Kamusi ya Kiswahili

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

Browse by Letter
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
vuma²

vu-ma

English: To be talked about by many people; to be famous or infamous

Example (Swahili):

Jina lake lilivuma nchini nzima

Example (English):

His name was talked about throughout the country

vuma³

vu-ma

English: To move fast like the wind

Example (Swahili):

Gari lilivuma barabarani kwa kasi

Example (English):

The car sped along the road like the wind

vuma⁴

vu-ma

English: To lose badly in a card game

Example (Swahili):

Alivuma katika mchezo wa karata

Example (English):

He lost badly in the card game

vumalika

vu-ma-li-ka

English: To strive to get something not easily available

Example (Swahili):

Alivumalika kupata nafasi ya kazi hiyo

Example (English):

He struggled to get that job opportunity

vumatiti

vu-ma-ti-ti

English: A type of bird resembling a guinea fowl

Example (Swahili):

Walimwona vumatiti porini

Example (English):

They saw a vumatiti bird in the bush

vumba

vum-ba

English: The smell of caught fish

Example (Swahili):

Nyumba ya wavuvi ilijaa vumba

Example (English):

The fishermen's house was full of the smell of fish

vumbama

vum-ba-ma

English: A type of flat-bodied sea fish

Example (Swahili):

Wavuvi walishika samaki wa aina ya vumbama

Example (English):

The fishermen caught flat-bodied fish called vumbama

vumbaua

vum-baua

English: See mbilimbili (a simpleton)

Example (Swahili):

Waliendelea kumcheka kwa sababu alikuwa vumbaua

Example (English):

They kept laughing at him because he was a simpleton

vumbi

vum-bi

English: Light dust from sand or grinding; powder

Example (Swahili):

Njia yote ilikuwa imefunikwa na vumbi

Example (English):

The whole path was covered with dust

vumbika

vum-bi-ka

English: To store something to ripen; to bury fruits to ripen

Example (Swahili):

Walivumbika ndizi ili ziwe tayari baada ya siku tatu

Example (English):

They buried bananas to ripen in three days

vumbitupa

vum-bi-tu-pa

English: Metal dust from grinding metal objects

Example (Swahili):

Fundi alikusanya vumbitupa baada ya kusaga chuma

Example (English):

The artisan collected metal dust after grinding iron

vumbo

vum-bo

English: Lumps; small balls of flour found in porridge

Example (Swahili):

Uji ulikuwa na vumbo vingi

Example (English):

The porridge had many lumps

vumbua

vum-bua

English: 1. To invent; to start something for the first time. 2. To discover; to find something hidden

Example (Swahili):

Alivumbua mashine mpya ya kilimo

Example (English):

He invented a new farming machine

vumburuka

vum-bu-ru-ka

English: To jump out of a place very quickly; to startle and run

Example (Swahili):

Sungura alivumburuka kutoka kichakani

Example (English):

The rabbit jumped out of the thicket quickly

vumi

vu-mi

English: A large drum, smaller than the msondo

Example (Swahili):

Walipiga vumi kwenye sherehe ya kitamaduni

Example (English):

They beat the vumi drum at the traditional ceremony

vumilia

vu-mi-lia

English: To persevere through a difficult situation; to endure, to tolerate

Example (Swahili):

Aliamua kuvumilia matatizo yote kwa subira

Example (English):

He decided to endure all the hardships patiently

vumilika

vu-mi-li-ka

English: To be bearable; to be able to be endured

Example (Swahili):

Maumivu yalikuwa hayavumiliki

Example (English):

The pain was unbearable

vumisha

vu-mi-sha

English: To make a sound audible or to resonate

Example (Swahili):

Alivumisha sauti yake kupitia kipaza sauti

Example (English):

He amplified his voice through the microphone

vumo¹

vu-mo

English: The fruit of the mvumo tree

Example (Swahili):

Wakulima walikusanya vumo msituni

Example (English):

Farmers collected vumo fruits in the forest

vumo²

vu-mo

English: 1. A very loud sound. 2. A loud noise

Example (Swahili):

Vumo la radi liliwatisha watoto

Example (English):

The loud sound of thunder frightened the children

Quick Learning Tips
Practice Pronunciation

Pay attention to the pronunciation guides to improve your speaking skills.

Use Example Sentences

Study the example sentences to understand how words are used in context.