Kamusi ya Kiswahili
Learn Swahili with our comprehensive dictionary featuring pronunciation guides and example sentences
cham-bi
English: A dance move where partners touch bellies
Walicheza chambe kwa furaha kwenye sherehe.
They danced belly-to-belly joyfully at the celebration.
cham-bi
English: Face to face; chest to chest
Walikutana chambe chambe na kuzungumza.
They met chest to chest and talked.
chambi-lecho
English: As they say; a word introducing quoted speech
Chambilecho wahenga, subira huvuta heri.
As the elders say, patience brings blessings.
cham-bio
English: A small bath for washing private parts
Alitumia chambio kabla ya kulala.
She used a small bath before sleeping.
chambi-sha
English: Punish, torment; give someone trouble
Walimchambisha kwa adhabu kali.
They tormented him with severe punishment.
chambi-za
English: Wash or clean a corpse before burial; rinse quickly
Walimchambiza marehemu kabla ya mazishi.
They washed the corpse before burial.
cham-bo
English: Bait used in traps or fishing hooks
Wavuvi walitumia dagaa kama chambo.
The fishermen used sardines as bait.
chambo-chambo
English: Edge or border
Alikaa chambochambo ya barabara.
He sat on the edge of the road.
cham-bua
English: Separate good from bad; sort things
Alikuwa akichambua mpunga.
She was sorting the rice.
cham-bua
English: Analyze; explain details of a text
Mwalimu alichambua shairi darasani.
The teacher analyzed the poem in class.
cham-bua
English: Publicly point out faults; insult
Alimchambua hadharani mbele ya watu.
He publicly insulted him in front of people.
chambu-ana
English: Criticize each other; exchange faults
Wanasiasa walichambuana jukwaani.
The politicians criticized each other on stage.
cham-buki
English: See sumaku (magnet)
Chambuki huvutia vyuma.
A magnet attracts metals.
cham-buro
English: Tool like tweezers or dentist's tool
Daktari alitumia chamburo kutoa jino.
The doctor used tweezers to extract a tooth.
cham-buza
English: Pull a line suddenly when a fish bites
Mvuvi alimchambuza samaki kutoka majini.
The fisherman jerked the fish from the water.
cham-bwa
English: A container for storing cleaning water
Walijaza chambwa maji ya kuoshea.
They filled the container with washing water.
cham-buga
English: Stir with feet/hands; walk carelessly in mud
Watoto walikuwa wakichambwaga matope.
The children were playing in the mud.
cham-cha
English: See chamchana (lunch)
Tulikutana kwa chamcha ofisini.
We met for lunch at the office.
cham-chana
English: Lunch; midday meal
Alileta wali na kuku kwa chamchana.
She brought rice and chicken for lunch.
cham-changa
English: A small bird with brown back and yellow legs
Chamchanga hupatikana karibu na mashamba.
The small bird is found near farms.
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