Kamusi ya Kiswahili

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

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Badu²

ba-du

English: A person living in the desert

Example (Swahili):

Badu wanaishi maisha magumu jangwani.

Example (English):

Desert dwellers live a hard life.

Baduru

ba-du-ru

English: See badiri (full moon)

Example (Swahili):

Usiku wa baduru ulikuwa na mwangaza mwingi.

Example (English):

The night of the full moon was very bright.

Bafa¹

ba-fa

English: A rubber device in vehicles

Example (Swahili):

Gari lilihitaji bafa mpya.

Example (English):

The car needed a new bumper pad.

Bafa²

ba-fa

English: A buffer zone between hostile armies

Example (Swahili):

Kulikuwa na bafa kati ya majeshi mawili.

Example (English):

There was a buffer zone between the two armies.

Bafe

ba-fe

English: A spotted snake that spits strong venom

Example (Swahili):

Walikimbia walipoona bafe shambani.

Example (English):

They ran when they saw the venomous snake in the field.

Bafela

ba-fe-la

English: Boiled groundnuts

Example (Swahili):

Tulikula bafela sokoni.

Example (English):

We ate boiled groundnuts at the market.

Bafta¹

baf-ta

English: A type of white cotton cloth

Example (Swahili):

Mzee alinunua bafta kwa ajili ya kushona kanzu.

Example (English):

The elder bought white cotton cloth to sew a robe.

Bafta²

baf-ta

English: White cloth used to cover a Muslim corpse

Example (Swahili):

Maiti alifunikwa kwa bafta safi.

Example (English):

The corpse was covered with a clean white cloth.

Bafta³

baf-ta

English: A sail of a dhow or boat

Example (Swahili):

Wavuvi walifunga bafta kwenye jahazi lao.

Example (English):

The fishermen fixed the sail on their dhow.

Bafu

ba-fu

English: A bathroom; a basin for bathing

Example (Swahili):

Mtoto aliingia bafu kuoga.

Example (English):

The child went into the bathroom to bathe.

Bagawa

ba-ga-wa

English: To talk nonsense

Example (Swahili):

Wazee walimkemea kwa kubagawa hadharani.

Example (English):

The elders scolded him for talking nonsense in public.

Bagaza

ba-ga-za

English: To take something by trickery

Example (Swahili):

Alibagaza pesa za rafiki yake.

Example (English):

He tricked his friend out of money.

Bagazana

ba-ga-za-na

English: To insult one another; to exchange abusive words

Example (Swahili):

Wawili hao walibagazana sokoni.

Example (English):

The two exchanged insults at the market.

Baghadha

bag-had-ha

English: Hatred; hostility; enmity

Example (Swahili):

Kulikuwa na baghadha kati ya koo mbili.

Example (English):

There was hostility between the two clans.

Baghadhana

bag-had-ha-na

English: To quarrel; to argue with words

Example (Swahili):

Walibaghadhana kuhusu urithi.

Example (English):

They quarreled about the inheritance.

Baghala¹

bag-ha-la

English: Mule; an animal born from a donkey and a horse

Example (Swahili):

Baghala hutumika kubeba mizigo milimani.

Example (English):

Mules are used to carry loads in the mountains.

Baghala²

bag-ha-la

English: A type of dhow with two masts

Example (Swahili):

Baharia walipanda baghala baharini.

Example (English):

The sailors boarded a two-masted dhow.

Baghami

bag-ha-mi

English: Foolish, stupid, ignorant person

Example (Swahili):

Usifanye kama baghami.

Example (English):

Don't behave like a fool.

Baghau

bag-hau

English: Immoral; having bad character

Example (Swahili):

Alijulikana kama mtu baghau kijijini.

Example (English):

He was known as an immoral person in the village.

Baghia

bag-hi-a

English: To crave; to desire strongly

Example (Swahili):

Alibaghia mali ya jirani yake.

Example (English):

He greatly desired his neighbor's wealth.

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