Kamusi ya Kiswahili

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

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Babu⁵

ba-bu

English: An elder man adviser in a women's group

Example (Swahili):

Babu wa kikundi alitoa ushauri kwa wanawake.

Example (English):

The elder adviser gave counsel to the women's group.

Babu⁶

ba-bu

English: See degedege (epileptic convulsions)

Example (Swahili):

Mtoto alipata babu ghafla.

Example (English):

The child suddenly had a convulsion.

Babu⁷

ba-bu

English: A type of Islamic religious book

Example (Swahili):

Alisoma Babu msikitini.

Example (English):

He read the Babu in the mosque.

Babua¹

ba-bu-a

English: To scald with hot water and remove skin

Example (Swahili):

Waliamua kumbabua kuku kabla ya kupika.

Example (English):

They decided to scald the chicken before cooking.

Babua²

ba-bu-a

English: To slap; to hit with the palm

Example (Swahili):

Alimbabua rafiki yake kwa utani.

Example (English):

He slapped his friend playfully.

Babuka

ba-bu-ka

English: To peel off; to get chafed skin

Example (Swahili):

Miguu yake ilibabuka baada ya kutembea sana.

Example (English):

His feet got chafed after walking a lot.

Babukubwa

ba-bu-ku-bwa

English: Of very high quality; excellent

Example (Swahili):

Chakula hiki ni cha babukubwa.

Example (English):

This food is excellent.

Babundogo

ba-bun-do-go

English: Of a small scale

Example (Swahili):

Biashara yake bado ni babundogo.

Example (English):

His business is still small.

Babuzi

ba-bu-zi

English: Having the ability to peel skin

Example (Swahili):

Dawa hii ni babuzi kwa ngozi.

Example (English):

This medicine is harsh on the skin.

Bacha

ba-cha

English: A wall niche; a small recess to store things

Example (Swahili):

Kitabu kiliwekwa kwenye bacha ukutani.

Example (English):

The book was placed in a wall niche.

Bada

ba-da

English: Stiff porridge made from cassava

Example (Swahili):

Wakulima walikula bada baada ya kazi ngumu.

Example (English):

The farmers ate cassava porridge after hard work.

Badala

ba-da-la

English: Instead of; in place of

Example (Swahili):

Alinunua chai badala ya kahawa.

Example (English):

He bought tea instead of coffee.

Badali

ba-da-li

English: Something used in place of another

Example (Swahili):

Gari hili ni badali ya lile lililoharibika.

Example (English):

This car is a replacement for the one that broke down.

Badalia

ba-da-li-a

English: Taking the place of another person or thing

Example (Swahili):

Kiongozi mpya ni badalia wa aliyestaafu.

Example (English):

The new leader is a replacement for the one who retired.

Badamu

ba-da-mu

English: The kernel of a fruit seed; almond

Example (Swahili):

Aliweka badamu kwenye keki.

Example (English):

She added almonds to the cake.

Badani¹

ba-da-ni

English: Body; torso

Example (Swahili):

Alijeruhiwa sehemu ya badani.

Example (English):

He was injured on the body.

Badani²

ba-da-ni

English: Height; front or back part of a robe

Example (Swahili):

Fundi alirekebisha badani ya kanzu.

Example (English):

The tailor adjusted the front of the robe.

Badani³

ba-da-ni

English: A type of antelope with long horns

Example (Swahili):

Wawindaji walimwona badani msituni.

Example (English):

The hunters saw an antelope with long horns in the forest.

Badhiri

bad-hi-ri

English: To waste money; to squander

Example (Swahili):

Alibadhiri pesa zake kwenye anasa.

Example (English):

He squandered his money on luxuries.

Badhirifu

bad-hi-ri-fu

English: Wasteful; destructive of money

Example (Swahili):

Mtoto huyu ni badhirifu wa mali za familia.

Example (English):

This child is wasteful of the family's wealth.

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