Kamusi ya Kiswahili

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

Browse by Letter
All A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Kivukomilia

ki-vu-ko-mi-li-a

English: A pedestrian crossing (zebra crossing)

Example (Swahili):

Watoto walivuka barabara kwenye kivukomilia.

Example (English):

The children crossed the road at the zebra crossing.

Kivuli

ki-vu-li

English: A shadow; shade

Example (Swahili):

Tulipumzika chini ya kivuli cha mti.

Example (English):

We rested under the shade of a tree.

Kivuligiza

ki-vu-li-gi-za

English: A state of semi-darkness with many shadows

Example (Swahili):

Mvua ilileta kivuligiza msituni.

Example (English):

The rain brought semi-darkness in the forest.

Kivumanyuki

ki-vu-man-yu-ki

English: A tree with fragrant red flowers

Example (Swahili):

Kivumanyuki kilipendeza sana kwa maua mekundu.

Example (English):

The tree looked beautiful with its red flowers.

Kivumanzi

ki-vu-man-zi

English: A bell worn on the neck of livestock

Example (Swahili):

Kondoo walivaa kivumanzi shingoni.

Example (English):

The sheep wore bells around their necks.

Kivumba

ki-vum-ba

English: A Swahili dialect spoken north of Tanga in the Vumba area

Example (Swahili):

Wazee wa pwani hutumia Kivumba kuzungumza.

Example (English):

The coastal elders use the Vumba dialect to speak.

Kivumbasi

ki-vum-ba-si

English: A plant with greenish-white flowers used for fumigation or medicine

Example (Swahili):

Walichoma kivumbasi kutibu hewa chumbani.

Example (English):

They burned the plant to cleanse the air in the room.

Kivumbi¹

ki-vum-bi

English: A state of competition and chaos; commotion

Example (Swahili):

Kivumbi kilitokea uwanjani wakati wa mechi.

Example (English):

Chaos broke out in the stadium during the match.

Kivumbi²

ki-vum-bi

English: An action that raises a lot of dust; intense struggle

Example (Swahili):

Gari lilipita kwa kasi na kusababisha kivumbi.

Example (English):

The car passed quickly and raised a cloud of dust.

Kivumishi

ki-vu-mi-shi

English: An adjective (grammar)

Example (Swahili):

"Mrefu" ni kivumishi katika Kiswahili.

Example (English):

"Tall" is an adjective in Swahili.

Kivumvu¹

ki-vum-vu

English: Grief or sadness from bereavement; mourning

Example (Swahili):

Familia ilikuwa katika hali ya kivumvu baada ya msiba.

Example (English):

The family was in mourning after the loss.

Kivumvu²

ki-vum-vu

English: A disease causing loss of consciousness in women after childbirth

Example (Swahili):

Mganga alitibu mama aliyepata kivumvu baada ya kujifungua.

Example (English):

The healer treated a mother who fainted after giving birth.

Kivunaji

ki-vu-na-ji

English: A tool for harvesting

Example (Swahili):

Wakulima walitumia kivunaji kuvuna mahindi.

Example (English):

The farmers used a harvesting tool to reap the maize.

Kivunde

ki-vun-de

English: Fermented porridge made from cassava or maize flour

Example (Swahili):

Walikunywa kivunde wakati wa kifungua kinywa.

Example (English):

They drank fermented porridge for breakfast.

Kivundevunde

ki-vun-de-vun-de

English: A musty smell from something not properly dried

Example (Swahili):

Nguo zilitoa harufu ya kivundevunde baada ya mvua.

Example (English):

The clothes gave off a musty smell after the rain.

Kivunga

ki-vun-ga

English: Large, unkempt, tangled hair

Example (Swahili):

Alikuwa na kivunga cha nywele kichwani.

Example (English):

He had a mass of tangled hair on his head.

Kivunge

ki-vun-ge

English: A small piece of paper used for storing things; an envelope

Example (Swahili):

Aliweka hela kwenye kivunge kidogo.

Example (English):

He put the money in a small envelope.

Kivungulio

ki-vun-gu-li-o

English: A greenhouse for growing plants

Example (Swahili):

Mboga zilipandwa ndani ya kivungulio.

Example (English):

Vegetables were planted inside the greenhouse.

Kivunjajungu

ki-vun-ja-jun-gu

English: A large green insect with a big head and legs (praying mantis)

Example (Swahili):

Mtoto alipata kivunjajungu kwenye bustani.

Example (English):

The child found a praying mantis in the garden.

Kivuno

ki-vu-no

English: Harvest; yield; profit

Example (Swahili):

Mkulima alipata kivuno kizuri cha mpunga.

Example (English):

The farmer had a good harvest of rice.

Quick Learning Tips
Practice Pronunciation

Pay attention to the pronunciation guides to improve your speaking skills.

Use Example Sentences

Study the example sentences to understand how words are used in context.