What languages made up Swahili?

Swahili is a Bantu language, meaning it belongs to the Bantu language family, which encompasses hundreds of languages spoken across sub-Saharan Africa. While its origins are complex, Swahili is primarily based on the Kiunguja dialect, spoken on the island of Zanzibar.

Here's a breakdown of its influences:

* Bantu languages: The core vocabulary and grammatical structure of Swahili come from various Bantu languages spoken along the East African coast. These include languages like Kipare, Kimvita, Kibondei, and Kikamia.

* Arabic: Swahili has adopted numerous words and phrases from Arabic, reflecting the historical influence of Arab traders and settlers in the region.

* English: With the spread of Swahili as a lingua franca and its use in education and government, English has also contributed loanwords.

* Portuguese: A smaller number of Portuguese loanwords have also entered Swahili, due to the historical presence of the Portuguese in East Africa.

Therefore, Swahili is not derived from a single language but is a blend of several influences, primarily from Bantu languages, with significant contributions from Arabic.