Numbers

1. Moja, mbili, tatu

   Mo-ja, mbi-li, ta-tu

   One, two, three

   Usage

   Basic Swahili numbers 1-3. Numbers may change form to agree with the noun class

   Grammar Note

   Swahili numbers 1-5 can take class agreement prefixes: "mtu mmoja" (one person), "vitu viwili" (two things). Numbers above 5 are typically invariable. This is a characteristic Bantu feature.

2. Nne, tano, sita

   N-ne, ta-no, si-ta

   Four, five, six

   Usage

   Swahili numbers 4-6

   Grammar Note

   "Sita" (6), "saba" (7), and "tisa" (9) are Arabic loanwords (sitta, sab'a, tis'a). Swahili counting shows the linguistic blend of native Bantu numerals and Arabic borrowings.

3. Saba, nane, tisa, kumi

   Sa-ba, na-ne, ti-sa, ku-mi

   Seven, eight, nine, ten

   Usage

   Swahili numbers 7-10

   Grammar Note

   "Kumi" (10) is considered a native Bantu numeral. Numbers above 10 are formed compositionally: "kumi na moja" (11), "kumi na mbili" (12) — literally "ten and one/two."

4. Ishirini, thelathini, arobaini

   I-shi-ri-ni, the-la-thi-ni, a-ro-ba-i-ni

   Twenty, thirty, forty

   Usage

   Tens. Frequently used in shopping and price negotiations

   Grammar Note

   All tens from 20-90 derive from Arabic (ishirini='ishrun, thelathini=thalathun, etc.). This is historical evidence of Arabic as the commercial lingua franca of the Indian Ocean trade.

5. Hamsini, sitini, sabini

   Ham-si-ni, si-ti-ni, sa-bi-ni

   Fifty, sixty, seventy

   Usage

   Higher number expressions

   Grammar Note

   "Hamsini" (50) derives from Arabic "khamsun" with "-ni" suffix. Swahili Arabic loanword numerals often end in "-ni."

6. Themanini, tisini, mia moja

   The-ma-ni-ni, ti-si-ni, mi-a mo-ja

   Eighty, ninety, one hundred

   Usage

   Numbers needed for higher price negotiations and quantities

   Grammar Note

   "Mia" (hundred) derives from Arabic "mi'ah." Hundreds are formed as "mia mbili" (200), "mia tatu" (300). Higher numbers in Swahili are predominantly Arabic in origin.

7. Elfu moja

   El-fu mo-ja

   One thousand

   Usage

   Used for expressing large amounts of money or quantities

   Grammar Note

   "Elfu" (thousand) derives from Arabic "alf." Used in currency: "shilingi elfu tano" (5,000 shillings). Kenya and Tanzania use the shilling (shilingi).

8. Shilingi ngapi?

   Shi-lin-gi nga-pi?

   How many shillings?

   Usage

   Asking about prices in East Africa, where the currency is called shilingi (shilling)

   Grammar Note

   "Shilingi" is borrowed from English "shilling." "Ngapi" (how many) follows the noun. The "ng'" spelling represents the [ŋ] sound. Swahili question words follow the noun they question.

9. Nusu na robo

   Nu-su na ro-bo

   Half and a quarter

   Usage

   Fractional expressions used for portions and quantities

   Grammar Note

   Both "nusu" (half) from Arabic "nisf" and "robo" (quarter) from Arabic "rub'" are Arabic loanwords. Almost all Swahili fractions come from Arabic, reflecting its role as the language of Indian Ocean commerce.

10. Nipe vitu vitano

    Ni-pe vi-tu vi-ta-no

    Give me five pieces

    Usage

    Ordering a quantity of items. Replace "vitu" with specific item names like "mananasi" (pineapples)

    Grammar Note

    "Kitu" (thing, ki-class singular) becomes "vitu" in the vi-class plural. The numeral "tano" (5) takes the vi- prefix to become "vitano" in agreement. This is classic Bantu numeral-noun agreement.

11. Nina miaka ishirini na saba

    Ni-na mi-a-ka i-shi-ri-ni na sa-ba

    I'm 27 years old

    Usage

    Giving your age. Swahili says literally "I have 27 years"

    Grammar Note

    The answer reuses the frame of "Una miaka mingapi?" ("How old are you?"), swapping the subject prefix u- (you) for ni- (I); "miaka" (class 4) is unchanged. Arabic-derived numerals from ten upwards, such as ishirini, take no class agreement, so they simply follow the noun.

12. Mwaka huu nitakuwa na miaka ishirini na nane

    Mwa-ka huu ni-ta-ku-wa na mi-a-ka i-shi-ri-ni na na-ne

    I turn 28 this year

    Usage

    Saying what age you will reach this year — useful for visa or insurance questions

    Grammar Note

    "Mwaka" is a class 3 noun, so its demonstrative is "huu", not "hii". The future is formed by inserting -ta- after the subject prefix (ni- + -ta- + kuwa = nitakuwa). Possession is expressed with "kuwa na" rather than a separate verb.

Browse all TravelPhrases languages