Kamusi ya Kiswahili

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

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Bungurusha

bun-gu-ru-sha

English: To lift and turn things over in search of something

Example (Swahili):

Walibungurusha nyumba kutafuta pesa.

Example (English):

They turned the house upside down looking for money.

Bunguu

bun-guu

English: A clay pot for storing milk or preparing food

Example (Swahili):

Walihifadhi maziwa kwenye bunguu.

Example (English):

They stored milk in a clay pot.

Buni¹

bu-ni

English: Coffee beans

Example (Swahili):

Walivuna buni shambani.

Example (English):

They harvested coffee beans on the farm.

Buni²

bu-ni

English: To compose mentally; to invent; to lie

Example (Swahili):

Alibuni hadithi mpya.

Example (English):

He invented a new story.

Bunilizi

bu-ni-li-zi

English: A creative work of imagination; fiction

Example (Swahili):

Bunilizi yake inasomwa sana mashuleni.

Example (English):

His fictional work is widely read in schools.

Bunju¹

bun-ju

English: A type of poisonous fish

Example (Swahili):

Wavuvi walikamata bunju baharini.

Example (English):

The fishermen caught a poisonous bunju in the sea.

Bunju²

bun-ju

English: A type of sea bird

Example (Swahili):

Bunju alipaa juu ya bahari.

Example (English):

The bunju bird flew over the sea.

Bunjumiba

bun-ju-mi-ba

English: A type of bunju fish with spines

Example (Swahili):

Samaki wa bunjumiba walikamatwa na wavuvi.

Example (English):

The spiny bunjumiba fish were caught by fishermen.

Buno

bu-no

English: Waist with large hips

Example (Swahili):

Mwanamitindo alisifiwa kwa buno lake.

Example (English):

The model was praised for her curvy waist.

Bunta¹

bun-ta

English: Place for building or repairing ships

Example (Swahili):

Jahazi jipya lilijengwa kwenye bunta.

Example (English):

The new dhow was built at the shipyard.

Bunta²

bun-ta

English: Pier for unloading passengers at the shore

Example (Swahili):

Walisimama kwenye bunta kushuka kutoka melini.

Example (English):

They stood at the pier to disembark from the ship.

Bunuwasi

bu-nu-wa-si

English: Trickster character (Abunuwasi)

Example (Swahili):

Hadithi za bunuwasi hupendwa na watoto.

Example (English):

Children enjoy the tales of the trickster Abunuwasi.

Bunzi¹

bun-zi

English: An insect resembling a locust

Example (Swahili):

Shamba lilishambuliwa na bunzi.

Example (English):

The field was attacked by locust-like insects.

Bunzi²

bun-zi

English: A piece of maize cob stripped of grains

Example (Swahili):

Alitupa bunzi jikoni.

Example (English):

He threw the stripped maize cob in the kitchen.

Bunzi³

bun-zi

English: A type of large snake

Example (Swahili):

Waliona bunzi msituni.

Example (English):

They saw a large snake in the forest.

Bunzu

bun-zu

English: See pofu (wild animal)

Example (Swahili):

Wawindaji waliona bunzu porini.

Example (English):

The hunters saw a wild animal in the forest.

Bupu

bu-pu

English: Empty coconut shell; hollow thing

Example (Swahili):

Walitumia bupu kama kikombe.

Example (English):

They used an empty coconut shell as a cup.

Bupuru

bu-pu-ru

English: Empty thing with nothing inside

Example (Swahili):

Kifuko kilikuwa bupuru.

Example (English):

The bag was empty.

Bura¹

bu-ra

English: Heavy woollen cloth

Example (Swahili):

Alivaa bura wakati wa baridi.

Example (English):

He wore heavy cloth during the cold.

Bura²

bu-ra

English: A type of heavy kikoi

Example (Swahili):

Wavulana walivaa bura shereheni.

Example (English):

The boys wore heavy kikoi at the ceremony.

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