Kamusi ya Kiswahili
Learn Swahili with our comprehensive dictionary featuring pronunciation guides and example sentences
ki-nu-pe-po
English: A windmill; a mill powered by wind
Kinupepo kilitumiwa kusaga nafaka kijijini.
The windmill was used to grind grain in the village.
ki-nya-a
English: A feeling of disgust or nausea after seeing something unpleasant
Alipata kinyaa baada ya kuona chakula kilichooza.
He felt disgust after seeing the rotten food.
ki-nya-fun-go
English: A type of foul-smelling waste; garbage with a bad odor
Kinyafungo kiliwekwa mbali na nyumba.
The foul-smelling garbage was placed far from the house.
ki-nya-go
English: A thing worn on the face to hide it, often funny or scary; also something compared in shape to another thing, like carvings
Mtoto alivaa kinyago¹ cha simba shuleni.
The child wore a lion mask at school.
ki-nya-go
English: An old or adult person who behaves in ways unbecoming of their status; someone despised or laughed at
Walisema yeye ni kinyago² kwa vitendo vyake.
They said he is a laughingstock because of his actions.
ki-nya-go
English: Things made for initiation ceremonies, such as drums, songs, riddles
Vijana walitumia kinyago³ katika sherehe za jando.
The youths used ritual items in the initiation ceremonies.
ki-nya-go
English: A special song performed during initiation ceremonies
Waliimba kinyago⁴ usiku wa sherehe.
They sang the ritual song during the night of the ceremony.
ki-nya-go
English: Secrets or trials that girls undergo during initiation
Wasichana walifunzwa kinyago⁵ cha utamaduni.
The girls were taught the cultural secrets of initiation.
ki-nya-ka-zi
English: A pimple or wart-like thing on the gums
Alionekana na kinyakazi kwenye fizi yake.
He was seen with a wart on his gum.
ki-nya-kuo
English: A fingernail-like tool worn when playing guitar or stringed instruments
Alitumia kinyakuo kupiga gitaa.
He used a pick to play the guitar.
ki-nya-man-da
English: A type of basket or container
Mama aliweka matunda kwenye kinyamanda.
Mother placed fruits in the basket.
ki-nya-mbuo
English: An affix attached to a word root to add meaning
Neno hili lina kinyambuo kinachoonyesha wakati uliopita.
This word has an affix showing past tense.
ki-nyam-kea
English: A spirit believed to live in large trees like baobabs, causing storms
Wazee walionya juu ya kinyamkea kinachoishi kwenye mti mkubwa.
The elders warned about the spirit believed to live in the big tree.
ki-nya-mo-to
English: See asbestos (asbesto)
Nyumba ya zamani ilijengwa kwa kinyamoto.
The old house was built with asbestos.
ki-nyan-du
English: A very young child; infancy
Mtoto huyo bado ni kinyandu.
That child is still an infant.
ki-nyan-ga-nyi-ro
English: A contest or struggle, often without clear rules
Kulikuwa na kinyang'anyiro kikubwa cha ubunge.
There was a big contest for the parliamentary seat.
ki-nyan-gu-nya
English: A worn-out or tattered mat
Walikalia kinyang'unya kilichochakaa.
They sat on the worn-out mat.
ki-nyan-ga-le-le
English: The peak of a mountain; the top of a tree
Walifika kinyangalele cha Mlima Kenya.
They reached the peak of Mount Kenya.
ki-nyan-ga-ra
English: A lump; something shapeless
Alikuta kinyangara cha udongo shambani.
He found a lump of clay on the farm.
ki-nyan-ga-ri-ka
English: A despised or valueless thing; trash
Alitupa kinyangarika¹ barabarani.
He threw the worthless thing on the road.
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