Kiswahili Sanifu
The Tanzania-based literary and educational standard of Swahili. Modelled on the Zanzibari Kiunguja variety; Tanzania's national language and a continental lingua franca.
Congo Swahili
Also known as: Kingwana
The Swahili used as a lingua franca across eastern DR Congo. A simplified contact variety, structurally divergent from the East African standard.
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Frequently asked questions
What language is Congo Swahili?
Congo Swahili is a dialect of Swahili.
Which region is Congo Swahili associated with?
Congo Swahili is part of the West & Central Africa region on DialectAtlas.
Is Congo Swahili known by other names?
Yes — Congo Swahili is also referred to as Kingwana.
What are the other dialects of Swahili?
Swahili also includes Standard Swahili, Kimvita, Sheng. Each variety has its own vocabulary, pronunciation, and cultural context.
Other Swahili dialects
See on the atlas →Mombasa Swahili
The historical Swahili variety of Mombasa and the Kenyan coast. The classical literary Swahili of the 18th and 19th centuries.
The youth vernacular of urban Kenya, especially Nairobi. A code-mixed register drawing on Swahili, English, and various Kenyan languages.