Kamusi ya Kiswahili
Learn Swahili with our comprehensive dictionary featuring pronunciation guides and example sentences
/ˈhombo/
English: Secret; confidential matter
Usifichue hombo³ za kampuni mtandaoni.
Do not reveal the company's secrets online.
/ˈhombo/
English: Leafy vegetable sauce of pounded greens
Leo tutapika hombo⁴ kwa ugali.
Today we'll cook a pounded-greens sauce with ugali.
/ˈhombwe/
English: An edible snail species
Watu wa pwani hula hombwe kama kitoweo.
Coastal communities eat that snail as a delicacy.
/homoˈɡrafu/
English: Homograph (same spelling, different meaning)
"Banda" ni homografu lenye maana zaidi ya moja.
"Banda" is a homograph with more than one meaning.
/hoˈmoni/
English: Hormone—biochemical body regulator
Mabadiliko ya homoni yanaweza kuathiri hisia.
Hormonal changes can affect mood.
/homoˈnimu/
English: Homonym (same form, different meanings)
"Kawa" na "kawa" ni homonimu kulingana na muktadha.
"Kawa" can be homonyms depending on context.
/hoˈmowa/
English: To relish soft, well-cooked food; to cook until very soft
Al i homowa uji hadi ukawa laini mno.
She cooked the porridge until it was very soft.
/hondoˈhondo/
English: A bird with a long beak that calls "ho ho ho"
Tulimsikia hondohondo porini asubuhi.
We heard the hondohondo bird in the bush this morning.
/ˈhoŋɡa/
English: To bribe; to offer a payoff; to tip illicitly
Usijaribu ku honga¹ afisa wa trafiki.
Don't try to bribe a traffic officer.
/ˈhoŋɡa/
English: A white-shelled sea mollusk (type of cowry)
Walikusanya honga² ufukweni kama mapambo.
They collected cowries on the beach as ornaments.
/hoˈŋɡera/
English: Exclamation of congratulations
Hongera¹ kwa kupandishwa cheo!
Congratulations on the promotion!
/hoˈŋɡera/
English: To congratulate; to wish well
Walim hongera² baada ya mashindano.
They congratulated him after the competition.
/hoˈŋɡera/
English: First marital intercourse of bride and groom
Wazee walizungumza desturi kuhusu hongera³.
Elders discussed the custom regarding the couple's first night.
/hoˈŋɡera/
English: First urination after circumcision (boys)
Baada ya tohara, kijana alipitia hongera⁴.
After circumcision, the boy had his first post-surgery urination.
/hoˈŋɡeza/
English: To congratulate; to offer a congratulatory gift/words
Tu m hongeze kwa kufaulu mtihani.
Let's congratulate her for passing the exam.
/ˈhoŋɡo/
English: Bribe; inducement; also gift to entice a woman
Hongo¹ ni kosa la jinai katika sheria.
Bribery is a criminal offense under the law.
/ˈhoŋɡo/
English: A white-shelled sea mollusk (cowry)
Watoto walikusanya hongo² ufukweni kama mapambo.
The children collected cowries on the beach as ornaments.
/ˈhoŋɡwe/
English: A catfish-like sea fish (kambare family)
Leo tumenunua hongwe sokoni kwa kitoweo.
Today we bought hongwe at the market for stew.
/ˈhoni/
English: Horn/hooter sound of a vehicle; to honk
Usipige honi karibu na hospitali.
Don't honk near the hospital.
/honoˈraria/
English: Honorarium; token payment of appreciation
Mzungumzaji alipokea honoraria baada ya hotuba.
The speaker received an honorarium after the talk.
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