Kamusi ya Kiswahili

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

ma-fingu

English: Fee paid by a patient to a traditional healer or by a student to his teacher

Example (Swahili):

Wagonjwa walilipa mafingu kwa mganga.

Example (English):

Patients paid a fee to the healer.

mafu

English: Shallow. maji mafu – shallow water where fish are not abundant; mafu mvuni kavu – when things are damaged, dependents are affected

Example (Swahili):

Samaki hawapatikani sana kwenye maji mafu.

Example (English):

Fish are not common in shallow waters.

ma-fua

English: Infectious disease with symptoms of cold, sore throat, fever, and runny nose; flu, cold

Example (Swahili):

Wengi walikuwa wagonjwa kwa mafua.

Example (English):

Many were sick with the flu.

mafu-aʤi

English: State of having tailor-made clothes; tailoring of clothes

Example (Swahili):

Alijivunia mafuaji ya nguo zake mpya.

Example (English):

He was proud of the tailoring of his new clothes.

mafu-gani

English: See malishoni (grazing area)

Example (Swahili):

Walisafirisha ng'ombe hadi mafugani.

Example (English):

They drove the cattle to the grazing area.

ma-funda

English: State of filling, usually a liquid, in the cheeks; piga mafunda – to drink something by filling the mouth excessively

Example (Swahili):

Alinywa maji kwa mafunda.

Example (English):

He drank the water in big gulps.

ma-funde

English: See mavunde (a type of plant?)

Example (Swahili):

Shambani walipanda mafunde.

Example (English):

They planted mavunde on the farm.

mafun-disho

English: Words of warning or guidance; admonitions

Example (Swahili):

Walimu walitoa mafundisho kwa wanafunzi.

Example (English):

Teachers gave guidance to the students.

ma-fundo

English: Type of wood or tree that holds sails on a ship or water vessel

Example (Swahili):

Walisafisha mafundo ya mashua yao.

Example (English):

They cleaned the mast of their boat.

mafungi-ani

English: Place where livestock taken to graze are returned and enclosed

Example (Swahili):

Kondoo walikusanywa mafungiani usiku.

Example (English):

The sheep were gathered into the enclosure at night.

mafungi-anyama

English: Bow-legged; legs bent inwards

Example (Swahili):

Alitembea vibaya kwa sababu alikuwa mafungianyama.

Example (English):

He walked awkwardly because he was bow-legged.

mafungi-anyama

English: Time of returning animals or livestock to the enclosure after grazing

Example (Swahili):

Walisubiri mafungianyama jioni.

Example (English):

They waited for the return of the cattle in the evening.

mafungu liang'ombe

English: Time of releasing cattle or animals from the enclosure in the morning to take them to graze

Example (Swahili):

Alfajiri ilipofika kulikuwa na mafunguliang'ombe.

Example (English):

At dawn, the cattle were released to graze.

mafun-jo

English: Long leaves that grow in lakes or water, resembling reeds; a type of water plant

Example (Swahili):

Ziwa lilijaa mafunjo pembezoni.

Example (English):

The lake was full of water plants along the edges.

mafun-ta

English: Type of secretion or oil produced by glands under the skin to ensure hair and skin do not dry out; sebum

Example (Swahili):

Mafunta hulinda ngozi isiwe kavu.

Example (English):

Sebum protects the skin from drying out.

mafun-zo

English: Things taught to a person or student; lessons

Example (Swahili):

Wanafunzi walipokea mafunzo muhimu darasani.

Example (English):

Students received important lessons in class.

mafu-oni

English: Place where corpses are laid; shore, beach

Example (Swahili):

Mwili ulipatikana mafuoni.

Example (English):

The body was found on the shore.

mafur-iko

English: Abundant rainwater that usually covers a large area that is normally dry; flood

Example (Swahili):

Mji ulipatwa na mafuriko makubwa.

Example (English):

The city was hit by massive floods.

mafuru-ahati

English: 1. Fundamental duties to perform. 2. Principles

Example (Swahili):

Mafuruahati ya dini ni lazima kutekelezwa.

Example (English):

The fundamental duties of religion must be performed.

mafuru-ahu

English: Mandatory; obligatory; compulsory

Example (Swahili):

Sala tano ni mafuruahu kwa Mwislamu.

Example (English):

The five daily prayers are obligatory for a Muslim.

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