Kamusi ya Kiswahili

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

ki-san-go

English: A young boy

Example (Swahili):

Kisango alionekana akicheza kandanda.

Example (English):

The young boy was seen playing football.

ki-sa-ni-fu

English: A standardized language in vocabulary and grammar, accepted for use

Example (Swahili):

Kiswahili kisanifu hufundishwa mashuleni.

Example (English):

Standard Swahili is taught in schools.

ki-sa-ram-be

English: A type of poetic composition with eleven meters per line

Example (Swahili):

Washairi walibuni kisarambe cha kuvutia.

Example (English):

The poets composed an impressive poetic form.

ki-sa-ra-wan-da

English: A white cloth spread on the bed on the wedding day to confirm the bride's virginity

Example (Swahili):

Wazee walitandaza kisarawanda siku ya harusi.

Example (English):

The elders spread the white cloth on the wedding day.

ki-sa-ri-zi

English: A type of soil from termite mounds, good for making bricks

Example (Swahili):

Wajenzi walitumia kisarizi kutengeneza matofali.

Example (English):

Builders used termite-mound soil to make bricks.

ki-sa-si

English: The intention or desire to retaliate for a wrong done; revenge

Example (Swahili):

Aliapa kulipa kisasi kwa maumivu aliyosababishiwa.

Example (English):

He swore to take revenge for the pain caused to him.

ki-sa-si-li

English: A story about how a custom, event, or situation originated; an origin myth

Example (Swahili):

Walihusisha kisasili cha kabila lao.

Example (English):

They narrated the origin myth of their tribe.

ki-sa-su-li

English: A story explaining the origin of a behavior or nature; an origin tale

Example (Swahili):

Kisasuli cha simba kilifundisha ushujaa.

Example (English):

The lion's origin tale taught bravery.

ki-saw

English: A synonym; a word with the same meaning as another

Example (Swahili):

"Furaha" ni kisaw cha "shangwe."

Example (English):

"Joy" is a synonym of "delight."

ki-se-be-ho

English: Breakfast

Example (Swahili):

Tulipata kisebeho saa mbili asubuhi.

Example (English):

We had breakfast at 8 a.m.

ki-se-bu-se-bu

English: A person who pretends not to want something but actually does

Example (Swahili):

Yeye ni kisebusebu, anajifanya hataki msaada.

Example (English):

He is a pretender, acting like he doesn't want help.

ki-se-bu-se-bu

English: The state of pretending not to want something

Example (Swahili):

Alionyesha kisebusebu wakati wa mazungumzo.

Example (English):

He showed pretense during the discussion.

ki-se-ge-re

English: Corn dried by the sun

Example (Swahili):

Walihifadhi kisegere kwa chakula cha baadaye.

Example (English):

They stored the sun-dried maize for later food.

ki-se-ke-le

English: A piece of cloth; a patch

Example (Swahili):

Alishona suruali yake kwa kisekele.

Example (English):

He patched his trousers with a piece of cloth.

ki-se-ko-se-ko

English: A condition that makes a person laugh without reason

Example (Swahili):

Mgonjwa alikuwa na kisekoseko cha kucheka bila sababu.

Example (English):

The patient had a condition of laughing without reason.

ki-se-ma-chen-do

English: A walkie-talkie; a device used by police or security to communicate while moving

Example (Swahili):

Polisi walitumia kisemachendo kuwasiliana.

Example (English):

The police used a walkie-talkie to communicate.

ki-sen-ge-ne

English: A type of bird with blue feathers on the back and grey on the chest

Example (Swahili):

Niliona kisengenye kikipaa angani.

Example (English):

I saw the blue-backed bird flying in the sky.

ki-sen-ge-re-nu-ma

English: 1. The act of referring back to a past event. 2. The act of walking backwards

Example (Swahili):

Alitumia kisengerenyuma kueleza historia.

Example (English):

He used a backward reference to explain history.

ki-sen-ge-re-nu-ma

English: A rhetorical device of reference

Example (Swahili):

Mwandishi alitumia kisengerenyuma katika insha.

Example (English):

The writer used a rhetorical backward reference in the essay.

ki-sen-ge-re-tua

English: A remote control for turning on or changing channels on TV or radio

Example (Swahili):

Alibadilisha kituo kwa kisengeretua.

Example (English):

He changed the channel with the remote control.

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