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Swahili School Vocabulary

Shuleni (At School): Swahili School Vocabulary

In this post, we’ll learn some Swahili school vocabulary. We’ll start with some general vocabulary related to schools. Next, we’ll move on to Swahili school vocabulary for the classroom and for homework and tests. Then we’ll learn vocabulary to talk about school subjects. Finally, we’ll look at vocabulary related to college and university.

Unaenda shule wapi? Where do you go to school?

Lets start with some basic vocabulary.

  • shule
    school
  • shule ya msingi, shule ya upili, chuo kikuu
    primary school, high school, university
  • mwanafunzi, mwalimu, profesa.
    student, teacher, professor
  • Yeye ni mwanafunzi  wa shule ya upili.
    She’s a high school student.
  • Anaenda shule ya msingi.
    He goes to primary school.
  • Yuko darasa gani?\\
    What grade is he in/she in?
  • Unasomea nini chuo kikuu?
    What are you studying at university?

Katika darasa: In the classroom

Here’s some vocabulary to help you talk about the classroom.

  • darasa, dawati la mwanafunzi, rafu ya vitabu
    classroom, student’s desk, bookshelf
  • dawati la mwalimu, ubao, bodi nyeupe, ramani, dunia
    teacher’s desk, blackboard, whiteboard, map, globe
  • daftari, karatasi, penseli, kalamu, kifutio.
    notebook, paper, pencil, pen, eraser
  • simu ya kibao, skrini, kikokotoo.
    tablet, screen, calculator
  • Darasa hili ni kubwa/ndogo.
    This classroom is big/small. 
  • Mwalimu anaandika kwa bodi nyeupe.
    The teacher writes on the whiteboard.
  • Wanafunzi huchukua matini.
    The students take notes.
  • Wanafunzi humsikiliza mwalimu.
    The students listen to the teacher.
  • Wanafunzi hutilia mwalimu makini.
    The students pay attention to the teacher. 
  • Nina swali.
    I have a question.
  • Mwalimu hujibu maswali ya wanafunzi.
    The teacher answers the students’ questions.
  • Mwalimu hufunza. Wanafunzi husoma.
    The teacher teaches. The students learn.

Kazi ya nyumbani: Homework

If you’re in primary school or high school, you probably have a lot of opportunity to say things like:

  • Tuna mtihani kesho.
    We have a test tomorrow.
  • Nafanya mtihani.
    I’m taking a test.
  • Inabidi nisome.
    I have to study.
  • Nina kazi nyingi ya nyumbani.
    I have a lot of homework.
  • Inabidi nijikumbushe msamiati mpya.
    I have to memorize new vocabulary.
  • Ninafanya kazi ya nyumbani kila usiku.
    I do homework every night.
  • Nilipata alama nzuri/mbaya kwenye mtihani.
    I got a good/bad grade on the test.
  • Nilipita/niliangusha darasa.
    I passed/failed the class.

Masomo ya shule: School subjects

  • hisabati math
  • jiometri geometry
  • sayansi science
  • biolojia biology
  • kemia chemistry
  • fizikia physics
  • uhandisi engineering
  • historia history
  • lugha languages
  • jiografia geography
  • anthropolojia anthropology
  • saikolojia psychology
  • sanaa art
  • muziki music
  • falsafa philosophy
  • siasa politics
  • uchumi economics
  • sayansi ya kompyuta computer science

Ni somo lipi ulipendalo? What’s your favorite subject?

Here’s some vocabulary for talking about the subjects you like, and the ones you don’t.

  • Historia ndilo somo nilipendalo.
    History is my favorite subject.
  • Mimi hupita lugha.
    I’m good at languages.
  • Naendelea vizuri/napata alama nzuri katika biolojia.
    I’m doing well/getting good grades in biology.
  • Ni somo gani hupendi sana?
    What’s your least favorite subject?
  • Sipendi hisabati.
    I don’t like math.
  • Mimi huanguka sayansi.
    I’m bad at science.
  • Sielewi kemia.
    I don’t understand chemistry.
  • Ninafanya vibaya/ninapata alama mbaya kwenye fizikia.
    I’m doing poorly/getting bad grades in physics. 

Kwa chuo kikuu: At university

If you’re a mwanafunzi wa chuo kikuu university student, you’ll probably have a chance to use this vocabulary.

  • mhadhara, semina
    lecture, seminar
  • ukumbi, ukumbi wa mihadhara, maabara
    auditorium, lecture hall, laboratory
  • Nina darasa leo.
    I have class today.
  • Sina darasa mchana huu.
    I don’t have class this afternoon.
  • Mimi husomea maktabani.
    I study in the library.
  • Ninafanya utafiti.
    I’m doing research. 
  • Ninaandika karatasi ya utafiti.
    I’m writing a research paper.
  • Ninafanya majaribio.
    I’m doing an experiment.
  • Tasnifu yako inahusu nini?
    What’s your thesis on?
  • Naandika tasnifu yangu.
    I’m writing my thesis.
  • Ninaishi katika bweni.
    I live in a dormitory.
  • Nina yule ninayeishi naye chumba kimoja.
    I have a roommate. 

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