Kamusi ya Kiswahili

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

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Bekibencha

be-ki-ben-cha

English: A member of parliament without a government position, usually sitting at the back benches

Example (Swahili):

Yeye ni bekibencha bungeni.

Example (English):

He is a backbench MP in parliament.

Beku

be-ku

English: An old winnowing basket

Example (Swahili):

Alitumia beku kupepeta nafaka.

Example (English):

He used an old basket to winnow the grain.

Bekua¹

be-ku-a

English: To remove nearby; to push away

Example (Swahili):

Alibekua jiwe lililokuwa njiani.

Example (English):

He pushed away the stone on the path.

Bekua²

be-ku-a

English: To treat with disdain; to mock

Example (Swahili):

Walimbekua kwa dharau mbele za watu.

Example (English):

They treated him with disdain before others.

Bekua³

be-ku-a

English: To snatch or seize something by force

Example (Swahili):

Alibekua pochi ya mwanamke sokoni.

Example (English):

He snatched the woman's purse in the market.

Bekua⁴

be-ku-a

English: To separate by winnowing

Example (Swahili):

Alibekua nafaka ili kutenganisha maganda.

Example (English):

He winnowed the grain to separate the husks.

Belele

be-le-le

English: In abundance; excessively

Example (Swahili):

Watoto walikula peremende belele.

Example (English):

The children ate candies in excess.

Belenga

be-len-ga

English: To show off; to display openly

Example (Swahili):

Alibelenga mali zake mbele ya watu.

Example (English):

He flaunted his wealth in front of people.

Beleshi

be-le-shi

English: A scoop or shovel for soil, cement, or sand

Example (Swahili):

Fundi alitumia beleshi kuchota saruji.

Example (English):

The mason used a shovel to scoop cement.

Belewasi

be-le-wa-si

English: A type of monkey

Example (Swahili):

Belewasi walionekana msituni.

Example (English):

The monkeys were seen in the forest.

Belua

be-lu-a

English: See beluwa

Example (Swahili):

Walisema kulikuwa na belua mjini.

Example (English):

They said there was chaos in town.

Beluwa

be-lu-wa

English: Disorder; chaos; trouble

Example (Swahili):

Kulikuwa na beluwa baada ya uchaguzi.

Example (English):

There was chaos after the election.

Bemba¹

bem-ba

English: To seduce someone for love; to pry or investigate secretly

Example (Swahili):

Alibemba msichana sokoni.

Example (English):

He seduced the girl at the market.

Bemba²

bem-ba

English: A gift usually prepared for a lover

Example (Swahili):

Alinunua bemba kwa mpenzi wake.

Example (English):

He bought a gift for his lover.

Bembe¹

bem-be

English: Special food given as a sign of affection, often at the end of Ramadan

Example (Swahili):

Waligawa bembe mwisho wa Ramadhani.

Example (English):

They distributed special food at the end of Ramadan.

Bembe²

bem-be

English: Utensils given as a gift, usually at the end of Ramadan

Example (Swahili):

Alipewa bembe na wakwe zake.

Example (English):

She was given utensils as a gift by her in-laws.

Bembe³

bem-be

English: Persuasive; alluring

Example (Swahili):

Aliongea kwa sauti ya kubembe.

Example (English):

He spoke in a persuasive tone.

Bembea¹

bem-be-a

English: To swing or dangle

Example (Swahili):

Mtoto alibembea mti wa kando ya nyumba.

Example (English):

The child swung on the tree beside the house.

Bembea²

bem-be-a

English: A swing used for playing

Example (Swahili):

Watoto walicheza kwenye bembea.

Example (English):

The children played on the swing.

Bembeafarasi

bem-be-a-fa-ra-si

English: A horse-shaped swing toy for children

Example (Swahili):

Alimnunulia mtoto wake bembeafarasi.

Example (English):

He bought his child a rocking horse.

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