Kamusi ya Kiswahili
Learn Swahili with our comprehensive dictionary featuring pronunciation guides and example sentences
/hoˈdari/
English: A clever/skilled person; a brave person
Yeye ni hodari² wa kuandika programu.
He is a whiz at writing software.
/ˈhodha/
English: Protective hard helmet (e.g., for motorcyclists)
Va a hodha unapopanda pikipiki.
Wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle.
/hodhaˈmadʒi/
English: Diving helmet
Wapiga mbizi walitumia hodhamaji baharini.
The divers used a diving helmet at sea.
/ˈhoði/
English: To stockpile; hoard; possess in quantity
Usihodhi¹ bidhaa wakati wa uhaba.
Don't hoard goods during a shortage.
/ˈhoði/
English: Property; land held/owned
Alirithi hodhi² kubwa ya mashamba.
He inherited a large holding of farms.
/ˈhoði/
English: Reservoir; cistern; excavated water tank
Kijiji kilijenga hodhi³ ya kuhifadhia maji ya mvua.
The village built a cistern to store rainwater.
/ˈhodi/
English: Exclamation seeking permission to enter ("knock-knock")
"Hodi¹!" alipo fika mlangoni.
"Knock-knock!" he said when he reached the door.
/ˈhodi/
English: The act/state of asking to enter
Alibisha hodi² kabla ya kuingia ofisini.
He asked permission to enter before coming into the office.
/hoˈdiʃa/
English: To request permission to enter; to ask "hodi"
Tafadhali hodisha kabla ya kufungua mlango.
Please ask to enter before opening the door.
/hoˈdija/
English: Work song sung during labor
Wafanyakazi waliimba hodiya wakivuna.
The workers sang a work song while harvesting.
/hoˈfiʃa/
English: To frighten; to make someone fearful
Habari za uzushi ziliw hofisha wakazi.
The fake news frightened the residents.
/hoˈfiwa/
English: To be feared; to be thought to have happened (feared to be so)
Inahofiwa barabara itafungwa kwa mafuriko.
It is feared the road will be closed due to floods.
/ˈhofu/
English: To fear; to be afraid (verb)
Usi hofu¹ kushindwa—jaribu tena.
Don't fear failing—try again.
/ˈhofu/
English: Fear; anxiety; dread (noun)
Alijawa na hofu² kabla ya mtihani.
She was filled with fear before the exam.
/ˈhogo/
English: Trunk/stem of a palm-like plant (e.g., coconut)
Walikata hogo wa mnazi kwa ujenzi.
They cut the coconut trunk for building.
/hoheˈhabe/
English: A very poor person; pauper
Hohehabe¹ yule alipata msaada wa chakula.
That pauper received food aid.
/hoheˈhabe/
English: Extremely destitute; poverty-stricken
Familia ilikuwa hohehabe² baada ya mafuriko.
The family was destitute after the floods.
/ˈhoho/
English: Very hot small chili pepper
Usiongeze hoho nyingi kwenye mchuzi.
Don't add too many hot chilies to the sauce.
/hoˈhosa/
English: To talk in one's sleep; to mumble while asleep
Mtoto alihohosa usiku kucha.
The child mumbled in his sleep all night.
/ˈhoi/
English: Exhausted; utterly worn out
Baada ya kukimbia nika kuwa hoi¹.
After running I was completely exhausted.
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