Swahili–English dictionary

kukata

to cause to burst

kukauka

(intransitive) shrivel, droop, dry up

kukimbia

to move quickly on two feet

kuku

bird

kula

the act of consuming food

kulia

to make the sound of a scream

kulungu

animal of the family Cervidae

kuma

anatomical sense

kundi

group of people forming one side in a given dispute, contest etc.

kundinyota

arbitrary formation of stars perceived as a figure or pattern, or a division of the sky including it

kungumanga

spice

kunguru

any of several, generally large, species of birds in the genus Corvus with lustrous black plumage

kunja

to cause to shape into a curve

kununua

to obtain something with money

kuomba

make a request

kuona

perceive with the eyes

kuondoka

to depart (intransitive)

kupenda

to enjoy

kupiga risasi

to fire a shot

kuponya

make better

kushangilia

to be happy

kushika

to follow

kushuka

to physically move or pass from a higher to a lower place or position

kusihi

to beg

kusini

compass point

kusoma

to look at and interpret letters or other information

kutomba

to have sexual intercourse—obscene or vulgar

kutumika

to be a servant

kuumba

to put into existence

kuvaa

to have on (clothes or accessories)

kuvunja

transitive: to cause to stop functioning

kuvunjika

intransitive: to stop functioning properly or altogether

kuwa

connecting a noun clause

kwaje

(interrogative) for what reason

kwamba

connecting a noun clause

Kwebeki

province

kwikwi

spasm of the diaphragm

Lasembagi

country

lava

an animal in such stage of growth — see also tadpole

lini

at what time, as a direct question

lira

stringed musical instrument

Luka

gospel of Luke

luteni

lowest commissioned officer rank

maadhimisho ya miaka

day an exact number of years since an event

maagano

grammatical agreement

maajabu

something that causes amazement or awe, a marvel

maarufu

of or pertaining to the common people

mabadiliko

a replacement

mabwana

deity

madaraka

a duty, obligation or liability for which someone is responsible

mafuta

specialized animal tissue

magharibi

compass point

maisha

the state of being alive

maji

inorganic compound H₂O

maji ya limau

still beverage

majito

body of water

majukumu

a duty, obligation or liability for which someone is responsible

majuzi

in the recent past

maki

sporting score

maktaba

collection of other materials

makundi

in Unix

malaika

messenger from a deity

mama

female (human) who parents a child, gives birth to a baby, or is pregnant

mamna

method or manner

mandazi

anything in the shape of a torus

mapigano

conflict

mapokezi

front desk

marisaa

small metal balls used as ammunition

masaibu

difficulty

mashariki

compass point

matako

buttocks

matunda

part of plant

mauti

cessation of life

mazingira

area around something

maziwa

liquid

mazoezi

physical activity intended to improve strength and fitness

mazungumzo

expression and exchange of individual ideas through talking with other people

mbahili

skinflint or scrooge

mbalungi

tree

mbamia

A. esculentus

mbangi

plant

mbano

woodworking tool

mbingu

sky

mbona

(interrogative) for what reason

mbuga

ground for recreation

mbuni

large flightless bird

Mbuzi

astrological sign

mbwa

animal

mbwa mwitu

animal

mbweha

any of the species in the tribe Vulpini

mbweha mwekundu

Vulpes

mchanga

finely ground rock

mchawi

person who uses magic

mchezo

playful activity

mchungaji

a person who tends sheep

mchungwa

tree

mdakizi

person

mdaku

person

mdalasini

Cinnamomum verum

mdudu

a colloquial name for various arthropods and other similar creeping creatures

metaboli

complete set of chemical reactions that occur in living cells

metali

atomic element or material made of such atoms

meza

to take in, to consume

mfadhili

person or organization with religious, legal, or financial responsibility for another

mfalme

a playing piece in chess

mfasiri

someone or something that translates meaning from one language to another

mfistiki

tree

mfiwa

person whose (parent or) parents have died

mfuko

flexible container

mfumbua

someone or something that translates meaning from one language to another

mfumo

group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole

mfupa

material

mgomba

plant

mguu

lower limb from groin to ankle

Mhabeshi

person

Mhispania

person from Spain

Mika

book of the Bible

mimba

condition

mimi

personal pronoun

minibasi

a small bus — see also marshrutka

miongoni mwa

of a person or thing: in the midst of and surrounded by (other people or things)

misa

religion: Eucharist

misheni

religious evangelism

Misko

capital city of Russia

mjane

woman whose spouse has died

mjasiriamali

person who organizes and operates a business and assumes the associated risk

mjeledi

rod or rope

mjozi

tree

mkaa

uncountable: carbon rock

mkale

person with long experience

mkana mungu

a person who believes with certainty that no deities exist

mkana-mungu

a person who believes with certainty that no deities exist

mkanamungu

a person who believes with certainty that no deities exist

mkate

baked dough made from cereals

Mkatoliki

member of a Catholic church

mkimbizi

person granted formal asylum

mkomamanga

Punica granatum shrub or small tree

mkondo

the movement of a fluid

mkranberi

shrub

mkundu

lower opening of the digestive tract

mkungumanga

tree

mkwaju

typography: / symbol

mkwezi

someone or something that climbs

mla-nyama

meat-eating animal

mlima

large mass of earth and rock

mlisho

encapsulated online content

mnanasi

plant

mnara

tall, narrow structure

mnyama wa nyumbani

an animal kept as a companion

mnyang'anyi

one who robs