Kamusi ya Kiswahili
Learn Swahili with our comprehensive dictionary featuring pronunciation guides and example sentences
bab-ku-bwa
English: See babukubwa (excellent, superior)
Hii kazi ni ya babkubwa.
This work is excellent.
ba-bu mdu-ma
English: A frightening old man; one who scares children
Wazazi walitumia hadithi za babu mduma kuwatisha watoto.
Parents used the tale of the frightening old man to scare children.
ba-bu-jin-ga
English: A person pretending to be foolish
Yule ni babu-jinga, anaelewa lakini anajifanya.
That man pretends to be foolish, though he understands.
ba-bu
English: Male parent of one's father or mother; grandfather
Babu yangu anapenda kusimulia hadithi.
My grandfather loves to tell stories.
ba-bu
English: A term women use to address each other
Wanawake waliitana babu wakati wa sherehe.
The women called each other "babu" during the celebration.
ba-bu
English: A chapter; a section of a book
Nilimaliza kusoma babu ya pili ya kitabu hiki.
I finished reading the second chapter of this book.
ba-bu
English: A wide cloth; a measure of cloth
Alinunua babu mbili sokoni.
She bought two measures of cloth at the market.
ba-bu
English: An elder man adviser in a women's group
Babu wa kikundi alitoa ushauri kwa wanawake.
The elder adviser gave counsel to the women's group.
ba-bu
English: See degedege (epileptic convulsions)
Mtoto alipata babu ghafla.
The child suddenly had a convulsion.
ba-bu
English: A type of Islamic religious book
Alisoma Babu msikitini.
He read the Babu in the mosque.
ba-bu-a
English: To scald with hot water and remove skin
Waliamua kumbabua kuku kabla ya kupika.
They decided to scald the chicken before cooking.
ba-bu-a
English: To slap; to hit with the palm
Alimbabua rafiki yake kwa utani.
He slapped his friend playfully.
ba-bu-ka
English: To peel off; to get chafed skin
Miguu yake ilibabuka baada ya kutembea sana.
His feet got chafed after walking a lot.
ba-bu-ku-bwa
English: Of very high quality; excellent
Chakula hiki ni cha babukubwa.
This food is excellent.
ba-bun-do-go
English: Of a small scale
Biashara yake bado ni babundogo.
His business is still small.
ba-bu-zi
English: Having the ability to peel skin
Dawa hii ni babuzi kwa ngozi.
This medicine is harsh on the skin.
ba-cha
English: A wall niche; a small recess to store things
Kitabu kiliwekwa kwenye bacha ukutani.
The book was placed in a wall niche.
ba-da
English: Stiff porridge made from cassava
Wakulima walikula bada baada ya kazi ngumu.
The farmers ate cassava porridge after hard work.
ba-da-la
English: Instead of; in place of
Alinunua chai badala ya kahawa.
He bought tea instead of coffee.
ba-da-li
English: Something used in place of another
Gari hili ni badali ya lile lililoharibika.
This car is a replacement for the one that broke down.
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