Kamusi ya Kiswahili

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

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puuka

/ˈpuuka/

English: To become thin or weak; to be emaciated

Example (Swahili):

Mgonjwa amepuuka sana baada ya ugonjwa mrefu.

Example (English):

The patient has become very thin after a long illness.

puuza

/puuˈza/

English: To disregard; to scorn; to ignore

Example (Swahili):

Usipuuze maonyo ya wazee.

Example (English):

Don't ignore the elders' warnings.

puuzo

/puuˈzo/

English: The act of scorning or ignoring

Example (Swahili):

Puuzo la sheria husababisha machafuko.

Example (English):

Ignoring the law causes disorder.

puwi

/ˈpuwi/

English: A bachelor; an unmarried man

Example (Swahili):

Yeye ni puwi mwenye furaha katika maisha.

Example (English):

He is a happy bachelor.

puya¹

/ˈpuya/

English: Twisted tobacco

Example (Swahili):

Wazee walikuwa wakivuta puya chini ya mti.

Example (English):

The elders were smoking twisted tobacco under a tree.

puya²

/ˈpuya/

English: Rumor; falsehood; lies

Example (Swahili):

Maneno yao ni puya tupu.

Example (English):

Their words are pure lies.

puya³

/ˈpuya/

English: Sugar mixed with water to make syrup, often used for brewing

Example (Swahili):

Walitengeneza puya kwa kutengeneza pombe ya kienyeji.

Example (English):

They made syrup to brew traditional beer.

puyage

/puˈjage/

English: A person who talks a lot but does nothing

Example (Swahili):

Ni puyage, anasema mengi lakini hatendi.

Example (English):

He's all talk, no action.

puyanga

/puˈjanga/

English: To stroll or wander aimlessly

Example (Swahili):

Alipuyanga mjini bila kazi.

Example (English):

He wandered in town without purpose.

puzua

/puˈzua/

English: To skin a slaughtered animal

Example (Swahili):

Walipuzua ngozi ya mbuzi baada ya kuchinja.

Example (English):

They skinned the goat after slaughtering it.

pwa¹

/ˈpwa/

English: For water to recede from the shore (low tide)

Example (Swahili):

Bahari imepwa asubuhi hii.

Example (English):

The sea has receded this morning.

pwa²

/ˈpwa/

English: The part of the sea left dry by receding water; the shore

Example (Swahili):

Wavuvi waliweka mitumbwi pwani ya pwa.

Example (English):

Fishermen left their boats on the dry shore.

pwa³

/ˈpwa/

English: Onomatopoeia for the sound of something soft falling

Example (Swahili):

Pwa! Kitabu kilianguka kitandani.

Example (English):

Thud! The book fell onto the bed.

pwaa

/ˈpwaa/

English: The coast or shoreline

Example (Swahili):

Tunaishi karibu na pwaa la bahari.

Example (English):

We live near the sea coast.

pwacha!

/ˈpwacha/

English: Onomatopoeia for the sound of something falling into water

Example (Swahili):

Pwacha! Jiwe liliingia majini.

Example (English):

Splash! The stone fell into the water.

pwaga¹

/ˈpwaga/

English: To remove husks or outer skins by pounding

Example (Swahili):

Walipwaga nafaka kwa kinu.

Example (English):

They pounded the grains with a mortar.

pwaga²

/ˈpwaga/

English: To boil gently; to simmer

Example (Swahili):

Wali unaendelea kupwaga jikoni.

Example (English):

The rice is gently simmering on the stove.

pwaga³

/ˈpwaga/

English: To talk a lot or in a disorderly way

Example (Swahili):

Waliendelea kupwaga hadi usiku.

Example (English):

They kept chattering until night.

pwaga⁴

/ˈpwaga/

English: To talk nonsense

Example (Swahili):

Usipwaga maneno yasiyo na maana.

Example (English):

Don't talk nonsense.

pwagu

/ˈpwagu/

English: 1. A thief. 2. A deceitful person

Example (Swahili):

Pwagu aliibiwa akidhani atapona.

Example (English):

The thief was caught red-handed.

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