Kamusi ya Kiswahili

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

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Gwatermala

gwa-ter-ma-la

English: See gugumua (to weave mats from reeds)

Example (Swahili):

Walitumia nyasi kugwatermala mikeka.

Example (English):

They used reeds to weave mats.

Gwato¹

gwa-to

English: Walking stick

Example (Swahili):

Mzee alitembea kwa msaada wa gwato¹.

Example (English):

The old man walked with the help of a stick.

Gwato²

gwa-to

English: Wrestling throw to topple opponent

Example (Swahili):

Alitumia gwato² kumwangusha mpinzani wake.

Example (English):

He used a wrestling throw to topple his opponent.

Gwaya

gwa-ya

English: Tremble; hesitate out of fear

Example (Swahili):

Mtoto aligwaya kabla ya kuingia darasani.

Example (English):

The child hesitated before entering the classroom.

Gwaza¹

gwa-za

English: Speak hesitantly; stammer

Example (Swahili):

Aligwaza¹ alipoulizwa swali gumu.

Example (English):

He stammered when asked a tough question.

Gwaza²

gwa-za

English: Scrape off top grass

Example (Swahili):

Waligwaza² majani ya shamba.

Example (English):

They scraped off the top grass from the field.

Gwaza³

gwa-za

English: Resist; oppose

Example (Swahili):

Aligwaza³ amri ya kiongozi.

Example (English):

He resisted the leader's order.

Gwazagwaza

gwa-za-gwa-za

English: Read slowly with mistakes

Example (Swahili):

Mtoto aligwazagwaza hadithi darasani.

Example (English):

The child read the story slowly with mistakes.

Gwechu

gwe-chu

English: Broken or damaged vessel/tool

Example (Swahili):

Alitumia sufuria ya gwechu kupika.

Example (English):

He used a broken pot to cook.

Gwede

gwe-de

English: Fruit of the mgwede tree

Example (Swahili):

Walikusanya matunda ya gwede.

Example (English):

They collected fruits of the gwede tree.

Gwegwenya

gwe-gwe-nya

English: Bite or chew with teeth

Example (Swahili):

Aligwegwenya nyama ngumu.

Example (English):

He chewed the tough meat.

Gwegwettu

gwe-gwet-tu

English: Knife with notches/teeth

Example (Swahili):

Walitumia gwegwettu kukata mkate.

Example (English):

They used a notched knife to cut bread.

Gwenya

gwe-nya

English: Chip off part of a hard object

Example (Swahili):

Aligwenya kipande cha jiwe.

Example (English):

He chipped a piece of stone.

Gwi

gwi

English: Hold; grab; fall upon

Example (Swahili):

Alimgwi kwa nguvu.

Example (English):

He was grabbed strongly.

Gwiji¹

gwi-ji

English: Champion; expert

Example (Swahili):

Yeye ni gwiji¹ wa kandanda.

Example (English):

He is a football expert.

Gwiji²

gwi-ji

English: Skilled healer; knowledgeable doctor

Example (Swahili):

Mganga huyo ni gwiji² wa tiba za asili.

Example (English):

That healer is an expert in traditional medicine.

Gwisha¹

gwi-sha

English: Female sheep giving birth

Example (Swahili):

Kondoo jike aligwisha¹ mapacha.

Example (English):

The ewe gave birth to twins.

Gwisha²

gwi-sha

English: Join or fasten together

Example (Swahili):

Aligwisha² mbao mbili kwa msumari.

Example (English):

He joined two planks with a nail.

Haba¹

/ˈhaba/

English: A little; few. (Prov.) "~ na ~ hujaza kibaba" — big starts small

Example (Swahili):

Weka chumvi haba¹ tu kwenye mchuzi.

Example (English):

Put just a little salt in the stew.

Haba²

/ˈhaba/

English: A twist (roll) of tobacco or cannabis; small roll

Example (Swahili):

Alinunua haba² ya tumbaku sokoni.

Example (English):

He bought a small roll of tobacco at the market.

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