How Do You Spell SWAHILI?

Pronunciation: [swɑːhˈiːli] (IPA)

The spelling of the word "Swahili" derives from the original Arabic word "sawahil" meaning "coastal dwellers" or "people of the coast". The IPA phonetic transcription for "Swahili" is /s(w)ɑːˈhɪli/. The initial 's' sound is followed by a silent 'w', making it optional, and is pronounced as an 'h' sound. The 'a' sound is pronounced as a long vowel, followed by a short 'i' sound. The final syllable is pronounced as 'lee'. Overall, the phonetic transcription helps to explain the correct spelling of the word "Swahili."

SWAHILI Meaning and Definition

  1. Swahili is a Bantu language widely spoken as a first or second language by various ethnic groups in East Africa, particularly in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Mozambique. It is also the official language of Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda. Swahili is derived from the Swahili people, who inhabit the coastal areas of these East African countries.

    The Swahili language has its roots in Bantu languages but has also been influenced by Arabic, Persian, Portuguese, German, English, and French throughout its history due to various historical interactions. It is a vibrant and evolving language that continues to assimilate new words and linguistic features.

    Swahili has a relatively simple grammatical structure, characterized by a rich noun class system, extensive use of prefixes and suffixes, and a flexible word order. It is written using the Latin alphabet, with each letter representing a distinct sound.

    Swahili serves as a lingua franca for millions of people in East Africa, enabling communication between people from various ethnic and linguistic backgrounds. It is widely used in trade, business, education, media, and government institutions within the region. Swahili literature, music, and film also flourish, contributing to the preservation and promotion of the language and its vibrant culture.

    Overall, Swahili is a widely spoken language in East Africa, serving as a unifying force across diverse communities and playing a crucial role in both the cultural and economic fabric of the region.

Top Common Misspellings for SWAHILI *

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for SWAHILI

Etymology of SWAHILI

The word "Swahili" is derived from the Arabic word "sawahil", which means "coast" or "shore". It refers to the people who live along the East African coast, particularly in modern-day Kenya, Tanzania, and parts of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Mozambique, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Swahili language also takes its name from this term, as it developed as a contact language between the Bantu-speaking African communities and Arab traders and settlers along the Swahili Coast.

Similar spelling words for SWAHILI

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