Kamusi ya Kiswahili

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

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All A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Buyu¹

bu-yu

English: The fruit of the baobab tree

Example (Swahili):

Watoto walikula mbegu za buyu.

Example (English):

The children ate baobab seeds.

Buyu²

bu-yu

English: A gourd used for drinking water

Example (Swahili):

Walitumia buyu kunywea maji safi.

Example (English):

They used a gourd to drink clean water.

Buyunge

bu-yun-ge

English: A meal made from sorghum

Example (Swahili):

Wakulima walikula buyunge baada ya kazi.

Example (English):

The farmers ate a sorghum meal after work.

Buza¹

bu-za

English: To drink alcohol

Example (Swahili):

Alibuza pombe kupita kiasi.

Example (English):

He drank alcohol excessively.

Buza²

bu-za

English: Alcoholic drink

Example (Swahili):

Aliuza buza kijijini.

Example (English):

He sold alcohol in the village.

Buzaa

bu-zaa

English: A type of beer brewed from maize flour

Example (Swahili):

Waliandaa buzaa kwa sherehe ya kitamaduni.

Example (English):

They prepared maize beer for the traditional ceremony.

Bwa

bwa

English: Abbreviation of "bwana"

Example (Swahili):

Bwa Juma alifika ofisini mapema.

Example (English):

Mr. Juma arrived at the office early.

Bwabwa

bwa-bwa

English: Poorly cooked food

Example (Swahili):

Wali huo ni bwabwa, haukuiva vizuri.

Example (English):

That rice is poorly cooked, it's underdone.

Bwabwaja

bwa-bwa-ja

English: To talk nonsense; to babble

Example (Swahili):

Alianza kubwabwaja akiwa amekasirika.

Example (English):

He started babbling while angry.

Bwabwaja²

bwa-bwa-ja

English: To urinate in bed (with excess urine)

Example (Swahili):

Mtoto alibwabwaja usiku kitandani.

Example (English):

The child wet the bed at night.

Bwache

bwa-che

English: A type of vegetable

Example (Swahili):

Mama alipika bwache kwa chakula cha mchana.

Example (English):

Mother cooked the vegetable for lunch.

Bwachi

bwa-chi

English: A seashore area that dries up; moist shoreline

Example (Swahili):

Wavuvi walipumzika kwenye bwachi.

Example (English):

The fishermen rested on the moist shoreline.

Bwaga¹

bwa-ga

English: To throw down; to defeat

Example (Swahili):

Mchezaji alimbwaga mpinzani wake ulingoni.

Example (English):

The player defeated his opponent in the ring.

Bwaga²

bwa-ga

English: To fall in price

Example (Swahili):

Bei ya mahindi imebwagwa sokoni.

Example (English):

The price of maize has fallen in the market.

Bwaga³

bwa-ga

English: A soft porridge made from cereals

Example (Swahili):

Alikula bwaga ya mtama.

Example (English):

He ate sorghum porridge.

Bwagala

bwa-ga-la

English: To give birth to many offspring (like pigs)

Example (Swahili):

Nguruwe alibwagala watoto saba.

Example (English):

The pig gave birth to seven piglets.

Bwagaza

bwa-ga-za

English: To throw oneself somewhere; to sit on the ground

Example (Swahili):

Alibwagaza chini kwa uchovu.

Example (English):

He threw himself on the ground in exhaustion.

Bwagika¹

bwa-gi-ka

English: To lose hope; to be heartbroken

Example (Swahili):

Alibwagika moyo baada ya kushindwa.

Example (English):

He was heartbroken after losing.

Bwagika²

bwa-gi-ka

English: To remain idle; sit doing nothing

Example (Swahili):

Vijana walibwagika vijiweni.

Example (English):

The youths sat idly at the street corners.

Bwagila

bwa-gi-la

English: To cover with something; to heap praise

Example (Swahili):

Walimbwagila zawadi nyingi.

Example (English):

They showered him with many gifts.

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