Kamusi ya Kiswahili

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

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Kisengesenge

ki-sen-ge-sen-ge

English: Backwards; reverse

Example (Swahili):

Gari lilisogea kisengesenge.

Example (English):

The car moved in reverse.

Kisengo¹

ki-sen-go

English: 1. Mass killing; slaughter. 2. A blow with a sword or knife. 3. Fierce fighting with weapons

Example (Swahili):

Vita hivyo vilikuwa na kisengo kikubwa.

Example (English):

The war involved a great massacre.

Kisengo²

ki-sen-go

English: Lacking a quarter; three-quarters

Example (Swahili):

Kikombe kilijaa kisengo.

Example (English):

The cup was three-quarters full.

Kisepele

ki-se-pe-le

English: Light sleep, especially due to anxiety; fitful sleep

Example (Swahili):

Usiku wote alipata kisepele.

Example (English):

He only had light, restless sleep all night.

Kiserema

ki-se-re-ma

English: A hoe that has been used and worn out

Example (Swahili):

Mkuli alikuwa akitumia kiserema chake cha zamani.

Example (English):

The farmer was using his old, worn-out hoe.

Kiserereko

ki-se-re-re-ko

English: A slide for children to play on

Example (Swahili):

Watoto walicheza kwenye kiserereko shuleni.

Example (English):

The children played on the slide at school.

Kisero

ki-se-ro

English: A small basket

Example (Swahili):

Bibi aliweka matunda kwenye kisero.

Example (English):

Grandmother put fruits in a small basket.

Kisetama

ki-se-ta-ma

English: A feeling of great pain; much pain

Example (Swahili):

Alipiga kelele kwa sababu ya kisetama kikubwa.

Example (English):

He screamed because of great pain.

Kiseyeye

ki-se-ye-ye

English: A disease of bleeding gums due to lack of vitamin C; scurvy

Example (Swahili):

Kiseyeye huwapata watu wanaokosa vitamini C.

Example (English):

Scurvy affects people who lack vitamin C.

Kisha

ki-sha

English: Then, finally; after

Example (Swahili):

Tulikula kisha tukalala.

Example (English):

We ate and then slept.

Kishada

ki-sha-da

English: 1. A bunch of fruits or flowers. 2. A tiara

Example (Swahili):

Alinunua kishada cha maua sokoni.

Example (English):

She bought a bunch of flowers at the market.

Kishamia

ki-sha-mia

English: A type of cloth like a sheet used to cover people during certain activities like funerals

Example (Swahili):

Wamfunika marehemu kwa kishamia.

Example (English):

They covered the deceased with a funeral cloth.

Kishanzu

ki-shan-zu

English: A down payment; advance payment

Example (Swahili):

Alilipa kishanzu kabla ya kupewa gari.

Example (English):

He paid an advance before receiving the car.

Kisharafu

ki-sha-ra-fu

English: See msharafu²

Example (Swahili):

Wazee walitumia kisharafu kama ilivyoelezwa.

Example (English):

The elders used kisharafu as described.

Kisharifu

ki-sha-ri-fu

English: A small bird with blue feathers, yellow chest, long beak, that eats fish

Example (Swahili):

Tuliona kisharifu kando ya mto.

Example (English):

We saw the small bird near the river.

Kishaufu

ki-shau-fu

English: A type of ornament worn on the nose, especially on the curved part; a nose ring

Example (Swahili):

Alivaa kishaufu kwenye pua yake.

Example (English):

She wore a nose ring.

Kishavu

ki-sha-vu

English: A small swelling on the cheek

Example (Swahili):

Mtoto alipata kishavu baada ya kuanguka.

Example (English):

The child got a swelling on the cheek after falling.

Kishawishi

ki-sha-wi-shi

English: An attraction; something that entices a person to do something

Example (Swahili):

Tangazo lilikuwa na kishawishi kikubwa.

Example (English):

The advertisement had a strong appeal.

Kishaza

ki-sha-za

English: A small box for storing valuable items; a casket

Example (Swahili):

Aliweka vito vyake kwenye kishaza.

Example (English):

She kept her jewels in a small casket.

Kishazi¹

ki-sha-zi

English: A clause in a sentence

Example (Swahili):

Sentensi hii ina kishazi kimoja tu.

Example (English):

This sentence has only one clause.

Quick Learning Tips
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