sabato

sabato class IX (canonical)
sabato class X (plural)


tao

tao class V (canonical)
matao class VI (plural)


radio

radio class IX (canonical)
radio class X (plural)


ami

ami class IX (canonical)
ami class X (plural)
amu (alternative)

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


tomato

tomato class IX (canonical)
tomato class X (plural)

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

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

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


lama

lama class IX (canonical)
lama class X (plural)


koala

koala class IX (canonical)
koala class X (plural)


wiki

wiki class IX (canonical)
wiki class X (plural)


bongo

bongo class V (canonical)
mabongo class VI (plural)


kiwi

kiwi class IX (canonical)
kiwi class X (plural)


pupa

pupa class IX (canonical)
pupa class X (plural)


safari

safari class IX (canonical)
safari class X (plural)

→ Arabic: سَفَارِي (safārī)

→ Catalan: safari

→ English: safari

→ Finnish: safari

desctree

→ French: safari
→ Romanian: safari
→? Turkish: safari

→ German: Safari

→ Hungarian: szafari

→ Italian: safari

→ Japanese: サファリ

→ Portuguese: safári

→ Russian: сафа́ри (safári)

→ Spanish: safari

→ Swedish: safari


bei

bei class IX (canonical)
bei class X (plural)

bei ya mwisho

price (cost required to gain possession of something)


familia

sw-noun

familia class IX (plural familia class X)

familia class IX (canonical)
familia class X (plural)

Borrowed from Portuguese família, ultimately from Latin familia.


bwana

bwana class V (canonical)
mabwana class VI (plural)
Bw. (alternative)

→ Chichewa: bwana

→ English: bwana

From Arabic أَبُونَا (ʔabūnā, “our father”).


kawa

kawa class V (canonical)
makawa class VI (plural)


pato

pato class V (canonical)
mapato class VI (plural)


pata

pata class IX (canonical)
pata class X (plural)


buku

buku class V (canonical)
mabuku class VI (plural)


dia

dia class IX (canonical)
dia class X (plural)


dua

dua class IX (canonical)
dua class X (plural)


kali

kali class IX (canonical)
kali class X (plural)


simba

simba class IX (canonical)
simba class X (plural)

From Proto-Bantu *ncímbá. Cognate with Nyamwezi nshimba, Umbundu simbe, Venda tsimba, Zulu insimba. However, Sanskrit सिंह (siṃha) is a false cognate.


kita

kita class VII (canonical)
vita class VIII (plural)

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


dada

dada class IX (canonical)
dada class X (plural)

Coordinate term: kaka


dodo

dodo class V (canonical)
madodo class VI (plural)


mama

mama class IX (canonical)
mama class X (plural)

Respectful term of address for an older woman.


piano

piano class IX (canonical)
piano class X (plural)


sofa

sofa class IX (canonical)
sofa class X (plural)


nazi

nazi class IX (canonical)
nazi class X (plural)

Found throughout Sabaki and in nearby languages, like Yao naasi (“coconut”), although this may be due to borrowing. Other cognates refer to different palms, e.g. Luhya munazi (“oil palm”) and Tooro omunazi (“date palm”), leaving the origin and meaning unknown, although a nebulous connection to Proto-Bantu *ngàdí (“palm oil”) has been suggested.


kata

kata class IX (canonical)
kata class X (plural)

(Kenya) An administrative region in Kenya, below counties and subcounties, and further divided into sublocations.


kopa

kopa class V (canonical)
makopa class VI (plural)

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


delta

delta class IX (canonical)
delta class X (plural)

delta (landform at the mouth of a river)


kilo

kilo class IX or VII (plural kilo class X)

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


bia

bia class IX (canonical)
bia class X (plural)


bia

cooperation, partnership (where each person pays their share)


bia

bia class V (canonical)
mabia class VI (plural)


baba

baba class IX (canonical)
baba class X (plural)


lava

lava class IX (canonical)
lava class X (plural)


pure

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

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


banjo

banjo class IX (canonical)
banjo class X (plural)


judo

judo class IX (canonical)
judo class X (plural)


kopi

kopi class IX (canonical)
kopi class X (plural)


flamingo

flamingo class ? (plural [please provide])

Wingu la flamingo, au heroe, huvutia maelfu ya watu kila mwaka, watu wanaopenda kuwatazama kwenye kisiwa cha Sardinia, magharibi mwa Utaliana.

2012 February 5, “Utaliana yapata homa ya West Nile”, in BBC News Swahili:


mbweha

mbweha class IX (canonical)
mbweha class X (plural)
bweha (alternative)

canids: mbwa na jamaa: mbwa · mbwa mwitu · mbweha~bweha [edit]


Kiswahili

From ki- + Arabic سَوَاحِل (sawāḥil, “coastal dwellers”), plural of سَاحِل (sāḥil, “boundary, coast”).


idi

idi class IX (canonical)
idi class X (plural)


drama

drama class IX (canonical)
drama class X (plural)


video

video class IX (canonical)
video class X (plural)


propaganda

sw-noun

propaganda class IX (plural propaganda class X)

propaganda class IX (canonical)
propaganda class X (plural)


papa

papa class IX (canonical)
papa class X (plural)


papa

papa class V (canonical)
mapapa class VI (plural)

Alternative letter-case form of Papa (“pope”)


ini

ini class V (canonical)
maini class VI (plural)

heart (seat of the emotions and feelings)


dari

dari class V (canonical)
madari class VI (plural)

→ Malagasy: dary

[…] juu ya hilo linalompeleka darini kwa baba yake wakati ule.

1973, Mohammed S. Abdulla, Duniani kuna watu, page 3:

[…] about that which had him going to his father's attic at that time.


mango

mango class IX (canonical)
mango class X (plural)


vita

vita class VIII (plural vita class VIII)

vita class VIII (canonical)
vita class VIII (plural)


veto

veto class IX (canonical)
veto class X (plural)


libido

libido class IX (canonical)
libido class X (plural)


baa

baa class V (canonical)
mabaa class VI (plural)


baa

baa class IX (canonical)
baa class X (plural)


historia

historia class IX (plural historia class X)

historia class IX (canonical)
historia class X (plural)


pera

pera class V (canonical)
mapera class VI (plural)


ada

ada class IX (canonical)
ada class X (plural)

Borrowed from Arabic أَدَاء (ʔadāʔ, “payment”).


agenda

agenda class IX (canonical)
agenda class X (plural)


alkali

alkali class IX (canonical)
alkali class X (plural)
alikali (alternative)


doo

doo class IX (canonical)
doo class X (plural)


gati

gati class V (canonical)
magati class VI (plural)


abu

abu class IX (canonical)
abu class X (plural)

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


meja

meja class V (canonical)
mameja class VI (plural)


babu

babu class V (canonical)
mababu class VI (plural)


babu

babu class IX (canonical)
babu class X (plural)


tone

tone class V (canonical)
matone class VI (plural)


koti

koti class V (canonical)
makoti class VI (plural)

coat (outer garment covering the upper torso and arms)


farao

farao class V (canonical)
mafarao class VI (plural)


ono

ono class V (canonical)
maono class VI (plural)


kura

kura class IX (canonical)
kura class X (plural)


ua

ua class V (canonical)
maua class VI (plural)

Maua alikuwa katika hali halisi inayopendeza kama maua yenyewe.

1993, Ben R. Mtobwa, Pesa Zako Zinanuka [Your Money Stinks], →ISBN, page 104:

Maua was in fact as beautiful as flowers themselves.


ua

ua class XI (canonical)
nyua class X (plural)

Waliopanda katika nyumba ya BWANA watasitawi katika nyua za Mungu wetu.

2016, Dag Heward-Mills, Hatua Za Kufikia Upako, →ISBN, page 136:

Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God.

yard, court (an enclosure typically attached to the back of a house)

fence (of sticks or grass, of the type used for such an enclosure)


kakao

kakao class IX (canonical)
kakao class X (plural)
kakau (alternative)


kale

kale class IX (canonical)
kale class X (plural)

From the fossilized class 12 form of the distal demonstrative -le.


marimba

sw-noun

marimba class IX (plural marimba class X)

marimba class IX (canonical)
marimba class X (plural)


kani

kani class IX (canonical)
kani class X (plural)

a celebration (often, a wedding celebration)

kani ya mvutano


veli

veli class IX (canonical)
veli class X (plural)


padre

padre class V (canonical)
mapadre class VI (plural)
padri (alternative)
padiri (alternative)

clergyman, priest (especially a Christian one)


kuba

kuba class IX (canonical)
kuba class X (plural)


tsunami

tsunami class IX (plural tsunami class X)

tsunami class IX (canonical)
tsunami class X (plural)

Borrowed from English tsunami, from Japanese 津波 (tsunami).

Tsunami iliyofuatia tetemeko la ardhi iliathiri nchi 14 za Asia Kusini na Afrika Mashariki.

2023 February 7, “Haya ndio matetemeko matano makubwa zaidi kuwahi kutokea duniani”, in BBC News Swahili:

The tsunami that followed the earthquake affected 14 countries in South Asia and East Africa.

tsunami (very large and destructive wave)

Dunia imepigwa na tsunami ya Omicron.

2021 December 24, “Habari njema na mbaya kuhusu Omicron zina maana gani kwetu?”, in BBC News Swahili:

tsunami (large and generally unstoppable surge)


domo

domo class V (canonical)
madomo class VI (plural)

augmentative of mdomo: large lip, large protuberance


hija

hija class IX (canonical)
hija class X (plural)


dei

dei class IX (canonical)
dei class X (plural)


ala

ala class IX (canonical)
ala class X (plural)


data

data class IX (canonical)
data class X (plural)

data (information, especially in a scientific or computational context)


albino

albino class V (plural maalbino class VI)

albino class V (canonical)
maalbino class VI (plural)


mori

mori class IX (canonical)
mori class X (plural)


meli

meli class IX (canonical)
meli class X (plural)

Borrowed from Omani Arabic ميل (mēl), from English mail, in reference to the steamers that brought mail.


kitara

kitara class VII (plural vitara class VIII)

kitara class VII (canonical)
vitara class VIII (plural)

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


tata

From Proto-Bantu *-tat- (“to entangle, be entangled”).


astronomia

sw-noun

astronomia class IX (plural astronomia class X)

astronomia class IX (canonical)
astronomia class X (plural)


kiki

kiki class IX (canonical)
kiki class X (plural)


kamera

kamera class IX (plural kamera class X or makamera class VI)

kamera class IX (canonical)
kamera class X (plural)
makamera class VI (plural)


nia

nia class IX (canonical)
nia class X (plural)


haja

haja class IX (canonical)
haja class X (plural)


chai

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

Borrowed from Classical Persian چای (čāy)

bor+

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


bin

bin class IX (canonical)
bin class X (plural)

Khamis bin Abdallah


begi

begi class V (canonical)
mabegi class VI (plural)


misa

misa class IX (canonical)
misa class X (plural)


rap

rap class IX (canonical)
rap class X (plural)


rumba

rumba class IX (canonical)
rumba class X (plural)

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.


zinki

zinki class IX (canonical)
zinki class X (plural)


joka

joka class V (canonical)
majoka class VI (plural)

From ji- (augmentative prefix) + nyoka (“snake”).

prefix

augmentative of nyoka: serpent (big snake)


umbo

umbo class V (canonical)
maumbo class VI (plural)


studio

studio class IX (canonical)
studio class X (plural)

studio (place where radio or television programs, records or films are made)


guru

Borrowed from Hindi गुड़ (guṛ, “jaggery”).


mbu

mbu class IX (canonical)
mbu class X (plural)


malaria

sw-noun

malaria class IX (plural malaria class X)

malaria class IX (canonical)
malaria class X (plural)


mamba

mamba class IX (canonical)
mamba class X (plural)


opera

opera class IX (canonical)
opera class X (plural)


geisha

geisha class IX (canonical)
geisha class X (plural)

Borrowed from Japanese 芸者 (geisha, “artisan”).


Biblia

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


imam

imam class IX (canonical)
imam class X (plural)


wari

a yard (unit of measurement, 3 feet long)


wari

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.


figa

figa class V (canonical)
mafiga class VI (plural)


aorta

aorta class IX (canonical)
aorta class X (plural)


duma

duma class IX (canonical)
duma class X (plural)


kola

kola class IX (canonical)
kola class X (plural)


lulu

lulu class IX (canonical)
lulu class X (plural)


sima

sima class IX (canonical)
sima class X (plural)


wadi

wadi class IX (canonical)
wadi class X (plural)

From Arabic وَادٍ (wādin, “valley, riverbed, ravine”).


ree

ree class IX (canonical)
ree class X (plural)
rea (alternative)
rei (alternative)


pipi

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


singe

singe class IX (canonical)
singe class X (plural)


bibo

bibo class V (canonical)
mabibo class VI (plural)


fungo

fungo class V (canonical)
mafungo class VI (plural)


tai

tai class IX (canonical)
tai class X (plural)


robota

sw-noun

robota class ? (plural [please provide])


gamba

gamba class V (canonical)
magamba class VI (plural)


sala

sala class IX (canonical)
sala class X (plural)


oda

oda class IX (canonical)
oda class X (plural)

(biology, taxonomy) order (category in the classification of organisms)


homa

homa class IX (canonical)
homa class X (plural)

Etymology tree
Arabic حُمَّى (ḥummā)bor.
Swahili homa
Borrowed from Arabic حُمَّى (ḥummā).


sushi

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

Unadapted borrowing from Japanese 寿司 (sushi).


dai

dai class V (canonical)
madai class VI (plural)


malaya

malaya class IX (canonical)
malaya class X (plural)

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


karoti

karoti class IX (canonical)
karoti class X (plural)


fara

fara class V (canonical)
mafara class VI (plural)


tango

tango class V (canonical)
matango class VI (plural)


dau

dau class V (canonical)
madau class VI (plural)


gumba

gumba class IX (canonical)
gumba class X (plural)


raga

raga class IX (canonical)
raga class X (plural)

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


taa

taa class IX (canonical)
taa class X (plural)

→ Kikuyu: tawa

→ Luganda: ettaala

→ Rwanda-Rundi: itara

From earlier *tala, from an unknown source (possibly Indian).


banda

banda class V (canonical)
mabanda class VI (plural)

banda la farasi

banda la kuku

banda la ndege


uzi

uzi class XI (canonical)
nyuzi class X (plural)

thread, string, cord (long, thin structure)


kasha

kasha class V (canonical)
makasha class VI (plural)


diploma

sw-noun

diploma class IX (plural diploma class X)

diploma class IX (canonical)
diploma class X (plural)


mia

mia class V (canonical)
mamia class VI (plural)


yoga

yoga class IX (canonical)
yoga class X (plural)


baki

baki class V (canonical)
mabaki class VI (plural)

From Arabic بَقِيَ (baqiya, “to remain”) and/or باقٍ (bāqin), اَلْباقِي (al-bāqī, “remaining; remainder”).


bati

bati class V (canonical)
mabati class VI (plural)


anti

anti class V (canonical)
maanti class VI (plural)

(informal) A form of address to a woman.


shoo

shoo class IX (canonical)
shoo class X (plural)


titi

titi class V (canonical)
matiti class VI (plural)


tiki

tiki class IX (canonical)
tiki class X (plural)


mondo

mondo class IX (canonical)
mondo class X (plural)


mufti

mufti class V (canonical)
mamufti class VI (plural)


sharia

sharia class IX (canonical)
sharia class X (plural)


rai

rai class IX (canonical)
rai class X (plural)


tabu

tabu class IX (canonical)
tabu class X (plural)

Alternative form of taabu (“hardship, distress, misery, difficulty”)


boga

boga class V (canonical)
maboga class VI (plural)


zizi

zizi class V (canonical)
mazizi class VI (plural)


heri

heri class IX (canonical)
heri class X (plural)
kheri (alternative)

kila la heri

kheri ya sikukuu yako ya kuzaliwa


fantasia

fantasia class IX (plural fantasia class X)

fantasia class IX (canonical)
fantasia class X (plural)


fora

fora class IX (canonical)
fora class X (plural)

From Arabic فَوْرَة (fawra, “outburst; excitement”).


sheik

sheik class V (canonical)
masheik class VI (plural)
shekh (alternative)
sheikh (alternative)


disko

disko class IX (canonical)
disko class X (plural)

Borrowed from English disco, short for discotheque, from French discothèque.


anemia

anemia class IX (canonical)
anemia class X (plural)


tiara

tiara class IX (canonical)
tiara class X (plural)

Borrowed from Arabic طَيَّارَة (ṭayyāra).

bor+

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


karate

karate class IX (canonical)
karate class X (plural)


popo

popo class IX (canonical)
popo class X (plural)


peninsula

sw-noun

peninsula class IX (plural peninsula class X)

peninsula class IX (canonical)
peninsula class X (plural)


angina

angina class IX (canonical)
angina class X (plural)


zombi

zombi class IX (canonical)
zombi class X (plural)


uso

uso class XI (canonical)
nyuso class X (plural)


bikini

bikini class IX (canonical)
bikini class X (plural)


afa

afa class V (canonical)
maafa class VI (plural)


baka

baka class V (canonical)
mabaka class VI (plural)

Borrowed from Arabic بَقَّعَ (baqqaʕa, “to stain”).

bor+

mark on the body (like a scar or birthmark)


meta

meta class IX (canonical)
meta class X (plural)


jaja

jaja class IX (canonical)
jaja class X (plural)

a daisy-like plant (plant with yellow and blue flowers)


jamba

jamba class V (canonical)
majamba class VI (plural)


jira

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

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


jira

jira class V (canonical)
majira class VI (plural)

Jira-x na jira-y hufafanua majiranukta kwenye bapa.

The x-axis and y-axis define the coordinates on the plane.

(geometry, mathematics) axis, as on a graph


senti

senti class IX (canonical)
senti class X (plural)

cent (one-hundredth of a dollar or decimal shilling)


koko

koko class V (canonical)
makoko class VI (plural)


kinda

kinda class V (canonical)
makinda class VI (plural)


kakau

kakau class IX (canonical)
kakau class X (plural)


cheche

sw-noun

cheche class V (plural macheche class VI)

cheche class V (canonical)
macheche class VI (plural)

various kinds of fish, including wrasse and tarpon


chips

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


radi

radi class IX (canonical)
radi class X (plural)


sili

sili class IX (canonical)
sili class X (plural)

seal (A pinniped, particularly an earless seal (true seal) or eared seal.)


tanga

tanga class V (canonical)
matanga class VI (plural)


soda

soda class IX (canonical)
soda class X (plural)


soda

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


tangi

tangi class V (canonical)
matangi class VI (plural)
tenki (alternative)


roda

roda class IX (canonical)
roda class X (plural)

Borrowed from Portuguese roda (“wheel”).


kumi

kumi class V (canonical)
makumi class VI (plural)


kumi

kumi class IX (canonical)
kumi class X (plural)


Papa

sw-noun

Papa class I/IX (plural Papa class II/X)

Papa class I (canonical)
IX (canonical)
Papa class II (plural)
X (plural)


mali

→ Ila: madi

→ Northern Ndebele: imali

→ Rwanda-Rundi: imari

→ Shona: mari

→ Tswana: madi

→ Xhosa: imali

→ Zulu: imali
→ English: mali

Borrowed from Arabic مَال (māl, “property”).


kina

kina class VII (canonical)
vina class VIII (plural)

depth (vertical distance below a surface)


bali

bali class IX (canonical)
bali class X (plural)


ankara

ankara class IX (canonical)
ankara class X (plural)
ankra (alternative)


hindi

hindi class V (canonical)
mahindi class VI (plural)

(usually in the plural) maize (corn; a type of grain of the species Zea mays)


khalifa

sw-noun

khalifa class V (plural makhalifa class VI)

khalifa class V (canonical)
makhalifa class VI (plural)


hijab

hijab class IX (canonical)
hijab class X (plural)


iftar

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


kalima

kalima class IX (canonical)
kalima class X (plural)

Borrowed from Arabic كَلِمَة (kalima, “word”).


shahada

sw-noun

shahada class IX (plural shahada class X)

shahada class IX (canonical)
shahada class X (plural)


sura

sura class IX (canonical)
sura class X (plural)

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


sera

sera class V (canonical)
masera class VI (plural)


sera

sera class IX (canonical)
sera class X (plural)


SLP

Initialism of sanduku la Posta (“post office box”).


haya

haya class IX (canonical)
haya class X (plural)


fistula

sw-noun

fistula class IX (plural fistula class X)

fistula class IX (canonical)
fistula class X (plural)

Borrowed from English fistula, from Latin fistula.


koma

koma class IX (canonical)
koma class X (plural)


lundo

lundo class V (canonical)
malundo class VI (plural)


jaa

jaa class V (canonical)
majaa class VI (plural)


kiu

kiu class VII (canonical)
kiu class IX (canonical)


fila

fila class IX (canonical)
fila class X (plural)


rapa

rapa class V (canonical)
marapa class VI (plural)


hoja

hoja class IX (canonical)
hoja class X (plural)


mota

mota class IX (canonical)
mota class X (plural)


koni

koni class IX (canonical)
koni class X (plural)


hongo

hongo class IX (canonical)
hongo class X (plural)

bribe, tribute (payment exacted from someone)


bara

bara class V or IX (plural mabara class VI or bara class X)

bara class V (canonical)
IX (canonical)
mabara class VI (plural)
bara class X (plural)

Borrowed from Arabic بَرّ (barr, “mainland”).

bor+

AmerikaAmerika ya KaskaziniAmerika ya Kusini


tuta

tuta class V (canonical)
matuta class VI (plural)


kona

kona class IX (canonical)
kona class X (plural)

a corner (area in the angle between converging lines or walls)


fundi

fundi class V (canonical)
mafundi class VI (plural)


taka

taka class IX (canonical)
taka class X (plural)


hali

hali class IX (canonical)
hali class X (plural)
uhali (alternative)

hali ngumu


binda

binda class V (canonical)
mabinda class VI (plural)

Borrowed from Gujarati ભીંડો (bhīṇḍo), Kachchi ભીંઢો (bhī̃ḍho).

Abelmoschus esculentus
Abelmoschus esculentus#Translingual


fali

fali class IX (canonical)
fali class X (plural)


pasi

pasi class IX (canonical)
pasi class X (plural)

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


soni

soni class IX (canonical)
soni class X (plural)


tela

tela class IX (canonical)
tela class X (plural)

trailer (unpowered wheeled vehicle that is towed behind another)


hela

hela class IX (canonical)
hela class X (plural)

Borrowed from German Heller, which was introduced in 1904 at the value of 1/100 rupee.


posta

posta class IX (canonical)
posta class X (plural)


ligi

ligi class IX (canonical)
ligi class X (plural)


peni

peni class V (canonical)
mapeni class VI (plural)

penny (1/240 of a pound sterling or Irish pound)


peni

peni class IX (canonical)
peni class X (plural)


tope

tope class V (canonical)
matope class VI (plural)


kamari

kamari class IX (canonical)
kamari class X (plural)


chapati

sw-noun

chapati class IX (plural chapati class X)

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


maya

maya class IX (canonical)
maya class X (plural)


chakula

chakula class VII (plural vyakula class VIII)

chakula class VII (canonical)
vyakula class VIII (plural)

Ultimately from cha (“of”) + kula (“eating”); compare Chichewa chakudya.


taksi

taksi class IX (canonical)
taksi class X (plural)


basilika

basilika class IX (plural basilika class X)

basilika class IX (canonical)
basilika class X (plural)


kisa

kisa class VII (canonical)
visa class VIII (plural)


akari

akari class IX (canonical)
akari class X (plural)


isha

isha class IX (canonical)
isha class X (plural)


liga

liga class V (canonical)
maliga class VI (plural)


pipa

pipa class V (canonical)
mapipa class VI (plural)


bomba

bomba class V (canonical)
mabomba class VI (plural)


vena

vena class IX (canonical)
vena class X (plural)


mita

mita class IX (canonical)
mita class X (plural)
meta (alternative)


ari

ari class IX (canonical)
ari class X (plural)


tasa

tasa class IX (canonical)
tasa class X (plural)


uti

uti class XI (canonical)
nyuti class X (plural)


sheng

sheng class IX (canonical)
sheng class X (plural)

(Sheng) Alternative letter-case form of Sheng


kuma

kuma class IX (canonical)
kuma class X (plural)


uta

uta class XI (canonical)
nyuta class X (plural)

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.


jua

jua class V or IX (plural majua class VI or jua class X)

jua class V (canonical)
IX (canonical)
majua class VI (plural)
jua class X (plural)
yua (alternative)


boi

boi class V (canonical)
maboi class VI (plural)


kao

kao class V (canonical)
makao class VI (plural)


ondo

ondo class V (canonical)
mondo class VI (plural)


bandu

bandu class V (canonical)
mabandu class VI (plural)


betri

betri class IX (canonical)
betri class X (plural)
beteri (alternative)


galaksi

galaksi class V (plural magalaksi class VI)

galaksi class V (canonical)
magalaksi class VI (plural)


kemia

kemia class IX (canonical)
kemia class X (plural)


sababu

sababu class IX (canonical)
sababu class X (plural)


rafiki

rafiki class I/IX (plural rafiki class II/X or marafiki class II/X)

rafiki class I (canonical)
IX (canonical)
rafiki class II (plural)
X (plural)
marafiki class II (plural)

→? Malagasy: rafiky


mwaka

mwaka class III (canonical)
miaka class IV (plural)

From Proto-Bantu *mʊ̀jákà. Cognate to Luganda omwaka.


pori

pori class V (canonical)
mapori class VI (plural)


kasa

kasa class IX (canonical)
kasa class X (plural)


sugu

sugu class IX (canonical)
sugu class X (plural)

a wart (type of growth occurring on the skin)


demokrasi

demokrasi class IX (plural demokrasi class X)

demokrasi class IX (canonical)
demokrasi class X (plural)


uma

uma class XI (canonical)
nyuma class X (plural)


pete

pete class IX (canonical)
pete class X (plural)


riba

riba class IX (canonical)
riba class X (plural)


biblia

biblia class IX (canonical)
biblia class X (plural)


moto

moto class III (canonical)
mioto class IV (plural)


ganja

ganja class IX (canonical)
ganja class X (plural)


mshenzi

mshenzi class I (plural washenzi class II)

mshenzi class I (canonical)
washenzi class II (plural)


tako

tako class V (canonical)
matako class VI (plural)


ghazi

ghazi class I/IX (plural ghazi class II/X)

ghazi class I (canonical)
IX (canonical)
ghazi class II (plural)
X (plural)


ghazi

ghazi class IX (canonical)
ghazi class X (plural)


uchi

uchi class XI (canonical)
nyuchi class X (plural)


sheikh

sheikh class V (plural masheikh class VI)

sheikh class V (canonical)
masheikh class VI (plural)


uru

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

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


chapa

chapa class IX (canonical)
chapa class X (plural)


amu

amu class IX (canonical)
amu class X (plural)


dubu

dubu class V (canonical)
madubu class VI (plural)


rupia

rupia class IX (canonical)
rupia class X (plural)

The rupee, an Indian unit of currency formerly used in East Africa.


kosa

kosa class V (canonical)
makosa class VI (plural)


hondo

hondo class IX (canonical)
hondo class X (plural)

Alternative form of hondohondo (“hornbill”)


choo

choo class VII (canonical)
vyoo class VIII (plural)


choo

choo class I/IX (plural choo class II/X)

choo class I (canonical)
IX (canonical)
choo class II (plural)
X (plural)


kansa

kansa class IX (canonical)
kansa class X (plural)

cancer (disease of uncontrolled cellular proliferation)


rika

rika class V (canonical)
marika class VI (plural)

age group (demographic grouping based on age)


umma

the public or populace, the general population


rea

rea class IX (canonical)
rea class X (plural)


kiasi

kiasi class VII (plural viasi class VIII)

kiasi class VII (canonical)
viasi class VIII (plural)


bakari

bakari class IX (canonical)
bakari class X (plural)


toto

toto class V (canonical)
matoto class VI (plural)


jana

jana class IX (canonical)
jana class X (plural)

Tunataka sasa kuona watu wanafungwa katika kesi zote sio hii ya jana tu.

2019 July 24, Curtis Otieno, “ODM MP praises DPP Haji over CS Rotich's woes”, in Hivi Sasa:

Now we want to see people imprisoned in every case, not just yesterday's.


jana

jana class V (canonical)
majana class VI (plural)

Wafugaji wengine waliokuwa wakifuga nyuki kwa kutumia vyungu walifaulu kutenganisha kundi la majana na lile la kuweka asali kwa kuweka nyansi zenye kuruhusu nyuki vibarua kupanda juu wakiwa wamejaa matumbo yao na mbochi na chavua kubakia kwenye mtungi wa chini kwenye malkia na majana.

2005, Kakakuona, Issue 19, Tanzania Wildlife Protection Fund, page 5:

Other beekeeping ranchers using ants were successful in separating the group of larvae from the settled honey by leaving out grass to allow worker bees to rise above when they had filled their stomachs with nectar and pollen, leaving a jar below with the queen and larvae.


gogo

gogo class V (canonical)
magogo class VI (plural)


rei

rei class IX (canonical)
rei class X (plural)


futari

futari class IX (canonical)
futari class X (plural)

(Islam) iftar (evening meal that marks the end of the daily fast during Ramadan)


figo

figo class V (canonical)
mafigo class VI (plural)


huba

huba class IX (canonical)
huba class X (plural)


atomi

atomi class IX (canonical)
atomi class X (plural)
atomu (alternative)


aina

aina class IX (canonical)
aina class X (plural)

Borrowed from Arabic عَيِّنَة (ʕayyina, “sample”).


tandu

tandu class IX (canonical)
tandu class X (plural)


hari

hari class IX (canonical)
hari class X (plural)


kundi

kundi class V (canonical)
makundi class VI (plural)

group (number of things or persons being in some relation to each other)


teke

teke class V (canonical)
mateke class VI (plural)


viza

viza class IX (canonical)
viza class X (plural)


tatu

tatu class IX (canonical)
tatu class X (plural)


tego

tego class IX (canonical)
tego class X (plural)

sexually transmitted disease
sexually transmitted disease

a (false) sexually transmitted disease said to be contracted by adultery


tenda

tenda class IX (canonical)
tenda class X (plural)


tepe

tepe class IX (canonical)
tepe class X (plural)


tupa

tupa class IX (canonical)
tupa class X (plural)


paja

paja class V (canonical)
mapaja class VI (plural)

paja la kuku


dalia

dalia class IX (canonical)
dalia class X (plural)

yellow powder (used as makeup and for burials)


pesa

sw-noun

pesa class V or IX (plural mapesa class VI or pesa class X)

pesa class V (canonical)
IX (canonical)
mapesa class VI (plural)
pesa class X (plural)

Borrowed from Hindi पैसा (paisā) / Urdu پَیسَہ (paisa).

(history) paisa (unit of Indian currency)


jum

jum class V (canonical)
majum class VI (plural)


hamu

hamu class IX (canonical)
hamu class X (plural)


rasta

rasta class IX (canonical)
rasta class X (plural)


zuri

zuri class IX (canonical)
zuri class X (plural)


sare

sare class IX (canonical)
sare class X (plural)

Borrowed from Gujarati સાડી (sāṛī), Kachchi [Term?], Hindustani साड़ी / ساڑی (sāṛī).

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


siku

siku class IX (canonical)
siku class X (plural)

day, nycthemeron, a twenty-four-hour period beginning and ending at sunrise (6.00AM)


jina

jina class V (canonical)
majina class VI (plural)


bonde

bonde class V (canonical)
mabonde class VI (plural)

valley (elongated depression between hills or mountains)


fala

fala class V (canonical)
mafala class VI (plural)
fara (alternative)

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


suti

suti class IX (canonical)
suti class X (plural)


kaya

kaya class IX (canonical)
kaya class X (plural)


bili

bili class IX (canonical)
bili class X (plural)


tembo

tembo class IX (canonical)
tembo class X (plural)
t'embo (alternative)


rinda

rinda class V (canonical)
marinda class VI (plural)


binti

binti class V (canonical)
mabinti class VI (plural)


muru

muru class IX (canonical)
muru class X (plural)


repa

repa class IX (canonical)
repa class X (plural)


mara

mara class IX (canonical)
mara class X (plural)

time (used to form adverbial numbers, as in "one time" (i.e. once))


punda

punda class IX (canonical)
punda class X (plural)

→ Malagasy: ampondra


kapu

kapu class V (canonical)
makapu class VI (plural)


mada

mada class IX (canonical)
mada class X (plural)


zao

zao class V (canonical)
mazao class VI (plural)


polisi

polisi class IX (canonical)
polisi class X (plural)

police (an organisation that enforces the law)


polisi

polisi class V (plural mapolisi class VI)

polisi class V (canonical)
mapolisi class VI (plural)


puto

puto class V (canonical)
maputo class VI (plural)


kuli

kuli class V (canonical)
makuli class VI (plural)


kutu

kutu class IX (canonical)
kutu class X (plural)


kuro

kuro class IX (canonical)
kuro class X (plural)


hati

hati class IX (canonical)
hati class X (plural)

hati ya utambulisho

identity document, certificate of identity

certificate (a document containing a certified statement)


gali

gali class IX (canonical)
gali class X (plural)


kanu

kanu class IX (canonical)
kanu class X (plural)


oti

oti class IX (canonical)
oti class X (plural)


tunu

tunu class IX (canonical)
tunu class X (plural)

Uislamu ni tunu na zawadi kutoka kwa Mwenyezi Munguambayo^([sic]) kawazawadia waja wake, na ni rehema kwao;[…]

(Can we date this quote?), Baqir Shareef al-Qurashi, Uislamu ni Njia Yenye Kutoa Mwangaza Katika Maisha:

Islam is something precious and a gift from the Almighty God that He gave his servants, and is a mercy for them; […]

something precious, something valuable, often the result of gift

Kwa Watanzania Muungano ni sehemu ya tunu ya Taifa ya Umoja ambayo viongozi hawana budi kuiishi au kufanana nayo kwa kauli na vitendo.

2022, Muungano wa Tanganyika na Zanzibar: Chimbuko, Misingi na Maendeleo, Serikali ya Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania, →ISBN:

For Tanzanians, the Union is part of the value that is a United Nation and which the leaders must live by and match with words and actions.

value, idea or abstract concept that is held dear


beri

beri class IX (canonical)
beri class X (plural)


budi

budi class IX (canonical)
budi class X (plural)

kutokuwa na budi

Hana budi kula mkate.


kasi

kasi class IX (canonical)
kasi class X (plural)

force (strength or energy of body or mind)


kasi

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.


rangi

rangi class IX (canonical)
rangi class X (plural)

→ Kikuyu: rangi

→ Lingala: lángi

→ Tooro: erangi

Borrowed from Omani Arabic رنج (rang), from Persian رنگ (rang).


muda

muda class III (canonical)
miuda class IV (plural)
mda (alternative)


naga

naga class IX (canonical)
naga class X (plural)


ganda

ganda class V (canonical)
maganda class VI (plural)


tani

tani class IX (canonical)
tani class X (plural)

ton (a short ton, a long ton, or a metric ton/tonne)


hiba

hiba class IX (canonical)
hiba class X (plural)

gift, present (especially given to show affection)


dele

dele class IX (canonical)
dele class X (plural)


lango

lango class V (canonical)
malango class VI (plural)


pacha

pacha class V (canonical)
mapacha class VI (plural)


kuku

kuku class IX (canonical)
kuku class X (plural)

→ Malagasy: akoho

From *nkʊ́kʊ́, a variant of Common Bantu *nkókó.


pepo

sw-noun

pepo class V or IX (plural mapepo class VI or pepo class X)

pepo class V (canonical)
IX (canonical)
mapepo class VI (plural)
pepo class X (plural)


dila

dila class IX (canonical)
dila class X (plural)

Borrowed from Arabic دِلَاء (dilāʔ), plural of دَلْو (dalw).


huru

huru class V (canonical)
mahuru class VI (plural)


ngoma

ngoma class IX (plural ngoma class X or mangoma class VI)

ngoma class IX (canonical)
ngoma class X (plural)
mangoma class VI (plural)
goma (alternative)


buli

buli class V (canonical)
mabuli class VI (plural)


damu

damu class IX (canonical)
damu class X (plural)


pau

pau class IX (canonical)
pau class X (plural)


wati

wati class IX (canonical)
wati class X (plural)


tari

tari class IX (canonical)
tari class X (plural)

Borrowed from Arabic طَار (ṭār), طَارَة (ṭāra).


kunde

kunde class IX (canonical)
kunde class X (plural)


moduli

moduli class IX (canonical)
moduli class X (plural)


sista

sista class V (canonical)
masista class VI (plural)


sodo

sodo class IX (canonical)
sodo class X (plural)


bubu

bubu class V (canonical)
mabubu class VI (plural)


dumu

dumu class V (canonical)
madumu class VI (plural)


boma

boma class V (canonical)
maboma class VI (plural)

→ English: boma

Uncertain, though almost certainly not from an acronym of "British Overseas Military Attachment", which is a folk etymology.

fortified military or police outpost, fort or fortress


aya

aya class IX (canonical)
aya class X (plural)


paradiso

paradiso class ? (plural [please provide])

Borrowed from Latin paradīsus, from Ancient Greek παράδεισος (parádeisos).


stara

stara class IX (canonical)
stara class X (plural)


fira

fira class IX (canonical)
fira class X (plural)


juha

juha class V (canonical)
majuha class VI (plural)

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


mila

mila class IX (canonical)
mila class X (plural)


sita

sita class IX (canonical)
sita class X (plural)

Borrowed from Arabic سِتَّة (sitta). Displaced native tundatu.


zogo

zogo class IX (canonical)
zogo class X (plural)


kimo

kimo class VII (canonical)
vimo class VIII (plural)

A noun derivation of Proto-Bantu *-jɪ́ma (“to stand”).


bano

bano class V (canonical)
mabano class VI (plural)


wanga

vyakula vya wanga


zuo

(Kiamu) Alternative form of vyuo, plural of chuo


bosi

bosi class V (canonical)
mabosi class VI (plural)


doria

doria class IX (canonical)
doria class X (plural)


nati

nati class IX (canonical)
nati class X (plural)


kesi

kesi class IX (canonical)
kesi class X (plural)

Kwa mara kwanza, zaidi ya kesi 100,000 zimeripotiwa nchini Uingereza ndani ya siku moja.

2021 December 23, “Utafiti: Omicron inaonekana kuwa dhaifu lakini wasiwasi bado upo”, in BBC News Swahili:

For the first time, more than 100,000 cases have been reported in the UK in one day.

(medicine) case (instance of a specific condition or set of symptoms)


tui

tui la nazi


ruti

ruti class IX (canonical)
ruti class X (plural)


papai

papai class V (canonical)
mapapai class VI (plural)


kati

kati class IX (canonical)
kati class X (plural)


twiga

twiga class IX (canonical)
twiga class X (plural)

Inherited from Proto-Bantu *ntʊ̀ìgà. Cognate with Kikuyu ndũiga, Rwanda-Rundi twiga, Shona twiza, Gungu ntwi̱ga, Ikizu itwiga, Kabwa entwiga.


jicho

jicho class V (canonical)
macho class VI (plural)

→ Malagasy: maso (from the plural macho)


vuvuzela

vuvuzela class IX (plural vuvuzela class X)

vuvuzela class IX (canonical)
vuvuzela class X (plural)

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

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


kitabu

kitabu class VII (plural vitabu class VIII)

kitabu class VII (canonical)
vitabu class VIII (plural)

→ 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-.


mbuzi

mbuzi class IX (canonical)
mbuzi class X (plural)

→ Malagasy: osy


mtoto

mtoto class I (canonical)
watoto class II (plural)

→ Omani Arabic: تيتون (tītūn)

mwana

particularly when speaking of relatedness


ulimi

ulimi class XI (canonical)
ndimi class X (plural)


eka

eka class IX (canonical)
eka class X (plural)


maili

maili class IX (canonical)
maili class X (plural)


rafu

rafu class IX (canonical)
rafu class X (plural)


neuroni

neuroni class IX (plural neuroni class X)

neuroni class IX (canonical)
neuroni class X (plural)


hormoni

hormoni class IX (plural hormoni class X)

hormoni class IX (canonical)
hormoni class X (plural)


kioski

kioski class IX (canonical)
kioski class X (plural)


ioni

ioni class IX (canonical)
ioni class X (plural)


bega

bega class V (canonical)
mabega class VI (plural)


lila

lila class IX (canonical)
lila class X (plural)

Apparently back-formed from lila na fila (“for good or bad”), perhaps from Arabic لَعَلَّ (laʕalla).


dira

dira class IX (canonical)
dira class X (plural)

compass (instrument to determine cardinal directions)


posa

posa class IX (canonical)
posa class X (plural)


dura

dura class IX (canonical)
dura class X (plural)

From Arabic دُرَّة (durra), a variety of parrot (Psittacus alexandri Linnaeus).


kaka

kaka class IX (canonical)
kaka class X (plural)


pembe

pembe class IX (canonical)
pembe class X (plural)

اِدَاوُ كِغِمَ هُمِتَ پِيْبِ ، اَسِپَتِ كَطِ كُنَ مَااِيِ

R. Allen (1946) “Inkishafi—a translation from the Swahili”, in African Studies, volume 5, number 4, →DOI, pages 243–249

[the bull] charges the comer, none tastes of the water

Endao kwegema humita pembe, asipate kaṭi kunwa maiye.

horn (growth on the heads of certain animals)


pembe

pembe class V (canonical)
mapembe class VI (plural)

augmentative of pembe ([[Appendix:Swahili_noun_classes#N class|n class_((IX/X))]]): big horn, big tusk


mua

mua class III (canonical)
miwa class IV (plural)


ndovu

ndovu class IX (canonical)
ndovu class X (plural)
ndofu (alternative)


chupa

chupa class IX (canonical)
chupa class X (plural)

Kikuyu: cuba


chupa

chupa class V (canonical)
machupa class VI (plural)

augmentative of chupa ([[Appendix:Swahili_noun_classes#N class|n class_((IX/X))]]): big bottle, demijohn


bodi

bodi class V (canonical)
mabodi class VI (plural)


bodi

bodi class IX (canonical)
bodi class X (plural)


sekunde

sekunde class IX (plural sekunde class X)

sekunde class IX (canonical)
sekunde class X (plural)

Borrowed from English second or German Sekunde.


beti

beti class V (canonical)
mabeti class VI (plural)


beti

beti class IX (canonical)
beti class X (plural)


ndogoro

ndogoro class IX (plural ndogoro class X)

ndogoro class IX (canonical)
ndogoro class X (plural)


adapta

adapta class IX (canonical)
adapta class X (plural)


amara

amara class IX (canonical)
amara class X (plural)


bata

bata class V (canonical)
mabata class VI (plural)

From Arabic بَطّ (baṭṭ), بَطَّة (baṭṭa).

duck (aquatic bird of the family Anatidae)


debe

debe class V (canonical)
madebe class VI (plural)

An oil container holding about four gallons.


ficho

ficho class V (canonical)
maficho class VI (plural)


fundo

fundo class V (canonical)
mafundo class VI (plural)


hila

hila class IX (canonical)
hila class X (plural)


lita

lita class IX (canonical)
lita class X (plural)


pendo

pendo class V (canonical)
mapendo class VI (plural)


poda

poda class IX (canonical)
poda class X (plural)


profesa

profesa class V (plural maprofesa class VI)

profesa class V (canonical)
maprofesa class VI (plural)


nomino

nomino class IX (canonical)
nomino class X (plural)


robo

robo class IX (canonical)
robo class X (plural)


tapo

tapo class V (canonical)
matapo class VI (plural)

Probably from Ottoman Turkish طابور (tabur, “battalion”).


tumbo

tumbo class V (canonical)
matumbo class VI (plural)


jeti

jeti class IX (canonical)
jeti class X (plural)


shifta

sw-noun

shifta class I/IX (plural shifta class II/X or mashifta class II/X)

shifta class I (canonical)
IX (canonical)
shifta class II (plural)
X (plural)
mashifta class II (plural)


tume

tume class IX (canonical)
tume class X (plural)

tume huru

tume ya uchaguzi

[…] Serikali haikusita kuchukua hatua na kuunda Tume ya Jaji Kisanga mwaka 1999[…]

[…] the Government did not hesitate to take action and in 1999 created the Judge Kisanga Commission […]

commission (body or group of people, officially tasked with carrying out a particular function)


paji

paji class V (canonical)
mapaji class VI (plural)


akademi

akademi class IX (plural akademi class X)

akademi class IX (canonical)
akademi class X (plural)


dhana

dhana class IX (canonical)
dhana class X (plural)

dhana yenye kosa


leja

leja class IX (canonical)
leja class X (plural)

ledger (a collection of accounting entries consisting of credits and debits)


padri

padri class V (canonical)
mapadri class VI (plural)


hawa

hawa class IX (canonical)
hawa class X (plural)

Borrowed from Arabic هَوَى (hawā, “love, desire, passion”).


rasi

rasi class IX (canonical)
rasi class X (plural)


rada

rada class IX (canonical)
rada class X (plural)


elektroni

sw-noun

elektroni class IX (plural elektroni class X)

elektroni class IX (canonical)
elektroni class X (plural)


neutroni

neutroni class IX (plural neutroni class X)

neutroni class IX (canonical)
neutroni class X (plural)

Alternative spelling of nyutroni (“neutron”)


protoni

protoni class IX (plural protoni class X)

protoni class IX (canonical)
protoni class X (plural)


fotoni

fotoni class IX (canonical)
fotoni class X (plural)


dakika

dakika class IX (canonical)
dakika class X (plural)

saa 1 na dakika ishirini na tatu asubuhi


buni

buni class IX (canonical)
buni class X (plural)

Borrowed from Arabic بُنّ (bunn, “coffee plant or seed”).


mbuni

sw-noun

mbuni class III (plural mibuni class IV)

mbuni class III (canonical)
mibuni class IV (plural)


mbuni

mbuni class I (canonical)
wabuni class II (plural)


mbuni

mbuni class IX (canonical)
mbuni class X (plural)


apostrofi

apostrofi class ? (plural [please provide])


asteroidi

asteroidi class IX (plural asteroidi class X)

asteroidi class IX (canonical)
asteroidi class X (plural)


sumu

sumu class IX (canonical)
sumu class X (plural)

→ Kikuyu: thumu


alkoholi

alkoholi class IX (plural alkoholi class X)

alkoholi class IX (canonical)
alkoholi class X (plural)
alikoholi (alternative)

(organic chemistry) alcohol (organic compound containing a hydroxyl functional group)


kasino

kasino class IX (canonical)
kasino class X (plural)

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


povu

povu class V (canonical)
mapovu class VI (plural)


pisi

pisi class IX (canonical)
pisi class X (plural)


sinema

sinema class IX (canonical)
sinema class X (plural)


rula

rula class IX (canonical)
rula class X (plural)


avata

avata class IX (canonical)
avata class X (plural)


anatomia

anatomia class IX (plural anatomia class X)

anatomia class IX (canonical)
anatomia class X (plural)


haram

haram class V (canonical)
maharam class VI (plural)


saluti

saluti class IX (canonical)
saluti class X (plural)


pawa

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.


faksi

faksi class IX (canonical)
faksi class X (plural)

any text sent electronically or a device used to send such text


elektrodi

sw-noun

elektrodi class IX (plural elektrodi class X)

elektrodi class IX (canonical)
elektrodi class X (plural)


jeni

jeni class IX (canonical)
jeni class X (plural)


opioidi

opioidi class IX (plural opioidi class X)

opioidi class IX (canonical)
opioidi class X (plural)


anodi

anodi class IX (canonical)
anodi class X (plural)


tende

tende class IX (canonical)
tende class X (plural)


laana

laana class IX (canonical)
laana class X (plural)


sakata

sakata class IX (canonical)
sakata class X (plural)

the quarreling or pushing and shoving that occurs during an altercation


sakata

fraud (an act of deception, esp. by a public official)


karata

karata class IX (canonical)
karata class X (plural)

Borrowed from Portuguese carta. Doublet of karatasi.


finali

finali class IX (canonical)
finali class X (plural)


pua

pua class V (canonical)
mapua class VI (plural)

Cognate with Chichewa mphuno and Shona mhuno.


pua

A very old borrowing, ultimately from Persian پولاد (pulâd).


kisu

kisu class VII (canonical)
visu class VIII (plural)

→ Gujarati: કીસુ (kīsu)


kende

kende class V (canonical)
makende class VI (plural)


boya

boya class V (canonical)
maboya class VI (plural)

(Mombasa area) float used to hold up a fishing net


bao

bao class V (canonical)
mabao class VI (plural)

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


pao

pao class IX (canonical)
pao class X (plural)
pau (alternative)


yai

yai class V (canonical)
mayai class VI (plural)


nikotin

nikotin class IX (plural nikotin class X)

nikotin class IX (canonical)
nikotin class X (plural)


tola

tola class IX (canonical)
tola class X (plural)

tola (a unit of mass, approximately half an ounce)


saisi

saisi class IX (canonical)
saisi class X (plural)

a groom (person who cares for horses or other animals)


cheri

cheri class IX (canonical)
cheri class X (plural)


tanki

tanki class V (canonical)
matanki class VI (plural)


silikoni

silikoni class IX (plural silikoni class X)

silikoni class IX (canonical)
silikoni class X (plural)


chui

chui class IX (canonical)
chui class X (plural)

Panthera pardus
Panthera pardus#Translingual


chuo

chuo class VII (canonical)
vyuo class VIII (plural)


sekta

sekta class IX (canonical)
sekta class X (plural)


milioni

milioni class V (plural mamilioni class VI)

milioni class V (canonical)
mamilioni class VI (plural)
millioni (alternative)


pochi

pochi class IX (canonical)
pochi class X (plural)
kipochi (alternative)

wallet (pouch or small bag, especially for keeping money)


noti

noti class IX (canonical)
noti class X (plural)


siti

siti class IX (canonical)
siti class X (plural)

A corruption of Arabic سَيِّدَة (sayyida); see ست for more.


elementi

elementi class IX (plural elementi class X)

elementi class IX (canonical)
elementi class X (plural)

element (simplest or essential part or principle of anything)


kasuku

kasuku class IX (canonical)
kasuku class X (plural)

Psittacus erithacus
Psittacus erithacus#Translingual

African grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus)


leso

leso class V (canonical)
maleso class VI (plural)

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

any decorated cloth worn over one's clothing


leksika

leksika class IX (plural leksika class X)

leksika class IX (canonical)
leksika class X (plural)
leksikoni (alternative)


doti

doti class IX (canonical)
doti class X (plural)

Borrowed from Gujarati and Kachchi ધોતી (dhotī), Hindi धोती (dhotī).

bor+

a measure of cloth, about four yards in length


basi

basi class V (canonical)
mabasi class VI (plural)


soli

soli class IX (canonical)
soli class X (plural)

Jaribu pia kuweka kitu cha kukausha jasho kwenye soli ya kiatu chako kabla ya kukivalia bila soksi.

2017 October 10, “Hatari ya kuvalia viatu bila soksi”, in BBC News Swahili:

Also try putting a sweat wicking agent on the sole of your shoe before wearing it without socks.


nane

nane class IX (canonical)
nane class X (plural)


urani

urani class IX (canonical)
urani class X (plural)


pini

pini class IX (canonical)
pini class X (plural)


stima

stima class IX (canonical)
stima class X (plural)


stima

Alternative form of stimu (“electricity”)


gastronomia

sw-noun

gastronomia class IX (plural gastronomia class X)

gastronomia class IX (canonical)
gastronomia class X (plural)


semina

semina class IX (canonical)
semina class X (plural)


gridi

gridi class IX (canonical)
gridi class X (plural)


treni

treni class IX (canonical)
treni class X (plural)

train (locomotive, railcars linked as a unit)


ozoni

ozoni class IX (canonical)
ozoni class X (plural)


butani

butani class IX (canonical)
butani class X (plural)


petali

petali class IX (canonical)
petali class X (plural)


plagi

plagi class IX (canonical)
plagi class X (plural)


dinosauri

dinosauri class IX (plural dinosauri class X)

dinosauri class IX (canonical)
dinosauri class X (plural)
dinosaria (alternative)
dinosau (alternative)


violini

violini class IX (plural violini class X)

violini class IX (canonical)
violini class X (plural)


monasteri

monasteri class IX (plural monasteri class X)

monasteri class IX (canonical)
monasteri class X (plural)


petroli

petroli class IX (plural petroli class X)

petroli class IX (canonical)
petroli class X (plural)


senati

senati class IX (canonical)
senati class X (plural)


demani

demani class IX (canonical)
demani class X (plural)


ubichi

From u- + -bichi (“unripe, raw, fresh”).


kalori

kalori class IX (canonical)
kalori class X (plural)


uniti

uniti class IX (canonical)
uniti class X (plural)

Mwongozo huo pia unabainisha kuwa wanywaji wa kiume wana uwezekano wa mara mbili wa kunywa zaidi ya kiwango kilichopendekezwa cha uniti 14 kwa wiki kuliko wanywaji wa kike.

2022 September 21, “Fahamu muongozo mpya wa afya kuhusu uhusiano wa pombe na saratani”, in BBC News Swahili:

That guideline also specifies that male drinkers are twice as likely to drink more than the recommended limit of 14 units per week than female drinkers.


kategoria

kategoria class IX (plural kategoria class X)

kategoria class IX (canonical)
kategoria class X (plural)

Borrowed from English category, from Late Latin catēgoria, from Ancient Greek κατηγορία (katēgoría, “head of predicables”).


ampia

ampia class IX (canonical)
ampia class X (plural)


cheti

sw-noun

cheti class VII (plural vyeti class VIII)

cheti class VII (canonical)
vyeti class VIII (plural)

From Hindi चिट्ठी (ciṭṭhī), possibly via English chit.

cheti cha kuzaliwa

cheti cha daktari


densi

densi class IX (canonical)
densi class X (plural)


neva

neva class IX (canonical)
neva class X (plural)


mikrofoni

mikrofoni class IX (plural mikrofoni class X)

mikrofoni class IX (canonical)
mikrofoni class X (plural)
maikrofoni (alternative)


asili

asili class IX (canonical)
asili class X (plural)

Etymology tree
Arabic أَصْل (ʔaṣl)bor.
Swahili asili
Borrowed from Arabic أَصْل (ʔaṣl).


makasi

(obsolete or uncommon) Alternative form of mikasi (“scissors”)


lori

lori class V (canonical)
malori class VI (plural)


madrasa

sw-noun

madrasa class IX (plural madrasa class X)

madrasa class IX (canonical)
madrasa class X (plural)

Borrowed from Arabic مَدْرَسَة (madrasa).


fani

fani class IX (canonical)
fani class X (plural)

a field or discipline (course of study or domain of knowledge or practice)


piramidi

sw-noun

piramidi class IX (plural piramidi class X)

piramidi class IX (canonical)
piramidi class X (plural)


maiti

maiti class IX (canonical)
maiti class X (plural)


maana

maana class IX (canonical)
maana class X (plural)

meaning (symbolic value of something), significance, sense, reason


shisha

shisha class IX (canonical)
shisha class X (plural)


juma

juma class V (canonical)
majuma class VI (plural)


gesti

gesti class IX (canonical)
gesti class X (plural)


jihadi

jihadi class IX (canonical)
jihadi class X (plural)


sanaa

sanaa class IX (canonical)
sanaa class X (plural)


halua

halua class IX (canonical)
halua class X (plural)


haki

haki class IX (canonical)
haki class X (plural)

right (something one is legally entitled to)


hoki

hoki class IX (canonical)
hoki class X (plural)


reki

reki class IX (canonical)
reki class X (plural)


grafiti

grafiti class IX (plural grafiti class X)

grafiti class IX (canonical)
grafiti class X (plural)


takia

takia class V (canonical)
matakia class VI (plural)


lensi

lensi class IX (canonical)
lensi class X (plural)


alfabeti

alfabeti class IX (plural alfabeti class X)

alfabeti class IX (canonical)
alfabeti class X (plural)


tabaka

tabaka class V or IX (plural matabaka class VI or tabaka class X)

tabaka class V (canonical)
IX (canonical)
matabaka class VI (plural)
tabaka class X (plural)


fusi

fusi class IX (canonical)
fusi class X (plural)


heroe

heroe class IX (canonical)
heroe class X (plural)


nge

nge class IX (canonical)
nge class X (plural)
ng'ge (alternative)


resi

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


rodi

rodi class IX (canonical)
rodi class X (plural)


siri

siri class IX (canonical)
siri class X (plural)


deni

deni class V (canonical)
madeni class VI (plural)


ngamia

ngamia class IX (canonical)
ngamia class X (plural)

→ Iraqw: angamia (“camel”)

desc

→ Tooro: engamiya (“camel; horse”), engamira (“camel”)

An old borrowing, ultimately from Arabic جَمَل (jamal). Compare Yao ngamila, Chichewa ngamira.


siha

siha class IX (canonical)
siha class X (plural)


tendo

tendo class V (canonical)
matendo class VI (plural)


stendi

stendi class IX (canonical)
stendi class X (plural)


saa

saa class IX (canonical)
saa class X (plural)

→ Iraqw: saa'a

→ Kikuyu: thaa

→ Luo: sa

→ Lingala: sâ

→ Luganda: essaawa

→ Pökoot: saa

→ Rwanda-Rundi: isaha, saa

o'clock (followed by the number in question)


titani

titani class IX (canonical)
titani class X (plural)


vali

vali class IX (canonical)
vali class X (plural)


pilau

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


ungo

ungo class XI (canonical)
nyungo class X (plural)


difenda

sw-noun

difenda class ? (plural [please provide])


faida

faida class IX (canonical)
faida class X (plural)


altare

altare class IX (canonical)
altare class X (plural)

Presumably borrowed from English altar, although the preservation of the rhotic may indicate a form created by missionaries under the influence of Latin altare.


sultani

sultani class V (plural masultani class VI)

sultani class V (canonical)
masultani class VI (plural)


kimya

From Arabic كِيمِيَاء (kīmiyāʔ, “chemistry”), it being a discreet art.


sudi

sudi class IX (canonical)
sudi class X (plural)


biokemia

biokemia class IX (plural biokemia class X)

biokemia class IX (canonical)
biokemia class X (plural)


pishi

pishi class IX (canonical)
pishi class X (plural)

A unit of capacity equal to four vibaba.


agronomia

agronomia class IX (plural agronomia class X)

agronomia class IX (canonical)
agronomia class X (plural)


sementi

sementi class IX (plural sementi class X)

sementi class IX (canonical)
sementi class X (plural)


plani

plani class IX (canonical)
plani class X (plural)


bolti

bolti class IX (canonical)
bolti class X (plural)


pancha

pancha class IX (canonical)
pancha class X (plural)


anafora

anafora class IX (plural anafora class X)

anafora class IX (canonical)
anafora class X (plural)


antena

antena class IX (canonical)
antena class X (plural)


baraka

baraka class IX (canonical)
baraka class X (plural)

From Arabic بَرَكَة (baraka, “blessing”).

Haraka haraka, haina baraka

[When done] very quickly, there is no blessing.


alpaka

alpaka class IX (canonical)
alpaka class X (plural)


kuti

kuti class V (canonical)
makuti class VI (plural)

frond of the coconut palm, used for thatch


spiriti

spiriti class IX (plural spiriti class X)

spiriti class IX (canonical)
spiriti class X (plural)


dioksidi

dioksidi class IX (plural dioksidi class X)

dioksidi class IX (canonical)
dioksidi class X (plural)


futi

futi class IX (canonical)
futi class X (plural)


kauli

kauli class IX (canonical)
kauli class X (plural)


kada

kada class V (canonical)
makada class VI (plural)


hobi

hobi class IX (canonical)
hobi class X (plural)


kupe

kupe class IX (canonical)
kupe class X (plural)

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


bua

bua class V (canonical)
mabua class VI (plural)


eneo

eneo class V (canonical)
maeneo class VI (plural)


maksi

maksi class IX (canonical)
maksi class X (plural)


lithi

lithi class IX (canonical)
lithi class X (plural)

Alternative form of lithiamu (“lithium”)


morali

morali class IX (canonical)
morali class X (plural)


saba

saba class IX (canonical)
saba class X (plural)

Borrowed from Arabic سَبْعَة (sabʕa). Displaced native fungate.


tini

tini class V (canonical)
matini class VI (plural)


herufi

herufi class IX (canonical)
herufi class X (plural)


barua

barua class IX (canonical)
barua class X (plural)

Borrowed from Omani Arabic بروة (barwa).


noma

noma class IX (canonical)
noma class X (plural)


bata mzinga

bata mzinga class V (plural mabata mzinga class VI)

bata mzinga class V (canonical)
mabata mzinga class VI (plural)
batamzinga (alternative)


kipanya

kipanya class VII (plural vipanya class VIII)

kipanya class VII (canonical)
vipanya class VIII (plural)

From ki- + panya. The computing sense is a semantic loan from English mouse.


maji

→ English: Maji Maji Rebellion

njia ya maji


mnyama

mnyama class I (plural wanyama class II)

mnyama class I (canonical)
wanyama class II (plural)

Originally a reassignment of nyama (“meat”) to an animate class.


hewa

hewa class IX (canonical)
hewa class X (plural)


tobo

tobo class V (canonical)
matobo class VI (plural)


ndoo

ndoo class IX (canonical)
ndoo class X (plural)

Kikuyu: ndoo


mgongo

mgongo class III (plural migongo class IV)

mgongo class III (canonical)
migongo class IV (plural)

uti wa mgongo


duka

duka class V (canonical)
maduka class VI (plural)

→ Kikuyu: nduka

Borrowed from Arabic دُكَّان (dukkān), from Aramaic דּוּכָּנָא (dukkānā, “dais”), from Akkadian 𒆠𒍇 (/takkannu, dakkannu, dukkannu/, “dais, platform, bench; niche, bedroom, private chambers or quarters”), ultimately from Sumerian 𒆠𒍇 (/daggan/, “chamber, doorway or its frame, niche in a wall”).


chuma

sw-noun

chuma class VII (plural vyuma class VIII)

chuma class VII (canonical)
vyuma class VIII (plural)

Kikuyu: cuma


melodi

melodi class IX (canonical)
melodi class X (plural)


spika

spika class IX (canonical)
spika class X (plural)


spika

spika class V (canonical)
maspika class VI (plural)

spika wa bunge

(politics) speaker (presiding member in a legislative body)


jani

jani class V (canonical)
majani class VI (plural)

From Proto-Bantu [Term?]. Compare Zulu utshani.


ukurasa

ukurasa class XI (plural kurasa class X)

ukurasa class XI (canonical)
kurasa class X (plural)

Borrowed from Arabic كُرَّاسَة (kurrāsa).


mzizi

sw-noun

mzizi class III (plural mizizi class IV)

mzizi class III (canonical)
mizizi class IV (plural)


buzi

buzi class V (canonical)
mabuzi class VI (plural)

From mbuzi (“goat”), placed in the class used for augmentatives. The sense "sugar daddy" comes from the phrase kuchuna buzi (“skin the goat”), used as slang for extracting money from a wealthy man.

Nakuambia ulie tu / Huwezi kuchuna buzi

"Mtie Kamba Muneo" [date unknown], Tanzania One Theatre, sung by Khadija Kopa

I tell you, keep crying / You cannot get a sugar daddy (literally, "skin the goat")


hisabati

hisabati class IX (plural hisabati class X)

hisabati class IX (canonical)
hisabati class X (plural)

Borrowed from Arabic حِسَابَة (ḥisāba, “calculating”).


boriti

sw-noun

boriti class V (plural maboriti class VI)

boriti class V (canonical)
maboriti class VI (plural)

(nautical) beam (transverse member of a ship's frame)


Mwingereza

Mwingereza class I (plural Waingereza class II)

Mwingereza class I (canonical)
Waingereza class II (plural)
Muingereza (alternative)

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


mume

mume class I (canonical)
waume class II (plural)


kitana

kitana class VII (plural vitana class VIII)

kitana class VII (canonical)
vitana class VIII (plural)


Kireno

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


usiku

night, nighttime (period between sunset and sunrise)


mfalme

sw-noun

mfalme class I (plural wafalme class II)

mfalme class I (canonical)
wafalme class II (plural)
mfaume (alternative)

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


mkono

mkono class III (plural mikono class IV)

mkono class III (canonical)
mikono class IV (plural)

cubit, ell (a traditional unit of measurement, approximately 50 cm)


mti

mti class III (canonical)
miti class IV (plural)


kitanda

kitanda class VII (plural vitanda class VIII)

kitanda class VII (canonical)
vitanda class VIII (plural)


kipande

kipande class VII (plural vipande class VIII)

kipande class VII (canonical)
vipande class VIII (plural)


mguu

mguu class III (canonical)
miguu class IV (plural)
guu (alternative)


kipepeo

kipepeo class VII (plural vipepeo class VIII)

kipepeo class VII (canonical)
vipepeo class VIII (plural)


sungura

sungura class IX (plural sungura class X)

sungura class IX (canonical)
sungura class X (plural)
sungara (alternative)

trickster (somebody who displays the characteristics of the rabbit in African folklore)


kifo

kifo class VII (canonical)
vifo class VIII (plural)


msaada

msaada class III (plural misaada class IV)

msaada class III (canonical)
misaada class IV (plural)

help (action given to provide assistance)


msitu

msitu class III (plural misitu class IV)

msitu class III (canonical)
misitu class IV (plural)


tumbili

tumbili class IX (plural tumbili class X)

tumbili class IX (canonical)
tumbili class X (plural)


mwizi

mwizi class I (canonical)
wezi class II (plural)
mwivi (alternative)

From mw- + iba + -i. Compare Rwanda-Rundi umwibyi.


mbegu

mbegu class IX (canonical)
mbegu class X (plural)

(wikis) a stub (a page providing only minimal information and intended for later development)

species (group of plants or animals having similar appearance)


gome

gome class V (canonical)
magome class VI (plural)


jiografia

jiografia class IX (canonical)
jografia (alternative)

geography (study of physical structure and inhabitants of the Earth)


mwanafunzi

mwanafunzi class I (plural wanafunzi class II)

mwanafunzi class I (canonical)
wanafunzi class II (plural)


mwalimu

mwalimu class I (plural walimu class II)

mwalimu class I (canonical)
walimu class II (plural)
Mwl. (alternative)

From Arabic مُعَلِّم (muʕallim, “teacher”).

mwalimu mwandamizi


sabuni

sabuni class IX (canonical)
sabuni class X (plural)

→ Gusii: esabuni

→ Kikuyu: thabuni

→ Kongo: sabuni

→ Lingala: sabúni

→ Luganda: ssabbuuni

→ Luhya: esabuni

→ Sukuma: sabuni

→ Maore Comorian: sabuni

→ Ngazidja Comorian: saɓuni

→ Rwanda-Rundi: isabune

From Arabic صَابُون (ṣābūn), from Latin sāpō.

der

Arabic صَابُون (ṣābūn)


pwani

head

pwani (adverbial locative noun in the pa, ku, or mu locative classes)

in the (adverbial class-16 locative noun)
ku (adverbial locative noun)
puani (alternative)


pwani

pwani class XVI (canonical)
puani (alternative)


dragoni

sw-noun

dragoni class IX (plural dragoni class X)

dragoni class IX (canonical)
dragoni class X (plural)


opereta

opereta class V (plural maopereta class VI)

opereta class V (canonical)
maopereta class VI (plural)


baptisti

baptisti class ? (plural [please provide])


samaki

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

Kikuyu: thamaki


zege

zege class IX (canonical)
zege class X (plural)


doa

doa class V (canonical)
madoa class VI (plural)

blemish / stain (small flaw which spoils the appearance of something)


wakia

wakia class IX (canonical)
wakia class X (plural)

Borrowed from Arabic وِقِيَّة (wiqiyya).

(obsolete) An old measure of weight, tied to the weight of a silver coin.


limau

limau class V (canonical)
malimau class VI (plural)


nyumba

nyumba class IX (canonical)
nyumba class X (plural)

From Proto-Bantu *njʊ̀mbá. Cognate to Luganda ennyumba.


heli

heli class IX (canonical)
heli class X (plural)


chura

chura class VII (plural vyura class VIII)

chura class VII (canonical)
vyura class VIII (plural)


mbwa

mbwa class I/IX (plural mbwa class II/X)

mbwa class I (canonical)
IX (canonical)
mbwa class II (plural)
X (plural)

→ Malagasy: amboa


paka

paka class IX (canonical)
paka class X (plural)


nguruwe

nguruwe class IX (plural nguruwe class X)

nguruwe class IX (canonical)
nguruwe class X (plural)


sikio

sikio class V (canonical)
masikio class VI (plural)


savana

savana class IX (canonical)
savana class X (plural)


lepe

lepe class V (canonical)
malepe class VI (plural)


adia

adia class IX (canonical)
adia class X (plural)

Borrowed from Arabic هَدِيَّة (hadiyya).


soko

soko class V (canonical)
masoko class VI (plural)

→ Kikuyu: thoko

→ Ma'di: soko

→ Portuguese: soco (Mozambique)

→ Rwanda-Rundi: isoko

market (spacious site where trading takes place)


shule

shule class IX (canonical)
shule class X (plural)
skule (alternative)
skuli (alternative)


farasi

farasi class IX (canonical)
farasi class X (plural)

→ Kikuyu: mbarathi

→ Lingala: farása

→ Luganda: mbalaàsi

→ Tooro: embaraasi

kuendesha farasi


bromi

bromi class IX (canonical)
bromi class X (plural)


raba

raba class IX (canonical)
raba class X (plural)

running shoe, sneaker (shoe with rubber soles)


shoka

shoka class V (canonical)
mashoka class VI (plural)


barafu

barafu class IX (canonical)
barafu class X (plural)

Borrowed from Omani Arabic برف (barf, “ice”), from Persian برف (barf, “snow”).


bendi

bendi class IX (canonical)
bendi class X (plural)


bilioni

sw-noun

bilioni class V (plural mabilioni class VI)

bilioni class V (canonical)
mabilioni class VI (plural)


panya

panya class IX (canonical)
panya class X (plural)


gameti

gameti class IX (canonical)
gameti class X (plural)


dhambi

dhambi class V (plural madhambi class VI)

dhambi class V (canonical)
madhambi class VI (plural)


mende

mende class IX (canonical)
mende class X (plural)


lindi

lindi class V (canonical)
malindi class VI (plural)


kilima

kilima class VII (plural vilima class VIII)

kilima class VII (canonical)
vilima class VIII (plural)


mlima

mlima class III (plural milima class IV)

mlima class III (canonical)
milima class IV (plural)

mount (descriptor preceding mountain names)


bakteria

bakteria class IX (plural bakteria class X)

bakteria class IX (canonical)
bakteria class X (plural)


kinu

kinu class VII (canonical)
vinu class VIII (plural)


livu

livu class IX (canonical)
livu class X (plural)


nuru

nuru class IX (canonical)
nuru class X (plural)

كِطَّمْسِكِزَ گَوُجُهَّالِ ، نُرُ نَمِيَاغَ اِتَظَلَالِ

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

Brightness and lights will overcome the shadow and darkness of ignorance

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


dunia

dunia class IX (canonical)
dunia class X (plural)

هُيُوِ دُنِيَ اِيْنَ غُرُرِ ، دِيَ زَتَتَسِ هُزَدَمَيِْ،

This world is deceitful, why follow its ways?

Huyui dunia ina ghururi? ndia za-tatasi huzandamaye?


koo

koo class V (canonical)
makoo class VI (plural)


koo

koo la kuku

koo la mbuzi


koo

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.


nyota

nyota class IX (canonical)
nyota class X (plural)

Inherited from Proto-Bantu *njótà. Cognate with Kikuyu njata, Kamba ndata, Kabwa enjota.


nyota

nyota class V (canonical)
manyota class VI (plural)

nyota wa muziki

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)


gongo

gongo class V (canonical)
magongo class VI (plural)


subira

subira class IX (canonical)
subira class X (plural)
subra (alternative)
saburi (alternative)


feni

feni class IX (canonical)
feni class X (plural)


tenki

tenki class V (canonical)
matenki class VI (plural)


mkunga

sw-noun

mkunga class I (plural wakunga class II)

mkunga class I (canonical)
wakunga class II (plural)


mkunga

mkunga class III (plural mikunga class IV)

mkunga class III (canonical)
mikunga class IV (plural)


kawaida

kawaida class IX (plural kawaida class X)

kawaida class IX (canonical)
kawaida class X (plural)

From Arabic قَوَاعِد (qawāʕid), plural of قَاعِدَة (qāʕida).


mkate

mkate class III (plural mikate class IV)

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

Kikuyu: mũgate

Luganda: omugaati


panga

panga class IX (canonical)
panga class X (plural)

'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.'


faili

faili class V (canonical)
mafaili class VI (plural)


upanga

upanga class XI (canonical)
panga class X (plural)


sehemu

sehemu class IX (canonical)
sehemu class X (plural)

Borrowed from Omani Arabic سهم (sehem), from Arabic سَهْم (sahm, “part, portion”).

Afrika ni sehemu maalum.


kuki

kuki class IX (canonical)
kuki class X (plural)


maziwa

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


chuki

chuki class IX (canonical)
chuki class X (plural)


bendera

bendera class IX (plural bendera class X)

bendera class IX (canonical)
bendera class X (plural)

Borrowed from Portuguese bandeira, perhaps via Omani Arabic بنديرة (bandēra).

flag (fabric with distinctive design used as a signal)


namuna

namuna class IX (canonical)
namuna class X (plural)


stika

stika class IX (canonical)
stika class X (plural)


kaa

kaa class V (canonical)
makaa class VI (plural)


kaa

kaa class IX (canonical)
kaa class X (plural)


skandi

skandi class IX (canonical)
skandi class X (plural)


chama

chama class VII (plural vyama class VIII)

chama class VII (canonical)
vyama class VIII (plural)


kero

kero class IX (canonical)
kero class X (plural)


masta

masta class IX (canonical)
masta class X (plural)


lofa

lofa class V (canonical)
malofa class VI (plural)


jalada

jalada class V (plural majalada class VI)

jalada class V (canonical)
majalada class VI (plural)


bandari

bandari class IX (plural bandari class X)

bandari class IX (canonical)
bandari class X (plural)

From Arabic بَنْدَر (bandar), from Persian بندر (bandar).


tongo

tongo class V (canonical)
matongo class VI (plural)

a mannequin or decoy in the shape of a bird


alkemi

alkemi class IX (canonical)
alkemi class X (plural)


mwanzo

mwanzo class III (plural mianzo class IV)

mwanzo class III (canonical)
mianzo class IV (plural)


badiliko

badiliko class V (plural mabadiliko class VI)

badiliko class V (canonical)
mabadiliko class VI (plural)


randa

randa class IX (canonical)
randa class X (plural)


feri

feri class IX (canonical)
feri class X (plural)


gari

gari class V (canonical)
magari class VI (plural)

→ Chichewa: galimoto

→ Kamba: ngali

→ Kikuyu: ngari

→ Maore Comorian: gari

→ Meru: ngari

Borrowed from Omani Arabic قاري (gāri, “car”), from Hindi गाड़ी (gāṛī, “cart, car”)/Urdu گاڑی (gāṛī) or Persian گاری (gâri, “cart”).

bor

Urdu گاڑی (gāṛī)

kuendesha gari

vehicle (any vehicle, including wagons and trains)


haramia

sw-noun

haramia class V (plural maharamia class VI)

haramia class V (canonical)
maharamia class VI (plural)

From Arabic حَرَامِيَّة (ḥarāmiyya). Related to haramu.

Ukikimbia sasa, utakuwa haramia mbaya kabisa aliyewahi kuishi. Hili hapa zulia, jifunike.

1924, Wa Arobaini Na Moja, Idara ya Maendeleo, page 43:

If you run now, you will be the worst pirate to ever get a chance to live. Here's a carpet, cover yourself.


fungate

fungate class IX (plural fungate class X)

fungate class IX (canonical)
fungate class X (plural)


doli

doli class V (canonical)
madoli class VI (plural)


notisi

notisi class IX (canonical)
notisi class X (plural)

notice (formal notification or announcement)


sanda

sanda class IX (canonical)
sanda class X (plural)


mundu

mundu class III (plural miundu class IV)

mundu class III (canonical)
miundu class IV (plural)


badili

badili class V (plural mabadili class VI)

badili class V (canonical)
mabadili class VI (plural)

From Arabic بَدَّلَ (baddala, “to replace”).


mpira

mpira class III (plural mipira class IV)

mpira class III (canonical)
mipira class IV (plural)

a kind of creeper plant that produces a rubber-like sap

ball (object, generally spherical, used for playing games)


ufunguo

ufunguo class XI (plural funguo class X)

ufunguo class XI (canonical)
funguo class X (plural)
funguo (alternative)

key (device designed to open and close a lock)


sigara

sigara class IX (canonical)
sigara class X (plural)


jaala

jaala class IX (canonical)
jaala class X (plural)


kooni

head

kooni (adverbial locative noun in the pa, ku, or mu locative classes)

in the (adverbial class-16 locative noun)
ku (adverbial locative noun)


leksikografia

sw-noun

leksikografia class IX (plural leksikografia class X)

leksikografia class IX (canonical)
leksikografia class X (plural)


boksi

boksi class IX (canonical)
boksi class X (plural)


trilioni

trilioni class V (plural matrilioni class VI)

trilioni class V (canonical)
matrilioni class VI (plural)


kipa

kipa class V (canonical)
makipa class VI (plural)


dinari

dinari class IX (canonical)
dinari class X (plural)


kijiko

kijiko class VII (plural vijiko class VIII)

kijiko class VII (canonical)
vijiko class VIII (plural)

Uncertain. Although in form it would appear to be a diminutive of mwiko, that may be a back-formation if the term is ultimately from Ottoman Turkish قاشیق (kaşık).


kaunti

kaunti class IX (canonical)
kaunti class X (plural)


konda

konda class V (canonical)
makonda class VI (plural)

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

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


aibu

aibu class IX (canonical)
aibu class X (plural)

-aibisha

to humiliate, embarrass, disgrace, put to shame


pumu

pumu class V (canonical)
mapumu class VI (plural)

asthma, (or more generally) difficulty breathing


karo

karo class IX (canonical)
karo class X (plural)

tuition fee (monetary payment charged for education)


rusu

rusu class IX (canonical)
rusu class X (plural)


dera

dera class IX (canonical)
dera class X (plural)


kanda

kanda class IX (canonical)
kanda class X (plural)


dini

dini class IX (canonical)
dini class X (plural)


kofi

kofi class V (canonical)
makofi class VI (plural)


joho

joho class V (canonical)
majoho class VI (plural)


penati

penati class IX (canonical)
penati class X (plural)


kirai

kirai class VII (plural virai class VIII)

kirai class VII (canonical)
virai class VIII (plural)


tunda

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


sonara

sonara class IX (canonical)
sonara class X (plural)

Borrowed from Kachchi સોનારો (sonāro), Hindustani सोनार / سونار (sonār).


babaye

babaye class IX (canonical)
babaye class X (plural)

contraction of baba yake: his/her father.


bibi

bibi class V (canonical)
mabibi class VI (plural)
Bi. (alternative)

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

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


sensa

sensa class IX (canonical)
sensa class X (plural)


salio

salio class V (canonical)
masalio class VI (plural)

From -salia (“to remain, to be left over”).


graviti

graviti class IX (plural graviti class X)

graviti class IX (canonical)
graviti class X (plural)


jadi

jadi class IX (canonical)
jadi class X (plural)

From Arabic جَدّ (jadd, literally “grandfather”).


buti

buti class V (canonical)
mabuti class VI (plural)


buti

buti class IX (canonical)
buti class X (plural)

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


dala

dala class IX (canonical)
dala class X (plural)


gundi

gundi class IX (canonical)
gundi class X (plural)

Borrowed from Kachchi ગૂંધ (gūndh); compare Gujarati ગુંદ (gund).


kiongozi

sw-noun

kiongozi class VII (plural viongozi class VIII)

kiongozi class VII (canonical)
viongozi class VIII (plural)

Wabariki viongozi wake

Mungu ibariki Afrika (national anthem of Tanzania)


pilo

pilo class IX (canonical)
pilo class X (plural)

Ndani ya sanduku ni spears, akiandamana na chakula cha makopo , tochi , blanketi na pilo na pia chupa mbili za plastiki moja ya maji ya kunywa na nyingine ya kujisaidia haja ndogo, sanduku liliingizwa ndege ya shirika la ndege la India kwenda Perth magharibi mwa Australia.

2021 December 12, “Simulizi ya baba aliyesafiri ndani ya sanduku kutoka London mpaka Australia”, in BBC Swahili:


meza

meza class IX (canonical)
meza class X (plural)

→ Kamba: mesa

→ Kikuyu: metha

→ Lingala: mésá

→ Luganda: emmeeza

→ Luhya: emesa

→ Luo: mesa

→ Rwanda-Rundi: ameza

→ Tooro: emeeza

Borrowed from Omani Arabic ميز (mēz, “table”), from Persian میز (mêz), although widely claimed to be from Portuguese mesa.


toba

toba class IX (canonical)
toba class X (plural)


panzi

sw-noun

panzi class I/IX (plural panzi class II/X or mapanzi class II/X)

panzi class I (canonical)
IX (canonical)
panzi class II (plural)
X (plural)
mapanzi class II (plural)

grasshopper (an insect of the order Orthoptera)


shadda

shadda class IX (canonical)
shadda class X (plural)


sinodi

sinodi class IX (canonical)
sinodi class X (plural)


stani

stani class IX (canonical)
stani class X (plural)


gia

gia class IX (canonical)
gia class X (plural)


ndere

ndere class IX (canonical)
ndere class X (plural)

a face powder used as a love charm or for hypnotism


rais

rais class V (canonical)
marais class VI (plural)
raisi (alternative)

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)


kitu

kitu class VII (canonical)
vitu class VIII (plural)


wengu

wengu class V (canonical)
mawengu class VI (plural)


koloni

koloni class IX (canonical)
koloni class X (plural)


koloni

koloni class V (plural makoloni class VI)

koloni class V (canonical)
makoloni class VI (plural)


floridi

floridi class IX (plural floridi class X)

floridi class IX (canonical)
floridi class X (plural)
floraidi (alternative)


goti

goti class V (canonical)
magoti class VI (plural)

Uncertain. Lodhi suggests that it is probably a borrowing from Gujarati ગોઠણ (goṭhaṇ).

(anatomy) knee (joint in the middle of the leg and area around it)


lami

lami class IX (canonical)
lami class X (plural)


magnesi

magnesi class IX (plural magnesi class X)

magnesi class IX (canonical)
magnesi class X (plural)

Alternative form of magnesiamu (“magnesium”)


mchanga

mchanga class III (plural michanga class IV)

mchanga class III (canonical)
michanga class IV (plural)


mchanga

mchanga class I (plural wachanga class II)

mchanga class I (canonical)
wachanga class II (plural)


falka

falka class IX (canonical)
falka class X (plural)

Possibly from Arabic فُلْك (fulk, “ship”).


shani

shani class IX (canonical)
shani class X (plural)


afu

afu class V (canonical)
mafu class VI (plural)


afu

blossoms of the wild jasmine used for perfume


tamasha

tamasha class V or IX (plural matamasha class VI or tamasha class X)

tamasha class V (canonical)
IX (canonical)
matamasha class VI (plural)
tamasha class X (plural)

Borrowed from Classical Persian تماشا (tamāšā).


shaka

shaka class IX (canonical)
shaka class X (plural)


chawa

chawa class IX (canonical)
chawa class X (plural)


tishu

tishu class IX (canonical)
tishu class X (plural)

Mtu huyo alilazimika kulishwa kwa kutumia paipu kwa siku saba mfululilizo ili kutoa fursa kwa tishu hizo kupona.

2018 January 17, “Apasuka koo kwa kujaribu kuzuia kupiga chafya”, in BBC News Swahili:

The man had to be fed through a tube for seven days in a row to give the tissue a chance to heal.


seminari

sw-noun

seminari class IX (plural seminari class X)

seminari class IX (canonical)
seminari class X (plural)


adui

adui class I/IX (plural adui class II/X or maadui class II/X)

adui class I (canonical)
IX (canonical)
adui class II (plural)
X (plural)
maadui class II (plural)


katalogi

katalogi class IX (plural katalogi class X)

katalogi class IX (canonical)
katalogi class X (plural)

catalogue (a systematic list of names, books, pictures etc.)


tridenti

tridenti class IX (plural tridenti class X)

tridenti class IX (canonical)
tridenti class X (plural)


afya

afya class IX (canonical)
afya class X (plural)

health (state of being free of physical or psychological disease, illness, or malfunction)

afya ya jamii

afya ya jinsia

afya ya jinsia na uzazi


fukara

fukara class V (plural mafukara class VI)

fukara class V (canonical)
mafukara class VI (plural)

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


pafu

pafu class V (canonical)
mapafu class VI (plural)


dili

dili class IX (canonical)
dili class X (plural)


jemu

jemu class IX (canonical)
jemu class X (plural)

jam (sweet mixture of fruit boiled with sugar)


kisiwa

kisiwa class VII (plural visiwa class VIII)

kisiwa class VII (canonical)
visiwa class VIII (plural)


mlango

mlango class III (plural milango class IV)

mlango class III (canonical)
milango class IV (plural)


miski

miski class IX (canonical)
miski class X (plural)


mdudu

mdudu class I (canonical)
wadudu class II (plural)


duka la vitabu

duka la vitabu class V (plural maduka ya vitabu class VI)

duka la vitabu class V (canonical)
maduka ya vitabu class VI (plural)


kifaa

kifaa class VII (plural vifaa class VIII)

kifaa class VII (canonical)
vifaa class VIII (plural)

device (a piece of equipment made for a particular purpose)


moyo

moyo class III (canonical)
mioyo class IV (plural)

نِيَضِهِرِشِ يَغُ مَقَالِ ، اَبَيُ مُيُوْنِ نِقُصُدِيِ

Let me set forth the plan which I have in my heart.

Niyaḍihirishe yangu maqali, ambayo moyoni niquṣudiye.

heart (feelings and emotions, seat of the affections or sensibilities)


jela

jela class IX (canonical)
jela class X (plural)


kanga

kanga class IX (canonical)
kanga class X (plural)
khanga (alternative)

→ English: kanga

→ Malagasy: akanga

Huyu kanga nitamla peke yangu.

2005, Masomo ya Msingi 8, →ISBN, page 21:


droni

droni class IX (canonical)
droni class X (plural)

2022 April 18, “Vita vya Ukraine: Je, droni ndiyo itakayoamua mshindi wa vita siku zijazo?”, in BBC News Swahili:

Will the drone decide the winner of future wars?


emoji

emoji class IX (canonical)
emoji class X (plural)

Borrowed from Japanese 絵文字(えもじ) (emoji), from 絵(え) (e, “picture”) + 文字(もじ) (moji, “character”).

emoji (“digital graphic icon used to represent a concept or object”).


ramia

ramia class IX (canonical)
ramia class X (plural)

(firearms) cartridge, round of ammunition


jike

jike class V (canonical)
majike class VI (plural)

a female animal (belonging to the sex with larger, fertilizable gametes)


nembo

nembo class IX (canonical)
nembo class X (plural)


sapatu

sapatu class IX (canonical)
sapatu class X (plural)

From Arabic سَبَّاط (sabbāṭ), compare Spanish zapato


adesi

adesi class IX (canonical)
adesi class X (plural)


sinagogi

sinagogi class IX (plural sinagogi class X)

sinagogi class IX (canonical)
sinagogi class X (plural)
sunagogi (alternative)


Mhindi

Mhindi class I (plural Wahindi class II)

Mhindi class I (canonical)
Wahindi class II (plural)
Muindi (alternative)


pumba

pumba class V (canonical)
mapumba class VI (plural)

Kuwa mapumba

(also bumba) lump; rolled-up piece; clod of earth; packet.


taya

taya class V or IX (plural mataya class VI or taya class X)

taya class V (canonical)
IX (canonical)
mataya class VI (plural)
taya class X (plural)


blogu

blogu class IX (canonical)
blogu class X (plural)
blogi (alternative)


blogi

blogi class IX (canonical)
blogi class X (plural)


kloroplasti

kloroplasti class IX (plural kloroplasti class X)

kloroplasti class IX (canonical)
kloroplasti class X (plural)


kromatografia

kromatografia class IX (plural kromatografia class X)

kromatografia class IX (canonical)
kromatografia class X (plural)


pande

pande class V (canonical)
mapande class VI (plural)


lifti

lifti class IX (canonical)
lifti class X (plural)

lift, ride (act of transporting someone in a vehicle)


randi

randi class IX (canonical)
randi class X (plural)


nyanya

nyanya class IX (canonical)
nyanya class X (plural)

→ Nubi: nyanya

Ruth alimtuma Wilkins anunue nyanya.

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


mwezi

mwezi class III (canonical)
miezi class IV (plural)

moon (the Moon, the satellite of planet Earth)


gauni

gauni class V (canonical)
magauni class VI (plural)


kisigino

kisigino class VII (plural visigino class VIII)

kisigino class VII (canonical)
visigino class VIII (plural)


ndoto

ndoto class IX (canonical)
ndoto class X (plural)

dream (imaginary events seen while sleeping)


divai

divai class IX (canonical)
divai class X (plural)
devai (alternative)

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)


jibini

jibini class IX (canonical)
jibini class X (plural)

From a dialectal form of Arabic جُبْن (jubn).


daraja

daraja class V (plural madaraja class VI)

daraja class V (canonical)
madaraja class VI (plural)

Kikuyu: ndaraca

bridge (construction or natural feature that spans a divide)

daraja la kwanza


mpishi

mpishi class I (plural wapishi class II)

mpishi class I (canonical)
wapishi class II (plural)


pweza

pweza class IX (canonical)
pweza class X (plural)


jogoo

jogoo class V (canonical)
majogoo class VI (plural)


buibui

buibui class IX (canonical)
buibui class X (plural)


kaboni

kaboni class IX (canonical)
kaboni class X (plural)


posho

posho class IX (canonical)
posho class X (plural)


nusu

nusu class IX (canonical)
nusu class X (plural)

Borrowed from Omani Arabic نص (nuṣṣ), widespread dialectal variant of standard Arabic نِصْف (niṣf, “half”).


mstatili

mstatili class III (plural mistatili class IV)

mstatili class III (canonical)
mistatili class IV (plural)

Borrowed from Arabic مُسْتَطِيل (mustaṭīl).


kijiji

sw-noun

kijiji class VII (plural vijiji class VIII)

kijiji class VII (canonical)
vijiji class VIII (plural)

From kiji- (“diminutive”) + mji (“town”).

village (a rural habitation below the size of a town)


kitunguu

kitunguu class VII (plural vitunguu class VIII)

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


kiazi

kiazi class VII (plural viazi class VIII)

kiazi class VII (canonical)
viazi class VIII (plural)

potato (plant tuber eaten as starchy vegetable)


huduma

huduma class IX (canonical)
huduma class X (plural)

huduma ya kwanza


jarida

jarida class V (plural majarida class VI)

jarida class V (canonical)
majarida class VI (plural)


longitudo

longitudo class IX (plural longitudo class X)

longitudo class IX (canonical)
longitudo class X (plural)

Coordinate term: latitudo


mshumaa

mshumaa class III (plural mishumaa class IV)

mshumaa class III (canonical)
mishumaa class IV (plural)


kibiriti

kibiriti class VII (plural vibiriti class VIII)

kibiriti class VII (canonical)
vibiriti class VIII (plural)


mashua

mashua class IX (canonical)
mashua class X (plural)

→ English: mashua

Borrowed from Omani Arabic ماشوة (māšūa ~ māšawwa), ultimately from an Indian source; compare Gujarati મછવો (machvo) (plural/oblique મછવા (machvā)), Marathi मचवा (macvā).


mzee

mzee class I (canonical)
wazee class II (plural)

→ English: mzee

→ Kikuyu: mũthee

→ Nubi: muzé

→ Subi: omuzehe

title of respect to anyone older than oneself, including parents


akraba

akraba class IX (canonical)
akraba class X (plural)

Borrowed from Arabic اَقْرِبَاء (aqribāʔ, “relatives”), plural of قَرِيب (qarīb, “relative, relation”).


haragwe

sw-noun

haragwe class V (plural maharagwe class VI)

haragwe class V (canonical)
maharagwe class VI (plural)

Borrowed from Classical Persian [Term?].


matatu

matatu class V (canonical)
matatu class VI (plural)

From -tatu (“three”), based on the original flat fare of thirty cents in the 1960s.


taifa

taifa class V (canonical)
mataifa class VI (plural)

From Arabic طَائِفَة (ṭāʔifa, “sect, division”).

der

nation (group of people sharing aspects of language, culture and/or ethnicity)


abiria

sw-noun

abiria class V (plural maabiria class VI)

abiria class V (canonical)
maabiria class VI (plural)


dawati

dawati class V (plural madawati class VI)

dawati class V (canonical)
madawati class VI (plural)


biskuti

biskuti class IX (plural biskuti class X)

biskuti class IX (canonical)
biskuti class X (plural)


kisasi

kisasi class VII (plural visasi class VIII)

kisasi class VII (canonical)
visasi class VIII (plural)


mteja

mteja class I (canonical)
wateja class II (plural)

customer (one who purchases or receives a product or service)


umoja

From u- (abstract prefix) + moja (“one”).

Umoja ni muhimu sana. Umoja unaweza kutuweka pamoja tukawa wazalendo wa nchi yetu.

2002 March 13, Kenya National Assembly Official Record, Parliamentary Debates, page 25:

Unity is very critical. Unity can keep us together and make us native citizens of our country.

unity, oneness (the state of being one or undivided)


fotokopi

fotokopi class IX (plural fotokopi class X)

fotokopi class IX (canonical)
fotokopi class X (plural)


chatu

chatu class IX (canonical)
chatu class X (plural)


cheo

cheo class VII (canonical)
vyeo class VIII (plural)


dutu

dutu class IX (canonical)
dutu class X (plural)


yaya

yaya class V (canonical)
mayaya class VI (plural)

Uncertain, but possibly from Portuguese aia (“maid”) or an Indian language, such as Hindi आया (āyā, “dry nurse, nanny”).


mbari

mbari class IX (canonical)
mbari class X (plural)


raketi

raketi class IX (canonical)
raketi class X (plural)


neno

neno class V (canonical)
maneno class VI (plural)


alhaji

Borrowed from Arabic حَجِّي (ḥajjī) (with the definite article).

(Islam) hajji (one who has been a pilgrim to Mecca, usually used as a title)


kielezi

kielezi class VII (plural vielezi class VIII)

kielezi class VII (canonical)
vielezi class VIII (plural)


biashara

biashara class IX (plural biashara class X)

biashara class IX (canonical)
biashara class X (plural)

From Arabic بَاعَ (bāʕa, “sell”) + Arabic شَرَى (šarā, “buy”).


ubongo

ubongo class XI (canonical)
bongo class X (plural)


karatasi

karatasi class IX (plural karatasi class X)

karatasi class IX (canonical)
karatasi class X (plural)


gazeti

gazeti class V (plural magazeti class VI)

gazeti class V (canonical)
magazeti class VI (plural)


karne

karne class IX (canonical)
karne class X (plural)

karne ya 20


kande

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

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


adhuhuri

adhuhuri class IX (plural adhuhuri class X)

adhuhuri class IX (canonical)
adhuhuri class X (plural)


adili

adili class V (canonical)
maadili class VI (plural)

(commonly plural) ethics, morals, good conduct


dhakari

dhakari class IX (plural dhakari class X)

dhakari class IX (canonical)
dhakari class X (plural)


mzungu

mzungu class I (plural wazungu class II)

mzungu class I (canonical)
wazungu class II (plural)

der

*mʊ̀díʊ́ngʊ̀

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


nyoka

nyoka class IX (canonical)
nyoka class X (plural)


sifuri

sifuri class IX (canonical)
sifuri class X (plural)
sufuri (alternative)

Borrowed from Arabic صِفْر (ṣifr), itself a calque of Sanskrit शून्य (śūnya).


jambo

jambo class V (canonical)
mambo class VI (plural)
yambo (alternative)

From -amba (“to say”), ultimately from Proto-Bantu [Term?]. Compare with a similar derivation in Zulu into.


asubuhi

sw-noun

asubuhi class IX (plural asubuhi class X)

asubuhi class IX (canonical)
asubuhi class X (plural)

From Arabic الصُبْح (aṣ-ṣubḥ, “the morning”).


habari

habari class IX (canonical)
habari class X (plural)


mafuta

→ Lingala: mafúta


kweli

kweli class IX (canonical)
kweli class X (plural)


kazi

kazi class IX (canonical)
kazi class X (plural)


mfuko

mfuko class III (plural mifuko class IV)

mfuko class III (canonical)
mifuko class IV (plural)

From Proto-Bantu *puko. Cognate with Bemba mufuko, Kikuyu muhuko.

mfuko wa plastiki


ngozi

ngozi class IX (canonical)
ngozi class X (plural)


nyuki

nyuki class IX (canonical)
nyuki class X (plural)


kiboko

kiboko class VII (plural viboko class VIII)

kiboko class VII (canonical)
viboko class VIII (plural)

→ Kikuyu: kĩboko (“sjambok”)

whip, sjambok (whip typically made of hippopotamus hide)


kinembe

kinembe class VII (plural vinembe class VIII)

kinembe class VII (canonical)
vinembe class VIII (plural)


kuyu

kuyu class V (canonical)
makuyu class VI (plural)


ofisi

ofisi class IX (canonical)
ofisi class V (canonical)
ofisi class X (plural)
maofisi class VI (plural)
afisi (alternative)

office (room or building used for non-manual work)


aheri

aheri class IX (canonical)
aheri class X (plural)


shamba

shamba class V (plural mashamba class VI)

shamba class V (canonical)
mashamba class VI (plural)

garden, farm (any land that is cultivated), field, plantation


zama

zama class IX (canonical)
zama class X (plural)


zana

zana class IX (canonical)
zana class X (plural)


zana

zana class V (canonical)
mazana class VI (plural)


husiano

husiano class V (plural mahusiano class VI)

husiano class V (canonical)
mahusiano class VI (plural)


Mkenya

Mkenya class I (plural Wakenya class II)

Mkenya class I (canonical)
Wakenya class II (plural)


Mganda

Mganda class I (plural Waganda class II)

Mganda class I (canonical)
Waganda class II (plural)


wiski

wiski class IX (canonical)
wiski class X (plural)


jazo

jazo class V (canonical)
majazo class VI (plural)


dokta

dokta class IX (canonical)
dokta class X (plural)

Alternative form of daktari (“medical doctor”)


tisa

tisa class IX (canonical)
tisa class X (plural)