pure

pure class IX (canonical)
pure class X (plural)

githeri (traditional Kenyan meal of maize and beans mixed and boiled together)


chai

chai class IX (canonical)
chai class X (plural)

Borrowed from Classical Persian چای (čāy)


pipi

pipi class IX (canonical)
pipi class X (plural)


sushi

sushi class IX (canonical)
sushi class X (plural)


jira

jira class IX (canonical)
jira class X (plural)

Borrowed from Hindi जीरा (jīrā), from Sanskrit जीरक (jīraka).


iftar

iftar class IX (canonical)
iftar class X (plural)


chapati

sw-noun

chapati class IX (plural chapati class X)

chapati class IX (canonical)
chapati class X (plural)


pilau

pilau class IX (canonical)
pilau class X (plural)


samaki

samaki class IX (canonical)
samaki class X (plural)

Kikuyu: thamaki


mkate

mkate class III (plural mikate class IV)

mkate class III (canonical)
mikate class IV (plural)

Kikuyu: mũgate


tunda

tunda class V (canonical)
matunda class VI (plural)


kande

kande class IX (canonical)
kande class X (plural)


asali

honey (sweet substance produced by bees)


mchele

mchele class III (plural michele class IV)

mchele class III (canonical)
michele class IV (plural)

Kikuyu: mũceere

Rwanda-Rundi: umuceri

Possibly from Indo-Aryan. Compare Bengali চাউল (caul), Hindi चावल (cāval).


mboga

mboga class IX (canonical)
mboga class X (plural)

From Proto-Bantu *mbògà. Cognate to Luganda emboga (“cabbage”) and Rwanda-Rundi imboga.

vegetable (a plant raised for some edible part of it)


peremende

peremende class IX (plural peremende class X)

peremende class IX (canonical)
peremende class X (plural)

a sweet; a piece of candy (especially a peppermint)


kinofu

kinofu class VII (plural vinofu class VIII)

kinofu class VII (canonical)
vinofu class VIII (plural)


keki

keki class IX (canonical)
keki class X (plural)


chumvi

Kikuyu: cumbĩ


sukari

sukari class IX (canonical)
sukari class X (plural)

→ Kikuyu: cukari

→ Lingala: sukáli

→ Rwanda-Rundi: isukari

sugar (sucrose from sugar cane or sugar beet and used to sweeten food and drink)


komunyo

komunyo class IX (plural komunyo class X)

komunyo class IX (canonical)
komunyo class X (plural)


karamu

karamu class IX (canonical)
karamu class X (plural)

From Arabic كَرَم (karam, “bounty, generosity”).


nafaka

nafaka class IX (canonical)
nafaka class X (plural)


andazi

sw-noun

andazi class V (plural maandazi class VI)

andazi class V (canonical)
maandazi class VI (plural)

a kind of fried bread, similar to a doughnut


kitoweo

kitoweo class VII (plural vitoweo class VIII)

kitoweo class VII (canonical)
vitoweo class VIII (plural)

Kikuyu: gĩtoero

a side dish, especially fish or meat aside a main dish like ugali


mchuzi

mchuzi class III (plural michuzi class IV)

mchuzi class III (canonical)
michuzi class IV (plural)


vimbizi

vimbizi class IX (plural vimbizi class X)

vimbizi class IX (canonical)
vimbizi class VII (canonical)
vimbizi class X (plural)

chest pains or the inability to breathe from overeating


chipsi

chipsi class IX (canonical)
chipsi class X (plural)


sosi

sosi class IX (canonical)
sosi class X (plural)


kima

kima class VII (canonical)
vima class VIII (plural)


kaukau

kaukau class IX (canonical)
kaukau class X (plural)


muhindi

muhindi class III (plural mihindi class IV)

muhindi class III (canonical)
mihindi class IV (plural)

From Arabic هِنْدِيّ (hindiyy, “Indian”).


mtama

mtama class III (plural mitama class IV)

mtama class III (canonical)
mitama class IV (plural)

Alianza kilimo cha malenge, mtama, tomato na sukuma wiki - na sasa anauza bidhaa zake katika soko la nyumbani.

2021 December 16, “Wakenya wapata faraja mashambani baada ya corona kuwatimua mjini”, in BBC News Swahili:

He started cultivating pumpkin, millet, tomato and sukuma wiki - and now he sells his products in the domestic market.


piza

piza class IX (canonical)
piza class X (plural)

Borrowed from English pizza, from Italian pizza.


kachumbari

kachumbari class IX (plural kachumbari class X)

kachumbari class IX (canonical)
kachumbari class X (plural)

Borrowed from Gujarati કચુંબર (kacumbar, “kachumber”).


tangawizi

sw-noun

tangawizi class IX (plural tangawizi class X)

tangawizi class IX (canonical)
tangawizi class X (plural)

Borrowed from Omani Arabic تَنْجْوِيل (tangwīl), from Arabic زَنْجَبِيل (zanjabīl).


sukuma wiki

sw-noun

sukuma wiki class ? (plural [please provide])

→ English: sukuma wiki

Literally, “to push the week” (or "to stretch the week"). The vegetable is generally affordable and available all-year round in East Africa. It forms part of the staple dish in this region together with ugali.


mshikaki

mshikaki class III (plural mishikaki class IV)

mshikaki class III (canonical)
mishikaki class IV (plural)


pilipili manga

pilipili manga class IX (plural pilipili manga class X)

pilipili manga class IX (canonical)
pilipili manga class X (plural)


achali

achali class IX (canonical)
achali class X (plural)

Achali ya Mbirimbi: Mbirimbi ni tunda lenye uchafu, hivyo kuwafanya watu wengi wasilipendelee kulila tunda hili kutokana na uchachu wake huo.

2000, Polycarp S. Wekesa, Uandishi wa insha, →ISBN, page 135:

Cucumber Pickle Chutney: The cucumber pickle is a dirty fruit, so many people don't like to eat this fruit due to its sourness.


chokoleti

chokoleti class IX (plural chokoleti class X)

chokoleti class IX (canonical)
chokoleti class X (plural)


sandwichi

sandwichi class IX (plural sandwichi class X)

sandwichi class IX (canonical)
sandwichi class X (plural)


ubuyu

The edible inner fruit of the baobab pod.


zafarani

zafarani class IX (plural zafarani class X)

zafarani class IX (canonical)
zafarani class X (plural)

Borrowed from Arabic زَعْفَرَان (zaʕfarān).


ukoko

crust (food residue at the bottom of a pan)


mwani

mwani class III (canonical)
miani class IV (plural)


kitumbua

sw-noun

kitumbua class VII (plural vitumbua class VIII)

kitumbua class VII (canonical)
vitumbua class VIII (plural)


karafuu

karafuu class IX (plural karafuu class X)

karafuu class IX (canonical)
karafuu class X (plural)

Borrowed from Arabic قَرَنْفُل (qaranful).


saladi

saladi class IX (canonical)
saladi class X (plural)


bizari

bizari class IX (canonical)
bizari class X (plural)

Borrowed from Omani Arabic بزار (bzār, “spices”), from Arabic أَبْزَار (ʔabzār).


sambusa

sw-noun

sambusa class IX (plural sambusa class X)

sambusa class IX (canonical)
sambusa class X (plural)

From Classical Persian سنبوسه (sambūsa).

A kind of samosa: a savoury pastry, often stuffed with meat.


bisi

bisi class IX (canonical)
bisi class X (plural)


mchanyato

mchanyato class III (plural michanyato class IV)

mchanyato class III (canonical)
michanyato class IV (plural)


kijio

kijio class VII (plural vijio class VIII)

kijio class VII (canonical)
vijio class VIII (plural)

From -jia, the applicative form of -ja (“come”).


supu

supu class IX (canonical)
supu class X (plural)


lishe

lishe class IX (canonical)
lishe class X (plural)


soseji

soseji class IX (canonical)
soseji class X (plural)


ladha

ladha class IX (canonical)
ladha class X (plural)


kungumanga

kungumanga class IX (plural kungumanga class X)

kungumanga class IX (canonical)
kungumanga class X (plural)


dalasini

dalasini class IX (plural dalasini class X)

dalasini class IX (canonical)
dalasini class X (plural)

Borrowed from Arabic دَارَصِينِيّ (dāraṣīniyy), from Persian دارچینی (dârčini).

bor+

دَارَصِينِيّ


iliki

iliki class IX (canonical)
iliki class X (plural)

Ultimately from Proto-Dravidian *ēlakāy, likely via Sanskrit एलीका (elīkā), एल्ल्का (ellkā).


nanaa

nanaa class V (canonical)
mananaa class VI (plural)


hamri

hamri class V (canonical)
mahamri class VI (plural)

a kind of andazi fritter made with coconut and cardamom


mtori

sw-noun

mtori class III (plural mitori class IV)

mtori class III (canonical)
mitori class IV (plural)


maharage

Tanzania inatajwa kuwa ndio kinara wa uzalishaji na uuzaji wa maharage barani Afrika.

2017 May 12, “Tanzania yaongoza kwa uzalishaji na uuzaji wa Maharage Afrika”, in BBC Swahili:

Tanzania is said to be the best producer and seller of beans in Africa.


parachichi

parachichi class V (plural maparachichi class VI)

parachichi class V (canonical)
maparachichi class VI (plural)

Katika mgahawa wa At Le Grenier iliyopo mtaa wa kifahari wa Riverside jijini Nairobi, baadhi ya wakenya na na raia wa kigeniwanafurahia "toast à l'avocat" yaani tosti ya makate kwa parachichi.

2018 November 5, “Wakenya wajizolea faida kutokana na uuzaji wa tunda la parachichi”, in BBC Swahili:

At Le Grenier's local prestigious Riverside street in Nairobi, some Kenyans and foreigners enjoy "toast à l'avocat" or avocado toast.


kitunguu saumu

kitunguu saumu class VII (plural vitunguu saumu class VIII)

kitunguu saumu class VII (canonical)
vitunguu saumu class VIII (plural)

Katika kibanda hiki, karoti, pilipili, vitunguu saumu, tangawizi na bidhaa nyingine, zote zimefungwa kwa mifuko ya plastiki […]

2018 February 28, “Changamoto katika kutekeleza marufuku ya mifuko ya plastiki Kenya”, in BBC Swahili:

In this hut, carrots, peppers, garlic, ginger and other products are all packed with plastic bags […]

Kuna mmoja aliniambia tuwe tunatumia kitunguu saumu akidai kuwa kinasaidia.

2019 January 1, Elizabeth Edward, “Asimulia jinsi alivyomaliza waganga kutibu saratani”, in Mwananchi:

Someone told me to rub garlic on [the wound] to help it heal.


mrehani

mrehani class III (plural mirehani class IV)

mrehani class III (canonical)
mirehani class IV (plural)


mlo

mlo class III (canonical)
milo class IV (plural)


hambaga

hambaga class IX (plural hambaga class X)

hambaga class IX (canonical)
hambaga class X (plural)


haradali

haradali class IX (plural haradali class X)

haradali class IX (canonical)
haradali class X (plural)


faluda

faluda class IX (canonical)
faluda class X (plural)

Ultimately from Persian فالوده (falude), likely via Gujarati ફાલુદા (phāludā).


kiamsha kinywa

kiamsha kinywa class VII (plural viamsha kinywa class VIII)

kiamsha kinywa class VII (canonical)
viamsha kinywa class VIII (plural)


kashata

kashata class IX (plural kashata class X)

kashata class IX (canonical)
kashata class X (plural)

From Arabic كَشْطَة (kašṭa), Modern Standard Arabic mostly قِشْدَة (qišda).

A kind of candy from East Africa, made with coconut and sometimes nuts.


chipsi mayai

chipsi mayai class IX (plural chipsi mayai class X)

chipsi mayai class IX (canonical)
chipsi mayai class X (plural)

A kind of potato-egg omelette popular in Tanzania.


sombe

Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo

cassava leaf soup, eaten as a staple in the Democratic Republic of the Congo


kimanda

kimanda class VII (plural vimanda class VIII)

kimanda class VII (canonical)
vimanda class VIII (plural)


pikniki

pikniki class IX (plural pikniki class X)

pikniki class IX (canonical)
pikniki class X (plural)


mbaazi

mbaazi class IX (canonical)
mbaazi class X (plural)


kababu

kababu class IX (canonical)
kababu class X (plural)

Ultimately from Arabic كَبَاب (kabāb) but through which language?


staftahi

staftahi class IX (plural staftahi class X)

staftahi class IX (canonical)
staftahi class X (plural)

Probably from Arabic اِسْتَفْتَحَ (istaftaḥa, “to start”).

der

اِسْتَفْتَحَ


udohoudoho

sw-noun

udohoudoho class ? (plural [please provide])

snack (item of food eaten between meals)


kifungua kinywa

kifungua kinywa class VII (plural vifungua kinywa class VIII)

kifungua kinywa class VII (canonical)
vifungua kinywa class VIII (plural)


kitafunio

kitafunio class VII (plural vitafunio class VIII)

kitafunio class VII (canonical)
vitafunio class VIII (plural)


steki

steki class IX (canonical)
steki class X (plural)


lawalawa

lawalawa class IX (plural lawalawa class X)

lawalawa class IX (canonical)
lawalawa class X (plural)


skonzi

skonzi class IX (canonical)
skonzi class X (plural)


kibanzi

kibanzi class VII (plural vibanzi class VIII)

kibanzi class VII (canonical)
vibanzi class VIII (plural)


bigijii

bigijii class ? (plural [please provide])


chingamu

chingamu class ? (plural [please provide])


katlesi

katlesi class IX (plural katlesi class X)

katlesi class IX (canonical)
katlesi class X (plural)

cutlet (mash of vegetables (usually potatoes) fried with bread)


chips funga

chips funga class IX (plural chips funga class X)

chips funga class IX (canonical)
chips funga class X (plural)

From chips + -funga, literally “chips wrapped up”.

compound

chips to go (french fries wrapped for takeout)


bajia

bajia class IX (canonical)
bajia class X (plural)

Borrowed from Hindi भाजी (bhājī, “fried vegetables”).

bor+

bajia za dengu

bajia za kunde

bajia za viazi


pudini

pudini class IX (canonical)
pudini class X (plural)


shahamu

sw-noun

shahamu class IX (plural shahamu class X)

shahamu class IX (canonical)
shahamu class X (plural)


mkakao

mkakao class III (plural mikakao class IV)

mkakao class III (canonical)
mikakao class IV (plural)

Theobroma cacao
Theobroma cacao#Translingual

cocoa tree, chocolate tree, Theobroma cacao


mafuta ya zeituni

mafuta ya zeituni class VI (plural only)


mafuta ya mizeituni

mafuta ya mizeituni class VI (plural only)

mafuta ya mizeituni class VI (canonical)


kiporo

kiporo class VII (plural viporo class VIII)

kiporo class VII (canonical)
viporo class VIII (plural)


saladi ya matunda

saladi ya matunda class IX (plural saladi za matunda class X)

saladi ya matunda class IX (canonical)
saladi za matunda class X (plural)


chakula cha baharini

chakula cha baharini class VII (plural vyakula vya baharini class VIII)

chakula cha baharini class VII (canonical)
vyakula vya baharini class VIII (plural)


chakula cha asubuhi

chakula cha asubuhi class VII (plural vyakula vya asubuhi class VIII)

chakula cha asubuhi class VII (canonical)
vyakula vya asubuhi class VIII (plural)