Swahili's vocabulary was shaped by ancient trade routes
Centuries of trade with Arab merchants profoundly shaped Swahili, a major East African language, by integrating numerous Arabic words into its vocabulary and cultural fabric.
Swahili, spoken by over 100 million people in East Africa, significantly borrowed words from Arabic. This began around the 8th century when Arab traders established coastal settlements, fostering deep cultural exchanges through commerce in goods like ivory and gold. This interaction introduced Islam and embedded Arabic influences into the language.
There's more to this story — open the app to keep reading.
Continue Reading in App
2 more paragraphs · plus a 3-question quiz