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Swahili Tongue Twisters

1st International Collection of Tongue Twisters
© 1996-2010 by Mr.Twister

Please click on the number above the tongue twister for a rough translation;
For non-latin scripts please move the mouse pointer over the text to view the transliteration.
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1

Mbuzi hali nazi kwa vile hawezi kupanda ngazi ndipo azifikie nazi.

2

Katibu Kata wa Kata ya Mkata amekataa katakata kukata miti katika kata ya Mkata.

3

Wale wari wa liwali wale wali wa liwali.

from Bagamoyo, Tanzania

4

Kipi kikusikitishacho?

5

Karim ni mkarimu na ana karamu.

6

Kale kakuku kadogo ka kaka kako wapi kaka?

7

Mkaidi hafaidi hadi siku ya Idi.

a proverb

8

Haraka haraka haina baraka.

9

Juzi mjuzi akala mchuzi wa mjusi.

Some may say he was not so wise.

10

Tupe tupate, tumtupie Tapu

11

Nina wamnunia nani, Nunu nae keshanuna

12

Nimenufaika kutunukiwa tunu na Nunu.

13

Kikujiacho kitakachokuondoka.

14

Hapo ulipo upo upo

15

Twanga tope ni twange tope tope hilo la twangwa je?

from Tanzania

Rough Translations

  1. A goat cannot eat coconut because it cannot climb up a ladder to reach the coconuts up in the coconut tree. 
  2. The head of Mkata ward has forbidden to cut trees in the Mkapa ward. 
  3. Let those maidens of the liwali (former Muslim government representative) eat the rice of the liwali. "Wari" is sometimes spelt "wali". 
  4. What makes you feel sorry? or "What's bugging you? 
  5. Karim is generous and he has a party. 
  6. Where are your chickens, brother? 
  7. The obstinate person (Mkaidi) doesn't profit/gain/get ahead (hafaidi) until (hadi) the festival of Idi (siku ya Idi), that is, until the day at the end of Ramadan: A stubborn person doesn't get ahead until a long time has passed. 
  8. Hurry hurry has no blessings (haste makes waste). 
  9. The day before yesterday the wise man ate lizzard soup. 
  10. Give (it) to us so we can have (it) in order to pass (it) on to Tapu. 
  11. Who are you sulking at, Nina, Nunu is already sulking. 
  12. I have benefited from a rare gift from Nunu. 
  13. What comes to you will leave you. 
  14. Is there a ladle (there) where you are? 
  15. (?) 
    16.  

    Thanks

    Saada Al-Ghafry, Simon Barne, Jimmy Innes, David Morton, Binti Msangi, Ali Muhammad Salim, P. Mulhern, Agnes Mwakingwe, Mike Mwongela, Paul R. Richardson, Frank Tyburc, Bart van Loon, John Wa'Njogu

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Compilation © 1996-2010 by Mr.Twister

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Last update 2010-01-18