Kamusi ya Kiswahili

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

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Chapwa¹

cha-pwa

English: Inferior; tasteless

Example (Swahili):

Chakula kilikuwa chapwa bila chumvi.

Example (English):

The food was tasteless without salt.

Chapwa²

cha-pwa

English: Tea without sugar

Example (Swahili):

Baba alikunywa chai chapwa.

Example (English):

Father drank tea without sugar.

Chapwanisha

cha-pwanisha

English: Make tasteless; remove flavor

Example (Swahili):

Alchapwanisha supu kwa kuongeza maji mengi.

Example (English):

He made the soup tasteless by adding too much water.

Charanga¹

chara-nga

English: Cut into very small pieces

Example (Swahili):

Mama alicharanga nyama ndogo ndogo kwa pilau.

Example (English):

Mother cut the meat into very small pieces for pilau.

Charanga²

chara-nga

English: A drum played in a dance with singers; a South American dance

Example (Swahili):

Vijana walicheza ngoma ya charanga.

Example (English):

The youths danced to the charanga drum.

Charange

chara-nge

English: A traditional musical instrument (see: mpungate)

Example (Swahili):

Walipiga charange katika sherehe ya harusi.

Example (English):

They played the charange instrument at the wedding.

Charara

chara-ra

English: Run out of money; be broke

Example (Swahili):

Alijikuta amechara baada ya matumizi mabaya.

Example (English):

He found himself broke after poor spending.

Charaza¹

chara-za

English: Hit; beat with a stick; attack

Example (Swahili):

Mwalimu alimcharaza fimbo mwanafunzi.

Example (English):

The teacher beat the student with a stick.

Charaza²

chara-za

English: Type quickly; win; perform skillfully

Example (Swahili):

Alimcharaza kwa hoja mahakamani.

Example (English):

He defeated him with arguments in court.

Charaza³

chara-za

English: Leave quickly; rush out

Example (Swahili):

Walicharaza nje ya nyumba baada ya moto kuanza.

Example (English):

They rushed out of the house after the fire started.

Charazio

chara-zio

English: A typewriter

Example (Swahili):

Baba aliandika barua kwa charazio.

Example (English):

Father wrote a letter with a typewriter.

Chare

cha-re

English: A type of wasp or bee

Example (Swahili):

Shamba lilijaa chare waliochoma watu.

Example (English):

The farm was full of wasps that stung people.

Charigi

cha-rigi

English: A hawk with zebra-like white feathers and long tail

Example (Swahili):

Tuliona charigi akiruka angani.

Example (English):

We saw a hawk flying in the sky.

Charo

cha-ro

English: A caravan of people

Example (Swahili):

Charo ya wasafiri ilipita jangwani.

Example (English):

A caravan of travelers passed through the desert.

Charua

cha-rua

English: Annoy; irritate; anger

Example (Swahili):

Watoto walimcharua kwa kelele zao.

Example (English):

The children irritated him with their noise.

Charuka

cha-ruka

English: Be mischievous; disobedient; persistent

Example (Swahili):

Mbwa alicharuka na kuharibu bustani.

Example (English):

The dog became mischievous and destroyed the garden.

Charura

cha-rura

English: Speak badly; oppress; cause fear

Example (Swahili):

Alimcharura kwa maneno makali.

Example (English):

He spoke badly to him with harsh words.

Chasili

cha-sili

English: Original; primary (see chanzi)

Example (Swahili):

Hadithi hii ni chasili ya jamii yao.

Example (English):

This story is the original tradition of their community.

Chata¹

cha-ta

English: Make a buzzing sound like bees

Example (Swahili):

Nyuki walichata karibu na maua.

Example (English):

The bees buzzed near the flowers.

Chata²

cha-ta

English: Be happy; rejoice; boast

Example (Swahili):

Alichata baada ya kushinda zawadi.

Example (English):

He rejoiced after winning the prize.

Quick Learning Tips
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