Why Swahili at Iowa?
Boost your global career potential with skills in one of Africa’s most widely spoken languages.
Explore coursework in Swahili
Enrich your academic journey
Karibu! While at University of Iowa, come explore Swahili—where every word carries history, rhythm, and meaning. You'll enjoy engaging classes that blend language learning with culture, music, and storytelling.
Study abroad
Practice your language skills, expose yourself to world cultures, and expand your worldview.
Internships
Apply what you learn in the program, gain real world experience, and pursue your future career path.
Why study Swahili at Iowa?
Connect with East Africa—explore language, culture, and global opportunity through Swahili studies.
Studying Swahili offers a powerful way to engage with the languages and cultures of East Africa—one of the most dynamic regions in the world. Swahili is spoken by millions and serves as a key language in international relations, business, and education.
Through Swahili coursework, students gain more than language skills—they build cultural awareness, global insight, and the ability to connect across borders. Whether you’re curious about history, passionate about communication, or preparing for a career with international reach, Swahili opens up meaningful opportunities.
News
Swahili language and culture resources
Dictionaries, encyclopedias, and digital libraries
- The Kamusi Project Internet Swahili Dictionary
- Online Dictionary: Swahili - English
- Online English to Swahili Dictionary
- Online Dictionaries - Swahili Dictionaries Online
- Forvo Pronunciation Dictionary
- Crowdsourced dictionary for pronouncing words in Swahili
Grammar
- Brief history of the Swahili language
- The Language Gulper
- Introduction to the language
- Karibu Kwangu
- Advanced verb parser, verb derivatives, noun agreements, etc.
- Swahili Nouns
- Swahili noun classification system
Vocabulary
- Useful Swahili Words and Phrases
- List of basic words and phrases with audio recordings
- Teach Yourself Swahili
- Introductory Swahili vocabulary organized thematically
Reading and writing
Listening and speaking
- Learn101 - Swahili
- Basic vocabulary and introductory phrases with audio files
Online course materials
- Online Swahili elementary course
- Immerse yourself in Swahili through real native speaker conversations and build the skills you need to confidently communicate in East African communities. Whether you're traveling for missions, study abroad, research, tourism, or business, this course is the perfect companion to boost your classroom learning or independent study.
- Swahili 101
- YouTube-based course focusing on introductory conversation and basic vocabulary
- Rosetta Stone Swahili
- CultureTalk Tanzania
- Videos of native speakers discussing a wide range of topics
- Duolingo Swahili
- Online game-like lessons for 5 minutes a day
- Peace Corps Kiswahili course
- Links to downloadable language manuals
- Foreign Service Institute Swahili Basic Course
- Downloadable language learning manuals
Open educational resources
News and media
- ABYZ News Links: media portal
- News portal
- TV Radio World: international media directory
- BBC World Service
- Streaming audio news in Swahili
Arts, films, and music
- Swahili Art
- Courtesy of the University of Iowa Stanley Museum of Art
Study abroad
We encourage you to study abroad to develop your linguistic and intercultural competencies. The university has several opportunities to select from.
Write your story
Build knowledge. Conduct research. Create new work. Stand out among your peers. You're going places, and it all starts here.
Swahili faculty
Beatrice Mkenda, PhD
