Kamusi ya Kiswahili

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

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pukupuku²

/pukuˈpuku/

English: Debris entering a place like water or the eye

Example (Swahili):

Pukupuku liliingia machoni mwake.

Example (English):

A particle got into his eye.

pukurusha

/pukuˈrusha/

English: To disregard; to refuse to pay attention to; to scorn

Example (Swahili):

Usipukurusha ushauri wa wazazi wako.

Example (English):

Don't disregard your parents' advice.

pukusa¹

/pukuˈsa/

English: To shake a tree so fruits or flowers fall

Example (Swahili):

Walipukusa mti wa maembe kuvuna matunda.

Example (English):

They shook the mango tree to harvest fruits.

pukusa²

/pukuˈsa/

English: A type of banana that becomes soft when ripe

Example (Swahili):

Pukusa hukomaa na kuwa laini haraka.

Example (English):

The pukusa banana ripens and softens quickly.

pukusa³

/pukuˈsa/

English: To make holes in grains, as done by insects

Example (Swahili):

Dudu wamepukusa mahindi ghalani.

Example (English):

Insects have made holes in the stored maize.

pukusa⁴

/pukuˈsa/

English: To reward or give a gift after a certain action

Example (Swahili):

Alipukusa wafanyakazi kwa kazi nzuri.

Example (English):

He rewarded the workers for their good work.

pukusa⁵

/pukuˈsa/

English: 1. (Nautical) To unfurl a sail. 2. The act of a sail flapping for lack of wind

Example (Swahili):

Nahodha alipukusa tanga kwa upepo mdogo.

Example (English):

The captain unfurled the sail in the gentle wind.

pukuta

/pukuˈta/

English: To pluck feathers or leaves from an animal or plant

Example (Swahili):

Walipukuta kuku kabla ya kupika.

Example (English):

They plucked the chicken before cooking.

pukute

/pukuˈte/

English: A type of cooked rice that is firm but non-sticky

Example (Swahili):

Leo tumepika wali wa pukute.

Example (English):

Today we cooked firm, non-sticky rice.

pukutika

/pukuˈtika/

English: To fall off (e.g., leaves, fruits, or feathers)

Example (Swahili):

Majani yamepukutika msimu wa kiangazi.

Example (English):

The leaves have fallen off during the dry season.

pukutisha

/pukuˈtisha/

English: To cause something to fall off; to shake down

Example (Swahili):

Alipukutisha matunda kutoka kwenye mti.

Example (English):

He shook down the fruits from the tree.

pukutu

/ˈpukutu/

English: Very dry leaves

Example (Swahili):

Walikusanya pukutu kwa ajili ya kuni.

Example (English):

They collected the dry leaves for firewood.

pul

/pul/

English: Onomatopoeia for the sound of something falling heavily

Example (Swahili):

Pul! Jiwe lilianguka chini.

Example (English):

Thud! The stone fell to the ground.

pula¹

/ˈpula/

English: A foolish person; an idiot

Example (Swahili):

Usifanye kama pula asiyejua kitu.

Example (English):

Don't act like a fool who knows nothing.

pula²

/ˈpula/

English: See pua² (bronze)

Example (Swahili):

Angalia neno pua² kwa maana.

Example (English):

See the word pua² for the meaning.

puma⁶

/ˈpuma/

English: A pier; a dock

Example (Swahili):

Meli imefika kwenye puma.

Example (English):

The ship has reached the dock.

pumbaa

/pumˈbaa/

English: To be foolish, idle, or lazy

Example (Swahili):

Watu waliopumbaa hupoteza muda mwingi.

Example (English):

Lazy people waste a lot of time.

pumbazisha

/pumbaˈziʃa/

English: 1. To amaze or astonish. 2. To deceive or mislead

Example (Swahili):

Maneno yake yalimpumbazisha msikilizaji.

Example (English):

His words amazed the listener.

pumbe¹

/ˈpumbe/

English: A person who does not use intelligence; a fool

Example (Swahili):

Ni pumbe anayefanya mambo bila kufikiria.

Example (English):

He's a fool who acts without thinking.

pumbu¹

/ˈpumbu/

English: Testicles

Example (Swahili):

Alijeruhiwa sehemu za pumbu.

Example (English):

He was injured in the testicular area.

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