Kamusi ya Kiswahili
Learn Swahili with our comprehensive dictionary featuring pronunciation guides and example sentences
/thu'butu/
English: 1. A word used to challenge someone. 2. Courage; daring.
Thubutu ujaribu kunigusa!
I dare you to try and touch me!
/'ti/
English: Intensely black; jet black.
Mbingu zilikuwa ti baada ya dhoruba.
The sky was pitch black after the storm.
/ti'a/
English: 1. To put into; to insert. 2. To cause something to be in a certain state. 3. Used in idioms: ~ adabu (punish), ~ bei (set price), etc.
Tia chumvi kwenye chakula.
Add salt to the food.
/ti'a/
English: 1. To enable something to be in a specific state. 2. (Of crops) to yield well.
Shamba limetia mazao mengi mwaka huu.
The farm has yielded a good harvest this year.
/'ti/
English: A type of drumming or competitive singing performance with poetic verses and rattles.
Waliandaa mashindano ya ti kijijini.
They organized a traditional drumming competition in the village.
/'tiabu/
English: A game where people throw sticks and observe how they fall.
Wavulana walicheza tiabu jioni.
The boys played the stick-throwing game in the evening.
/ti'ara/
English: Paper shaped like a bird, tied with string and flown in the air; kite.
Watoto walirusha tiara angani.
The children flew kites in the sky.
/ti'ara/
English: See taji (crown).
Tiara yake iling'aa chini ya mwanga wa jua.
Her crown glittered under the sunlight.
/ti'ati/
English: Down, on the floor; idiom: nunua tiati – to be in great distress.
Alijikuta tiati baada ya kufilisika.
He found himself on the floor after going bankrupt.
/'tibu/
English: To treat with medicine to cure a disease; to heal.
Daktari alimtibu vizuri hadi akapona.
The doctor treated him well until he recovered.
/'tiba/
English: Anything used to cure a disease; medicine or treatment.
Tiba ya ugonjwa huu bado inatafutwa.
A cure for this disease is still being sought.
/'tiba/
English: The field or profession of medicine.
Anasomea tiba katika chuo kikuu.
He is studying medicine at the university.
/tiba kemikali/
English: Treatment using chemicals to fight cancer; chemotherapy.
Mgonjwa alianza tibakemikali jana.
The patient began chemotherapy yesterday.
/tiba nafsi/
English: The field dealing with diagnosing or treating mental problems; psychology/psychiatry.
Daktari wa tibanafsi alizungumza naye kwa upole.
The psychiatrist spoke to him gently.
/tiba vitobo/
English: Treatment involving pricking the body with needles; acupuncture.
Alijaribu tibavitobo ili kupunguza maumivu.
He tried acupuncture to relieve pain.
/tibi'rukwa/
English: To feel nauseous (by the heart or stomach).
Alitibirukwa baada ya kula chakula kibaya.
He felt nauseous after eating bad food.
/tibu'a/
English: 1. To stir up still water. 2. To ruin plans; to confuse or disturb the mind.
Usitibue mipango yetu tuliyopanga.
Don't mess up the plans we made.
/'tibu/
English: A type of fragrant powder from trees and flowers used on the body; perfume.
Alipaka tibu yenye harufu nzuri.
She applied sweet-smelling perfume.
/ti'buga/
English: To dig up.
Wakulima walitibuga shamba kwa jembe.
The farmers dug up the field with hoes.
/ti'buka/
English: To become angry; to be provoked.
Alitibuka baada ya kudharauliwa.
He became angry after being insulted.
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