Kamusi ya Kiswahili
Learn Swahili with our comprehensive dictionary featuring pronunciation guides and example sentences
/puˈjuka/
English: To fade from original color; to become pale
Shati limejuka baada ya kuoshwa mara nyingi.
The shirt has faded after many washes.
/pukaˈʧaka/
English: An exclamation showing contempt or disapproval
Pukachaka! Hiyo si kweli kabisa!
Nonsense! That's not true at all!
/ˈpuku/
English: A type of large rat
Puku alitoroka baada ya taa kuwashwa.
The large rat ran away when the light was turned on.
/ˈpuku/
English: See kipanya¹ (mouse)
Tazama neno kipanya¹ kwa maana zaidi.
See kipanya¹ for more details.
/pukuˈchua/
English: To remove grains from maize cob with fingers; to shell maize
Walikaa wakipukuchua mahindi jioni.
They sat shelling maize in the evening.
/pukuˈpuku/
English: 1. In large quantities. 2. Falling or occurring together in numbers
Majani yalianguka pukupuku chini.
Leaves fell in large numbers to the ground.
/pukuˈpuku/
English: Debris entering a place like water or the eye
Pukupuku liliingia machoni mwake.
A particle got into his eye.
/pukuˈrusha/
English: To disregard; to refuse to pay attention to; to scorn
Usipukurusha ushauri wa wazazi wako.
Don't disregard your parents' advice.
/pukuˈsa/
English: To shake a tree so fruits or flowers fall
Walipukusa mti wa maembe kuvuna matunda.
They shook the mango tree to harvest fruits.
/pukuˈsa/
English: A type of banana that becomes soft when ripe
Pukusa hukomaa na kuwa laini haraka.
The pukusa banana ripens and softens quickly.
/pukuˈsa/
English: To make holes in grains, as done by insects
Dudu wamepukusa mahindi ghalani.
Insects have made holes in the stored maize.
/pukuˈsa/
English: To reward or give a gift after a certain action
Alipukusa wafanyakazi kwa kazi nzuri.
He rewarded the workers for their good work.
/pukuˈsa/
English: 1. (Nautical) To unfurl a sail. 2. The act of a sail flapping for lack of wind
Nahodha alipukusa tanga kwa upepo mdogo.
The captain unfurled the sail in the gentle wind.
/pukuˈta/
English: To pluck feathers or leaves from an animal or plant
Walipukuta kuku kabla ya kupika.
They plucked the chicken before cooking.
/pukuˈte/
English: A type of cooked rice that is firm but non-sticky
Leo tumepika wali wa pukute.
Today we cooked firm, non-sticky rice.
/pukuˈtika/
English: To fall off (e.g., leaves, fruits, or feathers)
Majani yamepukutika msimu wa kiangazi.
The leaves have fallen off during the dry season.
/pukuˈtisha/
English: To cause something to fall off; to shake down
Alipukutisha matunda kutoka kwenye mti.
He shook down the fruits from the tree.
/ˈpukutu/
English: Very dry leaves
Walikusanya pukutu kwa ajili ya kuni.
They collected the dry leaves for firewood.
/pul/
English: Onomatopoeia for the sound of something falling heavily
Pul! Jiwe lilianguka chini.
Thud! The stone fell to the ground.
/ˈpula/
English: A foolish person; an idiot
Usifanye kama pula asiyejua kitu.
Don't act like a fool who knows nothing.
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