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