What language is mostly spoken in Kenya?
The official languages of Kenya are English and Swahili. English is the language of big business, higher education and government.
What are the top 3 languages spoken in Kenya?
Official Languages Of Kenya
- Swahili. Swahili is one of the major languages used in Kenya. …
- English. English is the other language which is recognized by law as the official language in Kenya. …
- Kikuyu. Kikuyu is one of the major regional languages in the country. …
- Luhya. Luhya is another major regional language spoken in Kenya.
How do you say hello in Kenya?
Verbal greetings vary between different ethnic groups in Kenya. The most common greeting among those who speak Swahili is ‘Hujambo’ (‘Hello’) or the more colloquial greeting of ‘Jambo’. Both greetings can be responded with the phrase ‘sijambo’, which means ‘I am well’.
Is Zulu spoken in Kenya?
Zulu is the most widely spoken home language in South Africa (24% of the population), and it is understood by over 50% of its population.
…
Zulu language.
| Zulu | |
|---|---|
| Native to | South Africa Lesotho Eswatini |
| Region | KwaZulu-Natal Gauteng Mpumalanga Free State |
| Ethnicity | Zulu people |
Is Swahili easy to learn?
How hard is it to learn? Swahili is said to be the easiest African language for an English speaker to learn. It’s one of the few sub-Saharan African languages that have no lexical tone, just like in English. It’s also much easier to read as you read out Swahili words just the way they are written.
Is Swahili a written language?
Although originally written with the Arabic script, Swahili is now written in a Latin alphabet introduced by Christian missionaries and colonial administrators.
Is Arabic spoken in Kenya?
Arabic, Hindustani, Punjabi and a variety of other languages including English (as a first language) are also found in Kenya and are mostly spoken by more or less recent immigrants.
How similar are Swahili and Arabic?
It has roots in Arabic
Around 35% of the Swahili vocabulary comes from Arabic, but Swahili has also quite literally adopted words from English, such as: polisi – police, televisheni – television, redio – radio, and baiskeli – bicycle.
Why do Kenya speak English?
Today, English is the official language in Kenya, while Swahili enjoys the status of the national language. Both languages function as lingua francas, yet English enjoys a greater prestige and it serves more functions than Swahili. English is used for administrational and educational purposes and also in the media.
Is Kenya a poor country?
Kenya is a lower-middle income economy. Although Kenya’s economy is the largest and most developed in eastern and central Africa, 36.1% (2015/2016) of its population lives below the international poverty line. This severe poverty is mainly caused by economic inequality, government corruption and health problems.
How do you say bye in Kenya?
“goodbye” in Swahili
- kwa heri.
- baibai.
- kwaheri.
- kwa herini.
- tuonane tena.
What does caribou mean in Swahili?
welcome, close (proximity)