:<br>
* '''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_English British English]''' - primarily used in Kenya. <ref>Wikipedia contributors, "British English," in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_English, accessed 4 Feb 2022.</ref>
* '''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swahili_language Swahili]''' <ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Swahili language," in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swahili_language, accessed 3 Feb 2022.</ref>
 
Largest Communities of Native Speakers in Kenya based on 2019 Census: <ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Languages of Kenya," in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Kenya, accessed 4 Feb 2022.</ref>
* '''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bantu_languages Bantu languages]'''
** '''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kikuyu_language Kikuyu]''' - 8.1 million
** '''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamba_language Kamba]''' - 4.7 million
** '''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luhya_language Luhya]''' - 3.3 million
* '''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nilotic_languages Nilotic languages]'''
** '''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dholuo Dholuo]''' - 5.0 million
** '''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalenjin_languages Kalenjin]''' - 4.6 million
** '''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maasai_language Maasai]''' - 1.2 million
** '''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkana_language Turkana]''' - 1.0 million
* '''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cushitic_languages Cushitic languages]'''
** '''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somali_language Somali]''' - 2.8 million
 
==Word List(s)==
* [https://www.101languages.net/swahili/swahili-word-list/ Swahili Word List] - 101languages
* [https://omniglot.com/language/phrases/swahili.php Useful Swahili phrases] - Omniglot
* [https://wikitravel.org/en/Swahili_phrasebook#:~:text=Phrase%20list Swahili Phrase list] - WikiTravel
* Benjamin, Martin. ''Swahili phrasebook & dictionary.'' Footscray, Victoria: Lonely Planet, 2014. '''''Available at:''''' [https://www.worldcat.org/title/879400470 WorldCat].
* [https://omniglot.com/language/phrases/somali.php Useful phrases in Somali] - Omniglot
 
==Alphabet and Pronunciation==
'''Alphabet'''
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swahili_language#:~:text=Phonology Swahili Alphabet] - Wikipedia
* [https://omniglot.com/writing/kikuyu.htm#:~:text=Kikuyu%20alphabet Kikuyu alphabet] - Omniglot
* [https://omniglot.com/writing/dholuo.php#:~:text=Latin%20alphabet%20for%20Dholuo Latin alphabet for Dholuo] - Omniglot
* [https://omniglot.com/writing/dholuo.php#:~:text=Latin%20alphabet%20for%20Dholuo Latin alphabet for Dholuo] - Omniglot
* [https://omniglot.com/writing/turkana.htm#:~:text=Turkana%20alphabet Turkana alphabet] - Omniglot
* [https://www.omniglot.com/writing/swahili.htm#:~:text=Swahili%20alphabet Swahili Alphabet] - Omniglot
 
'''Pronunciation'''
* [https://www.omniglot.com/writing/swahili.htm#:~:text=pronunciation Swahili Pronunciation] - Omniglot
* [https://wikitravel.org/en/Swahili_phrasebook#:~:text=Pronunciation%20guide Swahili Pronunciation guide] - WikiTravel
* [https://omniglot.com/writing/maasai.htm#:~:text=Maasai%20pronunciation Maasai pronunciation] - Omniglot
 
==Language Aids and Dictionaries==
'''Dictionaries'''
* Perrott, D. V. ''Swahili Dictionary.'' n.p.: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd,, 1965. '''''Available at:''''' [https://www.worldcat.org/title/1074425477 WorldCat].
* Kirkeby, Willy A. ''English Swahili dictionary.'' Dar es Salaam: Kirkeby Publ, 2002. '''''Available at:''''' [https://www.worldcat.org/title/179940490 WorldCat].
* Barlow, A. Ruffell and T. G. Benson. ''English-Kikuyu dictionary.'' Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1975. '''''Available at:''''' [https://www.worldcat.org/title/2383341 WorldCat].
* Axmed, Cabdulqaadir Xaaji Cali Xaaji, Nicholas Awde, and Martin Orwin. ''Somali-English, English-Somali dictionary and phrasebook.'' New York: Hippocrene Books, 2012. '''''Available at:''''' [https://www.worldcat.org/title/825000209 WorldCat].
 
'''Online Dictionaries'''
* [https://www.lexilogos.com/english/swahili_dictionary.htm Swahili dictionary] - Lexilogos
* [https://en.bab.la/dictionary/swahili-english/ Swahili-English] - Bab.la
* [https://glosbe.com/en/sw Dictionary English - Swahili] - Glosbe
* [https://glosbe.com/en/ki Dictionary English - Kikuyu] - Glosbe
* [https://glosbe.com/en/kam Dictionary English - Kamba] - Glosbe
* [https://glosbe.com/en/kln Dictionary English - Kalenjin] - Glosbe
* [https://glosbe.com/en/mas Dictionary English - Masai] - Glosbe
* [https://glosbe.com/en/tuv Dictionary English - Turkana] - Glosbe
* [https://glosbe.com/en/so Dictionary English - Somali] - Glosbe
 
'''Language Aids'''
* [http://ilanguages.org/swahili_grammar.php Swahili Grammar] - ilanguages
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swahili_language#:~:text=Grammar Swahili Grammar] - Wikipedia
* Mpiranya, Fidèle. ''Swahili grammar and workbook.'' New York: Routledge, 2015. '''''Available at:''''' [https://www.worldcat.org/title/892911314 WorldCat].
* Burt, F. ''Swahili Grammar and Vocabulary.'' München: LINCOM EUROPA, 2011. '''''Available at:''''' [https://www.worldcat.org/title/780132850 WorldCat].
* Ashton, E. O. ''Swahili grammar.'' London: Longman, 1977. '''''Available at:''''' [https://www.worldcat.org/title/255772359 WorldCat].
 
==Additional Resources==
* Steere, Edward. ''A Handbook of the Swahili Language.'' Norderstedt: Hansebooks GmbH, 2017. '''''Available at:''''' [https://www.worldcat.org/title/1189527154 WorldCat].
 
== References  ==
{{reflist}}
 
[[Category:Kenya]]

Latest revision as of 21:14, 11 August 2025

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Description[edit | edit source]

Kenya's various ethnic groups typically speak their mother tongues within their own communities. There are a total of 68 languages spoken in Kenya.
Kenya is a multilingual country. The two official languages, English and Swahili, are used in varying degrees of fluency for communication with other populations. English is widely spoken in commerce, schooling, and government. There are more speakers of Swahili than English in Kenya. [1] [2]

Official Languages are:

Largest Communities of Native Speakers in Kenya based on 2019 Census: [5]

Word List(s)[edit | edit source]

Alphabet and Pronunciation[edit | edit source]

Alphabet

Pronunciation

Language Aids and Dictionaries[edit | edit source]

Dictionaries

  • Perrott, D. V. Swahili Dictionary. n.p.: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd,, 1965. Available at: WorldCat.
  • Kirkeby, Willy A. English Swahili dictionary. Dar es Salaam: Kirkeby Publ, 2002. Available at: WorldCat.
  • Barlow, A. Ruffell and T. G. Benson. English-Kikuyu dictionary. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1975. Available at: WorldCat.
  • Axmed, Cabdulqaadir Xaaji Cali Xaaji, Nicholas Awde, and Martin Orwin. Somali-English, English-Somali dictionary and phrasebook. New York: Hippocrene Books, 2012. Available at: WorldCat.

Online Dictionaries

Language Aids

  • Swahili Grammar - ilanguages
  • Swahili Grammar - Wikipedia
  • Mpiranya, Fidèle. Swahili grammar and workbook. New York: Routledge, 2015. Available at: WorldCat.
  • Burt, F. Swahili Grammar and Vocabulary. München: LINCOM EUROPA, 2011. Available at: WorldCat.
  • Ashton, E. O. Swahili grammar. London: Longman, 1977. Available at: WorldCat.

Additional Resources[edit | edit source]

  • Steere, Edward. A Handbook of the Swahili Language. Norderstedt: Hansebooks GmbH, 2017. Available at: WorldCat.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Kenya," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenya#Languages, accessed 3 Feb 2022.
  2. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Languages of Kenya," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Kenya, accessed 3 Feb 2022.
  3. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "British English," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_English, accessed 4 Feb 2022.
  4. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Swahili language," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swahili_language, accessed 3 Feb 2022.
  5. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Languages of Kenya," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Kenya, accessed 4 Feb 2022.
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