Kamusi ya Kiswahili

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

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dira⁴

di-ra

English: A kind of cave bird

Example (Swahili):

Dira walikaa mapangoni

Example (English):

The cave birds stayed in caves

dirabu

di-ra-bu

English: To rotate back and forth

Example (Swahili):

Walidirabu chombo ili kisivunjike

Example (English):

They rotated the vessel back and forth to avoid breaking it

diradira

di-ra-di-ra

English: To use ambiguous language

Example (Swahili):

Alizungumza kwa maneno ya diradira

Example (English):

He spoke with ambiguous words

dirari

di-ra-ri

English: Full of milk; abundant in rain

Example (Swahili):

Ng'ombe alikuwa dirari baada ya kuzaa

Example (English):

The cow was full of milk after calving

direki

di-re-ki

English: See henza (mast)

Example (Swahili):

Waliinua direki la mashua

Example (English):

They raised the mast of the dhow

dirhamu

dir-ha-mu

English: Currency; coin

Example (Swahili):

Alilipwa kwa dirhamu tano

Example (English):

He was paid five dirhams

diri

di-ri

English: See deraya (armor)

Example (Swahili):

Askari walivaa diri vitani

Example (English):

The soldiers wore armor in battle

diriji¹

di-ri-ji

English: 1. To lead music. 2. To arrange well

Example (Swahili):

Alidiriji kwaya kwa ustadi

Example (English):

He conducted the choir skillfully

diriji²

di-ri-ji

English: To climb up; ascend

Example (Swahili):

Walidiriji mlima Kilimanjaro

Example (English):

They climbed Mount Kilimanjaro

diriji³

di-ri-ji

English: To participate in a music competition

Example (Swahili):

Vikundi viwili viliamua kudiriji

Example (English):

The two groups decided to compete in music

diriji⁴

di-ri-ji

English: 1. A type of drum. 2. A poetry contest

Example (Swahili):

Walipiga diriji usiku kucha

Example (English):

They played the drum all night

dirika

di-ri-ka

English: 1. To meet with. 2. To reach

Example (Swahili):

Walidirika mwisho wa safari

Example (English):

They reached the end of the journey

diriki¹

di-ri-ki

English: To manage; to be able

Example (Swahili):

Alidiriki kusimama na kuzungumza

Example (English):

He managed to stand and speak

diriki²

di-ri-ki

English: 1. To arrive before being too late. 2. To be brave

Example (Swahili):

Walidiriki kufika kabla ya giza

Example (English):

They arrived before dark

diriki³

di-ri-ki

English: To command; to give an order

Example (Swahili):

Alidiriki wanafunzi wake wakae kimya

Example (English):

He commanded his students to be silent

dirikiana

di-ri-ki-a-na

English: To be on time; to succeed in doing something

Example (Swahili):

Walidirikiana kupeleka msaada kwa waathirika

Example (English):

They succeeded in delivering aid to the victims

dirikiza

di-ri-ki-za

English: To enable someone to do something

Example (Swahili):

Alidirikiza mwanafunzi kufanikisha somo gumu

Example (English):

He enabled the student to succeed in a difficult lesson

dirisha

di-ri-sha

English: A window

Example (Swahili):

Alifungua dirisha ili upepo uingie

Example (English):

He opened the window to let air in

dirisi

di-ri-si

English: To attend class; study; repeat teacher's words; participate in class

Example (Swahili):

Watoto walidirisi kwa makini darasani

Example (English):

The children studied attentively in class

dirizi

di-ri-zi

English: To lead a dance or drumming game

Example (Swahili):

Mzee alidirizi ngoma ya kitamaduni

Example (English):

The elder led the traditional drum dance

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