ami

Borrowed from Arabic عَمّ (ʕamm, “paternal uncle”).


familia

Borrowed from Portuguese família, ultimately from Latin familia.


dada

Coordinate term: kaka


kita

From Proto-Bantu *bìtáà (“war, army”), derived from Proto-Bantu *bʊ̀táà (“bow”).


mama

Respectful term of address for an older woman.


kopa

(card games) heart (card of a "hearts" suit)


pure

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


lewa

-lewa (canonical)
kulewa (infinitive)
kulewa (infinitive)
kutolewa (infinitive negative)
lewa (imperative singular)
leweni (imperative plural)
hulewa (habitual)
positive subject concord + -lilewa (past)
negative subject concord + -kulewa (negative past)
ninalewa (first-person present singular)
nalewa (first-person present singular)
tunalewa (first-person plural present)
unalewa (present second-person singular)
mnalewa (plural present second-person)
analewa (class-1 class-2 present singular third-person)
wanalewa (class-1 class-2 plural present third-person)
positive subject concord + -nalewa (present third-person)
silewi (first-person negative present singular)
hatulewi (first-person negative plural present)
hulewi (negative present second-person singular)
hamlewi (negative plural present second-person)
halewi (class-1 class-2 negative present singular third-person)
hawalewi (class-1 class-2 negative plural present third-person)
negative subject concord + -lewi (negative present third-person)
positive subject concord + -talewa (future)
negative subject concord + -talewa (future negative)
nilewe (first-person singular subjunctive)
tulewe (first-person plural subjunctive)
ulewe (second-person singular subjunctive)
mlewe (plural second-person subjunctive)
alewe (class-1 class-2 singular subjunctive third-person)
walewe (class-1 class-2 plural subjunctive third-person)
positive subject concord + -lewe (subjunctive third-person)
positive subject concord + -silewe (negative subjunctive)
positive subject concord + -ngelewa (irrealis present)
positive subject concord + -singelewa (irrealis negative present)
positive subject concord + -ngalilewa (irrealis past)
positive subject concord + -singalilewa (irrealis negative past)
nalewa (first-person gnomic singular)
twalewa (first-person gnomic plural)
walewa (gnomic second-person singular)
mwalewa (gnomic plural second-person)
alewa (class-1 class-2 gnomic singular third-person)
walewa (class-1 class-2 gnomic plural third-person)
walewa (class-3 class-4 gnomic singular third-person)
yalewa (class-3 class-4 gnomic plural third-person)
lalewa (class-5 class-6 gnomic singular third-person)
yalewa (class-5 class-6 gnomic plural third-person)
chalewa (class-7 class-8 gnomic singular third-person)
vyalewa (class-7 class-8 gnomic plural third-person)
yalewa (class-10 class-9 gnomic singular third-person)
zalewa (class-10 class-9 gnomic plural third-person)
walewa (class-11 gnomic singular third-person)
kwalewa (class-15 class-17 gnomic singular third-person)
palewa (class-16 gnomic singular third-person)
mwalewa (class-18 gnomic singular third-person)
positive subject concord + -melewa (perfect)
positive subject concord + -meshalewa (already-form)
negative subject concord + -jalewa (not-yet-form)
positive subject concord + -kilewa (if-when-form)
positive subject concord + -sipolewa (if-not-form)
positive subject concord + -kalewe (consecutive subjunctive)
-nilewa (first-person indicative object-concord singular)
-tulewa (first-person indicative object-concord plural)
-kulewa (indicative object-concord second-person singular)
-walewa (indicative object-concord plural second-person)
-kuleweni (indicative object-concord plural second-person)
-waleweni (indicative object-concord plural second-person)
-mlewa (class-1 class-2 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-walewa (class-1 class-2 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-ulewa (class-3 class-4 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-ilewa (class-3 class-4 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-lilewa (class-5 class-6 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-yalewa (class-5 class-6 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-kilewa (class-7 class-8 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-vilewa (class-7 class-8 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-ilewa (class-10 class-9 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-zilewa (class-10 class-9 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-ulewa (class-11 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-kulewa (class-15 class-17 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-palewa (class-16 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-mulewa (class-18 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-jilewa (indicative object-concord reflexive)
-lewaye (class-1 class-2 object-concord relative singular)
-lewao (class-1 class-2 object-concord plural relative)
-lewao (class-3 class-4 object-concord relative singular)
-lewayo (class-3 class-4 object-concord plural relative)
-lewalo (class-5 class-6 object-concord relative singular)
-lewayo (class-5 class-6 object-concord plural relative)
-lewacho (class-7 class-8 object-concord relative singular)
-lewavyo (class-7 class-8 object-concord plural relative)
-lewayo (class-10 class-9 object-concord relative singular)
-lewazo (class-10 class-9 object-concord plural relative)
-lewao (class-11 object-concord relative singular)
-lewako (class-15 class-17 object-concord relative singular)
-lewapo (class-16 object-concord relative singular)
-lewamo (class-18 object-concord relative singular)
-yelewa (class-1 class-2 object-concord relative singular)
-olewa (class-1 class-2 object-concord plural relative)
-olewa (class-3 class-4 object-concord relative singular)
-yolewa (class-3 class-4 object-concord plural relative)
-lolewa (class-5 class-6 object-concord relative singular)
-yolewa (class-5 class-6 object-concord plural relative)
-cholewa (class-7 class-8 object-concord relative singular)
-vyolewa (class-7 class-8 object-concord plural relative)
-yolewa (class-10 class-9 object-concord relative singular)
-zolewa (class-10 class-9 object-concord plural relative)
-olewa (class-11 object-concord relative singular)
-kolewa (class-15 class-17 object-concord relative singular)
-polewa (class-16 object-concord relative singular)
-molewa (class-18 object-concord relative singular)

wamelewa


Ezra

(biblical) Ezra (a book of the Old Testament of the Bible)

Mwanzo

books of the Protestant Old Testament: vitabu vya Agano la Kale


abu

Borrowed from Arabic أَبُو (ʔabū), construct state of أَبْ (ʔab).


koti

coat (outer garment covering the upper torso and arms)


kani

a celebration (often, a wedding celebration)


kitara

Borrowed from Omani Arabic كِتّارة (kittāra, “sabre”), from Hindi कटार (kaṭār).


saga

-saga (canonical)
kusaga (infinitive)
kusaga (infinitive)
kutosaga (infinitive negative)
saga (imperative singular)
sageni (imperative plural)
husaga (habitual)
positive subject concord + -lisaga (past)
negative subject concord + -kusaga (negative past)
ninasaga (first-person present singular)
nasaga (first-person present singular)
tunasaga (first-person plural present)
unasaga (present second-person singular)
mnasaga (plural present second-person)
anasaga (class-1 class-2 present singular third-person)
wanasaga (class-1 class-2 plural present third-person)
positive subject concord + -nasaga (present third-person)
sisagi (first-person negative present singular)
hatusagi (first-person negative plural present)
husagi (negative present second-person singular)
hamsagi (negative plural present second-person)
hasagi (class-1 class-2 negative present singular third-person)
hawasagi (class-1 class-2 negative plural present third-person)
negative subject concord + -sagi (negative present third-person)
positive subject concord + -tasaga (future)
negative subject concord + -tasaga (future negative)
nisage (first-person singular subjunctive)
tusage (first-person plural subjunctive)
usage (second-person singular subjunctive)
msage (plural second-person subjunctive)
asage (class-1 class-2 singular subjunctive third-person)
wasage (class-1 class-2 plural subjunctive third-person)
positive subject concord + -sage (subjunctive third-person)
positive subject concord + -sisage (negative subjunctive)
positive subject concord + -ngesaga (irrealis present)
positive subject concord + -singesaga (irrealis negative present)
positive subject concord + -ngalisaga (irrealis past)
positive subject concord + -singalisaga (irrealis negative past)
nasaga (first-person gnomic singular)
twasaga (first-person gnomic plural)
wasaga (gnomic second-person singular)
mwasaga (gnomic plural second-person)
asaga (class-1 class-2 gnomic singular third-person)
wasaga (class-1 class-2 gnomic plural third-person)
wasaga (class-3 class-4 gnomic singular third-person)
yasaga (class-3 class-4 gnomic plural third-person)
lasaga (class-5 class-6 gnomic singular third-person)
yasaga (class-5 class-6 gnomic plural third-person)
chasaga (class-7 class-8 gnomic singular third-person)
vyasaga (class-7 class-8 gnomic plural third-person)
yasaga (class-10 class-9 gnomic singular third-person)
zasaga (class-10 class-9 gnomic plural third-person)
wasaga (class-11 gnomic singular third-person)
kwasaga (class-15 class-17 gnomic singular third-person)
pasaga (class-16 gnomic singular third-person)
mwasaga (class-18 gnomic singular third-person)
positive subject concord + -mesaga (perfect)
positive subject concord + -meshasaga (already-form)
negative subject concord + -jasaga (not-yet-form)
positive subject concord + -kisaga (if-when-form)
positive subject concord + -siposaga (if-not-form)
positive subject concord + -kasage (consecutive subjunctive)
-nisaga (first-person indicative object-concord singular)
-tusaga (first-person indicative object-concord plural)
-kusaga (indicative object-concord second-person singular)
-wasaga (indicative object-concord plural second-person)
-kusageni (indicative object-concord plural second-person)
-wasageni (indicative object-concord plural second-person)
-msaga (class-1 class-2 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-wasaga (class-1 class-2 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-usaga (class-3 class-4 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-isaga (class-3 class-4 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-lisaga (class-5 class-6 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-yasaga (class-5 class-6 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-kisaga (class-7 class-8 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-visaga (class-7 class-8 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-isaga (class-10 class-9 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-zisaga (class-10 class-9 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-usaga (class-11 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-kusaga (class-15 class-17 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-pasaga (class-16 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-musaga (class-18 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-jisaga (indicative object-concord reflexive)
-sagaye (class-1 class-2 object-concord relative singular)
-sagao (class-1 class-2 object-concord plural relative)
-sagao (class-3 class-4 object-concord relative singular)
-sagayo (class-3 class-4 object-concord plural relative)
-sagalo (class-5 class-6 object-concord relative singular)
-sagayo (class-5 class-6 object-concord plural relative)
-sagacho (class-7 class-8 object-concord relative singular)
-sagavyo (class-7 class-8 object-concord plural relative)
-sagayo (class-10 class-9 object-concord relative singular)
-sagazo (class-10 class-9 object-concord plural relative)
-sagao (class-11 object-concord relative singular)
-sagako (class-15 class-17 object-concord relative singular)
-sagapo (class-16 object-concord relative singular)
-sagamo (class-18 object-concord relative singular)
-yesaga (class-1 class-2 object-concord relative singular)
-osaga (class-1 class-2 object-concord plural relative)
-osaga (class-3 class-4 object-concord relative singular)
-yosaga (class-3 class-4 object-concord plural relative)
-losaga (class-5 class-6 object-concord relative singular)
-yosaga (class-5 class-6 object-concord plural relative)
-chosaga (class-7 class-8 object-concord relative singular)
-vyosaga (class-7 class-8 object-concord plural relative)
-yosaga (class-10 class-9 object-concord relative singular)
-zosaga (class-10 class-9 object-concord plural relative)
-osaga (class-11 object-concord relative singular)
-kosaga (class-15 class-17 object-concord relative singular)
-posaga (class-16 object-concord relative singular)
-mosaga (class-18 object-concord relative singular)


chai

Borrowed from Classical Persian چای (čāy)

(slang, Kenya) tea money, small bribe, petty bribe (likened to the cost, and function, of a cup of tea)


rumba

rumba ya Congo

Moja ya aina ya muziki na dansi yenye ushawishi mkubwa zaidi ya Kiafrika, rumba ya Congo, sasa ina hadhi ya kulindwa na Unesco.

2021 December 15, “Rumba ya Congo yashinda hadhi ya kulindwa na UNESCO”, in BBC News Swahili:

One of the most influential African music and dance forms, the Congolese rumba, now has UNESCO protected status.


Biblia

From Latin biblia, from Ancient Greek βιβλία (biblía), plural of βιβλίον (biblíon, “books”).


malaya

Ultimately from Persian بلایه (balâya, “harlot”).


raga

rugby (a sport where players can hold or kick an ovoid ball)


uzi

thread, string, cord (long, thin structure)


anti

(informal) A form of address to a woman.


tiara

Borrowed from Arabic طَيَّارَة (ṭayyāra).

kite (lightweight toy carried on the wind and tethered and controlled from the ground by one or more lines)


jira

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


soda

Borrowed from Arabic سَوْدَاء (sawdāʔ, “black bile”).


Luka

(biblical) Luke (book of the New Testament)

Mathayo

books of the New Testament: vitabu vya Agano Jipya


sura

Borrowed from Arabic سُورَة (sūra, “chapter of the Qur'an”).


koma

-koma (canonical)
kukoma (infinitive)
kukoma (infinitive)
kutokoma (infinitive negative)
koma (imperative singular)
komeni (imperative plural)
hukoma (habitual)
positive subject concord + -likoma (past)
negative subject concord + -kukoma (negative past)
ninakoma (first-person present singular)
nakoma (first-person present singular)
tunakoma (first-person plural present)
unakoma (present second-person singular)
mnakoma (plural present second-person)
anakoma (class-1 class-2 present singular third-person)
wanakoma (class-1 class-2 plural present third-person)
positive subject concord + -nakoma (present third-person)
sikomi (first-person negative present singular)
hatukomi (first-person negative plural present)
hukomi (negative present second-person singular)
hamkomi (negative plural present second-person)
hakomi (class-1 class-2 negative present singular third-person)
hawakomi (class-1 class-2 negative plural present third-person)
negative subject concord + -komi (negative present third-person)
positive subject concord + -takoma (future)
negative subject concord + -takoma (future negative)
nikome (first-person singular subjunctive)
tukome (first-person plural subjunctive)
ukome (second-person singular subjunctive)
mkome (plural second-person subjunctive)
akome (class-1 class-2 singular subjunctive third-person)
wakome (class-1 class-2 plural subjunctive third-person)
positive subject concord + -kome (subjunctive third-person)
positive subject concord + -sikome (negative subjunctive)
positive subject concord + -ngekoma (irrealis present)
positive subject concord + -singekoma (irrealis negative present)
positive subject concord + -ngalikoma (irrealis past)
positive subject concord + -singalikoma (irrealis negative past)
nakoma (first-person gnomic singular)
twakoma (first-person gnomic plural)
wakoma (gnomic second-person singular)
mwakoma (gnomic plural second-person)
akoma (class-1 class-2 gnomic singular third-person)
wakoma (class-1 class-2 gnomic plural third-person)
wakoma (class-3 class-4 gnomic singular third-person)
yakoma (class-3 class-4 gnomic plural third-person)
lakoma (class-5 class-6 gnomic singular third-person)
yakoma (class-5 class-6 gnomic plural third-person)
chakoma (class-7 class-8 gnomic singular third-person)
vyakoma (class-7 class-8 gnomic plural third-person)
yakoma (class-10 class-9 gnomic singular third-person)
zakoma (class-10 class-9 gnomic plural third-person)
wakoma (class-11 gnomic singular third-person)
kwakoma (class-15 class-17 gnomic singular third-person)
pakoma (class-16 gnomic singular third-person)
mwakoma (class-18 gnomic singular third-person)
positive subject concord + -mekoma (perfect)
positive subject concord + -meshakoma (already-form)
negative subject concord + -jakoma (not-yet-form)
positive subject concord + -kikoma (if-when-form)
positive subject concord + -sipokoma (if-not-form)
positive subject concord + -kakome (consecutive subjunctive)
-nikoma (first-person indicative object-concord singular)
-tukoma (first-person indicative object-concord plural)
-kukoma (indicative object-concord second-person singular)
-wakoma (indicative object-concord plural second-person)
-kukomeni (indicative object-concord plural second-person)
-wakomeni (indicative object-concord plural second-person)
-mkoma (class-1 class-2 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-wakoma (class-1 class-2 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-ukoma (class-3 class-4 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-ikoma (class-3 class-4 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-likoma (class-5 class-6 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-yakoma (class-5 class-6 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-kikoma (class-7 class-8 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-vikoma (class-7 class-8 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-ikoma (class-10 class-9 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-zikoma (class-10 class-9 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-ukoma (class-11 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-kukoma (class-15 class-17 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-pakoma (class-16 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-mukoma (class-18 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-jikoma (indicative object-concord reflexive)
-komaye (class-1 class-2 object-concord relative singular)
-komao (class-1 class-2 object-concord plural relative)
-komao (class-3 class-4 object-concord relative singular)
-komayo (class-3 class-4 object-concord plural relative)
-komalo (class-5 class-6 object-concord relative singular)
-komayo (class-5 class-6 object-concord plural relative)
-komacho (class-7 class-8 object-concord relative singular)
-komavyo (class-7 class-8 object-concord plural relative)
-komayo (class-10 class-9 object-concord relative singular)
-komazo (class-10 class-9 object-concord plural relative)
-komao (class-11 object-concord relative singular)
-komako (class-15 class-17 object-concord relative singular)
-komapo (class-16 object-concord relative singular)
-komamo (class-18 object-concord relative singular)
-yekoma (class-1 class-2 object-concord relative singular)
-okoma (class-1 class-2 object-concord plural relative)
-okoma (class-3 class-4 object-concord relative singular)
-yokoma (class-3 class-4 object-concord plural relative)
-lokoma (class-5 class-6 object-concord relative singular)
-yokoma (class-5 class-6 object-concord plural relative)
-chokoma (class-7 class-8 object-concord relative singular)
-vyokoma (class-7 class-8 object-concord plural relative)
-yokoma (class-10 class-9 object-concord relative singular)
-zokoma (class-10 class-9 object-concord plural relative)
-okoma (class-11 object-concord relative singular)
-kokoma (class-15 class-17 object-concord relative singular)
-pokoma (class-16 object-concord relative singular)
-mokoma (class-18 object-concord relative singular)


pasi

(sports) pass (the act of moving the ball or puck from one player to another)


uta

Baada ya kukabidhi uta, mshale na shoka lake kwa mwindaji mwenzake wa Hadzabe, Zigwadzee alishika fimbo fupi iliyochongoka na akaingia shimoni.

2017 August 18, “Chakula cha Wahadzabe cha matunda na nungunungu Tanzania”, in BBC News Swahili:

After handing over his bow, arrow and ax to his fellow Hadzabe hunter, Zigwadzee grabbed a short pointed stick and entered the pit.


rafiki

rafiki (canonical)
marafiki (plural)
rafiki (plural)

→? Malagasy: rafiky

Borrowed from Arabic رَفِيق (rafīq, “companion”), from رَفَقَ (rafaqa, “to be friendly”).


cha

-cha (canonical)
kucha (infinitive)
kucha (infinitive)
kutokucha (infinitive negative)
kucha (imperative singular)
kucheni (imperative plural)
hucha (habitual)
positive subject concord + -likucha (past)
negative subject concord + -kucha (negative past)
ninakucha (first-person present singular)
nakucha (first-person present singular)
tunakucha (first-person plural present)
unakucha (present second-person singular)
mnakucha (plural present second-person)
anakucha (class-1 class-2 present singular third-person)
wanakucha (class-1 class-2 plural present third-person)
positive subject concord + -nakucha (present third-person)
sichi (first-person negative present singular)
hatuchi (first-person negative plural present)
huchi (negative present second-person singular)
hamchi (negative plural present second-person)
hachi (class-1 class-2 negative present singular third-person)
hawachi (class-1 class-2 negative plural present third-person)
negative subject concord + -chi (negative present third-person)
positive subject concord + -takucha (future)
negative subject concord + -takucha (future negative)
niche (first-person singular subjunctive)
tuche (first-person plural subjunctive)
uche (second-person singular subjunctive)
mche (plural second-person subjunctive)
ache (class-1 class-2 singular subjunctive third-person)
wache (class-1 class-2 plural subjunctive third-person)
positive subject concord + -che (subjunctive third-person)
positive subject concord + -siche (negative subjunctive)
positive subject concord + -ngekucha (irrealis present)
positive subject concord + -singekucha (irrealis negative present)
positive subject concord + -ngalikucha (irrealis past)
nacha (first-person gnomic singular)
twacha (first-person gnomic plural)
wacha (gnomic second-person singular)
mwacha (gnomic plural second-person)
acha (class-1 class-2 gnomic singular third-person)
wacha (class-1 class-2 gnomic plural third-person)
wacha (class-3 class-4 gnomic singular third-person)
yacha (class-3 class-4 gnomic plural third-person)
lacha (class-5 class-6 gnomic singular third-person)
yacha (class-5 class-6 gnomic plural third-person)
chacha (class-7 class-8 gnomic singular third-person)
vyacha (class-7 class-8 gnomic plural third-person)
yacha (class-10 class-9 gnomic singular third-person)
zacha (class-10 class-9 gnomic plural third-person)
wacha (class-11 gnomic singular third-person)
kwacha (class-15 class-17 gnomic singular third-person)
pacha (class-16 gnomic singular third-person)
mwacha (class-18 gnomic singular third-person)
positive subject concord + -mekucha (perfect)
positive subject concord + -meshakucha (already-form)
negative subject concord + -jacha (not-yet-form)
positive subject concord + -kicha (if-when-form)
positive subject concord + -sipokucha (if-not-form)
positive subject concord + -kache (consecutive subjunctive)
-nicha (first-person indicative object-concord singular)
-tucha (first-person indicative object-concord plural)
-kucha (indicative object-concord second-person singular)
-wacha (indicative object-concord plural second-person)
-kucheni (indicative object-concord plural second-person)
-wacheni (indicative object-concord plural second-person)
-mcha (class-1 class-2 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-wacha (class-1 class-2 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-ucha (class-3 class-4 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-icha (class-3 class-4 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-licha (class-5 class-6 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-yacha (class-5 class-6 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-kicha (class-7 class-8 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-vicha (class-7 class-8 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-icha (class-10 class-9 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-zicha (class-10 class-9 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-ucha (class-11 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-kucha (class-15 class-17 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-pacha (class-16 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-mucha (class-18 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-jicha (indicative object-concord reflexive)
-chaye (class-1 class-2 object-concord relative singular)
-chao (class-1 class-2 object-concord plural relative)
-chao (class-3 class-4 object-concord relative singular)
-chayo (class-3 class-4 object-concord plural relative)
-chalo (class-5 class-6 object-concord relative singular)
-chayo (class-5 class-6 object-concord plural relative)
-chacho (class-7 class-8 object-concord relative singular)
-chavyo (class-7 class-8 object-concord plural relative)
-chayo (class-10 class-9 object-concord relative singular)
-chazo (class-10 class-9 object-concord plural relative)
-chao (class-11 object-concord relative singular)
-chako (class-15 class-17 object-concord relative singular)
-chapo (class-16 object-concord relative singular)
-chamo (class-18 object-concord relative singular)
-yekucha (class-1 class-2 object-concord relative singular)
-okucha (class-1 class-2 object-concord plural relative)
-okucha (class-3 class-4 object-concord relative singular)
-yokucha (class-3 class-4 object-concord plural relative)
-lokucha (class-5 class-6 object-concord relative singular)
-yokucha (class-5 class-6 object-concord plural relative)
-chokucha (class-7 class-8 object-concord relative singular)
-vyokucha (class-7 class-8 object-concord plural relative)
-yokucha (class-10 class-9 object-concord relative singular)
-zokucha (class-10 class-9 object-concord plural relative)
-okucha (class-11 object-concord relative singular)
-kokucha (class-15 class-17 object-concord relative singular)
-pokucha (class-16 object-concord relative singular)
-mokucha (class-18 object-concord relative singular)


uru

(card games, uncountable) diamonds (suit of cards)

(card games) diamond (card of the "diamonds" suit)


chapa

-chapa (canonical)
kuchapa (infinitive)
kuchapa (infinitive)
kutochapa (infinitive negative)
chapa (imperative singular)
chapeni (imperative plural)
huchapa (habitual)
positive subject concord + -lichapa (past)
negative subject concord + -kuchapa (negative past)
ninachapa (first-person present singular)
nachapa (first-person present singular)
tunachapa (first-person plural present)
unachapa (present second-person singular)
mnachapa (plural present second-person)
anachapa (class-1 class-2 present singular third-person)
wanachapa (class-1 class-2 plural present third-person)
positive subject concord + -nachapa (present third-person)
sichapi (first-person negative present singular)
hatuchapi (first-person negative plural present)
huchapi (negative present second-person singular)
hamchapi (negative plural present second-person)
hachapi (class-1 class-2 negative present singular third-person)
hawachapi (class-1 class-2 negative plural present third-person)
negative subject concord + -chapi (negative present third-person)
positive subject concord + -tachapa (future)
negative subject concord + -tachapa (future negative)
nichape (first-person singular subjunctive)
tuchape (first-person plural subjunctive)
uchape (second-person singular subjunctive)
mchape (plural second-person subjunctive)
achape (class-1 class-2 singular subjunctive third-person)
wachape (class-1 class-2 plural subjunctive third-person)
positive subject concord + -chape (subjunctive third-person)
positive subject concord + -sichape (negative subjunctive)
positive subject concord + -ngechapa (irrealis present)
positive subject concord + -singechapa (irrealis negative present)
positive subject concord + -ngalichapa (irrealis past)
nachapa (first-person gnomic singular)
twachapa (first-person gnomic plural)
wachapa (gnomic second-person singular)
mwachapa (gnomic plural second-person)
achapa (class-1 class-2 gnomic singular third-person)
wachapa (class-1 class-2 gnomic plural third-person)
wachapa (class-3 class-4 gnomic singular third-person)
yachapa (class-3 class-4 gnomic plural third-person)
lachapa (class-5 class-6 gnomic singular third-person)
yachapa (class-5 class-6 gnomic plural third-person)
chachapa (class-7 class-8 gnomic singular third-person)
vyachapa (class-7 class-8 gnomic plural third-person)
yachapa (class-10 class-9 gnomic singular third-person)
zachapa (class-10 class-9 gnomic plural third-person)
wachapa (class-11 gnomic singular third-person)
kwachapa (class-15 class-17 gnomic singular third-person)
pachapa (class-16 gnomic singular third-person)
mwachapa (class-18 gnomic singular third-person)
positive subject concord + -mechapa (perfect)
positive subject concord + -meshachapa (already-form)
negative subject concord + -jachapa (not-yet-form)
positive subject concord + -kichapa (if-when-form)
positive subject concord + -sipochapa (if-not-form)
positive subject concord + -kachape (consecutive subjunctive)
-nichapa (first-person indicative object-concord singular)
-tuchapa (first-person indicative object-concord plural)
-kuchapa (indicative object-concord second-person singular)
-wachapa (indicative object-concord plural second-person)
-kuchapeni (indicative object-concord plural second-person)
-wachapeni (indicative object-concord plural second-person)
-mchapa (class-1 class-2 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-wachapa (class-1 class-2 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-uchapa (class-3 class-4 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-ichapa (class-3 class-4 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-lichapa (class-5 class-6 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-yachapa (class-5 class-6 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-kichapa (class-7 class-8 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-vichapa (class-7 class-8 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-ichapa (class-10 class-9 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-zichapa (class-10 class-9 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-uchapa (class-11 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-kuchapa (class-15 class-17 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-pachapa (class-16 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-muchapa (class-18 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-jichapa (indicative object-concord reflexive)
-chapaye (class-1 class-2 object-concord relative singular)
-chapao (class-1 class-2 object-concord plural relative)
-chapao (class-3 class-4 object-concord relative singular)
-chapayo (class-3 class-4 object-concord plural relative)
-chapalo (class-5 class-6 object-concord relative singular)
-chapayo (class-5 class-6 object-concord plural relative)
-chapacho (class-7 class-8 object-concord relative singular)
-chapavyo (class-7 class-8 object-concord plural relative)
-chapayo (class-10 class-9 object-concord relative singular)
-chapazo (class-10 class-9 object-concord plural relative)
-chapao (class-11 object-concord relative singular)
-chapako (class-15 class-17 object-concord relative singular)
-chapapo (class-16 object-concord relative singular)
-chapamo (class-18 object-concord relative singular)
-yechapa (class-1 class-2 object-concord relative singular)
-ochapa (class-1 class-2 object-concord plural relative)
-ochapa (class-3 class-4 object-concord relative singular)
-yochapa (class-3 class-4 object-concord plural relative)
-lochapa (class-5 class-6 object-concord relative singular)
-yochapa (class-5 class-6 object-concord plural relative)
-chochapa (class-7 class-8 object-concord relative singular)
-vyochapa (class-7 class-8 object-concord plural relative)
-yochapa (class-10 class-9 object-concord relative singular)
-zochapa (class-10 class-9 object-concord plural relative)
-ochapa (class-11 object-concord relative singular)
-kochapa (class-15 class-17 object-concord relative singular)
-pochapa (class-16 object-concord relative singular)
-mochapa (class-18 object-concord relative singular)


Hosea

(biblical) Hosea (book of the Old Testament of the Bible)


Musa

a male given name, Musa, from Arabic, equivalent to English Moses


sare

uniform (distinctive outfit as a means of identifying members of a group)


fala

(derogatory) a fool, an imbecile (person with poor judgement or little intelligence)


ngoma

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


juha

(derogatory) a fool, an idiot (a person with poor judgement or little intelligence)


tui

tui la nazi


kitabu

→ Acholi: kitabu

→ Kikuyu: gĩtabu

→ Luo: kitabu

→ Luganda: ekitabo

→ Rwanda-Rundi: igitabo, igitabu

→ Tooro: ekitabu

Borrowed from Arabic كِتَاب (kitāb). The first syllable of the Arabic word has been reinterpreted as the Swahili noun prefix ki-.


mtoto

→ Omani Arabic: تيتون (tītūn)

mwana

particularly when speaking of relatedness


kasino

casino (a public building or room for entertainment, especially gambling)


karata

Borrowed from Portuguese carta. Doublet of karatasi.


bao

a traditional Swahili mancala board game played in most of East Africa


Tito

(biblical) Titus (book of the New Testament)


leso

Borrowed from Portuguese lenço, from Old Galician-Portuguese lenço, from Latin linteum (“linen cloth”), from linteus.


resi

races (competition of horses, cars, bicycles, etc)


funga

-funga (canonical)
kufunga (infinitive)
kufunga (infinitive)
kutofunga (infinitive negative)
funga (imperative singular)
fungeni (imperative plural)
hufunga (habitual)
positive subject concord + -lifunga (past)
negative subject concord + -kufunga (negative past)
ninafunga (first-person present singular)
nafunga (first-person present singular)
tunafunga (first-person plural present)
unafunga (present second-person singular)
mnafunga (plural present second-person)
anafunga (class-1 class-2 present singular third-person)
wanafunga (class-1 class-2 plural present third-person)
positive subject concord + -nafunga (present third-person)
sifungi (first-person negative present singular)
hatufungi (first-person negative plural present)
hufungi (negative present second-person singular)
hamfungi (negative plural present second-person)
hafungi (class-1 class-2 negative present singular third-person)
hawafungi (class-1 class-2 negative plural present third-person)
negative subject concord + -fungi (negative present third-person)
positive subject concord + -tafunga (future)
negative subject concord + -tafunga (future negative)
nifunge (first-person singular subjunctive)
tufunge (first-person plural subjunctive)
ufunge (second-person singular subjunctive)
mfunge (plural second-person subjunctive)
afunge (class-1 class-2 singular subjunctive third-person)
wafunge (class-1 class-2 plural subjunctive third-person)
positive subject concord + -funge (subjunctive third-person)
positive subject concord + -sifunge (negative subjunctive)
positive subject concord + -ngefunga (irrealis present)
positive subject concord + -singefunga (irrealis negative present)
positive subject concord + -ngalifunga (irrealis past)
nafunga (first-person gnomic singular)
twafunga (first-person gnomic plural)
wafunga (gnomic second-person singular)
mwafunga (gnomic plural second-person)
afunga (class-1 class-2 gnomic singular third-person)
wafunga (class-1 class-2 gnomic plural third-person)
wafunga (class-3 class-4 gnomic singular third-person)
yafunga (class-3 class-4 gnomic plural third-person)
lafunga (class-5 class-6 gnomic singular third-person)
yafunga (class-5 class-6 gnomic plural third-person)
chafunga (class-7 class-8 gnomic singular third-person)
vyafunga (class-7 class-8 gnomic plural third-person)
yafunga (class-10 class-9 gnomic singular third-person)
zafunga (class-10 class-9 gnomic plural third-person)
wafunga (class-11 gnomic singular third-person)
kwafunga (class-15 class-17 gnomic singular third-person)
pafunga (class-16 gnomic singular third-person)
mwafunga (class-18 gnomic singular third-person)
positive subject concord + -mefunga (perfect)
positive subject concord + -meshafunga (already-form)
negative subject concord + -jafunga (not-yet-form)
positive subject concord + -kifunga (if-when-form)
positive subject concord + -sipofunga (if-not-form)
positive subject concord + -kafunge (consecutive subjunctive)
-nifunga (first-person indicative object-concord singular)
-tufunga (first-person indicative object-concord plural)
-kufunga (indicative object-concord second-person singular)
-wafunga (indicative object-concord plural second-person)
-kufungeni (indicative object-concord plural second-person)
-wafungeni (indicative object-concord plural second-person)
-mfunga (class-1 class-2 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-wafunga (class-1 class-2 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-ufunga (class-3 class-4 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-ifunga (class-3 class-4 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-lifunga (class-5 class-6 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-yafunga (class-5 class-6 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-kifunga (class-7 class-8 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-vifunga (class-7 class-8 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-ifunga (class-10 class-9 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-zifunga (class-10 class-9 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-ufunga (class-11 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-kufunga (class-15 class-17 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-pafunga (class-16 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-mufunga (class-18 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-jifunga (indicative object-concord reflexive)
-fungaye (class-1 class-2 object-concord relative singular)
-fungao (class-1 class-2 object-concord plural relative)
-fungao (class-3 class-4 object-concord relative singular)
-fungayo (class-3 class-4 object-concord plural relative)
-fungalo (class-5 class-6 object-concord relative singular)
-fungayo (class-5 class-6 object-concord plural relative)
-fungacho (class-7 class-8 object-concord relative singular)
-fungavyo (class-7 class-8 object-concord plural relative)
-fungayo (class-10 class-9 object-concord relative singular)
-fungazo (class-10 class-9 object-concord plural relative)
-fungao (class-11 object-concord relative singular)
-fungako (class-15 class-17 object-concord relative singular)
-fungapo (class-16 object-concord relative singular)
-fungamo (class-18 object-concord relative singular)
-yefunga (class-1 class-2 object-concord relative singular)
-ofunga (class-1 class-2 object-concord plural relative)
-ofunga (class-3 class-4 object-concord relative singular)
-yofunga (class-3 class-4 object-concord plural relative)
-lofunga (class-5 class-6 object-concord relative singular)
-yofunga (class-5 class-6 object-concord plural relative)
-chofunga (class-7 class-8 object-concord relative singular)
-vyofunga (class-7 class-8 object-concord plural relative)
-yofunga (class-10 class-9 object-concord relative singular)
-zofunga (class-10 class-9 object-concord plural relative)
-ofunga (class-11 object-concord relative singular)
-kofunga (class-15 class-17 object-concord relative singular)
-pofunga (class-16 object-concord relative singular)
-mofunga (class-18 object-concord relative singular)


Mika

(biblical) Micah (book of the Old Testament of the Bible)


Marko

(biblical) Mark (book of the New Testament)


kupe

(derogatory) a white-collar worker who depends on the work of others to survive


ukurasa

Borrowed from Arabic كُرَّاسَة (kurrāsa).


Mwingereza

sw-noun

Mwingereza (m-wa class, plural Waingereza)

An English person; a Briton (any person hailing from the British Isles)


mfalme

king (a male of a royal family who is the supreme ruler of his nation)


mwalimu

From Arabic مُعَلِّم (muʕallim, “teacher”).

mwalimu mwandamizi


samaki

Kikuyu: thamaki


kaza

-kaza (canonical)
kukaza (infinitive)
kukaza (infinitive)
kutokaza (infinitive negative)
kaza (imperative singular)
kazeni (imperative plural)
hukaza (habitual)
positive subject concord + -likaza (past)
negative subject concord + -kukaza (negative past)
ninakaza (first-person present singular)
nakaza (first-person present singular)
tunakaza (first-person plural present)
unakaza (present second-person singular)
mnakaza (plural present second-person)
anakaza (class-1 class-2 present singular third-person)
wanakaza (class-1 class-2 plural present third-person)
positive subject concord + -nakaza (present third-person)
sikazi (first-person negative present singular)
hatukazi (first-person negative plural present)
hukazi (negative present second-person singular)
hamkazi (negative plural present second-person)
hakazi (class-1 class-2 negative present singular third-person)
hawakazi (class-1 class-2 negative plural present third-person)
negative subject concord + -kazi (negative present third-person)
positive subject concord + -takaza (future)
negative subject concord + -takaza (future negative)
nikaze (first-person singular subjunctive)
tukaze (first-person plural subjunctive)
ukaze (second-person singular subjunctive)
mkaze (plural second-person subjunctive)
akaze (class-1 class-2 singular subjunctive third-person)
wakaze (class-1 class-2 plural subjunctive third-person)
positive subject concord + -kaze (subjunctive third-person)
positive subject concord + -sikaze (negative subjunctive)
positive subject concord + -ngekaza (irrealis present)
positive subject concord + -singekaza (irrealis negative present)
positive subject concord + -ngalikaza (irrealis past)
positive subject concord + -singalikaza (irrealis negative past)
nakaza (first-person gnomic singular)
twakaza (first-person gnomic plural)
wakaza (gnomic second-person singular)
mwakaza (gnomic plural second-person)
akaza (class-1 class-2 gnomic singular third-person)
wakaza (class-1 class-2 gnomic plural third-person)
wakaza (class-3 class-4 gnomic singular third-person)
yakaza (class-3 class-4 gnomic plural third-person)
lakaza (class-5 class-6 gnomic singular third-person)
yakaza (class-5 class-6 gnomic plural third-person)
chakaza (class-7 class-8 gnomic singular third-person)
vyakaza (class-7 class-8 gnomic plural third-person)
yakaza (class-10 class-9 gnomic singular third-person)
zakaza (class-10 class-9 gnomic plural third-person)
wakaza (class-11 gnomic singular third-person)
kwakaza (class-15 class-17 gnomic singular third-person)
pakaza (class-16 gnomic singular third-person)
mwakaza (class-18 gnomic singular third-person)
positive subject concord + -mekaza (perfect)
positive subject concord + -meshakaza (already-form)
negative subject concord + -jakaza (not-yet-form)
positive subject concord + -kikaza (if-when-form)
positive subject concord + -sipokaza (if-not-form)
positive subject concord + -kakaze (consecutive subjunctive)
-nikaza (first-person indicative object-concord singular)
-tukaza (first-person indicative object-concord plural)
-kukaza (indicative object-concord second-person singular)
-wakaza (indicative object-concord plural second-person)
-kukazeni (indicative object-concord plural second-person)
-wakazeni (indicative object-concord plural second-person)
-mkaza (class-1 class-2 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-wakaza (class-1 class-2 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-ukaza (class-3 class-4 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-ikaza (class-3 class-4 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-likaza (class-5 class-6 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-yakaza (class-5 class-6 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-kikaza (class-7 class-8 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-vikaza (class-7 class-8 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-ikaza (class-10 class-9 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-zikaza (class-10 class-9 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-ukaza (class-11 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-kukaza (class-15 class-17 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-pakaza (class-16 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-mukaza (class-18 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-jikaza (indicative object-concord reflexive)
-kazaye (class-1 class-2 object-concord relative singular)
-kazao (class-1 class-2 object-concord plural relative)
-kazao (class-3 class-4 object-concord relative singular)
-kazayo (class-3 class-4 object-concord plural relative)
-kazalo (class-5 class-6 object-concord relative singular)
-kazayo (class-5 class-6 object-concord plural relative)
-kazacho (class-7 class-8 object-concord relative singular)
-kazavyo (class-7 class-8 object-concord plural relative)
-kazayo (class-10 class-9 object-concord relative singular)
-kazazo (class-10 class-9 object-concord plural relative)
-kazao (class-11 object-concord relative singular)
-kazako (class-15 class-17 object-concord relative singular)
-kazapo (class-16 object-concord relative singular)
-kazamo (class-18 object-concord relative singular)
-yekaza (class-1 class-2 object-concord relative singular)
-okaza (class-1 class-2 object-concord plural relative)
-okaza (class-3 class-4 object-concord relative singular)
-yokaza (class-3 class-4 object-concord plural relative)
-lokaza (class-5 class-6 object-concord relative singular)
-yokaza (class-5 class-6 object-concord plural relative)
-chokaza (class-7 class-8 object-concord relative singular)
-vyokaza (class-7 class-8 object-concord plural relative)
-yokaza (class-10 class-9 object-concord relative singular)
-zokaza (class-10 class-9 object-concord plural relative)
-okaza (class-11 object-concord relative singular)
-kokaza (class-15 class-17 object-concord relative singular)
-pokaza (class-16 object-concord relative singular)
-mokaza (class-18 object-concord relative singular)


farasi

→ Kikuyu: mbarathi

→ Lingala: farása

→ Luganda: mbalaàsi

→ Tooro: embaraasi


nyota

Cognate with Kikuyu njata, Kamba ndata, Kabwa enjota.

2020 August 29, “Chadwick Boseman: Nyota wa filamu ya Black Panther Chadwick Boseman aaga dunia kwa saratani”, in BBC News Swahili:

Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman dies of cancer

Donald Trump anadai kuwa atakamatwa Jumanne kwa mashtaka yanayotokana na uchunguzi wa malipo ya dola 130,000 kwa nyota wa ponografia Stormy Daniels mnamo 2016.

2023 March 21, “Nini kitatokea iwapo Trump atakamatwa wiki hii?”, in BBC News Swahili:

Donald Trump claims he will be arrested Tuesday on charges stemming from an investigation into a $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016.

star, celebrity (talented or famous person)


mkate

Kikuyu: mũgate


panga

'Silaha yao (teleza) kubwa ni kisu na panga.'

2019 June 10, “Wanawake wa Kigoma watoroka wakihofia wabakaji Tanzania maarufu 'Teleza' [Kigoma women flee in fear of Tanzanian rapists 'Teleza']”, in BBC News Swahili:

'Their (Teleza's) chief weapons are the knife and the machete.'


maziwa

A borrowing in Proto-Sabaki from a South Cushitic language; compare Burunge iliba, Iraqw ilwa, and within Bantu compare Kikuyu iria, Kamba ĩia.


kaa

-kaa (canonical)
kukaa (infinitive)
kukaa (infinitive)
kutokaa (infinitive negative)
kaa (imperative singular)
kaeni (imperative plural)
hukaa (habitual)
positive subject concord + -likaa (past)
negative subject concord + -kukaa (negative past)
ninakaa (first-person present singular)
nakaa (first-person present singular)
tunakaa (first-person plural present)
unakaa (present second-person singular)
mnakaa (plural present second-person)
anakaa (class-1 class-2 present singular third-person)
wanakaa (class-1 class-2 plural present third-person)
positive subject concord + -nakaa (present third-person)
sikai (first-person negative present singular)
hatukai (first-person negative plural present)
hukai (negative present second-person singular)
hamkai (negative plural present second-person)
hakai (class-1 class-2 negative present singular third-person)
hawakai (class-1 class-2 negative plural present third-person)
negative subject concord + -kai (negative present third-person)
positive subject concord + -takaa (future)
negative subject concord + -takaa (future negative)
nikae (first-person singular subjunctive)
tukae (first-person plural subjunctive)
ukae (second-person singular subjunctive)
mkae (plural second-person subjunctive)
akae (class-1 class-2 singular subjunctive third-person)
wakae (class-1 class-2 plural subjunctive third-person)
positive subject concord + -kae (subjunctive third-person)
positive subject concord + -sikae (negative subjunctive)
positive subject concord + -ngekaa (irrealis present)
positive subject concord + -singekaa (irrealis negative present)
positive subject concord + -ngalikaa (irrealis past)
positive subject concord + -singalikaa (irrealis negative past)
nakaa (first-person gnomic singular)
twakaa (first-person gnomic plural)
wakaa (gnomic second-person singular)
mwakaa (gnomic plural second-person)
akaa (class-1 class-2 gnomic singular third-person)
wakaa (class-1 class-2 gnomic plural third-person)
wakaa (class-3 class-4 gnomic singular third-person)
yakaa (class-3 class-4 gnomic plural third-person)
lakaa (class-5 class-6 gnomic singular third-person)
yakaa (class-5 class-6 gnomic plural third-person)
chakaa (class-7 class-8 gnomic singular third-person)
vyakaa (class-7 class-8 gnomic plural third-person)
yakaa (class-10 class-9 gnomic singular third-person)
zakaa (class-10 class-9 gnomic plural third-person)
wakaa (class-11 gnomic singular third-person)
kwakaa (class-15 class-17 gnomic singular third-person)
pakaa (class-16 gnomic singular third-person)
mwakaa (class-18 gnomic singular third-person)
positive subject concord + -mekaa (perfect)
positive subject concord + -meshakaa (already-form)
negative subject concord + -jakaa (not-yet-form)
positive subject concord + -kikaa (if-when-form)
positive subject concord + -sipokaa (if-not-form)
positive subject concord + -kakae (consecutive subjunctive)
-kaaye (class-1 class-2 general-mood object-concord relative singular)
-kaao (class-1 class-2 general-mood object-concord plural relative)
-kaao (class-3 class-4 general-mood object-concord relative singular)
-kaayo (class-3 class-4 general-mood object-concord plural relative)
-kaalo (class-5 class-6 general-mood object-concord relative singular)
-kaayo (class-5 class-6 general-mood object-concord plural relative)
-kaacho (class-7 class-8 general-mood object-concord relative singular)
-kaavyo (class-7 class-8 general-mood object-concord plural relative)
-kaayo (class-10 class-9 general-mood object-concord relative singular)
-kaazo (class-10 class-9 general-mood object-concord plural relative)
-kaao (class-11 general-mood object-concord relative singular)
-kaako (class-15 class-17 general-mood object-concord relative singular)
-kaapo (class-16 general-mood object-concord relative singular)
-kaamo (class-18 general-mood object-concord relative singular)
-yekaa (class-1 class-2 object-concord relative singular)
-okaa (class-1 class-2 object-concord plural relative)
-okaa (class-3 class-4 object-concord relative singular)
-yokaa (class-3 class-4 object-concord plural relative)
-lokaa (class-5 class-6 object-concord relative singular)
-yokaa (class-5 class-6 object-concord plural relative)
-chokaa (class-7 class-8 object-concord relative singular)
-vyokaa (class-7 class-8 object-concord plural relative)
-yokaa (class-10 class-9 object-concord relative singular)
-zokaa (class-10 class-9 object-concord plural relative)
-okaa (class-11 object-concord relative singular)
-kokaa (class-15 class-17 object-concord relative singular)
-pokaa (class-16 object-concord relative singular)
-mokaa (class-18 object-concord relative singular)

From Proto-Bantu *-jìkada, extensive form of *-jìka.


konda

2017 January 28, “Kipigo chadaiwa kusababisha kifo cha konda wa daladala”, in Mwananchi:

(Sheng) conductor (person who takes tickets on public transportation)


abiri

-abiri (canonical)
kuabiri (infinitive)
kuabiri (infinitive)
kutoabiri (infinitive negative)
abiri (imperative singular)
abirini (imperative plural)
huabiri (habitual)
positive subject concord + -liabiri (past)
negative subject concord + -kuabiri (negative past)
ninaabiri (first-person present singular)
naabiri (first-person present singular)
tunaabiri (first-person plural present)
unaabiri (present second-person singular)
mnaabiri (plural present second-person)
anaabiri (class-1 class-2 present singular third-person)
wanaabiri (class-1 class-2 plural present third-person)
positive subject concord + -naabiri (present third-person)
siabiri (first-person negative present singular)
hatuabiri (first-person negative plural present)
huabiri (negative present second-person singular)
hamwabiri (negative plural present second-person)
haabiri (class-1 class-2 negative present singular third-person)
hawaabiri (class-1 class-2 negative plural present third-person)
negative subject concord + -abiri (negative present third-person)
positive subject concord + -taabiri (future)
negative subject concord + -taabiri (future negative)
niabiri (first-person singular subjunctive)
tuabiri (first-person plural subjunctive)
uabiri (second-person singular subjunctive)
mwabiri (plural second-person subjunctive)
aabiri (class-1 class-2 singular subjunctive third-person)
waabiri (class-1 class-2 plural subjunctive third-person)
positive subject concord + -abiri (subjunctive third-person)
positive subject concord + -siabiri (negative subjunctive)
positive subject concord + -ngeabiri (irrealis present)
positive subject concord + -singeabiri (irrealis negative present)
positive subject concord + -ngaliabiri (irrealis past)
naabiri (first-person gnomic singular)
twaabiri (first-person gnomic plural)
waabiri (gnomic second-person singular)
mwaabiri (gnomic plural second-person)
aabiri (class-1 class-2 gnomic singular third-person)
waabiri (class-1 class-2 gnomic plural third-person)
waabiri (class-3 class-4 gnomic singular third-person)
yaabiri (class-3 class-4 gnomic plural third-person)
laabiri (class-5 class-6 gnomic singular third-person)
yaabiri (class-5 class-6 gnomic plural third-person)
chaabiri (class-7 class-8 gnomic singular third-person)
vyaabiri (class-7 class-8 gnomic plural third-person)
yaabiri (class-10 class-9 gnomic singular third-person)
zaabiri (class-10 class-9 gnomic plural third-person)
waabiri (class-11 gnomic singular third-person)
kwaabiri (class-15 class-17 gnomic singular third-person)
paabiri (class-16 gnomic singular third-person)
mwaabiri (class-18 gnomic singular third-person)
positive subject concord + -meabiri (perfect)
positive subject concord + -meshaabiri (already-form)
negative subject concord + -jaabiri (not-yet-form)
positive subject concord + -kiabiri (if-when-form)
positive subject concord + -sipoabiri (if-not-form)
positive subject concord + -kaabiri (consecutive subjunctive)
-niabiri (first-person indicative object-concord singular)
-tuabiri (first-person indicative object-concord plural)
-kuabiri (indicative object-concord second-person singular)
-waabiri (indicative object-concord plural second-person)
-kuabirini (indicative object-concord plural second-person)
-waabirini (indicative object-concord plural second-person)
-mwabiri (class-1 class-2 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-waabiri (class-1 class-2 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-uabiri (class-3 class-4 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-iabiri (class-3 class-4 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-liabiri (class-5 class-6 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-yaabiri (class-5 class-6 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-kiabiri (class-7 class-8 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-viabiri (class-7 class-8 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-iabiri (class-10 class-9 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-ziabiri (class-10 class-9 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-uabiri (class-11 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-kuabiri (class-15 class-17 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-paabiri (class-16 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-muabiri (class-18 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-jiabiri (indicative object-concord reflexive)
-abiriye (class-1 class-2 object-concord relative singular)
-abirio (class-1 class-2 object-concord plural relative)
-abirio (class-3 class-4 object-concord relative singular)
-abiriyo (class-3 class-4 object-concord plural relative)
-abirilo (class-5 class-6 object-concord relative singular)
-abiriyo (class-5 class-6 object-concord plural relative)
-abiricho (class-7 class-8 object-concord relative singular)
-abirivyo (class-7 class-8 object-concord plural relative)
-abiriyo (class-10 class-9 object-concord relative singular)
-abirizo (class-10 class-9 object-concord plural relative)
-abirio (class-11 object-concord relative singular)
-abiriko (class-15 class-17 object-concord relative singular)
-abiripo (class-16 object-concord relative singular)
-abirimo (class-18 object-concord relative singular)
-yeabiri (class-1 class-2 object-concord relative singular)
-oabiri (class-1 class-2 object-concord plural relative)
-oabiri (class-3 class-4 object-concord relative singular)
-yoabiri (class-3 class-4 object-concord plural relative)
-loabiri (class-5 class-6 object-concord relative singular)
-yoabiri (class-5 class-6 object-concord plural relative)
-choabiri (class-7 class-8 object-concord relative singular)
-vyoabiri (class-7 class-8 object-concord plural relative)
-yoabiri (class-10 class-9 object-concord relative singular)
-zoabiri (class-10 class-9 object-concord plural relative)
-oabiri (class-11 object-concord relative singular)
-koabiri (class-15 class-17 object-concord relative singular)
-poabiri (class-16 object-concord relative singular)
-moabiri (class-18 object-concord relative singular)


bibi

Borrowed from Omani Arabic بيبي (bībi), from Persian بیبی (bi-bi).

lady; mistress (female master or the female equivalent of a gentleman)


buti

a traditional dance in which the dancers are in a circle with one in the middle


kiongozi

Wabariki viongozi wake

Mungu ibariki Afrika (national anthem of Tanzania)


rais

Gazeti la Mail on Sunday linaripoti kuwa Sir Kim alimwandikia Bw Johnson akimuelezea kuwa rais Trump kutoka chama cha Republican anavunja mkataba huo kwa sababu za "utashi binafsi" - kwa sababu makubaliano hayo yalifikiwa na mtangulizi wake kutoka chama cha Democrat, Barack Obama.

2019 July 14, “Barua mpya iliyovuja yadai Trump amevunja mkataba wa nyukilia 'ili kumkera Obama'”, in BBC News Swahili:

Mail on Sunday reports that Sir Kim wrote to Mr Johnson explaining that President Trump from the Republican Party was breaking the agreement for "personality reasons" - because the agreement was reached by his predecessor from the Democratic Party, Barack Obama.

president (the head of state of a republic)


fukara

Borrowed from Arabic فُقَرَاء (fuqarāʔ), plural form of فَقِير (faqīr, “poor man, pauper”).


kanga

→ English: kanga

→ Malagasy: akanga


ramia

(firearms) cartridge, round of ammunition


sapatu

From Arabic سَبَّاط (sabbāṭ), compare Spanish zapato


nyanya

(Kenya) grandmother (mother of someone's parent)


divai

From Malagasy divay, from French du vin (“some wine”). The borrowing may have been mediated through Ngazidja Comorian divai, although the Comorian form could also be a secondary borrowing from Swahili.

wine (alcoholic beverage made from grapes)


mzee

→ English: mzee

→ Kikuyu: mũthee

→ Nubi: muzé

→ Subi: omuzehe


kande

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


mzungu

der

*mʊ̀díʊ́ngʊ̀

(sometimes derogatory) rich person (who is not white)


Petro

(biblical) Peter (either of the two books in the New Testament)


kamusi

dictionary (publication that explains the meanings of an ordered list of words)


chemsha bongo

sw-noun

chemsha bongo (n class, plural chemsha bongo)

From -chemsha (“to boil”) + bongo (“brain”).

Shabaha ya chemsha bongo ni kukuza msamiati wa mwanafunzi na kumpa fursa ya kufurahia Kiswahili.

The objective of the quiz is to enlarge the student's vocabulary and give them the opportunity to enjoy Swahili.

(idiomatic) a difficult question or puzzle, a brain-teaser, a quiz


digali

From Arabic دَقَل (daqal, literally “mast”), bearing also the meaning of a pipe-tube in South Arabia.


pombe

Translingual: Schizosaccharomyces pombe


mwanajeshi

mwanajeshi (m-wa class, plural wanajeshi)


alama ya mkato

alama ya mkato (n class, plural alama za mkato)


shangazi

shangazi (canonical)
shangazi (plural)
mashangazi (plural)


ndugu

relative, kinsman, sibling (family member)


binamu

binamu (canonical)
binamu (plural)
mabinamu (plural)

From Arabic اِبْن (ibn) + Arabic عَمّ (ʕamm).

cousin (any relation who is not a direct ancestor or descendant, and more distantly related than an aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, etc.)


malkia

queen (female monarch or wife of a king)


asali

honey (sweet substance produced by bees)


bunduki

→ Iraqw: punduki

→ Kituba: munduki

→ Lingala: bondóki

→ Luganda: emmundu

→ Luo: bunde

→ Nzadi: onduk

→ Rwanda-Rundi: imbunda

Borrowed from Omani Arabic بُنْدُق (bunduq, “rifle”), from Arabic بُنْدُق (bunduq, “hazelnut; projectile”).


mchele

Kikuyu: mũceere

Rwanda-Rundi: umuceri

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


mboga

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

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


waziri

From Arabic وَزِير (wazīr, “vizier, minister”).

waziri wa afya

waziri wa fedha

waziri wa kilimo

waziri wa nchi

waziri wa nishati na madini

waziri wa uchenzi

minister (person who is commissioned by the government for public service)


kilema

→ Malagasy: kilema

Borrowed from Arabic كِلَام (kilām), plural of كَلْم (kalm, “bite, cut”).


mke

inh

*mʊ̀káí ~ *mʊ̀ké


peremende

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


mbio

kukimbia mbio


panchi

punch (device for creating holes in thin material)


mhalifu

From m- + -halifu (“to disobey, rebel”).

criminal (a person who is guilty of a crime)


kondakta

conductor (person who takes tickets on public transportation)


kaptula

Possibly from Chichewa kubutula (“to cut off”), or French pantalon.


hakimu mkuu

sw-noun

hakimu mkuu (ma class, plural mahakimu wakuu)


chumvi

Kikuyu: cumbĩ


kirauni

(uncommon) crown, coat of arms (design depicted on an escutcheon)


woga

(uncountable) fear (caused by actual or perceived danger or threat)


dikteta

dictator (totalitarian leader of a dictatorship)


tamthilia

Borrowed from Arabic تَمْثِيلِيَّة (tamṯīliyya).

bor+

تَمْثِيلِيَّة


sukari

→ Kikuyu: cukari

→ Lingala: sukáli

→ Rwanda-Rundi: isukari

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


kwata

a drill for training the body (an exercise)


kiberenge

sw-noun

kiberenge (ki-vi class, plural viberenge)

a prostitute (a person having sex for profit)


kahaba

prostitute (a person having sex for profit)


changudoa

changudoa (ma class, plural machangudoa)

Kundi la wasichana kutoka India ambao walizaliwa na kulelewa katika eneo maarufu kwa machangudoa mjini Mumbai wamekusanyika kushiriki tamasha la Sanaa Edinburgh.

2017 August 29, “Nilibakwa nikiwa na miaka 10, lakini nimejifunza kuwasamehe watu”, in BBC Swahili:

a prostitute (a person who has sex for profit)


mchezo

game (pursuit or activity for entertainment)


rubani

pilot (controller of a ship or aircraft)


diwani

From Arabic دِيوَان (dīwān), from Persian دیوان (dêvân).


diwani

anthology (collection of literary works)


fikira

fikira (canonical)
fikira (plural)
mafikira (plural)


chaki

chalk (a soft, white, powdery limestone)


utwana

slavery (institution or practice of owning human beings)


afisa wa usalama

afisa wa usalama (ma class, plural maafisa wa usalama)

police officer (an officer in a law enforcement agency)


karamu

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


alama ya mshangao

sw-noun

alama ya mshangao (n class, plural alama za mshangao)

exclamation mark (punctuation for excitement or surprise)


maji ya machungwa

maji ya machungwa (ma class, plural only)


furaha

From Arabic فَرَح (faraḥ) or another word from the same triliteral root.


wakili

lawyer, attorney (professional person authorized to practice law)


kichwamaji

kichwamaji (ki-vi class, plural vichwamaji)


mchukuzi

carrier, porter, transporter (person or object that carries someone or something else)


maktaba

library (institution which holds books etc.)


kifutio

an eraser (thing used to erase something written or drawn)


mwelekezi

mwelekezi (m-wa class, plural waelekezi)


askari

askari (canonical)
askari (plural)
maaskari (plural)

→ Chichewa: msilikali, msirikali

→ English: askari

→ French: askari

→ German: Askari

→ Iraqw: askaari

→ Italian: ascaro

→ Polish: askarys

Borrowed from Arabic عَسْكَرِيّ (ʕaskariyy).


meneja

manager (person whose job is to manage something)


balozi

Borrowed from Omani Arabic بالوز (bālōz), from Arabic باليوز (balyōz), from Ottoman Turkish بالیوز (balyoz), بالیوس (balyos, “title of the Venetian ambassador to the Sublime Porte; title of any European envoy”), from Venetan bailo (“title of a Venetian ambassador”).


firauni

From Arabic فِرْعَوْن (firʕawn). The sense "bad person" may originate from the Qur'an.

pharaoh (supreme ruler of ancient Egypt)


kanoni

(religion) a canon (member of a cathedral chapter)


hoteli

hoteli (canonical)
hoteli (plural)
mahoteli (plural)

hotel (establishment providing accommodation)


nahodha

Etymology tree
Middle Persian nʾw
Classical Persian نَاو (nāw)
Middle Persian hwtʾy
Classical Persian خُدَای (xudāy)
Classical Persian خُدَا (xudā)
Classical Persian نَاوْخُدَا (nāwxudā)
Classical Persian نَاخُدَا (nāxudā)bor.
Arabic نَاخُوذَاة (nāḵūḏāh)bor.
Swahili nahodhaBorrowed from Arabic نَاخُوذَاة (nāḵūḏāh), borrowed from Classical Persian نَاخُدَا (nāxudā), from نَاوْخُدَا (nāwxudā), from نَاو (nāw) + خُدَا (xudā).


mkufunzi

tutor (one who teaches another in a small-group interaction)


mkimbizi

From m- + -kimbia (“to run, to flee”) + -zi.

refugee (person seeking political asylum)


zulia

Borrowed from Arabic زُلِيَّة (zuliyya).

carpet (a fabric used as a floor covering)


zeruzeru

albino (a person congenitally lacking melanin)


mwanagenzi

sw-noun

mwanagenzi (m-wa class, plural wanagenzi)


jaketi

jacket (piece of clothing worn on the upper body outside a shirt or blouse)


mlevi

drunkard (person who is habitually drunk)


mcheshi

From m- + -chesha (“make someone laugh”) + -i.


mwanasiasa

sw-noun

mwanasiasa (m-wa class, plural wanasiasa)


mbuga

park (ground for preservation of game, etc.)


andazi

a kind of fried bread, similar to a doughnut


msanii

From m- + Arabic صَانِع (ṣāniʕ, “artisan”).


mwenyeji

resident (person living at a location or an area)


mhariri

From Arabic مُحَرِّر (muḥarrir, “editor”).


mtoto yatima

mtoto yatima (m-wa class, plural watoto yatima)


mfinyanzi

mfinyanzi (m-wa class, plural wafinyanzi)

potter (a person who shapes pottery and bakes it in a kiln)


mwanariadha

mwanariadha (m-wa class, plural wanariadha)

athlete (a person who actively participates in physical sports, possibly highly skilled in sports)


timu

team (group of people, especially in a sport)


kibare

aliwahiwa kibare na mwanamume


soroveya

surveyor (person occupied with surveying or inspecting)


mkurugenzi

mkurugenzi (m-wa class, plural wakurugenzi)


ilani

a manifesto (public declaration of principles)


inspekta

inspector (a police officer ranking below superintendent)


insha

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


mshindani

mshindani (m-wa class, plural washindani)

From m- + -shindana (“to compete”) + -i.


riadha

athletics, sport (competitive activities)


afisa

officer (one who has a position of authority in a hierarchical organization)


yunifomu

uniform (distinctive outfit as a means of identifying members of a group)


naibu

naibu waziri mkuu


refari

referee (sport: umpire, judge, the supervisor of a game)


kipodozi

makeup (cosmetics; colorants and other substances applied to the skin to alter its appearance)


kitoweo

Kikuyu: gĩtoero

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


majeruhi

Borrowed from Arabic مَجْرُوح (majrūḥ). By surface analysis, ma- + -jeruhi (“to wound, to injure”).

surf

a wounded person (person suffering from a wound, especially one acquired in battle)


mtazamaji

sw-noun

mtazamaji (m-wa class, plural watazamaji)

From m- + -tazama (“to look, watch”) + -aji.

viewer (someone that views some spectacle; an onlooker or spectator)


mgeni

→ Gujarati: મગેની (magenī)

From Proto-Bantu *mʊ̀gènì. By surface analysis, m- + -geni (“foreign, strange”).


msikilizaji

sw-noun

msikilizaji (m-wa class, plural wasikilizaji)


mwajiri

employer (person or entity which employs others)


mshirikina

mshirikina (m-wa class, plural washirikina)

a superstitious person (one who believes in superstition)


mpatanishi

mpatanishi (m-wa class, plural wapatanishi)

From m- + -patanisha (“to reconcile”) + -i.

mediator (one who negotiates between parties seeking mutual agreement)


mtetezi

advocate (one who fights on behalf of someone else)


kombe

(sports) cup (a trophy awarded at such a contest)


jangili

Borrowed from Kikuyu jangiri, from Hindi जंगली (jaṅglī, “wild”).

a poacher (a person who trespasses in order to take game illegally)


dagla

a long coat adorned with golden embroidery; an overcoat


kiongozi wa mashtaka

kiongozi wa mashtaka (ki-vi class, plural viongozi wa mashtaka)

prosecutor (a lawyer who decides whether to charge a person with a crime)


msambazaji

msambazaji (m-wa class, plural wasambazaji)

distributor (one who distributes, a thing that distributes)


mchunguzi

mchunguzi (m-wa class, plural wachunguzi)


jenerali

general (rank higher than a colonel or brigadier)


mzazi

parent (person from whom one is descended)


uki

honey (sweet substance produced by bees)


jezi

jersey (shirt worn by a member of an athletic team)


shuka

-shuka (canonical)
kushuka (infinitive)
kushuka (infinitive)
kutoshuka (infinitive negative)
shuka (imperative singular)
shukeni (imperative plural)
hushuka (habitual)
positive subject concord + -lishuka (past)
negative subject concord + -kushuka (negative past)
ninashuka (first-person present singular)
nashuka (first-person present singular)
tunashuka (first-person plural present)
unashuka (present second-person singular)
mnashuka (plural present second-person)
anashuka (class-1 class-2 present singular third-person)
wanashuka (class-1 class-2 plural present third-person)
positive subject concord + -nashuka (present third-person)
sishuki (first-person negative present singular)
hatushuki (first-person negative plural present)
hushuki (negative present second-person singular)
hamshuki (negative plural present second-person)
hashuki (class-1 class-2 negative present singular third-person)
hawashuki (class-1 class-2 negative plural present third-person)
negative subject concord + -shuki (negative present third-person)
positive subject concord + -tashuka (future)
negative subject concord + -tashuka (future negative)
nishuke (first-person singular subjunctive)
tushuke (first-person plural subjunctive)
ushuke (second-person singular subjunctive)
mshuke (plural second-person subjunctive)
ashuke (class-1 class-2 singular subjunctive third-person)
washuke (class-1 class-2 plural subjunctive third-person)
positive subject concord + -shuke (subjunctive third-person)
positive subject concord + -sishuke (negative subjunctive)
positive subject concord + -ngeshuka (irrealis present)
positive subject concord + -singeshuka (irrealis negative present)
positive subject concord + -ngalishuka (irrealis past)
nashuka (first-person gnomic singular)
twashuka (first-person gnomic plural)
washuka (gnomic second-person singular)
mwashuka (gnomic plural second-person)
ashuka (class-1 class-2 gnomic singular third-person)
washuka (class-1 class-2 gnomic plural third-person)
washuka (class-3 class-4 gnomic singular third-person)
yashuka (class-3 class-4 gnomic plural third-person)
lashuka (class-5 class-6 gnomic singular third-person)
yashuka (class-5 class-6 gnomic plural third-person)
chashuka (class-7 class-8 gnomic singular third-person)
vyashuka (class-7 class-8 gnomic plural third-person)
yashuka (class-10 class-9 gnomic singular third-person)
zashuka (class-10 class-9 gnomic plural third-person)
washuka (class-11 gnomic singular third-person)
kwashuka (class-15 class-17 gnomic singular third-person)
pashuka (class-16 gnomic singular third-person)
mwashuka (class-18 gnomic singular third-person)
positive subject concord + -meshuka (perfect)
positive subject concord + -meshashuka (already-form)
negative subject concord + -jashuka (not-yet-form)
positive subject concord + -kishuka (if-when-form)
positive subject concord + -siposhuka (if-not-form)
positive subject concord + -kashuke (consecutive subjunctive)
-nishuka (first-person indicative object-concord singular)
-tushuka (first-person indicative object-concord plural)
-kushuka (indicative object-concord second-person singular)
-washuka (indicative object-concord plural second-person)
-kushukeni (indicative object-concord plural second-person)
-washukeni (indicative object-concord plural second-person)
-mshuka (class-1 class-2 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-washuka (class-1 class-2 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-ushuka (class-3 class-4 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-ishuka (class-3 class-4 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-lishuka (class-5 class-6 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-yashuka (class-5 class-6 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-kishuka (class-7 class-8 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-vishuka (class-7 class-8 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-ishuka (class-10 class-9 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-zishuka (class-10 class-9 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-ushuka (class-11 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-kushuka (class-15 class-17 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-pashuka (class-16 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-mushuka (class-18 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-jishuka (indicative object-concord reflexive)
-shukaye (class-1 class-2 object-concord relative singular)
-shukao (class-1 class-2 object-concord plural relative)
-shukao (class-3 class-4 object-concord relative singular)
-shukayo (class-3 class-4 object-concord plural relative)
-shukalo (class-5 class-6 object-concord relative singular)
-shukayo (class-5 class-6 object-concord plural relative)
-shukacho (class-7 class-8 object-concord relative singular)
-shukavyo (class-7 class-8 object-concord plural relative)
-shukayo (class-10 class-9 object-concord relative singular)
-shukazo (class-10 class-9 object-concord plural relative)
-shukao (class-11 object-concord relative singular)
-shukako (class-15 class-17 object-concord relative singular)
-shukapo (class-16 object-concord relative singular)
-shukamo (class-18 object-concord relative singular)
-yeshuka (class-1 class-2 object-concord relative singular)
-oshuka (class-1 class-2 object-concord plural relative)
-oshuka (class-3 class-4 object-concord relative singular)
-yoshuka (class-3 class-4 object-concord plural relative)
-loshuka (class-5 class-6 object-concord relative singular)
-yoshuka (class-5 class-6 object-concord plural relative)
-choshuka (class-7 class-8 object-concord relative singular)
-vyoshuka (class-7 class-8 object-concord plural relative)
-yoshuka (class-10 class-9 object-concord relative singular)
-zoshuka (class-10 class-9 object-concord plural relative)
-oshuka (class-11 object-concord relative singular)
-koshuka (class-15 class-17 object-concord relative singular)
-poshuka (class-16 object-concord relative singular)
-moshuka (class-18 object-concord relative singular)

to be depressed; be humiliated, be humbled


shuka

shuka (canonical)
shuka (plural)
mashuka (plural)

sash, loincloth (length of cloth used as clothing)


Malaki

(biblical) Malachi (book of the Old Testament of the Bible)


mzinga

hive (a box or basket for the reception and habitation of a swarm of honeybees)


Nehemia

(biblical) Nehemiah (book of the Old Testament of the Bible)


kitenge

An African garment similar to the sarong, often worn by women wrapped around the chest or waist or as a headscarf or sling to carry a baby.


kikoi

A type of loincloth, usually with a colored fringe, worn on various parts of the body.


kofia

English: kofia

Borrowed from Omani Arabic كُوفِيَّة (kōfiyya, “cap”).


bepari

Borrowed from Hindustani बेपारी (bepārī) / بیپاری (bepārī).


fungu

(writing) a collection of writing: a sentence, paragraph, or article


vimbizi

chest pains or the inability to breathe from overeating


Esta

(biblical) Esther (book of the Old Testament of the Bible)


vazi

From Proto-Bantu [Term?], related to -vaa (“to wear”).


metali

metal (certain elements and materials composed of them)


dalali

broker (a mediator between a buyer and seller)

auctioneer (one who conducts an auction)


mlalamishi

sw-noun

mlalamishi (m-wa class, plural walalamishi)

From m- + -lalamisha (“to cause to complain”) + -i.


pingu

pingu za maisha

handcuff (one ring of a locking fetter for the hand or one pair)


msafiri

Borrowed from Arabic مُسَافِر (musāfir), integrated as m- + -safiri (“to travel”).


mwandishi

sw-noun

mwandishi (m-wa class, plural waandishi)

mwandishi (canonical)
waandishi (plural)
wandishi (plural)


fisi

From Proto-Bantu *mpítí. Cognate to Kikuyu hiti, Chichewa fisi, Zulu impisi.


oa

-oa (canonical)
kuoa (infinitive)
kuoa (infinitive)
kutooa (infinitive negative)
oa (imperative singular)
oeni (imperative plural)
huoa (habitual)
positive subject concord + -lioa (past)
negative subject concord + -kuoa (negative past)
ninaoa (first-person present singular)
naoa (first-person present singular)
tunaoa (first-person plural present)
unaoa (present second-person singular)
mnaoa (plural present second-person)
anaoa (class-1 class-2 present singular third-person)
wanaoa (class-1 class-2 plural present third-person)
positive subject concord + -naoa (present third-person)
sioi (first-person negative present singular)
hatuoi (first-person negative plural present)
huoi (negative present second-person singular)
hamwoi (negative plural present second-person)
haoi (class-1 class-2 negative present singular third-person)
hawaoi (class-1 class-2 negative plural present third-person)
negative subject concord + -oi (negative present third-person)
positive subject concord + -taoa (future)
negative subject concord + -taoa (future negative)
nioe (first-person singular subjunctive)
tuoe (first-person plural subjunctive)
uoe (second-person singular subjunctive)
mwoe (plural second-person subjunctive)
aoe (class-1 class-2 singular subjunctive third-person)
waoe (class-1 class-2 plural subjunctive third-person)
positive subject concord + -oe (subjunctive third-person)
positive subject concord + -sioe (negative subjunctive)
positive subject concord + -ngeoa (irrealis present)
positive subject concord + -singeoa (irrealis negative present)
positive subject concord + -ngalioa (irrealis past)
positive subject concord + -singalioa (irrealis negative past)
naoa (first-person gnomic singular)
twaoa (first-person gnomic plural)
waoa (gnomic second-person singular)
mwaoa (gnomic plural second-person)
aoa (class-1 class-2 gnomic singular third-person)
waoa (class-1 class-2 gnomic plural third-person)
waoa (class-3 class-4 gnomic singular third-person)
yaoa (class-3 class-4 gnomic plural third-person)
laoa (class-5 class-6 gnomic singular third-person)
yaoa (class-5 class-6 gnomic plural third-person)
chaoa (class-7 class-8 gnomic singular third-person)
vyaoa (class-7 class-8 gnomic plural third-person)
yaoa (class-10 class-9 gnomic singular third-person)
zaoa (class-10 class-9 gnomic plural third-person)
waoa (class-11 gnomic singular third-person)
kwaoa (class-15 class-17 gnomic singular third-person)
paoa (class-16 gnomic singular third-person)
mwaoa (class-18 gnomic singular third-person)
positive subject concord + -meoa (perfect)
positive subject concord + -meshaoa (already-form)
negative subject concord + -jaoa (not-yet-form)
positive subject concord + -kioa (if-when-form)
positive subject concord + -sipooa (if-not-form)
kaoa / positive subject concord + -kaoa (consecutive)
positive subject concord + -kaoe (consecutive subjunctive)
-nioa (first-person indicative object-concord singular)
-tuoa (first-person indicative object-concord plural)
-kuoa (indicative object-concord second-person singular)
-waoa (indicative object-concord plural second-person)
-kuoeni (indicative object-concord plural second-person)
-waoeni (indicative object-concord plural second-person)
-mwoa (class-1 class-2 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-waoa (class-1 class-2 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-uoa (class-3 class-4 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-ioa (class-3 class-4 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-lioa (class-5 class-6 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-yaoa (class-5 class-6 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-kioa (class-7 class-8 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-vioa (class-7 class-8 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-ioa (class-10 class-9 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-zioa (class-10 class-9 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-uoa (class-11 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-kuoa (class-15 class-17 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-paoa (class-16 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-muoa (class-18 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-jioa (indicative object-concord reflexive)
-oaye (class-1 class-2 object-concord relative singular)
-oao (class-1 class-2 object-concord plural relative)
-oao (class-3 class-4 object-concord relative singular)
-oayo (class-3 class-4 object-concord plural relative)
-oalo (class-5 class-6 object-concord relative singular)
-oayo (class-5 class-6 object-concord plural relative)
-oacho (class-7 class-8 object-concord relative singular)
-oavyo (class-7 class-8 object-concord plural relative)
-oayo (class-10 class-9 object-concord relative singular)
-oazo (class-10 class-9 object-concord plural relative)
-oao (class-11 object-concord relative singular)
-oako (class-15 class-17 object-concord relative singular)
-oapo (class-16 object-concord relative singular)
-oamo (class-18 object-concord relative singular)
-yeoa (class-1 class-2 object-concord relative singular)
-ooa (class-1 class-2 object-concord plural relative)
-ooa (class-3 class-4 object-concord relative singular)
-yooa (class-3 class-4 object-concord plural relative)
-looa (class-5 class-6 object-concord relative singular)
-yooa (class-5 class-6 object-concord plural relative)
-chooa (class-7 class-8 object-concord relative singular)
-vyooa (class-7 class-8 object-concord plural relative)
-yooa (class-10 class-9 object-concord relative singular)
-zooa (class-10 class-9 object-concord plural relative)
-ooa (class-11 object-concord relative singular)
-kooa (class-15 class-17 object-concord relative singular)
-pooa (class-16 object-concord relative singular)
-mooa (class-18 object-concord relative singular)

-olewa

to marry (of a woman, to take a husband)


talii

-talii (canonical)
kutalii (infinitive)
kutalii (infinitive)
kutotalii (infinitive negative)
talii (imperative singular)
taliini (imperative plural)
hutalii (habitual)
positive subject concord + -litalii (past)
negative subject concord + -kutalii (negative past)
ninatalii (first-person present singular)
natalii (first-person present singular)
tunatalii (first-person plural present)
unatalii (present second-person singular)
mnatalii (plural present second-person)
anatalii (class-1 class-2 present singular third-person)
wanatalii (class-1 class-2 plural present third-person)
positive subject concord + -natalii (present third-person)
sitalii (first-person negative present singular)
hatutalii (first-person negative plural present)
hutalii (negative present second-person singular)
hamtalii (negative plural present second-person)
hatalii (class-1 class-2 negative present singular third-person)
hawatalii (class-1 class-2 negative plural present third-person)
negative subject concord + -talii (negative present third-person)
positive subject concord + -tatalii (future)
negative subject concord + -tatalii (future negative)
nitalii (first-person singular subjunctive)
tutalii (first-person plural subjunctive)
utalii (second-person singular subjunctive)
mtalii (plural second-person subjunctive)
atalii (class-1 class-2 singular subjunctive third-person)
watalii (class-1 class-2 plural subjunctive third-person)
positive subject concord + -talii (subjunctive third-person)
positive subject concord + -sitalii (negative subjunctive)
positive subject concord + -ngetalii (irrealis present)
positive subject concord + -singetalii (irrealis negative present)
positive subject concord + -ngalitalii (irrealis past)
natalii (first-person gnomic singular)
twatalii (first-person gnomic plural)
watalii (gnomic second-person singular)
mwatalii (gnomic plural second-person)
atalii (class-1 class-2 gnomic singular third-person)
watalii (class-1 class-2 gnomic plural third-person)
watalii (class-3 class-4 gnomic singular third-person)
yatalii (class-3 class-4 gnomic plural third-person)
latalii (class-5 class-6 gnomic singular third-person)
yatalii (class-5 class-6 gnomic plural third-person)
chatalii (class-7 class-8 gnomic singular third-person)
vyatalii (class-7 class-8 gnomic plural third-person)
yatalii (class-10 class-9 gnomic singular third-person)
zatalii (class-10 class-9 gnomic plural third-person)
watalii (class-11 gnomic singular third-person)
kwatalii (class-15 class-17 gnomic singular third-person)
patalii (class-16 gnomic singular third-person)
mwatalii (class-18 gnomic singular third-person)
positive subject concord + -metalii (perfect)
positive subject concord + -meshatalii (already-form)
negative subject concord + -jatalii (not-yet-form)
positive subject concord + -kitalii (if-when-form)
positive subject concord + -sipotalii (if-not-form)
positive subject concord + -katalii (consecutive subjunctive)
-nitalii (first-person indicative object-concord singular)
-tutalii (first-person indicative object-concord plural)
-kutalii (indicative object-concord second-person singular)
-watalii (indicative object-concord plural second-person)
-kutaliini (indicative object-concord plural second-person)
-wataliini (indicative object-concord plural second-person)
-mtalii (class-1 class-2 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-watalii (class-1 class-2 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-utalii (class-3 class-4 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-italii (class-3 class-4 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-litalii (class-5 class-6 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-yatalii (class-5 class-6 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-kitalii (class-7 class-8 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-vitalii (class-7 class-8 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-italii (class-10 class-9 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-zitalii (class-10 class-9 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-utalii (class-11 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-kutalii (class-15 class-17 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-patalii (class-16 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-mutalii (class-18 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-jitalii (indicative object-concord reflexive)
-taliiye (class-1 class-2 object-concord relative singular)
-taliio (class-1 class-2 object-concord plural relative)
-taliio (class-3 class-4 object-concord relative singular)
-taliiyo (class-3 class-4 object-concord plural relative)
-taliilo (class-5 class-6 object-concord relative singular)
-taliiyo (class-5 class-6 object-concord plural relative)
-taliicho (class-7 class-8 object-concord relative singular)
-taliivyo (class-7 class-8 object-concord plural relative)
-taliiyo (class-10 class-9 object-concord relative singular)
-taliizo (class-10 class-9 object-concord plural relative)
-taliio (class-11 object-concord relative singular)
-taliiko (class-15 class-17 object-concord relative singular)
-taliipo (class-16 object-concord relative singular)
-taliimo (class-18 object-concord relative singular)
-yetalii (class-1 class-2 object-concord relative singular)
-otalii (class-1 class-2 object-concord plural relative)
-otalii (class-3 class-4 object-concord relative singular)
-yotalii (class-3 class-4 object-concord plural relative)
-lotalii (class-5 class-6 object-concord relative singular)
-yotalii (class-5 class-6 object-concord plural relative)
-chotalii (class-7 class-8 object-concord relative singular)
-vyotalii (class-7 class-8 object-concord plural relative)
-yotalii (class-10 class-9 object-concord relative singular)
-zotalii (class-10 class-9 object-concord plural relative)
-otalii (class-11 object-concord relative singular)
-kotalii (class-15 class-17 object-concord relative singular)
-potalii (class-16 object-concord relative singular)
-motalii (class-18 object-concord relative singular)


modeli

model (a person employed to display clothes or other merchandise)


baharia

→ Malagasy: baharia

Borrowed from Arabic بَحَّار (baḥḥār, “sailor”), its plural بَحَّارِيَّة (baḥḥāriyya); compare bahari (“sea”).


raia

raia (canonical)
raia (plural)
maraia (plural)

Borrowed from Arabic رَعِيَّة (raʕiyya).


dobi

laundryman or washerman, or laundrywoman or washerwoman


mswada

Borrowed from Arabic مُسَوَّدَة (musawwada).

mswada wa fedha


utoto

u- (“abstract prefix”) + mtoto (“child”)


mwanadamu

From mwana wa Adamu (literally “son of Adam”).


Adamu

a male given name, equivalent to English Adam


Yohane

(biblical) John (book of the New Testament)

(biblical) John (any of the three epistles of John in the New Testament)


muhindi

From Arabic هِنْدِيّ (hindiyy, “Indian”).


mtama

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.


msimamizi

sw-noun

msimamizi (m-wa class, plural wasimamizi)

Agent form of -simamia (“oversee, manage”), applicative form of -simama (“stand”).


mganga

From Proto-Bantu *mʊ̀gàngà. Compare Kongo nganga (“doctor”).

native doctor; a person who uses African medicinal traditions


mvinyo

mvinyo (canonical)
mvinyo (plural)
mivinyo (plural)

Borrowed from Portuguese vinho. The m- is in fact originally an n-, which was prefixed to the stem as a result of the term's placement in the n class.


karani

→ Kikuyu: karani

→ Malagasy:

Borrowed from Arabic كَرَّانِيّ (karrāniyy).


Mreno

From M- + Portuguese reino (“the kingdom [of Portugal]”).


fasili

-fasili (canonical)
kufasili (infinitive)
kufasili (infinitive)
kutofasili (infinitive negative)
fasili (imperative singular)
fasilini (imperative plural)
hufasili (habitual)
positive subject concord + -lifasili (past)
negative subject concord + -kufasili (negative past)
ninafasili (first-person present singular)
nafasili (first-person present singular)
tunafasili (first-person plural present)
unafasili (present second-person singular)
mnafasili (plural present second-person)
anafasili (class-1 class-2 present singular third-person)
wanafasili (class-1 class-2 plural present third-person)
positive subject concord + -nafasili (present third-person)
sifasili (first-person negative present singular)
hatufasili (first-person negative plural present)
hufasili (negative present second-person singular)
hamfasili (negative plural present second-person)
hafasili (class-1 class-2 negative present singular third-person)
hawafasili (class-1 class-2 negative plural present third-person)
negative subject concord + -fasili (negative present third-person)
positive subject concord + -tafasili (future)
negative subject concord + -tafasili (future negative)
nifasili (first-person singular subjunctive)
tufasili (first-person plural subjunctive)
ufasili (second-person singular subjunctive)
mfasili (plural second-person subjunctive)
afasili (class-1 class-2 singular subjunctive third-person)
wafasili (class-1 class-2 plural subjunctive third-person)
positive subject concord + -fasili (subjunctive third-person)
positive subject concord + -sifasili (negative subjunctive)
positive subject concord + -ngefasili (irrealis present)
positive subject concord + -singefasili (irrealis negative present)
positive subject concord + -ngalifasili (irrealis past)
nafasili (first-person gnomic singular)
twafasili (first-person gnomic plural)
wafasili (gnomic second-person singular)
mwafasili (gnomic plural second-person)
afasili (class-1 class-2 gnomic singular third-person)
wafasili (class-1 class-2 gnomic plural third-person)
wafasili (class-3 class-4 gnomic singular third-person)
yafasili (class-3 class-4 gnomic plural third-person)
lafasili (class-5 class-6 gnomic singular third-person)
yafasili (class-5 class-6 gnomic plural third-person)
chafasili (class-7 class-8 gnomic singular third-person)
vyafasili (class-7 class-8 gnomic plural third-person)
yafasili (class-10 class-9 gnomic singular third-person)
zafasili (class-10 class-9 gnomic plural third-person)
wafasili (class-11 gnomic singular third-person)
kwafasili (class-15 class-17 gnomic singular third-person)
pafasili (class-16 gnomic singular third-person)
mwafasili (class-18 gnomic singular third-person)
positive subject concord + -mefasili (perfect)
positive subject concord + -meshafasili (already-form)
negative subject concord + -jafasili (not-yet-form)
positive subject concord + -kifasili (if-when-form)
positive subject concord + -sipofasili (if-not-form)
positive subject concord + -kafasili (consecutive subjunctive)
-nifasili (first-person indicative object-concord singular)
-tufasili (first-person indicative object-concord plural)
-kufasili (indicative object-concord second-person singular)
-wafasili (indicative object-concord plural second-person)
-kufasilini (indicative object-concord plural second-person)
-wafasilini (indicative object-concord plural second-person)
-mfasili (class-1 class-2 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-wafasili (class-1 class-2 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-ufasili (class-3 class-4 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-ifasili (class-3 class-4 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-lifasili (class-5 class-6 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-yafasili (class-5 class-6 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-kifasili (class-7 class-8 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-vifasili (class-7 class-8 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-ifasili (class-10 class-9 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-zifasili (class-10 class-9 indicative object-concord plural third-person)
-ufasili (class-11 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-kufasili (class-15 class-17 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-pafasili (class-16 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-mufasili (class-18 indicative object-concord singular third-person)
-jifasili (indicative object-concord reflexive)
-fasiliye (class-1 class-2 object-concord relative singular)
-fasilio (class-1 class-2 object-concord plural relative)
-fasilio (class-3 class-4 object-concord relative singular)
-fasiliyo (class-3 class-4 object-concord plural relative)
-fasililo (class-5 class-6 object-concord relative singular)
-fasiliyo (class-5 class-6 object-concord plural relative)
-fasilicho (class-7 class-8 object-concord relative singular)
-fasilivyo (class-7 class-8 object-concord plural relative)
-fasiliyo (class-10 class-9 object-concord relative singular)
-fasilizo (class-10 class-9 object-concord plural relative)
-fasilio (class-11 object-concord relative singular)
-fasiliko (class-15 class-17 object-concord relative singular)
-fasilipo (class-16 object-concord relative singular)
-fasilimo (class-18 object-concord relative singular)
-yefasili (class-1 class-2 object-concord relative singular)
-ofasili (class-1 class-2 object-concord plural relative)
-ofasili (class-3 class-4 object-concord relative singular)
-yofasili (class-3 class-4 object-concord plural relative)
-lofasili (class-5 class-6 object-concord relative singular)
-yofasili (class-5 class-6 object-concord plural relative)
-chofasili (class-7 class-8 object-concord relative singular)
-vyofasili (class-7 class-8 object-concord plural relative)
-yofasili (class-10 class-9 object-concord relative singular)
-zofasili (class-10 class-9 object-concord plural relative)
-ofasili (class-11 object-concord relative singular)
-kofasili (class-15 class-17 object-concord relative singular)
-pofasili (class-16 object-concord relative singular)
-mofasili (class-18 object-concord relative singular)

From Arabic فَصَّلَ (faṣṣala), or another formation from the same root.


bimbashi

From Ottoman Turkish بیڭباشی (biñbaşı, “lieutenant colonel”), from بیڭ (biñ, “thousand”) + باش (baş, “head”) – ”one who is the head of a group of thousand”.


Mtanzania

sw-noun

Mtanzania (m-wa class, plural Watanzania)


piza

Borrowed from English pizza, from Italian pizza.


Danieli

(biblical) Daniel (book of the Old Testament of the Bible)


Timotheo

(biblical) Timothy (either of the two books in the New Testament)


kanzu

→ English: kanzu

→ Malagasy: akanjo


kachumbari

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


Mjerumani

sw-noun

Mjerumani (m-wa class, plural Wajerumani)

German (native or inhabitant of Germany)


mwenyekiti

mwenyekiti (m-wa class, plural wenyekiti)


afisa wa polisi

afisa wa polisi (ma class, plural maafisa wa polisi)


johari

From Arabic جَوْهَر (jawhar), from Classical Persian گوهر (gawhar).


bangili

From an Indian language, perhaps Hindi बंग्ली (baṅglī); compare Omani Arabic بنجري (bangri), which is likely from Gujarati બંગડી (baṅgḍī).


mpira wa kikapu

Literally, “ball of basket”, a calque of English basketball.


Yusufu

a male given name, equivalent to English Joseph


Mmarekani

Mmarekani (m-wa class, plural Wamarekani)


Mwethiopia

Mwethiopia (m-wa class, plural Wethiopia)


mchungaji

mchungaji (m-wa class, plural wachungaji)

From m- + -chunga (“to herd, to take care of”) + -aji. The second sense is an extension of the first, as a calque of Latin pastor.


mlezi

From m- + -lea (“to raise a child, to care for someone”) + -zi.


waziri mkuu

sw-noun

waziri mkuu (ma class, plural mawaziri wakuu)

naibu waziri mkuu