lugha

noun

language.

Language names can use ki-, as in Kiunguja for the language of Zanzibar.

Origins

Lugha comes from Arabic لُغَة (luġa, “language”).

Edward Steere, A Handbook of the Swahili Language as Spoken at Zanzibar (London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 1884), PDF page 79.
Lists lugha for language and explains ki- in language names. Historical Zanzibar evidence.
lugha (Wiktionary)
States lugha is borrowed from Arabic لُغَة (luġa).

Lugha ya Kiswahili ni nzuri sana.
The Swahili language is very beautiful.
Anajifunza lugha mpya kila mwaka.
She learns a new language every year.
Je, unaweza kuzungumza lugha ngapi?
How many languages can you speak?
Lugha ya ishara ni muhimu kwa viziwi.
Sign language is important for deaf people.
Watu wengi hapa huzungumza lugha mbili.
Many people here speak two languages.
Lugha ya mama yake ni Kifaransa.
His mother’s language is French.
Unasema lugha gani?
What language do you speak?
Isimu ya lugha ni somo la kuvutia.
Linguistics is an interesting subject.
Ninajifunza lugha hii.
I’m learning this language.