name
Swahili
swuh-HEE-lee
Swahili (name) means a Bantu language widely spoken across East Africa, historically shaped by contact between Bantu and Arabic-speaking traders. Example: “Swahili is one of the official languages of Kenya and Tanzania.”
name
1
A Bantu language widely spoken across East Africa, historically shaped by contact between Bantu and Arabic-speaking traders.
"Swahili is one of the official languages of Kenya and Tanzania."
"Similarly, Swahili evolved as the trading language in East Africa and is described as having an Arab vocabulary upon an African grammar."
— John Malathronas, Which languages are easiest – and most difficult – for native English speakers to learn? (2021)
noun
1
A member of the Bantu, Afro-Arab, and Comorian peoples of the East African coast.
"The final sources for the early history of the Swahili are the oral traditions related by them about their own past."
— Derek Nurse, Thomas Spear (2017)
"Swahili communities have traded along the coast for centuries."
"The Swahilis are a unique and important community that began to form before the arrival of Islam, as a result of intermarriage between Arab traders who came to the coast and women from local ethnic groups."
— Arye Oded, Islam and Politics in Kenya (2000)
How to use Swahili
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe major trade language of East Africa, or a person belonging to the coastal peoples who speak it.
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Word forms
- Plural
- Swahilis
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_____ is one of the official languages of Kenya and Tanzania.
Etymology
From Arabic sawahil, "coasts," describing the peoples of the East African coastline.
Synonyms
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Kiswahili
Rhymes for Swahili
See all rhymes for Swahili →Frequently asked questions
What does “Swahili” mean?
The word “Swahili” means a Bantu language widely spoken across East Africa, historically shaped by contact between Bantu and Arabic-speaking traders. In plain terms, the major trade language of East Africa, or a person belonging to the coastal peoples who speak it.
How do you pronounce “Swahili”?
“Swahili” is pronounced swuh-HEE-lee (/swɑˈhili/ in IPA).
How do you use “Swahili” in a sentence?
Here is “Swahili” used in a sentence: “Swahili is one of the official languages of Kenya and Tanzania.”
What part of speech is “Swahili”?
Depending on how it is used, “Swahili” can be a name and a noun.
Where does the word “Swahili” come from?
The word “Swahili” comes from Arabic. From Arabic sawahil, "coasts," describing the peoples of the East African coastline.
How many meanings does “Swahili” have?
“Swahili” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a Bantu language widely spoken across East Africa, historically shaped by contact between Bantu and Arabic-speaking traders.
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