Kamusi ya Kiswahili

Learn Swahili with our comprehensive dictionary featuring pronunciation guides and example sentences

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Botania

bo-ta-ni-a

English: Botany; study of plants

Example (Swahili):

Anasomea botania katika chuo kikuu.

Example (English):

She is studying botany at the university.

Botea¹

bo-te-a

English: Stalks of maize left after harvesting

Example (Swahili):

Ng'ombe walila botea shambani.

Example (English):

The cows ate the maize stalks in the field.

Botea²

bo-te-a

English: Seedlings sprouting from leftovers

Example (Swahili):

Botea la mahindi liliota baada ya mvua.

Example (English):

New maize shoots sprouted after the rain.

Botea³

bo-te-a

English: A part of a tree that sprouts a second branch

Example (Swahili):

Mti huu una botea kubwa upande wa kulia.

Example (English):

This tree has a large sprouting branch on the right.

Boti

bo-ti

English: A boat

Example (Swahili):

Walipanda boti kuvuka mto.

Example (English):

They boarded a boat to cross the river.

Botoka

bo-to-ka

English: To blurt out; to speak nonsense

Example (Swahili):

Alibotoka maneno bila kufikiria.

Example (English):

He blurted out words without thinking.

Bowelamvuvi

bo-we-lam-vu-vi

English: A yellowish fish with spots

Example (Swahili):

Wavuvi walipata bowelamvuvi sokoni.

Example (English):

Fishermen caught a yellow-spotted fish.

Boya

bo-ya

English: A floating device or marker in water

Example (Swahili):

Samaki walinaswa karibu na boya.

Example (English):

The fish were caught near the buoy.

Boyaokozi

bo-ya-o-ko-zi

English: A lifebuoy; life-saving float

Example (Swahili):

Alitumia boyaokozi kujiepusha kuzama.

Example (English):

He used a lifebuoy to avoid drowning.

Boza

bo-za

English: A type of truck for carrying water

Example (Swahili):

Boza lilileta maji kijijini.

Example (English):

A water truck brought water to the village.

Bozi¹

bo-zi

English: Foolish person

Example (Swahili):

Usifanye kama bozi.

Example (English):

Don't act like a fool.

Bozi²

bo-zi

English: Weak; feeble

Example (Swahili):

Alikuwa bozi baada ya ugonjwa mrefu.

Example (English):

He was weak after a long illness.

Bozibozi

bo-zi-bo-zi

English: Foolish; silly (reduplication of bozi)

Example (Swahili):

Kitendo kile kilikuwa cha bozibozi.

Example (English):

That act was very foolish.

Bradha

brad-ha

English: Male monk; brother

Example (Swahili):

Bradha aliishi katika monasteri.

Example (English):

The brother lived in a monastery.

Braketi

bra-ke-ti

English: Brackets (punctuation marks)

Example (Swahili):

Andika namba hizi ndani ya braketi.

Example (English):

Write these numbers inside brackets.

Branchi

bran-chi

English: Gills of a fish

Example (Swahili):

Samaki anapumua kupitia branchi.

Example (English):

A fish breathes through its gills.

Brandi

bran-di

English: Strong alcoholic drink; brandy

Example (Swahili):

Wazee walikunywa brandi kidogo.

Example (English):

The elders drank a little brandy.

Brashi

bra-shi

English: Brush (used for painting or cleaning)

Example (Swahili):

Alitumia brashi kupaka rangi.

Example (English):

He used a brush to paint.

Brasi

bra-si

English: Brass (metal)

Example (Swahili):

Mlango umetengenezwa kwa brasi.

Example (English):

The door is made of brass.

Breki¹

bre-ki

English: Brakes of a vehicle

Example (Swahili):

Breki za gari zilikataa kufanya kazi.

Example (English):

The car's brakes failed.

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