Kamusi ya Kiswahili

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

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pakanga¹

/pakanga/

English: A type of bitter medicinal plant

Example (Swahili):

Wazee walitumia majani ya pakanga kutibu.

Example (English):

The elders used pakanga leaves for medicine.

pakanga²

/pakanga/

English: The pain of childbirth

Example (Swahili):

Mwanamke alikuwa akihisi pakanga wakati wa kujifungua.

Example (English):

The woman felt the pain of childbirth.

pakanisha

/pakanisha/

English: To make a boundary; to make neighbors

Example (Swahili):

Walipakanisha mashamba yao kwa uzio.

Example (English):

They marked the boundary between their farms with a fence.

pakanya

/pakanya/

English: A payment to settle a dispute or tease

Example (Swahili):

Alitoa pakanya kumaliza ugomvi.

Example (English):

He gave compensation to end the quarrel.

pakari

/pakari/

English: A tool resembling pliers for gripping or cutting wire

Example (Swahili):

Fundi alikata waya kwa pakari.

Example (English):

The mechanic cut the wire with pliers.

pakas.a

/pakasa/

English: To twist or braid thread, rope, or hair

Example (Swahili):

Alipakasa nywele za mtoto.

Example (English):

She braided the child's hair.

pakashume

/pakashume/

English: See paka shume (wildcat)

Example (Swahili):

Pakashume huishi porini.

Example (English):

The wildcat lives in the forest.

pakata

/pakata/

English: To place something on the laps

Example (Swahili):

Alipakata mtoto wake kwa upendo.

Example (English):

She held her child lovingly on her lap.

pakatisha

/pakatisha/

English: To cause leaves to fall

Example (Swahili):

Upepo ulipakatisha majani yote.

Example (English):

The wind made all the leaves fall.

pakawai

/pakawai/

English: Expression used to respond to "paukwa" in storytelling

Example (Swahili):

"Paukwa!" — "Pakawai!" walijibu watoto.

Example (English):

"Paukwa!" — "Pakawai!" the children responded.

pakaza

/pakaza/

English: To smear oil or a liquid

Example (Swahili):

Alipakaza mafuta mgongoni.

Example (English):

He applied oil on his back.

pakazia

/pakazia/

English: To speak ill of someone; to accuse falsely

Example (Swahili):

Walimpakazia mambo asiyofanya.

Example (English):

They accused him of things he didn't do.

pake¹

/pake/

English: Its (possessive pronoun, 3rd person singular, locative)

Example (Swahili):

Nyumba yake iko mbali na pake.

Example (English):

His house is far from its place.

pake²

/pake/

English: Its (demonstrative, 3rd person singular, locative)

Example (Swahili):

Hicho ndicho chake pake.

Example (English):

That is its very place.

paketi

/pakiti/

English: A small package or packet

Example (Swahili):

Alinunua paketi ya chai dukani.

Example (English):

He bought a packet of tea at the shop.

paki

/paki/

English: To park a vehicle

Example (Swahili):

Alipaki gari karibu na benki.

Example (English):

He parked the car near the bank.

pambazuko

/pambazuko/

English: Dawn; early morning light

Example (Swahili):

Tulianza safari wakati wa pambazuko.

Example (English):

We started our journey at dawn.

pambe¹

/pambe/

English: A person who has adorned themselves; one who is well-dressed

Example (Swahili):

Alionekana pambe katika harusi.

Example (English):

He looked stylish at the wedding.

pambia

/pambia/

English: To cover a cooking pot with hot coals to finish cooking

Example (Swahili):

Alipambia sufuria ili chakula kiive haraka.

Example (English):

She covered the pot with hot coals to cook faster.

pambika¹

/pambika/

English: To fletch an arrow; to put feathers on an arrow

Example (Swahili):

Fundi alipambika mshale kwa manyoya.

Example (English):

The craftsman fletched the arrow with feathers.

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