Swahili translation: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What swahili translation is

A Swahili translator converts text between English and Swahili, adapting vocabulary to East African regions and your intended audience. Swahili, or Kiswahili, is spoken in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and parts of other countries, and words for everyday things and official terms can differ from place to place.

Signs you need it

  • Your readers are in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda or another East African area, and you need text that reads naturally there.
  • You have a notice, form or letter for Swahili speakers that must be clear to them.
  • You are publishing a website, program guide or course in Swahili.
  • You have a Swahili document that must be read in English for a business, legal or personal purpose.
  • A machine translation has produced wording that East African readers would not use in daily life.
  • You need an official or school document where the Swahili terms must match the local usage.

What the pro does

  • Confirms the readers, their country and the level of formality the document needs.
  • Builds a glossary of names, product terms and titles, with the Swahili form of each.
  • Translates the text using vocabulary that fits the readers' region and the document's setting.
  • Checks the noun class agreements in each sentence, so the verbs and adjectives match the nouns.
  • Reviews the translation for natural phrasing, then returns the file with notes on regional choices to approve.

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Word count or page count, and the number of documents.
  • Regional usage needed, such as Kenyan, Tanzanian or a neutral text for readers across the region.
  • Subject complexity, such as legal, medical, technical or education text.
  • Formatting, such as tables, forms or design files.
  • Whether a second reviewer checks the Swahili text.
  • Deadline for delivery.

What a written quote should spell out

  • The word count or page count, and the language direction.
  • The regional usage the translation targets.
  • The glossary step, and who approves the terms.
  • Whether a second review is included.
  • The file format returned, and whether the layout is recreated.

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Which country will read the Swahili text?
  • Will the text use the terms your readers use daily, or official terms?
  • How do you handle names of places, products and organizations?
  • Will a second person review the Swahili text?
  • Can you keep the layout of my forms or tables?
  • Can you show a sample passage on a subject like mine?

Red flags

  • Uses one regional usage for readers across the region without asking where they are.
  • Writes the same term in different ways through the document.
  • Changes names, dates or figures in the translation.
  • Sends a machine translation with no human review and presents it as professional work.
  • Cannot explain the regional choices or the terms used.

What you can do yourself

You can list the readers' country, the names and terms that must stay the same, and whether the document is official, then have a Swahili speaker from the readers' country read a draft. Hire a translator when the document is official, will be published or sent to customers, or contains legal, medical or technical terms where one wrong word changes the meaning.

Licenses and permits

Swahili translation is not commonly licensed, so a license is usually not required for this work. Check with the office or organization that will receive the document, since some set their own rules for accepted translations, and ask the translator for Swahili samples in your subject as proof of skill.

Swahili translation questions

Is Swahili the same in every country?

The core language is shared, but vocabulary, some spellings and everyday usage differ between countries. Tell the translator where your readers are so the words match their experience.

Why do Swahili verbs and adjectives change so much?

Swahili sorts nouns into classes, and the words that describe or relate to a noun change to match its class. A translator must keep these agreements right throughout, which is why a review of the grammar is part of the work.

Should English terms stay in the text?

Some do, especially technical and product terms that readers use in English. Agree the list of kept terms in the glossary before translating.

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