Kenya's national languages are English and Kiswahili, which are widely spoken. Kiswahili is a trade language and a mix mainly of Arabic and Bantu. The name literally means coastal language as that is where it began.
There are over 60 other languages spoken. Anyone who has seen The Lion King knows the Swahili words Simba and Hakuna Matata and may be realises Rafiki is friend. From other sources, jambo, bwana, safari, daktari and jenga are known. Some words are fun - pikipiki (motorbike), koukou (chicken) mimi (I). Essential are "sawa sawa" (okay) and Asante sana (thank you very much) to which the answer is Karibu (welcome).
A car, interestingly, is a Gari! As for saying my name, some wanted to say Carey (which is good) or Gray (which my nan used to write in my birthday cards). Some liked to change the surname to Brandy (not so good). In fact there is a real thing about "n" before consonants, which (like other Africans) they like to introduce. I met a girl who pronounced the word "eager" as "hinger". Like the Chinese, some confuse "l" and "r".
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