I'm going to Kenya for a few weeks for a work-related trip in a couple of months. I could try to learn some Swahili, but am wondering if it is worth it if most everyone can speak English. I'll be in Kisumu.
hakuna matata
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Yes it is always useful to learn a few basic words of the main language that is used in the country that your visiting, and Kenya is no exception! Although you will find that a large proportion of Kenyans will understand English, and speak it quite well, there are some that you will find that don't. There are many dialects spoken in Kenya and it would be impossible to speak them all, so in the main, the Swahili language is the common language used to overcome this barrier. You can find some useful Swahili words and phrases on this site that may be of use to you. http://www.glcom.com/hassan/lessons/useful_swahili_words.html
Hope that you find this helps.
jamisonshuck
most people in Kisumu and other cities know English, but speak Swahili normally. For the country as a whole, I would say 95% speak Swahili, 70% speak English and probably about 5% speak neither. Those are just my estimations, not actual numbers
kaleo
Knowing some swahili will endear you to the locals and even assure you of instant rapport.
It is even more vital now that you will be on work in Kisumu which is to the west of the capital Nairobi.
Try and get to know more about your destination through the internet.
Karibu (Swahili for welcome) Kenya !
Anonymous
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zilber
in the rural areas you will encounter Swahili more than English but...
they will provide you with a translator...
your linguistic background is not sufficient to learn Swahili in a short while....
you will always manage with English in Kenya....