Swahili dictionary words
Browse 191 human-reviewed Swahili words. Hear pronunciation, explore meanings and origins, and see how each word is used in example sentences.
-
-akeSwahilipossessive stemhis; her; its.-akoSwahilipossessive adjectiveyour; yours.-anguSwahilipossessive adjectivemy; mine.-aoSwahilipossessive stemtheir; theirs.-emaSwahiliadjective stemgood; an adjective stem appearing in agreement forms such as mwema and njema.-enuSwahilipossessive stemyour; yours (plural).-enyeSwahilipossessive stemhaving; with.-etuSwahilipossessive stemour; ours.-oteSwahiliquantifierall; the whole of.
A
B
baadaSwahilipreposition · adverbAfter; later than a time or event.baadayeSwahiliadverbLater; afterwards.babaSwahilinounfather; dad; a respectful or familiar form of address.badoSwahiliadverbStill; not yet.barikiSwahiliverbto bless.beiSwahilinounprice.boraSwahiliadjective · conjunctionexcellent; better or best; as long as or provided that.bwanaSwahilinounsir; Mr.
C
D
E
F
G
H
habariSwahilinounnews; information; how things are.hakunaSwahilinegative existentialthere is not; there are no.hakuna matataSwahiliphrasethere are no problems; no worries.hamsiniSwahilinumeralfifty.hapaSwahiliadverbhere.hapanaSwahiliparticle · locative verb formNo. Also, there is not, when referring to a particular place.hapoSwahililocative demonstrativethere; at that place.helaSwahilinounmoney.hiiSwahilidemonstrativethis; these.hiviSwahilidemonstrative · adverbThese, for class 8 nouns; also like this, in this way, or thus.hongeraSwahiliinterjectionCongratulations! Well done!
I
J
jaliSwahiliverbto care about or pay attention to someone or something.jamboSwahilinounmatter; affair; thing; also encountered in greeting formulas.janaSwahiliadverbYesterday; the day before today.jeSwahiliparticleA particle that draws attention to a question; attached to a verb as -je, it asks how.jengaSwahiliverbTo build; to construct.jifunzaSwahiliverbto learn; to study.jinaSwahilinounname.jioniSwahilinoun · adverbEvening; in the evening.jumlaSwahilinounthe total; the sum.
K
kaaSwahiliverbto sit; to stay.kabisaSwahiliadverbCompletely; entirely; absolutely. Also used to strengthen a description.kablaSwahilipreposition · conjunctionBefore; earlier than a time or event.kamaSwahiliconjunction · prepositionif; like; as; approximately.karibishaSwahiliverbto welcome.karibuSwahiliinterjection · adverbwelcome; near; almost.kaziSwahilinounwork; a job; a task.keshoSwahilinoun · adverbTomorrow; the day after today.ketiSwahiliverbto sit.ki-Swahiliprefixa noun prefix that can mean “small” or “some.”kidogoSwahiliadverba little; a small amount.KiingerezaSwahilinounEnglish; the English language.kikundiSwahilinounsmall group; circle; organized group.kitabuSwahilinounbook; written volume. The plural is vitabu.kitandaSwahilinouna bed; furniture you sleep on.kituSwahilinounthing; item.kituoSwahilinounstop; station.kubwaSwahiliadjectiveBig or large; with people, older or senior.kulaSwahiliverbto eat; to consume.kumiSwahilinumeralten.kunaSwahiliverbthere is; there are.kunywaSwahiliverbto drink.kutanaSwahiliverbto meet.kuwaSwahiliverbto be; to become.kwaSwahiliprepositionwith; for; by; or at.kwaheriSwahiliinterjectiongoodbye; farewell.kwaniSwahiliinterrogative adverbwhy.kwanzaSwahiliadverbfirst.kweliSwahilinoun · adverbTruth; reality. As an adverb: truly; really; certainly.
L
M
maanaSwahilinoun · conjunctionMeaning or sense; also a reason, purpose, or intention.mamboSwahiliplural noun · interjectionThings; matters; affairs. As an informal greeting: “How are things?” or “What’s up?”maraSwahilinountime; an occasion.marahabaSwahiliinterjectiona respectful response to Shikamoo, accepting the greeting.matatuSwahilinounminibus used for public transport in Kenya.mbiliSwahilinumeraltwo; the number 2.mbonaSwahiliinterrogative adverbwhy; for what reason.mchanaSwahilinounDaytime; afternoon.mgeniSwahilinounguest; visitor.mgonjwaSwahilinouna person who is sick; a patient.miaSwahilinumerala hundred.mimiSwahilipronounI; me.mjiSwahilinountown; city.mkahawaSwahilinounrestaurant; café.mkiwaSwahilinouna poor, helpless, or abandoned person.mojaSwahilinumeralone; the number 1.mtuSwahilinounperson.muzikiSwahilinounmusic.mwakaSwahilinounyear.mwalimuSwahilinounteacher.mwiziSwahilinounthief.mzukaSwahilinouna ghost, apparition, or spirit.
N
naSwahiliprepositionwith.nafasiSwahilinounspace; room.naniSwahiliinterrogative pronounwho.nchiSwahilinouncountry.ndaniSwahiliadverbinside; within.ndiyoSwahiliparticleyes.ngapiSwahiliinterrogativehow many; how much.niSwahilicopulaam; is; are, linking a subject to what it is.niniSwahiliinterrogativewhat?njemaSwahiliadjectivegood; fine; pleasant.
O
P
paSwahiliverbto give.pendaSwahiliverbto like; to love.pesaSwahilinounmoney.piaSwahiliadverbalso; too.pikaSwahiliverbto cook.pilauSwahilinounspiced rice, often cooked with meat.poleSwahiliinterjection · adverban expression of sympathy; slowly or gently.pumzikaSwahiliverbTo rest; to take a break.punguzaSwahiliverbto reduce; to make smaller.pururaSwahiliverbto strip leaves off a branch by pulling it through the hand; by extension, to rub or strip off.
R
S
saaSwahilinounhour.safariSwahilinounjourney; trip; travel.safiSwahiliadjectiveclean; pure.saidiaSwahiliverbto help; to assist.sanaSwahiliadverbvery; very much.sasaSwahiliadverb · phrasenow; hey (as a greeting).sawaSwahiliadjective · interjectionokay; fine; equal.semaSwahiliverbto say; to speak.shidaSwahilinouna problem; difficulty; trouble.shikamooSwahiliinterjectiona respectful greeting to an older person or someone of higher status.shilingiSwahilinouna shilling.shukaSwahiliverbto go down.shushaSwahiliverbto lower; to unload.siSwahiliparticleAm not; is not; are not.sikiaSwahiliverbto hear.sikuSwahilinounday.simuSwahilinounphone.sioSwahiliparticleNo; it is not.somaSwahiliverbto read; to study.sukariSwahilinounsugar; also used as a term of sweetness or affection.SwahiliSwahiliproper nounthe Swahili language; in Swahili, Kiswahili.
T
taarabSwahilinouna music genre popular in Kenya and Tanzania.tafadhaliSwahiliinterjectionplease.takaSwahiliverbTo want; to wish.tanoSwahilinumeralfive.tembeaSwahiliverbto walk.tenaSwahiliadverb · conjunctionagain; further; then; in addition.tokaSwahiliverbto come from; to go out; to leave.tozaSwahiliverbto charge; to demand a payment.tuSwahiliadverbOnly; just; merely.
