Swahili to English examples

Nataka kujifunza Kiingereza haraka.

→ I want to learn English quickly.

Swahili puts the subject prefix 'na-' inside the verb 'nataka'. English separates 'I' as a standalone subject. The SVO structure is similar but the internal verb structure differs.

Nimekuwa nikisoma Kiingereza kwa miaka mitatu.

→ I have been studying English for three years.

Swahili uses the 'nimekuwa + present continuous' construction for this. English uses the present perfect continuous — both express ongoing duration from a past point.

Tafadhali sema polepole zaidi.

→ Please speak more slowly.

Very similar structure. 'Tafadhali' corresponds directly to 'please'. This is one of the closer sentence translations between Swahili and English.

Kama ningalijifunza zaidi, ningalifaulu mtihani.

→ If I had studied more, I would have passed the exam.

Swahili uses the '-ngali-' marker for past counterfactual conditions. English uses the past perfect in the if-clause. Both express an unrealised past condition.

Kiingereza ni lugha muhimu sana.

→ English is a very important language.

'Ni' in Swahili means 'is' — placed between subject and complement like English. Note the article 'a' before 'language' in English — Swahili has no equivalent.