waka

-waka (canonical)
kuwaka (infinitive)
kuwaka (infinitive)
kutowaka (infinitive negative)
waka (imperative singular)
wakeni (imperative plural)
huwaka (habitual)
positive subject concord + -liwaka (past)
negative subject concord + -kuwaka (negative past)
ninawaka (first-person present singular)
nawaka (first-person present singular)
tunawaka (first-person plural present)
unawaka (present second-person singular)
mnawaka (plural present second-person)
anawaka (class-1 class-2 present singular third-person)
wanawaka (class-1 class-2 plural present third-person)
positive subject concord + -nawaka (present third-person)
siwaki (first-person negative present singular)
hatuwaki (first-person negative plural present)
huwaki (negative present second-person singular)
hamuwaki (negative plural present second-person)
hawaki (class-1 class-2 negative present singular third-person)
hawawaki (class-1 class-2 negative plural present third-person)
negative subject concord + -waki (negative present third-person)
positive subject concord + -tawaka (future)
negative subject concord + -tawaka (future negative)
niwake (first-person singular subjunctive)
tuwake (first-person plural subjunctive)
uwake (second-person singular subjunctive)
muwake (plural second-person subjunctive)
awake (class-1 class-2 singular subjunctive third-person)
wawake (class-1 class-2 plural subjunctive third-person)
positive subject concord + -wake (subjunctive third-person)
positive subject concord + -siwake (negative subjunctive)
positive subject concord + -ngewaka (irrealis present)
positive subject concord + -singewaka (irrealis negative present)
positive subject concord + -ngaliwaka (irrealis past)
positive subject concord + -singaliwaka (irrealis negative past)
nawaka (first-person gnomic singular)
twawaka (first-person gnomic plural)
wawaka (gnomic second-person singular)
mwawaka (gnomic plural second-person)
awaka (class-1 class-2 gnomic singular third-person)
wawaka (class-1 class-2 gnomic plural third-person)
wawaka (class-3 class-4 gnomic singular third-person)
yawaka (class-3 class-4 gnomic plural third-person)
lawaka (class-5 class-6 gnomic singular third-person)
yawaka (class-5 class-6 gnomic plural third-person)
chawaka (class-7 class-8 gnomic singular third-person)
vyawaka (class-7 class-8 gnomic plural third-person)
yawaka (class-10 class-9 gnomic singular third-person)
zawaka (class-10 class-9 gnomic plural third-person)
wawaka (class-11 gnomic singular third-person)
kwawaka (class-15 class-17 gnomic singular third-person)
pawaka (class-16 gnomic singular third-person)
mwawaka (class-18 gnomic singular third-person)
positive subject concord + -mewaka (perfect)
positive subject concord + -meshawaka (already-form)
negative subject concord + -jawaka (not-yet-form)
positive subject concord + -kiwaka (if-when-form)
positive subject concord + -sipowaka (if-not-form)
positive subject concord + -kawake (consecutive subjunctive)
-niwaka (first-person indicative object-concord singular)
-tuwaka (first-person indicative object-concord plural)
-kuwaka (indicative object-concord second-person singular)
-wawaka (indicative object-concord plural second-person)
-kuwakeni (indicative object-concord plural second-person)
-wawakeni (indicative object-concord plural second-person)
-muwaka (class-1 class-2 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-wawaka (class-1 class-2 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-uwaka (class-3 class-4 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-iwaka (class-3 class-4 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-liwaka (class-5 class-6 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-yawaka (class-5 class-6 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-kiwaka (class-7 class-8 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-viwaka (class-7 class-8 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-iwaka (class-10 class-9 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-ziwaka (class-10 class-9 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-uwaka (class-11 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-kuwaka (class-15 class-17 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-pawaka (class-16 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-muwaka (class-18 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-jiwaka (indicative object-concord reflexive)
-wakaye (class-1 class-2 object-concord relative singular)
-wakao (class-1 class-2 object-concord plural relative)
-wakao (class-3 class-4 object-concord relative singular)
-wakayo (class-3 class-4 object-concord plural relative)
-wakalo (class-5 class-6 object-concord relative singular)
-wakayo (class-5 class-6 object-concord plural relative)
-wakacho (class-7 class-8 object-concord relative singular)
-wakavyo (class-7 class-8 object-concord plural relative)
-wakayo (class-10 class-9 object-concord relative singular)
-wakazo (class-10 class-9 object-concord plural relative)
-wakao (class-11 object-concord relative singular)
-wakako (class-15 class-17 object-concord relative singular)
-wakapo (class-16 object-concord relative singular)
-wakamo (class-18 object-concord relative singular)
-yewaka (class-1 class-2 object-concord relative singular)
-owaka (class-1 class-2 object-concord plural relative)
-owaka (class-3 class-4 object-concord relative singular)
-yowaka (class-3 class-4 object-concord plural relative)
-lowaka (class-5 class-6 object-concord relative singular)
-yowaka (class-5 class-6 object-concord plural relative)
-chowaka (class-7 class-8 object-concord relative singular)
-vyowaka (class-7 class-8 object-concord plural relative)
-yowaka (class-10 class-9 object-concord relative singular)
-zowaka (class-10 class-9 object-concord plural relative)
-owaka (class-11 object-concord relative singular)
-kowaka (class-15 class-17 object-concord relative singular)
-powaka (class-16 object-concord relative singular)
-mowaka (class-18 object-concord relative singular)


ngoma

ngoma (canonical)
ngoma (plural)
mangoma (plural)


vuvuzela

From Zulu vuvuzela (“to make a vu vu noise”), from the /vuː/ sound the horns make.

vuvuzela (a trumpet-shaped horn, now usually plastic, that produces a loud buzzing sound)


nuru

كِطَّمْسِكِزَ گَوُجُهَّالِ ، نُرُ نَمِيَاغَ اِتَظَلَالِ

18th century, Abdallah bin Ali bin Nasir, Al-Inkishafi, stanza 9:

Brightness and lights will overcome the shadow and darkness of ignorance

Kiṭamsi-kiza cha-ujuhali, nuru na-mianga itaẓalali


foka

-foka (canonical)
kufoka (infinitive)
kufoka (infinitive)
kutofoka (infinitive negative)
foka (imperative singular)
fokeni (imperative plural)
hufoka (habitual)
positive subject concord + -lifoka (past)
negative subject concord + -kufoka (negative past)
ninafoka (first-person present singular)
nafoka (first-person present singular)
tunafoka (first-person plural present)
unafoka (present second-person singular)
mnafoka (plural present second-person)
anafoka (class-1 class-2 present singular third-person)
wanafoka (class-1 class-2 plural present third-person)
positive subject concord + -nafoka (present third-person)
sifoki (first-person negative present singular)
hatufoki (first-person negative plural present)
hufoki (negative present second-person singular)
hamfoki (negative plural present second-person)
hafoki (class-1 class-2 negative present singular third-person)
hawafoki (class-1 class-2 negative plural present third-person)
negative subject concord + -foki (negative present third-person)
positive subject concord + -tafoka (future)
negative subject concord + -tafoka (future negative)
nifoke (first-person singular subjunctive)
tufoke (first-person plural subjunctive)
ufoke (second-person singular subjunctive)
mfoke (plural second-person subjunctive)
afoke (class-1 class-2 singular subjunctive third-person)
wafoke (class-1 class-2 plural subjunctive third-person)
positive subject concord + -foke (subjunctive third-person)
positive subject concord + -sifoke (negative subjunctive)
positive subject concord + -ngefoka (irrealis present)
positive subject concord + -singefoka (irrealis negative present)
positive subject concord + -ngalifoka (irrealis past)
positive subject concord + -singalifoka (irrealis negative past)
nafoka (first-person gnomic singular)
twafoka (first-person gnomic plural)
wafoka (gnomic second-person singular)
mwafoka (gnomic plural second-person)
afoka (class-1 class-2 gnomic singular third-person)
wafoka (class-1 class-2 gnomic plural third-person)
wafoka (class-3 class-4 gnomic singular third-person)
yafoka (class-3 class-4 gnomic plural third-person)
lafoka (class-5 class-6 gnomic singular third-person)
yafoka (class-5 class-6 gnomic plural third-person)
chafoka (class-7 class-8 gnomic singular third-person)
vyafoka (class-7 class-8 gnomic plural third-person)
yafoka (class-10 class-9 gnomic singular third-person)
zafoka (class-10 class-9 gnomic plural third-person)
wafoka (class-11 gnomic singular third-person)
kwafoka (class-15 class-17 gnomic singular third-person)
pafoka (class-16 gnomic singular third-person)
mwafoka (class-18 gnomic singular third-person)
positive subject concord + -mefoka (perfect)
positive subject concord + -meshafoka (already-form)
negative subject concord + -jafoka (not-yet-form)
positive subject concord + -kifoka (if-when-form)
positive subject concord + -sipofoka (if-not-form)
positive subject concord + -kafoke (consecutive subjunctive)
-nifoka (first-person indicative object-concord singular)
-tufoka (first-person indicative object-concord plural)
-kufoka (indicative object-concord second-person singular)
-wafoka (indicative object-concord plural second-person)
-kufokeni (indicative object-concord plural second-person)
-wafokeni (indicative object-concord plural second-person)
-mfoka (class-1 class-2 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-wafoka (class-1 class-2 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-ufoka (class-3 class-4 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-ifoka (class-3 class-4 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-lifoka (class-5 class-6 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-yafoka (class-5 class-6 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-kifoka (class-7 class-8 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-vifoka (class-7 class-8 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-ifoka (class-10 class-9 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-zifoka (class-10 class-9 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-ufoka (class-11 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-kufoka (class-15 class-17 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-pafoka (class-16 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-mufoka (class-18 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-jifoka (indicative object-concord reflexive)
-fokaye (class-1 class-2 object-concord relative singular)
-fokao (class-1 class-2 object-concord plural relative)
-fokao (class-3 class-4 object-concord relative singular)
-fokayo (class-3 class-4 object-concord plural relative)
-fokalo (class-5 class-6 object-concord relative singular)
-fokayo (class-5 class-6 object-concord plural relative)
-fokacho (class-7 class-8 object-concord relative singular)
-fokavyo (class-7 class-8 object-concord plural relative)
-fokayo (class-10 class-9 object-concord relative singular)
-fokazo (class-10 class-9 object-concord plural relative)
-fokao (class-11 object-concord relative singular)
-fokako (class-15 class-17 object-concord relative singular)
-fokapo (class-16 object-concord relative singular)
-fokamo (class-18 object-concord relative singular)
-yefoka (class-1 class-2 object-concord relative singular)
-ofoka (class-1 class-2 object-concord plural relative)
-ofoka (class-3 class-4 object-concord relative singular)
-yofoka (class-3 class-4 object-concord plural relative)
-lofoka (class-5 class-6 object-concord relative singular)
-yofoka (class-5 class-6 object-concord plural relative)
-chofoka (class-7 class-8 object-concord relative singular)
-vyofoka (class-7 class-8 object-concord plural relative)
-yofoka (class-10 class-9 object-concord relative singular)
-zofoka (class-10 class-9 object-concord plural relative)
-ofoka (class-11 object-concord relative singular)
-kofoka (class-15 class-17 object-concord relative singular)
-pofoka (class-16 object-concord relative singular)
-mofoka (class-18 object-concord relative singular)


kengele

ring, ringing (a resonant sound, like that produced by a bell)


kikohozi

a cough (expulsion of air from the lungs)


harimuni

accordion (a small, portable, keyed wind instrument)


kolabo

(slang) a collab (production or creation made by collaborating, esp. music)


insha

essay or composition (work of music, literature, or art)


kayamba

a rattle (a sound made by loose objects shaking or vibrating against one another)


kipaza sauti

sw-noun

kipaza sauti (ki-vi class, plural vipaza sauti)

loudspeaker (device that amplifies audio)


muziki

muziki (canonical)
miziki (plural)
muziki (plural)


kijani

kijani dhaifu

kijani isio kooza

kijani ya kukooza


zambarau

Borrowed from Portuguese jambolão, ultimately from Sanskrit जम्बु (jambu).


eupe

-eupe (canonical)
mweupe (singular)
weupe (plural)
myeupe (plural)
jeupe (singular)
meupe (plural)
cheupe (singular)
vyeupe (plural)
nyeupe (singular)
nyeupe (plural)
peupe (singular)
kweupe (singular)


ekundu

-ekundu (canonical)
mwekundu (singular)
wekundu (plural)
myekundu (plural)
jekundu (singular)
mekundu (plural)
chekundu (singular)
vyekundu (plural)
nyekundu (singular)
nyekundu (plural)
pekundu (singular)
kwekundu (singular)


eusi

-eusi (canonical)
mweusi (singular)
weusi (plural)
myeusi (plural)
jeusi (singular)
meusi (plural)
cheusi (singular)
vyeusi (plural)
nyeusi (singular)
nyeusi (plural)
peusi (singular)
kweusi (singular)


siwa

A type of ceremonial horn made of ivory and brass or wood blown at weddings and other events.


taarab

From Arabic طَرَب (ṭarab, “entertainment with music”).


lebo

lebo ya muziki

(music) label (company that sells records)


mzimamoto

sw-noun

mzimamoto (m-wa class, plural wazimamoto)

From m- + zima (“to extinguish”) + moto (“fire”).


kiberiti

→ Kikuyu: kĩbiriti


tarumbeta

sw-noun

tarumbeta (ma class, plural matarumbeta)

Borrowed from Portuguese trombeta. Some sources claim it's from English trumpet.


tawafa

Borrowed from Arabic طَوَّافَة (ṭawwāfa).


samawati

Borrowed from Arabic سَمَاوَات (samāwāt), the plural of سَمَاء (samāʔ, “sky”).


urujuani

Borrowed from Arabic أُرْجُوَانِيّ (ʔurjuwāniyy).

أُرْجُوَانِيّ


kipazasauti

sw-noun

kipazasauti (ki-vi class, plural vipazasauti)


kinasasauti

kinasasauti (ki-vi class, plural vinasasauti)


kinasa sauti

kinasa sauti (ki-vi class, plural vinasa sauti)

a microphone (device that amplifies voice)


Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu

Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu
sw:Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu


kituo cha mafuta

kituo cha mafuta (ki-vi class, plural vituo vya mafuta)


bweka

-bweka (canonical)
kubweka (infinitive)
kubweka (infinitive)
kutobweka (infinitive negative)
bweka (imperative singular)
bwekeni (imperative plural)
hubweka (habitual)
positive subject concord + -libweka (past)
negative subject concord + -kubweka (negative past)
ninabweka (first-person present singular)
nabweka (first-person present singular)
tunabweka (first-person plural present)
unabweka (present second-person singular)
mnabweka (plural present second-person)
anabweka (class-1 class-2 present singular third-person)
wanabweka (class-1 class-2 plural present third-person)
positive subject concord + -nabweka (present third-person)
sibweki (first-person negative present singular)
hatubweki (first-person negative plural present)
hubweki (negative present second-person singular)
hambweki (negative plural present second-person)
habweki (class-1 class-2 negative present singular third-person)
hawabweki (class-1 class-2 negative plural present third-person)
negative subject concord + -bweki (negative present third-person)
positive subject concord + -tabweka (future)
negative subject concord + -tabweka (future negative)
nibweke (first-person singular subjunctive)
tubweke (first-person plural subjunctive)
ubweke (second-person singular subjunctive)
mbweke (plural second-person subjunctive)
abweke (class-1 class-2 singular subjunctive third-person)
wabweke (class-1 class-2 plural subjunctive third-person)
positive subject concord + -bweke (subjunctive third-person)
positive subject concord + -sibweke (negative subjunctive)
positive subject concord + -ngebweka (irrealis present)
positive subject concord + -singebweka (irrealis negative present)
positive subject concord + -ngalibweka (irrealis past)
nabweka (first-person gnomic singular)
twabweka (first-person gnomic plural)
wabweka (gnomic second-person singular)
mwabweka (gnomic plural second-person)
abweka (class-1 class-2 gnomic singular third-person)
wabweka (class-1 class-2 gnomic plural third-person)
wabweka (class-3 class-4 gnomic singular third-person)
yabweka (class-3 class-4 gnomic plural third-person)
labweka (class-5 class-6 gnomic singular third-person)
yabweka (class-5 class-6 gnomic plural third-person)
chabweka (class-7 class-8 gnomic singular third-person)
vyabweka (class-7 class-8 gnomic plural third-person)
yabweka (class-10 class-9 gnomic singular third-person)
zabweka (class-10 class-9 gnomic plural third-person)
wabweka (class-11 gnomic singular third-person)
kwabweka (class-15 class-17 gnomic singular third-person)
pabweka (class-16 gnomic singular third-person)
mwabweka (class-18 gnomic singular third-person)
positive subject concord + -mebweka (perfect)
positive subject concord + -meshabweka (already-form)
negative subject concord + -jabweka (not-yet-form)
positive subject concord + -kibweka (if-when-form)
positive subject concord + -sipobweka (if-not-form)
positive subject concord + -kabweke (consecutive subjunctive)
-nibweka (first-person indicative object-concord singular)
-tubweka (first-person indicative object-concord plural)
-kubweka (indicative object-concord second-person singular)
-wabweka (indicative object-concord plural second-person)
-kubwekeni (indicative object-concord plural second-person)
-wabwekeni (indicative object-concord plural second-person)
-mbweka (class-1 class-2 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-wabweka (class-1 class-2 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-ubweka (class-3 class-4 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-ibweka (class-3 class-4 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-libweka (class-5 class-6 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-yabweka (class-5 class-6 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-kibweka (class-7 class-8 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-vibweka (class-7 class-8 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-ibweka (class-10 class-9 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-zibweka (class-10 class-9 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-ubweka (class-11 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-kubweka (class-15 class-17 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-pabweka (class-16 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-mubweka (class-18 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-jibweka (indicative object-concord reflexive)
-bwekaye (class-1 class-2 object-concord relative singular)
-bwekao (class-1 class-2 object-concord plural relative)
-bwekao (class-3 class-4 object-concord relative singular)
-bwekayo (class-3 class-4 object-concord plural relative)
-bwekalo (class-5 class-6 object-concord relative singular)
-bwekayo (class-5 class-6 object-concord plural relative)
-bwekacho (class-7 class-8 object-concord relative singular)
-bwekavyo (class-7 class-8 object-concord plural relative)
-bwekayo (class-10 class-9 object-concord relative singular)
-bwekazo (class-10 class-9 object-concord plural relative)
-bwekao (class-11 object-concord relative singular)
-bwekako (class-15 class-17 object-concord relative singular)
-bwekapo (class-16 object-concord relative singular)
-bwekamo (class-18 object-concord relative singular)
-yebweka (class-1 class-2 object-concord relative singular)
-obweka (class-1 class-2 object-concord plural relative)
-obweka (class-3 class-4 object-concord relative singular)
-yobweka (class-3 class-4 object-concord plural relative)
-lobweka (class-5 class-6 object-concord relative singular)
-yobweka (class-5 class-6 object-concord plural relative)
-chobweka (class-7 class-8 object-concord relative singular)
-vyobweka (class-7 class-8 object-concord plural relative)
-yobweka (class-10 class-9 object-concord relative singular)
-zobweka (class-10 class-9 object-concord plural relative)
-obweka (class-11 object-concord relative singular)
-kobweka (class-15 class-17 object-concord relative singular)
-pobweka (class-16 object-concord relative singular)
-mobweka (class-18 object-concord relative singular)


kinanda cha mkono

kinanda cha mkono (ki-vi class, plural vinanda cha mkono)

Literally, “hand piano”, or more loosely translated as “hand organ”.


muziki wa klasiki

sw-noun

muziki wa klasiki (m-mi class, no plural)


binuru

Borrowed from Arabic بِنُورٍ (bi-nūrin, literally “with light”).

bor+

The reply to alamsiki (“good night, goodbye”)


nishati mwendo

sw-noun

nishati mwendo (n class, plural nishati mwendo)


mwanakwaya

mwanakwaya (m-wa class, plural wanakwaya)


mafuta ghafi

From mafuta (“oil”) + ghafi (“raw, unprocessed”).


gesi asilia

sw-noun

gesi asilia (n class, plural gesi asilia)


mwezi mpevu

mwezi mpevu (m-mi class, plural miezi mipevu)


mwezi mwandamo

mwezi mwandamo (m-mi class, plural miezi miandamo)


ala ya muziki

ala ya muziki (n class, plural ala za muziki)


mnururisho

mnururisho (m-mi class, plural minururisho)


thurea

Borrowed from Arabic ثُرَيَّا (ṯurayyā).


lebo ya rekodi

lebo ya rekodi (n class, plural lebo za rekodi)


maji ya kunde

Literally, “color of cowpeas”, i.e. the color of water when boiling black-eyed peas.


kibahaluli

kibahaluli (ki-vi class, plural vibahaluli)


mutribu

singer or instrumentalist in taarab group


tibaredio

From tiba (“medical treatment”) + redio (“radio”).


zumari

Borrowed from Arabic زَمَّارَة (zammāra).


sahani ya santuri

sw-noun

sahani ya santuri (n class, plural sahani za santuri)


santuri

Borrowed from Arabic سَنْطُور (sanṭūr, “santur”), سُنْطُور (sunṭūr) and/or Classical Persian سَنْتُور (santūr, “santur”).


mpiga gitaa

sw-noun

mpiga gitaa (m-wa class, plural wapiga gitaa)