Swahili and English are the two official languages in Tanzania. However, the country is home to over 120 additional languages and dialects. Since Tanzania is home to more than 100 tribes, each one first learns its own tribal language. It is only later, when locals go to school, that they learn Swahili (in primary school) and English (in secondary school).

Swahili

Swahili became the official language in Tanzanie in 1974. It is a Bantu language with Arabic influences. History tells us it emerged during the Middle Ages with the expansion of merchant civilizations along the African coast. It is also one of the most widely spoken languages on the African continent. It is used in Kenya, Uganda, the Comoros, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Burundi. Swahili is also the first African language officially recognized by the social network "Twitter". It is one of the easiest languages to speak. Moreover, during your stay in Tanzanie, knowing frequently used Swahili words will facilitate communication, but it will also show your host the interest you take in their country and culture. Here are a few:

• Hello = Jambo
• Goodbye = Kwaheri
• Thank you = Asante
• Thank you very much = Asante sana
• Please = Tafadhali
• Yes = Ndiyo
• No = Hapana
• No thank you = Hapana asante
• My name is… = Ninaitwa…
• No worries = Hakuna Matata
• With pleasure = Karibu

English

English also holds the status of official language alongside Swahili. But unlike Swahili, which is used by over 90% of the population, English is used by only a minority and within a restricted circle, notably in foreign trade, courts, diplomacy, and higher education. This language is only accessible from secondary school onward. Tanzanie is therefore a Swahili-speaking country and not an English-speaking one, as some tourist guides claim when they assert that English is spoken everywhere in Tanzanie. The few people who speak this language are those working in the tourism sector, major traders, and executives who have pursued higher education—a tiny percentage of the population.

Other Languages Spoken in Tanzanie

Beyond the two official languages, Tanzanie is home to over 120 dialects, including Sukuma, which is the language of the country's largest ethnic group. Besides Sukuma, there are also dialects such as Gogo, Tumbuka, Nyamwezi, Haya, Makondé, Nyakyusa-Ngondé, Nyaturu, Maasai, Hehe, Nilamba, Chagga, Yao, and Makhuwa-Meetto. This underscores the importance of having a guide—preferably a local who can navigate between languages and thus make your tourism experience all the more rewarding.