Kamusi ya Kiswahili

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

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vunganya²

vun-gan-ya

English: A type of large, hanging fruit

Example (Swahili):

Wakulima walipanda miti ya vunganya

Example (English):

Farmers planted trees that bear large hanging fruits

vungavunga¹

vun-ga-vun-ga

English: To work without care; to do work hastily and poorly

Example (Swahili):

Alifanya kazi kwa vungavunga

Example (English):

He did the work hastily and without care

vungavunga²

vun-ga-vun-ga

English: 1. To break something into small pieces. 2. To make something bend

Example (Swahili):

Walivunja kuni kwa vungavunga

Example (English):

They broke the firewood into small pieces

vungavunga³

vun-ga-vun-ga

English: To give unbelievable explanations, usually because you are lying or anxious

Example (Swahili):

Alitoa maelezo ya vungavunga kuhusu kuchelewa kwake

Example (English):

He gave unbelievable excuses about his lateness

vunge¹

vun-ge

English: A collection of things; a heap

Example (Swahili):

Vunge la nguo lilikuwa chumbani

Example (English):

A heap of clothes was in the room

vunge²

vun-ge

English: A person who is not careful in their affairs

Example (Swahili):

Yeye ni vunge kwa mambo ya kazi

Example (English):

He is careless in work matters

vungevunge

vun-ge-vun-ge

English: The state of a place being covered up, with no light or space

Example (Swahili):

Nyumba ilikuwa vungevunge kwa sababu ya moshi

Example (English):

The house was dark and filled with smoke

vungiliza

vun-gi-li-za

English: To drape clothes on the body carelessly

Example (Swahili):

Alivungiliza shuka mabegani

Example (English):

He draped a sheet carelessly over his shoulders

vungivu

vun-gi-vu

English: Unclear; dim, gloomy

Example (Swahili):

Mwanga wa taa ulikuwa vungivu

Example (English):

The lamp's light was dim

vungunya¹

vun-gun-ya

English: The act of a fire burning internally without visible flames

Example (Swahili):

Mkaa uliendelea kuvungunya usiku kucha

Example (English):

The charcoal kept burning inside all night

vungunya²

vun-gun-ya

English: A type of long fruit often used for making beer

Example (Swahili):

Walikusanya vungunya kutengeneza pombe

Example (English):

They collected vungunya fruits to brew beer

vungwi

vun-gwi

English: A type of fish with a wide mouth and white and black spots

Example (Swahili):

Samaki wa vungwi walipatikana baharini

Example (English):

The vungwi fish were found in the sea

vunja¹

vun-ja

English: To break a hard thing into pieces; to smash, to violate

Example (Swahili):

Alivunja glasi mezani

Example (English):

He broke the glass on the table

vunja²

vun-ja

English: To go against existing rules or laws; to violate

Example (Swahili):

Alivunja sheria za barabarani

Example (English):

He violated traffic laws

vunja³

vun-ja

English: To change money of high value to get smaller denominations

Example (Swahili):

Alivunja noti ya elfu moja kuwa sarafu ndogo

Example (English):

He broke a thousand-shilling note into smaller coins

vunjajungu

vun-ja-jun-gu

English: See kivunjajungu (a reveler before a fast)

Example (Swahili):

Walifanya sherehe ya vunjajungu kabla ya Ramadhani

Example (English):

They held a vunjajungu feast before Ramadan

vunjanga

vun-jan-ga

English: To cause something to spoil or go wrong unknowingly

Example (Swahili):

Alivunjanga chakula bila kujua

Example (English):

He unknowingly spoiled the food

vunjavunja

vun-ja-vun-ja

English: To destroy completely; to break into tiny pieces

Example (Swahili):

Walivunjavunja nyumba ya zamani

Example (English):

They demolished the old house completely

vunjika

vun-ji-ka

English: 1. To be broken into many pieces. 2. To adjourn (for a meeting)

Example (Swahili):

Kioo kilivunjika kwa ajali

Example (English):

The mirror was shattered in an accident

vunjisha

vun-ji-sha

English: To cash a check or money order

Example (Swahili):

Alienda benki kuvunjisha hundi

Example (English):

He went to the bank to cash a cheque

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