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Kamusi Yetu

Alfabeti: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W Y Z

A alfabeti

-a kienyeji indigenous, local, traditional

-a kijadi traditional

-a kitaalamu scholarly (cf. mtaalamu)

-a kiungu divine (cf. mungu)

-a kutupwa extreme

-a mbeleni 

-a nyongeza supplementary, additional

aarifiwa be informed (also: arifiwa; from Arabic; cf. maarifa, taarifa)

abudu worship (from Arabic; cf. ibada)

acha leave, leave behind (cf. achana, achia, achilia mbali)

achana leave each other, separate (cf. acha, achana naye)

achana naye leave him/her alone (cf. acha, achana, achia, achilia mbali)

achia leave off, bequeath, leave someone something (cf. acha, achana, achana naye, achia, achilia mbali)

achilia mbali let alone, never mind (cf. acha, achia)

ada 9/10 fee (from Arabic)

adabu 9/10 manners (from Arabic; cf. adibisha, adibu)

adesi 9/10 lentils (from Arabic)

adha 9/10 discomfort, trouble (from Arabic; cf. udhi, udhi 5/6, udhia, udhika)

adhabu 9/10 punishment (from Arabic; cf. adhibu)

adhana 9/10 call to prayer (from Arabic; cf. adhinia)

adhibu punish (from Arabic; cf. adhabu)

adhimisha celebrate (from Arabic; cf. adhimu)

adhimu celebrate, honor, glorify (from Arabic; cf. adhimisha)

adhinia call to prayer (from Arabic; cf. adhana)

adhuhuri 9/10 noontime, 12-2 pm (from Arabic)

adibisha teach good manners (cf. adabu, adibu)

adibu courteous, well-bred (cf. adabu, adibisha)

adili conduct oneself well (from Arabic; cf. adili 5/6)

adili 5/6 ethic (from Arabic; cf. adili, v.)

adimu rare (from Arabic; cf. adimika)

adimika be rare, scarce (from Arabic; words with common root: adimu)

adui 9/10 & 1/2 enemy (from Arabic)

aendapo where s/he is going

afadhali it is better (from Arabic)

afisa 5/6 & 1/2 officer (from English)

afya 9/10 health (from Arabic)

aga take leave, say goodbye (cf. agana)

agana take leave of one another (cf. aga)

aghlabu usually (from Arabic)

agiza direct, order, give instructions (cf. agizwa)

agizwa be ordered (cf. agiza)

ahadi 9/10 promise, agreement (from Arabic; cf. ahidiana)

ahidiana promise to each other (from Arabic; cf. ahadi)

aibu 9/10 shame, disgrace, embarrassment (from Arabic)

aidha furthermore, moreover (from Arabic)

aina ya pekee special, peculiar (aina from Arabic)

aisee I say; oh really! (from English)

ajabu 9/10 amazement (from Arabic)

ajali 9/10 accident (from Arabic)

ajira 9/10 employment (from Arabic: cf. ajiriwa)

ajiriwa be hired (from Arabic; cf. ajira)

akaunt 9/10 account (from English)

akhera 9/10 afterlife (also: ahera; from Arabic)

akhiri 9/10 postponement, delay (also: ahiri; from Arabic)

akiba 9/10 savings, reserve (from Arabic)

alama 9/10 sign; academic grade (from Arabic)

alasiri 9/10 late afternoon (from Arabic)

aleluya Halleluiah (from Hebrew via English)

alhamdu praise; first chapter of the Koran, also known as Al-Fatiha (from Arabic)

Al hamdu lil’lahi Praise be to God (from Arabic)

alika invite (cf. alikwa)

alikwa be invited (cf. alika)

almasi 9/10 diamond (from Arabic)

ama either (from Arabic)

amana 9/10 security, trust (from Arabic; cf. amini, amani)

amani 9/10 peace (from Arabic; cf. amini, amana)

ambamo in which

ambatana na be linked to or with

ambilika be affable, approachable

ambukiza infect (cf. ambukizo, ambukizwa)

ambukizo 5/6 contagion, infection (cf. ambukiza, ambukizwa)

ambukizwa be infected (cf. ambukiza, ambukizo)

amini believe, trust (cf. amana, amanim)

amka get up, wake up (cf. amsha)

amri 9/10 order, command, imperative (from Arabic; cf. amrisha, amuru)

amrisha give orders (from Arabic; cf. amri, amuru)

amsha wake someone up (cf. amka)

amua decide

amuru command (from Arabic; cf. amri, amrisha)

ana kwa ana face to face

anasa 9/10 luxury, pleasure, comfort (from Arabic)

andaa prepare (cf. andalia)

andalia prepare for (cf. andaa)

andama follow, be next (cf. andama na, andamana na)

andama na go around with (cf. andama, andamana na)

andamana na follow around, go with (cf. andama, andama na)

anga 9/10 air, sky

angalia look at

angalau at least

angamia perish; be destroyed (cf. angamiza, maangamizi)

angamiza destroy (cf. angamia, maangamizi)

angaza shine, illuminate (cf. angazia)

angazia to shine on, light up for (cf. angaza)

anguka fall (cf. angukia, angusha, angushana)

angukia fall on something/someone (cf. anguka, angusha, angushana)

angusha make someone/something fall down, pull down, push down, make fall (cf. anguka, angukia, angushana)

angushana fall on each other (cf. anguka, angukia, angusha)

anko 9/10 uncle (used in reference to an older male; from English)

anwani 9/10 address (from Arabic)

apa swear

apa yamini solemnly swear (cf. apa)

asa admonish (from Arabic)

asaa perhaps (from Arabic)

asali 9/10 honey

asasi 9/10 origin

ashama open one's mouth

ashiria inform, signal, warn (cf. ishara; from Arabic)

asi rebel (against) (from Arabic)

asilia genuine, real, original, indigenous (from Arabic)

asilimia 9/10 percent

asiswa be founded (cf. mwasisi)

askari 9/10 & 1/2 policeman, soldier (from Arabic)

askofu 5/6 & 1/2 bishop (from Arabic)

aspirini 9/10 aspirin (from English)

athari 9/10 effect, impact, influence (from Arabic; cf. athirika, athiriwa)

athiri affect, influence

athirika be affected (from Arabic; cf. athari, athiriwa)

athiriwa be affected (from Arabic; cf. athari, athirika)

awali 9/10 beginning, start, inception (from Arabic)

awali foremost (from Arabic)

awamu 9/10 phase, term (of office)

aya 9/10 paragraph (from Arabic)

azali without beginning, eternal (from Arabic)

azima 9/10 intention, purpose (from Arabic; cf. azimio, azimu, azma); charm, magic, talisman

azimio 5/6 intention, plan, declaration (cf. azima, azimu, azma)

azimu decide on, resolve (from Arabic; cf. azimio, azima, azma)

azma 9/10 scheme (from Arabic; cf. azimio, azimu, azima)

B alfabeti

baa 9/10 bar (from English)

baadhi ya some of

babaika be confused

-badala alternative (cf. badala yake, badili; from Arabic)

badala yake instead of him/her/it (cf. -badala; from Arabic)

badili change (cf. badala; from Arabic)

bafu 9/10 bathroom (from English bath)

bahari 9/10 sea, ocean (from Arabic)

bahasha 9/10 envelope (from Turkish)

bahati 9/10 luck (cf. bahatisha; from Persian)

bahatisha guess (cf. bahati; from Persian)

baini recognize, see clearly, know with certainty (cf. bainika, bainisha; from Arabic)

bainika be discovered, recognized (cf. baini, bainisha; from Arabic)

bainisha show clearly (cf. baini, bainika; from Arabic)

bajeti 5/6 augmentative of bajeti 9/10 budget (from English)

baka rape

baka 5/6 mark on the skin, scar (from Arabic)

baki remain (cf. bakia, bakiza; from Arabic)

bakia remain, leave (cf. baki, bakiza; from Arabic)

bakiza  leave something, cause to remain (cf. baki, bakia; from Arabic)

bakora 9/10 stick, cane (from Arabic)

bakuli 9/10 bowl (from Arabic)

balaa 5/6 disaster, calamity, disturbance (from Arabic)

baleghesha cause to mature (from Arabic)

balozi 5/6 & 1/2 advisor, ambassador (from Turkish via Arabic)

bana press, squeeze, be (too) tight, put pressure on (cf. banana)

banana squeeze against one another (cf. bana)

bandari 9/10 port (from Persian)

bandia artificial, imitation, false (also: -a bandia; from Arabic)

bandika attach, put onto

banika roast, toast (cf. banikwa)

banikwa be roasted, toasted (cf. banika)

bango la barabarani 5/6 billboard

bao 5/6 goal; board; fortune-telling; divining board (from Portuguese)

baraka 9/10 blessing, prosperity (cf. bariki; from Arabic)

baraza 5/6 council (from Arabic or Persian)

bariki bless (cf. baraka; from Arabic)

bashiri predict (from Arabic)

bati 5/6 tin, tin metal sheet (from Arabic or Hindi)

batiki 9/10 batik (from Javanese via English)

batizwa be baptized (from English)

bayana obvious, well-known, incontrovertible (from Arabic)

bebwa be carried

bega 5/6 shoulder

bembeleza quieten, soothe, coax, persuade

bendi 9/10 band (from English)

benki 9/10 bank (from English)

Bethlehemu Bethlehem

beua disdain, scorn

biblia 9/10 Bible (from English)

-bichi unripe

bidi compel, obligate, necessitate (cf. bidii; from Arabic)

bidii 9/10 effort, hard work (cf. bidi; from Arabic)

bikira 5/6 & 1/2 virgin; nun (from Arabic)

bilauri 9/10 glass (from Arabic)

bima 9/10 insurance (from Hindi)

binafsi private (cf. binafsishwa)

binafsishwa be privatized (cf. binafsi)

binti 5/6/8 &1/2 daughter (from Arabic)

bingwa 5/6 & 1/2 expert, specialist

bisha argue, quarrel; knock (cf. bishana)

bishana argue with eachother (cf. bisha)

blogu 9/10 blog (from English)

bobea specialize

bodi 9/10 board, committee (from English board)

bofya click on a link in a web page (lit. 'to make sink in')

boma 5/6 government office area (from Persian)

bomba 5/6 pipe, pump (from Portuguese)

bomoa destroy, demolish

bonde 5/6 valley

bora best (cf. boreka; from Arabic)

boreka be improved (cf. bora; from Arabic)

boronga botch, bungle

boti 5/6 boat (from English)

-bovu bad, decayed, rotten

bubu 5/6 & 1/2 mute person

budi alternative (sina budi = I must, I have to ... [literally: I have no alternative but to...]; from Arabic)

bunduki 9/10 rifle, gun (from Arabic, Hindi or Persian)

buni invent, make up

bung'aa be dumbfounded, lose one's senses

bunge 5/6 parliament, congress

bure gratis, free; useless (from Hindi or Arabic; cf. bure tu)

bure tu for nothing, useless (cf. bure)

burudani 9/10 entertainment (from Arabic)

busara 9/10 common sense (from Arabic)

busiana kiss each other (cf. busu)

busu kiss (from Persian; cf. busu 5/6, busiana)

busu 5/6 kiss (from Persian; cf. busiana, busu, v.)

butaa 9/10 amazement (also: butwaa; from Arabic)

Bwana lord

bweni 5/6 dormitory

C alfabeti

cha dawn, change to dawn, be morning

chachu 9/10 yeast, fermentation agent

chafuka get dirty; messy; get mean (cf. machafuko, uchafuzi)

chagua select, choose (cf. chaguliwa)

chaguliwa be selected (cf. chagua)

chaka 5/6 forest

chakaa be exhausted, grow old, wear out (cf. chakavu)

-chakavu old, shabby, worn-out (cf. chakaa)

chama cha ushirika 7/8 co-operative; union (cf. shirika, shiriki, shirikiana)

chana comb (from Persian)

chandalua 9/10 mosquito net (also: chandarua; from Hindi)

-changa very young, immature

-changamfu happy, gay, charming, active

changamoto 9/10 challenge

changanua analyze, separate (reversive of changanya)

changanya mix (cf. changanua)

changia contribute to (cf. changisha)

changisha contribute (cf. changia)

changudoa 5/6 & 1/2 prostitute (slang)

chanja cut into, make an incision (cf. chanjo)

chanjari in line, in single file

chanjo 9/10 & 5/6  innoculation, vaccination (cf. chanja)

chanzo 7/8 cause

chapisha publish (cf. piga chapa)

chatu 9/10 & 1/2 python

cheka laugh (cf. chekelea, chekesha, kicheko)

chekelea smile, chuckle (cf. cheka, chekesha, kicheko)

chekesha make laugh, be funny (cf. cheka, chekelea, kicheko)

chelewa be late (cf. chelewesha)

chelewa kufika be/come late (cf. chelewa, chelewesha)

chelewesha make late; delay (cf. chelewa)

chemchemi 9/10 spring of water

cheo 7/8 position (social); standing

cheti 7/8 certificate, document (from Hindi)

cheza play (cf. chezea, chezesha)

chezea play with (cf. cheza, chezesha)

chezesha wiggle, move, shake something (cf. cheza, chezea)

chimba dig, dig up (cf. chimbo, chimbuko)

chimbo 5/6 ditch, hole (cf. chimba, chimbuko)

chimbuko 5/6 beginning, source (cf. chimba, chimbo)

chinja slaughter, kill (cf. chinjwa)

chinjwa be slaughtered, killed (cf. chinja)

chokoza poke into (cf. chokozwa)

chokozwa be provoked (cf. chokoza)

choma stab, hurt

chomwa moto be burnt

chonga carve, cut out (cf. chongea, chongoka, chongwa)

chongea carve, cut with/for; slander, tattle (cf. chonga, chongoka, chongwa)

chongoka be jagged, sharp (cf. chonga, chongea, chongwa)

chongwa be carved, chopped, cut (cf. chonga, chongea, chongoka)

chosha make tired, wear out

chota pick up

chozi 5/6 tear

chuki 9/10 hatred (cf. chukia, chukiza, chukizwa)

chukia hate, abhor (cf. chuki, chukiza, chukizwa)

chukiza make mad (cf. chuki, chukia, chukizwa)

chukizwa be annoyed, made mad (cf. chuki, chukia, chukiza)

chukua take (cf. chukuliwa)

chukuliwa be taken (cf. chukua)

chuma collect, gather

chumba cha kuogea bathing room

chumbisha propose (marriage)

chumvi 9/10 salt

chunga take care of, look after, watch (cf. chungua, chungulia, chunguza, chunguzana, chungwa)

chungu 9/10 cooking pot

chungua look carefully (cf. chunga, chungulia, chunguza, chunguzana, chungwa)

chungulia check out, spy, pry into (cf. chunga, chungua, chunguza, chunguzana, chungwa)

chunguza inspect, examine (cf. chunga, chungua, chungulia, chunguzana, chungwa)

chunguzana inspect each other (cf. chunga, chungua, chungulia, chunguza, chungwa)

chungwa be taken care of, be looked after, watched (cf. chunga, chungua, chungulia, chunguza, chunguzana)

chupa jump, hop

chupa 9/10 bottle

chupi 9/10 underwear, panties

chura 7/8 & 1/2 frog

 

 D alfabeti

dadako contraction of dada yako, your sister

daftari 5/6 notebook (from Arabic)

dai claim (from Arabic; cf. daiwa)

daiwa owe (cf. dai)

daima always, perpetually, permanently, forever

daka snatch (cf. daka maneno, dakia)

daka maneno interrupt speech (cf. daka, dakia)

dakia jump in (conversation), interrupt (cf. daka, daka maneno)

dadadala 5/6 small bus, minivan, or truck used as a bus

dalili 9/10 indication, sign

dampo 5/6 dump (from English)

damu 9/10 blood (from Arabic)

danganya deceive, cheat, elude (cf. danganyika)

danganyika be deceived (cf. danganya)

dansi 9/10 dance (from English)

daraka 5/6 obligation, responsibility

Daudi David

 dayaspora 9/10 diaspora

debe 5/6 tin, can (from Hindi)

degedege 9/10 convulsions and fever, especially in small children (also: dege 5/6)

deski 5/6 school desk (from English)

dhahabu 9/10 gold (from Arabic)

-dhaifu feeble, weak, infirm, sickly (from Arabic; cf. udhaifu)

dhahiri clear, evident, obvious (cf. dhihirisha, hadhari, hadharisha, jihadhari, tahadharisha, tahadharishwa; from Arabic)

dhalimu cruel, oppressive (from Arabic)

dhamana 9/10 responsibility (from Arabic)

dhambi 9/10 sin (from Arabic)

dhamini sponsor

dhamira 9/10 theme; intention (from Arabic; cf. dhamiri, dhamiria)

dhamiri 9/10 conscience, intention (from Arabic; cf. dhamira, dhamiria)

dhamiria aim, intend to, propose to (from Arabic; cf. dhamira, dhamiri)

dhana 9/10 concept, idea, opinion, notion

dhani think, consider (from Arabic)

dhara 5/6 damage, harm, injury, negative consequence (from Arabic; cf. dhuru)

dharau ignore, scorn (from Arabic)

dharau 9/10 contempt (from Arabic; cf. dharau, v.)

dharauliwa be ignored, scorned (from Arabic; cf. dharau)

dharura 9/10 emergency (from Arabic)

dhibiti protect against; control, censor (from Arabic; cf. dhibitiwa)

dhibitiwa controlled, protected against (from Arabic; cf. dhibiti)

dhidi against

dhidi ya against, anti-

dhihaki make fun of, ridicule (from Arabic)

dhihirisha reveal, explain, show (cf. dhahiri, hadhari, hadharisha, jihadhari, tahadharisha, tahadharishwa; from Arabic)

dhiki 9/10 distress, misfortune (from Arabic)

dhoruba 9/10 storm (from Arabic)

dhuluma 9/10 & 1/2 tyrant (from Arabic; cf. dhulumu)

dhulumu exploit, opress, treat unjustly (from Arabic; cf. dhuluma)

dhuru hurt, harm (from Arabic; cf. dhara)

dira 9/10 compass, direction (from Arabic)

diriki able (from Arabic)

diwani 9/10 collection of poems (from Arabic)

diwani 5/6 & 1/2 civil leader, councilor (from Arabic)

diwani ya ushairi 9/10 poetry collection

doa 5/6 spot, stain

dodosa cross-examine (from Arabic)

dodoshwa be struck

dogoli 5/6 exorcism ceremony( named after the dogoli drum of the Zaramo people in Tanzania)

dogowesha form a diminutive, diminish (cf. -dogo)

dokeza hint, indicate, suggest

donda 5/6 large sore, ulcer

dondoa pick up a little by little (cf. dondoka, dondolewa)

dondoka drip (cf. dondoa, dondolewa)

dondolewa be quoted (cf. dondoa)

dorora go bad

dosari 9/10 blemish, defect (from Arabic)

duara 9/10 circle (from Arabic)

dugu 5/6 round mat

dukuduku 5/6 & 9/10 exasperation, deep concern, confusion

dumaza stunt, retard, underdevelop

dumisha sustain, make last (cf. dumu)

dumu last, persist (cf. dumisha)

dunda beat (fast, excitedly) (from Hindi)

duni inferior, low (from Arabic; cf. dunisha)

dunia 9/10 world (from Arabic)

dunisha despise (cf. duni)

dunga administer a hypodermic injection (cf. dungwa, dungiwa)

dungwa to be given a hypodermic injection (cf. dunga, dungiwa)

dungiwa to be given a hypodermic injection (cf. dunga, dungwa)

duru 9/10 round (from Arabic)

E alfabeti

ebu! come on! let's...

egemea rely on, rest on (cf. tegemea)

egesha park (a car)

eka 9/10 acre

elekea towards, be in the direction of, be directed towards (cf. elekeza, elekezo, elekezwa)

elekeza direct someone or something, position something (cf. elekea, elekezo, elekezwa)

elekezo 5/6 direction (cf. elekea, elekeza, elekezwa)

elekezwa be directed, instructed, ordered (cf. elekea, elekeza, elekezo)

elemea burden, overwhelm

eleweka be understood, understandable (cf. eleza, elezwa)

eleza explain, describe (cf. eleweka, elezwa)

elezwa be explained, described (cf. eleweka, eleza)

-embamba thin

enda kwa mganga go to the doctor

enda zake go off, take off, go on his/her way

enda zangu go off, etc., be on my way

endea go to/towards (cf. endelea, endeleza, endeshwa)

endelea continue, progress (cf. endea, endeleza, endeshwa)

endeleza make someone progress (cf. endea, endelea, endeshwa)

endeshwa be run (cf. endea, endelea, endeleza)

enea spread (cf. eneo)

eneo 5/6 area (releated words: enea)

enuka rise up (standard: inuka)

enzi give honor and respect, glorify

enzi 9/10 period of time

-epesi easy, fast

epuka avoid (cf. epusha)

epusha cause to avoid (cf. epuka)

eti apparently, as if, that (indicates some doubt about the statement that follows it;  functions similarly to quotations marks, i.e. indicates reported speech, statements of others, or irony)

eti bwana! right, man?

F alfabeti

fa maji drown

faa be appropriate, proper

fadhili aid, assist (cf. fadhiliwa)

fadhiliwa be helped, sponsored (cf. fadhili)

fafanua analyze

fafanulia make clear to someone

fahamisha inform (cf. fahamu)

fahamu 10 senses (cf. fahamisha)

fahari 9 pride

faida 9/10 profit, good (cf. faidika)

faidika profit; be advantageous (cf. faida)

faili 5/6 file, folder (from English)

falsafa 9/10 philosophy

fanana resemble (cf. fanana na)

fanana na resemble someone/something (cf. fanana)

fani 9/10 form; genre; type; kind; field (of activity)

fani worthy, valuable

fanikisha make successful

fanikiwa succeed

fanya do, make (cf. fanyiza)

fanya fujo make a disturbance, trouble

fanya hila trick

fanyiza make (cf. fanya)

faradhi 9/10 religious obligation

faraja 9/10 comfort, relief

farasi 9/10 & 1/2 horse

fariji comfort, console, relieve

farisayo 5/6 & 1/2 pharisee

fasaha correct, faultless

fasihi 9/10 literature

fasili 9/10 offspring

faulu succeed

fedha 9/10 money

fedheha 9/10 disgrace, shame

feki fake (from English)

ficha hide (cf. fichua)

fichua expose, reveal, uncover (reversive of ficha)

fifia be dying away, fade, pine, dribble away, disappear (cf. fifisha)

fifisha make fade, dissappear (usually: fifiza; words with common root: fifia)

fika reach, arrive (cf. fikia, fikisha)

fikara 9/10 thought, idea

fikia arrive at, reach at/to (cf. fika, fikisha)

fikia kikomo reach the limit (cf. fika, fikia)

fikira 9/10 thought, idea

fikisha cause or enable to reach (cf. fika, fikia)

filimbi 9/10 whistle

finyana macho wink at each other

finyu narrow, tight

fisi 9/10 & 8/12 hyena

fitina 9/10 strife, antagonism

fiwa be bereaved (cf. kufa)

flana or fulana 9/10 sweater, vest

fofofo deep, heavily (lala fofofo)

foka be fuming with anger, blurt out angrily (cf. fokea, fokewa)

fokea yell at (cf. foka, fokewa)

fokewa be yelled at (cf. foka, fokea)

fomu 9/10 form, questionnaire (from English)

fua nguo wash clothes

fuata follow (cf. fuatilia)

fuatilia follow carefully (cf. fuata)

fufuka be resurrected

fuja waste, squander (cf. fujo)

fujo 9/10 trouble (usually noisy) (cf. fuja)

fukiza burn incense

fukuza drive away, drive out, kick out (cf. fukuzwa)

fukuzwa be driven away, expelled (cf. fukuza)

fulani certain

fuma knit (cf. fumia)

fumana catch in the act, esp. sex (cf. fumania)

fumania catch in the act, esp. sex (cf. fumana)

fumba mystify, disguise

fumba macho close eyes

fumia knit for someone (cf. fuma)

fundi 5/6 & 1/2 expert, craftsperson

funga kamba tie up

funga mizigo pack up, pack bags

funga safari set out on a trip

fungasha pack up

funika cover (cf. funua, funuliwa)

funua open, open up (cf. funika, funua macho, funua mdomo, funuliwa)

funua macho open one's eyes (cf. funua)

funua mdomo open one's mouth (cf. funua)

funuka be disclosed, revealed

funuliwa be opened (cf. funika, funua)

fununu 9/10 rumor

funza 5/6 larva

fupisho 5/6 abbreviation (cf. -fupi)

furaha 9 joy (cf. furahi)

furahi be happy, joyful (cf. furaha)

furika overflow

fursa 9/10 opportunity

futa remove, erase

futi 9/10 measuring foot

fuvu 5/6 skull

fuzu master

fyatua let off a gun or trap

fyeka cut grass, mow

G alfabeti

gaagaa or garagara roll from side to side

gadhabu 9/10 rage

gamba boast, show off

ganda coagulate, freeze, jell up; embrace, clasp

ganzi 9/10 numbness

garama 9/10 cost, expensives (usually gharama)

gari 5/6 car; vehicle; wheelbarrow (from English car)

gauni 5/6 dress (from English 'gown')

genge 5/6 gang (from English)

geni foreign, strange

gereza 9/10 prison (from Portuguese 'igreja,' meaning 'church')

geuka turn around; become different, change (cf. geuka kupindukia, geuka sura, geuza, geuza sura, geuzageuza)

geuka kupindukia make a U-turn (cf. geuka)

geuka sura change appearance (face) (cf. geuka)

geuza change something (cf. geuka, geuza sura, geuzageuza)

geuza sura change one's appearance (cf. geuka, geuza)

geuzageuza turn over and over (cf. geuka, geuza)

ghafla suddenly

ghaibu 9/10 distance

ghaidhi 9/10 anger

gharama 9/10 expense, cost, price

ghasia 9/10 uproar, commotion; disturbance, trouble

ghilibu get the better of, cheat

giza 9/10 darkness

glasi 9/10 glass (from English)

godoro 5/6 mattress

gomba argue (with), quarrel (cf. gombana na)

gombana na argue, fight (verbally) (cf. gomba)

gonga knock (cf. gongwa)

gongwa be knocked (on) (cf. gonga)

gorofa floor, level in a building

goti 5/6 knee

gubika cover, wrap up

guna grumble, grunt

gundua find (out) (cf. gundulika, gunduliwa)

gundulika be found out (cf. gundua, gunduliwa)

gunduliwa be found out (cf. gundua, gundulika)

gurudumu 5/6 vehicle wheel

gusa touch (cf. gusia)

gusia touch, finger something; touch on (in conversation) (cf. gusa)

gwiji 5/6 (or  9/10) & 1/2 expert

H alfabeti

hadaa deceive, trick

hadhari be careful, cautious (cf. dhahiri, hadharisha, jihadhari, tahadharisha, tahadharishwa)

hadharisha warn, make someone careful of (cf. dhahiri, hadhari, jihadhari, tahadharisha, tahadharishwa)

hadi until, up to

hafifu weak; insufficient

haidhuru It doesn't matter/Never mind. (cf. dhuru)

haifai it isn't right/appropriate; it's no good

haja 9/10 need

haja ndogo 9/10 euphemism: need to urinate

haji pilgrimage to Mecca (cf. hiji, hujaji)

hai alive, living

hakika 9/10 truth, certainty (cf. hakikisha, hakikishwa)

hakikisha make sure, make certain (cf. hakika, hakikishwa)

hakikishwa be verified, ascertained (cf. hakika, hakikisha)

hakimu 5/6 & 1/2 judge

halali lawful, legal (cf. halalisha, halalishwa)

halalisha authorize, permit (cf. halali, halalishwa)

halalishwa be permitted, sanctioned, legalized (cf. halali, halalisha)

hali 9/10 state, condition

hali kadhalika 9/10 similarly, likewise

halmashauri 9/10 committee, council

hama move (away) (cf. hamia, hamisha)

hamaki get angry

hamaki 9/10 fury, temper

hamasa 9/10 excitement, eagerness (cf. hamasisha)

hamasisha make eager, excite (cf. hamasa)

hamdu 9/10 praise

hamia move to, settle at (cf. hama)

hamisha move something (cf. hama, hamia)

hamu 9/10 anxiety, fervor, longing, desire

hangaiko 5/6 commotion, anxiety, restlessness

hapo Septemba in September

harakati 9/10 struggle, scramble, rush, activity, agitation

haramia 5/6 & 1/2 bandit (cf. haramu)

haramu prohibited (cf. haramia)

hari 9/10 fervor

haribika get destroyed, ruined (cf. haribiwa, haribu)

haribiwa be destroyed (cf. haribika, haribu)

haribu spoil, ruin (cf. haribika, haribiwa)

harufu 9/10 odor

hasa especially (also: haswa)

hasara 9/10 loss, damage

hasira 9/10 anger

haswa especially (also: hasa)

hata even, until, to

hata hivyo even so

hata vile even so

hatari 9/10 danger

hati 9/10 certificate, document

hatia 9/10 guilt, fault

hatima 9/10 conclusion, end (cf. hatimaye)

hatimaye eventually, finally, at last (contraction of hatima yake; cf. hatima)

hawara 9/10 & 1/2 whore; mistress

haya 9/10 embarrassment, shyness; shame

hayati 9/10 & 1/2 deceased person (respectful)

hazina 9/10 treasury

hekalu 9/10 temple

hekaya 9/10 miracle, wonder

hekima 9/10 wisdom

hesabu count, add up

heshima 9/10 respect (cf. heshimu)

heshimu respect (cf. heshima)

hewa 9/10 air

hiji make a pilgrimage to Mecca (cf. haji, hujaji)

hila 9/10 trick

hima 9/10 energy, urgency, importance (cf. himiza, himizwa)

himiza urge, hasten (cf. hima, himizwa)

himizwa be/get encouraged (cf. hima, himiza)

hina 9/10 henna

hirizi 9/10 amulet, charm, talisman

hisabati 9/10 mathematics

hitaji need (cf. hitaji, n., hitajika)

hitaji 5/6 need (cf. hitaji, v., hitajika)

hitajika be necessary, needed (cf. hitaji, v., hitaji, n.)

hitimu graduate, complete studies (cf. hitimishwa)

hitimishwa be/get concluded (cf. hitimu)

hiyari 9/10 choice, option, free will (more common: hiari)

hofu 9/10 fear, fright

hoi helpless, destitute

hojiwa be quizzed, interviewed

homa 9/10 fever (sometimes used idiomatically for malaria)

hongo 5/6 blackmail

hori 5/6 manger, feeding trough

huba 9/10 love

hubiri preach (cf. hubiria, hubiriwa)

hubiria preach to/at (cf. hubiri, hubiriwa)

hubiriwa be announced, reported, preached (cf. hubiri, hubiria)

hudhuria attend

huduma 9/10 service, aid, assistance, help (cf. hudumia, hudumu)

hudumia aid, assist, serve, help, attend to (cf. huduma, hudumu)

hudumu serve, take care (cf. huduma, hudumia)

huenda ikawa it is possible, it may be that

hujaji 5/6 pilgrim to Mecca (cf. haji, hiji)

huko huko right there

hukumiwa be sentenced, be judged (cf. hukumu, n., hukumu, v.)

hukumu sentence; judge, cast judgment (cf. hukumiwa, hukumu, n.)

hukumu 9/10 judgement, legal sentence (cf. hukumiwa, hukumu, v.)

hulka 9/10 character, nature

humo humo in the same place

huria free, independent (cf. uhuru)

huruma 9/10 pity, compassion, sympathy, mercy (cf. hurumia)

hurumia take pity, feel sorry for (cf. huruma)

husika concerned, particular, specific

husika na be involved in (cf. husisha, husu)

husisha make concerned, involve (cf. husika na, husu)

husu concern (cf. husika na, husisha)

husudu envy

hususan especially

hutubu give a speech

huzuni 9/10 grief, sorrow

huzunisha sadden (cf. huzuni)

I alfabeti

ibada 9/10 religious service, worship (from Arabic; cf. abudu)

ibara 9/10 column

Ibilisi 9/10 & 1/2 Satan, the devil

Ibrahim Abraham

ibua bring out, bring to light

ibuka emerge

idadi 9/10 number, amount, quantity

idara 9/10 academic department

igiza play, imitate (cf. igizo)

igizo 5/6 play, drama (cf. igiza)

ijapokuwa even though, although

ijara 9/10 payment

ikiwa ni this/it being

ila except that

ima either ... or (usually: ama)

Imamu 9/10 & 1/2 Imam, Muslim leader (from Arabic)

imani 9/10 belief

imarisha strengthen, solidify

imba sing

imba aleluya express happiness noisily

inama bend over, bend down, bow (cf. inamia)

inamia bow to/before, stand by/on someone (cf. inama)

inapata approximately, about (usually: yapata)

inasemekana it is said

ingawa although, even though

ingia enter (cf. ingilia, ingiza)

ingilia interfere, intrude on (cf. ingia, ingiza)

ingiza put in, insert (cf. ingia, ingilia)

injili 9/10 gospel, new testament

inua raise, lift, elevate (cf. inuliwa)

inuliwa have (something) lifted, raised, be lifted, raised (cf. inua)

Isa Jesus (when spoken of by Muslims)

isha Muslim prayers after sunset, 6:30 - 8:30 pm

ishara 9/10 sign

isimu 9/10 linguistics

isipokuwa except, only

istilahi 9/10 specialized vocabulary

itakidi believe (cf. itikadi)

itika respond

itikadi 9/10 belief, ideology (cf. itakidi)

itwa be called, be named

iva be ready, be well cooked, be ripe

iwapo if, when, in case (literally: when it is)

J alfabeti

jaa fill up

jaa 9/10 garbage pail, rubbage heap

jaa mawe be full of stones

jabali 5/6 & 1/2 (colloquial) prominent, exceptional person (lit.: 5/6 huge rock)

jadi 5/6 ancestry, origin

jaji 5/6 & 1/2 judge

jahanum 9/10 hell (in the Koran, one of seven levels of Hell, where idol-worshippers are sent on the day of judgement)

jahili ingorant, cruel, uncivilized

Jalali Almighty (title of Allah)

jali care, mind

jali grant (of God) (cf. jaliwa)

jaliwa be granted by God (cf. jali)

jamaa 9/10 & 1/2 family member, relative

jambazi 5/6 & 1/2 armed robber, gangster

janga 5/6 danger, trouble, calamity, disaster, mental blow

jangwa 5/6 desert

japo even though

jaribio 5/6 experiment (cf. jaribu)

jaribu try (cf. jaribio)

jarida 9/10 journal

jasho 5 sweat, perspiration

jasusi 5/6 & 1/2 spy

jawabu 5/6 answer

jaza fill something

jazba 9/10 intense feeling

jela 9/10 prison

jeneza 5/6 & 9/10 bier, casket, coffin

jengo 5/6 building

jeruhiwa be injured

jiandaa prepare oneself (cf. andaa)

jibaini make oneself clear

jibanza squeeze oneself up against

jibiwa be answered (cf. jibika, jibu)

jibika be answerable (cf. jibiwa, jibu)

jibu answer (cf. jibiwa, jibika)

Jibril Gabriel

jicho/macho 5/6 eye

jichoma ulimi prick ones tongue

jidai pretend, claim (falsely)

jifanya pretend

jifikiri think/imagine oneself

jifungua give birth

jifunika cover oneself

jifurahisha cheer oneself up

jihadhari mind oneself, exercise caution (cf. dhahiri, hadhari, hadharisha, tahadharisha, tahadharishwa)

jihadi 9/10 jihad, holy war

jiharibia spoil/ruin one's something

jikabidhi give oneself away

jike/majike 5/6 female animal

jiko/majiko 5/6 kitchen

jikunja curl up

jikunyata kwa baridi double up with cold

jikwaa stumble

jikwatua

jilipiza kisa take revenge

jina 5/6 noun, name

jinamizi 5/6 nightmare

jinasibisha claim descent

jini 5/6 & 1/2 spirit, devil, genie, ghost (from Arabic)

jipendekeza ingratiate oneself

jipu 5/6 abscess, tumor, boil

jipulizia upepo blow air at oneself

jirefusha make oneself tall

jirekebisha mend one's ways

jitahidi make an effort, do one's best, try hard (cf. juhudi)

jitambua remember oneself

jitegemea rely on oneself

jitokeza appear, emerge (cf. toa, toka, tokeza)

jitu/majitu 5/6 giant

jitunza take care of oneself

jiumizia hurt/harm oneself

jiunga na join

jivuna be proud (cf. jivunia)

jivunia pride oneself on (cf. jivuna)

jiweza have the ability

joho 9/10 robe, cloak

jongea approach, move

jongoo 5/6 millipede

jopo 5/6 panel of people

jua know

jua kali 5 hot sun; informal sector

juhudi 9/10 effort (cf. jitahidi)

jukumu 5/6 responsibility, role

jukwaa 5/6 platform, stage

julia hali ask about how someone is doing

julikana be known

julisha introduce, let know, inform

jumba 5/6 large building

jumlisha put together

jumuia 9/10 community (cf. jumuisha, mjumuiko)

jumuisha to bring together (cf. jumuia, mjumuiko)

jura 5/6 & 1/2 large frog

juu yake about her/him

juzi day before yesterday

juzi juzi recently

K alfabeti

kaba roho grab by the throat

kabati 5/6 cupboard

kabili confront

kabiliana face one another, confront one another (cf. kabili)

kabiliwa be faced by (cf. kabili)

kabla before

kaburi 5/6 grave, tomb

kaburu 5/6 & 1/2 boer, A Dutch colonist (or descendant) in South Africa

kacha kachu sound of the scissors cutting (onomatopoeia)

kadamnasi in public

kadhaa certain, specific

kadinali 5/6 & 1/2 cardinal

kadiri 9/10 amount, as much as (cf. kadiriwa, makadirio)

kadiriwa be estimated (cf. kadiri, makadirio)

kafara 5/6 sacrifice, offering

kafiri 5/6 & 1/2 atheist, non-believer, infidel

kahaba 5/6 & 1/2 prostitute

kaki khaki color

kalenda 9/10 calendar

kali strong, sharp

kalia sit on

kalika be put in place (cf. kaa)

kaliwa be inhabited (cf. kaa)

kama kwamba as if

kamari 9/10 card game

kamati 9/10 committee

kamba 9/10 & 1/2 crab, crayfish, lobster, shrimp

kamba 9/10 rope (cf. funga kamba)

kambi 5/6 camp

kamia extort, demand, threaten

kamili complete, full, perfect

kamilisha complete

kamongo 9/10 catfish, gilled lungfish (from Luo)

kamua squeeze, wring

kamwe never, at all, by no means

kampasi 9/10 campus (from English)

kampeni 9/10 campaign (from English)

kanda 9/10 zone (also ukanda/kanda 11/10)

kanda massage, knead

kandarasi 9/10 contract

kando alongside

kaniki 9/10 black or dark blue cloth

kansa 9/10 canser (from English)

kanuni 9/10 rule, canon, convention (from Arabic)

kanusha negate

kanyaga step on, trample

kaptula 9/10 shorts

kapu 5/6 large basket

karakana 9/10 workshop

karatasi 9/10 paper

karibisha welcome, invite

karibishwa be welcomed, be invited

karipia scold

karipiwa be scolded

kashifu slander, libel

kaskazi 9/10 north (usually: kaskazini)

kasi fast, speedily

kasi 9/10 speed

kasirika be/get angry, upset

kasirisha upset someone

kasoro 9/10 defect, fault

kata 9/10 administrative district

kata cut

kata ini hurt deeply

kata kona turn, move in a direction

kata shauri decide

kataa refuse (cf. katalia, kataza)

katalia say no to someone (cf. kataa, kataza)

kataliwa be refused

kataza forbid (cf. kataa, katalia)

katibu 5/6 & 1/2 secretary

katisha cut off (cf. kata)

kati ya among, between

kati yenu among you all

katibu 5/6 & 1/2 secretary, clerk

katisha end something abruptly

katishwa be cut off, short

kauli 9/10 advice

kaumu luti 9/10 & 1/2 homosexual

kausha dry something

kawaida 9/10 custom, habit, usage, norm

kaya 9/10 homestead, village

kaza apply force

kaza kamba try as hard as one can

kazi bure no use, useless

kebehi denigrate, abuse, insult

kelele 9/10 noise, shout

kem kem a lot of

kemea scold, rebuke

kemeo 5/6 rebuke

kemewa be rebuked (cf. kemea)

kengeza 5/6 squint

kenua show the teeth

kero 9/10 trouble

kesho yake the following day

kiambishi awali 7/8 grammatical prefix

kiambishi kati 7/8 grammatical infix

kiambishi tamati 7/8 grammatical suffix

kiasi 7/8 amount

kiasi cha to the extent that, so that

kibaka 7/8 & 1/2 thief

kibao 7/8 sign; small board (cf. bao); (colloqial) plenty, tons of, ‘a whole bunch’

kibofu 7/8 bladder

kibogoyo 7/8 & 1/2 toothless person

kiboko 7/8 leather whip

kichaa 7/8 madness; crazy person

kichaka 7/8 bush

kicheko 7/8 laughter

kichocheo 7/8 act

kichuguu 7/8 termite hill

kichura froglike

kichwa cha maneno 7/8 headline, title

kidato 7/8 grade level in secondary school

kidevu 7/8 chin

kidhi bestow, confer, grant, satisfy

kidole 7/8 finger

kidole cha pete ring finger

kidonge 7/8 pill, tablet

kidonge cha kuzuia mimba 7/8 the pill (for preventing pregnancy)

kielelezo 7/8 teaching aid

kielezi 7/8 adverb

kienyeji (-a kienyeji) local, traditional, indigenous

kifaa 7/8 instrument, implement, tool

kifafa 7 epilepsy

kifaranga 7/8 & 1/2 chick, baby bird

kifo 7/8 death

kifu satisfy

kifua 7/8 chest

kifua kikuu 7 tuberculosis

kifudifudi face down

kifuli 9/10 lock

kifungo 7/8 prison

kifupisho 7/8 abbreviation, word contraction

kigelegele 7/8 ululation

kigezo 7/8 measuring stick, criterion

kigogo 7/8 & 1/2 bigwig, dignitary, notable

kiini 7/8 core, essence

kijibarua 7/8 small note

kijifimbo 7/8 small stick

kijineno 7/8 babble (diminutive of neno)

kijiwe 7/8 pimple, acne

kijumba 7/8 small hut

kikamilifu accurately, precisely

kikao 7/8 meeting, session

kikapu 7/8 basket

kikohozi 7/8 cough, fit of coughing (from kukohoa)

kikongwe 7/8 extremely old person

kikundi 7/8 small group small

kikwazo 7/8 obstacle, impediment, stumbling block

kila kukicha every day (from kucha , to dawn)

kilabu 7/8 club, bar (from English 'club')

kilele 7/8 peak

kilevi (-a kilevi) drunken

kimada 7/8 & 1/2 woman who lives with a man without being married, mistress

kimbiza drive away

kimelea 7/8 parasite

kimilikishi 7/8 possessive adjective or pronoun (cf. miliki)

kimo 7/8 size, stature

Kimombo English language [slang]

Kimvita 7 dialect of Swahili spoken in Mombasa

kimya 7/8 silence

kina 7/8 rhyme

kina 7/8 depth

kinaganaga straightforwardly, openly

kinga protect (cf. kinga 9/10)

kinga 9/10 protection, prevention (cf. kinga, v.)

kinu 7/8 mortar

kinyaa 7 disgust

kinyang'anyiro 7/8 stiff competition

kinyume 7 antonym, opposite

kinywa 7/8 mouth

Kipaimara Christian confirmation

kipaumbele 7/8 utmost importance, priority

kionyeshi 7/8 demonstrative pronoun or adjective

kionyeshi rudufu 7/8 reduplicated demonstrative

kioo 7/8 mirror

kipaimara 7 (religious) confirmation

kipaji 7/8 talent

kipande 7/8 piece

kipato 7/8 income (cf. pata, patikana)

kipawa 7/8 talent

kipengele 7/8 section of a document; a point, item, aspect

kipigo 7/8 blow, impact (cf. piga)

kipindi 7/8 time period; semester, term

kipofu 7/8 & 1/2 blind person

kirejeshi 7/8 relative construction

kirejeshi kati 7/8 infixed relative

kirungu 7/8 little knobkerry

kisaikolojia psychologically (from English)

kisawe 7/8 synonym (cf. sawa)

kisigino 7/8 heel

kisima 7/8 well

kisingizio 7/8 pretext, excuse

kisirisi secretly

kisiwa 7/8 island

kitambaa 7/8 cloth, head cloth

kitambo 7/8 short period of time (muda kitambo = a while)

kitambulisho 7/8 sign; identification

kitanda 7/8 bed

kitanzi 7/8 noose

kitendea kazi 7/8 tool, implement, instrument

kitengo 7/8 sub-committee

kitenzi 7/8 verb

kitenzi kisicho tensi tenseless relative

kithiri grow, increase

kitisho 7 a terror, threat

kitovu 7/8 bellybutton; center, source

kitulizo 7 comfort, consolation

kitumbua 7/8 fritter

kituo 7/8 station, stop, pause (cf. kituo cha wazee)

kituo cha wazee 7/8 nursing home (cf. kituo)

kiumbe 7/8 creature

kiunganishi 7/8 conjunction, linker

kiungo 7/8 joint

kiuno 7/8 waist

kivuli 7/8 shade, shadow

kivumishi 7/8 adjective

kiwakilishi 7/8 symbol, representation

kiwanda 7/8 factory

kiwango 7/8 level

kiwiliwili 7/8 body (human; usually: mwili)

 kizazi 7/8 generation; descendant

kizuizini 7/8 detention

kliniki clinic (from English)

klipu 9/10 media clip (from English)

kochi 5/6 couch

kodelea stare at

kodi 9/10 rent, fee, tax

kodoa macho stare

kofi 5/6 slap

kohoa cough

kojoa urinate

koma finish, put an end to, stop (cf. komesha)

komesha cause to stop (cf. koma)

kombe 5/6 large cup (award)

kombo wrong (adverb)

komboa rescue, liberate

komea hapo stop at this point

komesha cause to stop, bring to an end

komoa treat like dirt

kona 9/10 corner (from English)

konda lose weight

kondakta 5/6 & 1/2 conductor (from English)

konde 5/6 plot of land, field

kopo 5/6 tin can

koroboi 9/10 kerosene lamp

korofi nasty

korti 9/10 court of law

kosa be short of

kovu 5/6 scar

kozi 9/10 course (educational)

kubali agree, accept a fact (cf. kubalika)

kubalika be acceptable (cf. kubali)

kubwisha form an augmentative, enlarge

kucha 5/6 claw

kuelekea towards, to (direction)

kufuatana na according to

kuhusu about, concerning

kukupotezea muda wako to waste your time

kula kiapo take an oath

kulia grow up in

kulia right (vs. left)

kuliko than

kumba strike, hit, effect negatively (cf. kumbana, kumbwa)

kumbana bump into, jostle, push (cf. kumba, kumbwa)

kumbatia embrace

kumbukumbu 9/10 memory, archive, historical record

kumbwa be seized, stricken (cf. kumba, kumbana)

kumjulia hali ask about his/her health

kumpa mtu pongezi congratulate someone

kunako on, in (a date)

kundi 5/6 group

kunguni 9/10 & 1/2 bug

kuni 9/10 firewood

kunjakunja crumple up

kunjua unfold, unwrap

kupe 9/10 & 1/2 tick

kurudi nyuma to the back; go back

kusanya collect something, gather, summon (cf. kusanyiko, kusanywa)

kusanyiko 5/6 gathering, crowd (cf. kusanya, kusanywa)

kusanywa be gathered (cf. kusanya, kusanyiko)

kushoto left (vs. right)

kusudia intend, mean, decide, propose (cf. kusudiwa)

kusudiwa to be intended, meant, proposed (cf. kusudia)

kuta find

kutano 5/6 intersection

kutu 9/10 rust

kutokana na due to, as a result of

kutwa all day, the whole day

kuwa that (conjunction)

kuza develop, enlarge

kuzimu 9/10 spirit world

kuzunguka around; go arround

kwa ajili ya because of, for the sake of

kwa bahati mbaya unfortunately

kwa ghafla suddenly

kwa hiyari voluntarily

kwa kadiri ya in accordance with

kwa kina in depth

kwa kuwa as, since, because

kwa makini carefully

kwa mujibu wa according to, in accordance with

kwa wakati huu for the time being

kwa wingi in large numbers

kwama be in a difficult situation (cf. kwamua)

kwamua free, extricate (reversive of kwama)

kwani since, as

kwapa 9/10 armpit

kwaruza scrape, grate

kwea go up, climb, rise

kwenye to (the place of)

kwepa avoid

kwinini 9/10 quinine (from English)

L alfabeti

la hasha by no means, certainly not, no way

la pesa spend money (neg. connotation)

la sivyo if not, otherwise

laani condemn (cf. laaniwa)

laaniwa be cursed, damned (cf. laani)

lafudhi 9/10 dialect

laiti if only, would that

laki meet, go out to meet

lala sleep

lalamika complain

lala upande be on its side

lamba lick

laumiwa be blamed (cf. laumu, lawama)

laumu blame, critize (cf. laumiwa, lawama)

lawama 9/10 & 6 (malawama) complaint, reproach, blame, accusation (cf. laumu, laumiwa)

laza put something down (on a bed), to make someone sleep or lie down

lazimishwa to be forced, compelled, made to do something

lazwa be put down in bed

lebo 9/10 label (from English)

lege lege lazy

lelewa be brought up, be nurtured

lemaa be crippled, deformed

lenga aim, aim at

lenga shabaha aim at a target (cf. lengo)

lengo 5/6 aim, purpose, intention (cf. lenga)

leta bring

letea bring to someone

lewa be/get drunk

lia make a sound, cry

licha ya not only

linda protect, guard

lindwa be protected, be guarded

lingana be similar, matching

linganishwa be compared

lisha feed

lishe 9/10 nutrition

logwa get bewitched

lokesheni 9/10 location

Lusifa 9/10 & 1/2 Lucifer

 M alfabeti

maabara 6 & 9/10 laboratory

maadhimisho 6 commemoration, celebration

maafa 6 disaster

maafikiano 6 agreement

maalum special

maambukizo 6 infection, contagion (cf. ambukiza uambukizaji)

maandalizi 6 preparation(s)

maangamizi 6 destruction

maanisha mean

maarifa 6 knowledge, know-how (cf. aarifiwa, taarifa)

mababu 6 & 2 ancestors (from babu 9/10 & 1/2 grandfather)

mabia 6 beers

machafuko 6 disorder (cf. chafuka, uchafuzi)

madaha 6 showing off

madaraka 6 responsibility

madhara 6 harm

madhehebu 6 religious denominations

madhubuti reliable, firm

madhumuni 6 purpose

madini 9/10 metal, ore

maelezo 6 description; explanation

mafanikio 6 success

maficho 6 hiding place

mafunzo 6 training

mafyekeo 6 grass cutter

magadi 6 soda

magharibi 9/10 sunset

mahaba 6 love, romance

mahafali 6 graduation, convocation

mahali pengine somewhere else

Mahara 6 & 2 people of the island of Socotra, Yemen

mahari 9 dowry

mahiri  skillful

mahojiano 6 interview (cf. hojiwa)

mahtuti critically ill, in critical condition (adj.)

mahususi special, particular

mahubiri 6 sermon

maiti 6 & 1/2 corpse

majaaliwa ya Mungu gift from God

majadiliano 6 discussion

majani 6 grass; leaves

majigambo 6 boasting

majilisi 6 lounge

majivuno 6 bragging

majuu 6 up (a higher living standard, often abroad)

Maka 17 Mecca

maka be astonished

makadirio 6 estimate, evaluation

makala 9/10 article (piece of writing)

makali 6 fierceness, harshness, cruelty

makamo 9/10& 6 middle/mature age

makamu 9/10 deputy

makao makuu 6 headquarters

makazi 6 dwelling, residence, settlement

makeke 6 posturing, self-importance

makini deliberate

maktaba 9/10 library

makusudi 6 intention

makuzi 6 upbringing

makwao 6 their homes

malaika 9/10 & 1/2 angel

malalamiko 5/6 complaint

malazi 6 accommodation

malezi 6 upbringing

malizia finish off

mama wa ubatizo godmother

mamangu my mother (contraction of mama yangu)

mamlaka 9/10 authority

mandhari 6 scene, scenery, view

mantiki 6 logic

maradhi 6 illness, affliction

mbingu 9/10 heaven

mang’amuzi 6 experience

manispaa 9/10 municipality (from English)

manufaa 6 benefit, profit, good results

manung'uniko 6 complaint

maono 6 vision

maonyesho 6 exhibition; gallery/galleries

maonyo 6 warning

maovu 6 evil

mapambano 6 clash, struggle

mapatanisho 6 agreement, reconciliation

mapenzi 6 love

mapokeo 6 tradition

mapovu 6 suds

mara chache a few times

mara kwa mara often

marashi 6 perfume

marehemu 1/2 deceased, dead person

Marekani the U.S.A.

Maria Mary

maringo 6 airs

marufuku forbidden

masengenyo 6 slander

Mashelisheli people of the Seychelles Islands

mashindano 6 competition

mashuhuri well-known, famous

maslahi 6 benefit, sake

masomo ya watu wazima adult education classes

masuto 6 criticism

maswahaba 6 & 2 companions, associates

mate 6 spit, saliva

matembezi 6 trip, excursion

mateso 6 suffering, persecution

matokeo 6 result, results

matumizi 6 use

matakwa 6 wish(es)

mathalani for example

mauaji 6 murder

maumbile 6 physical features, nature

maumivu 6 pain

mavazi 6 clothes, clothing, costume

mavi 6 shit

mavune 6 fatigue, exhaustion

mavuno 6 harvest, crop

mawasiliano 6 communication

mawele 6 (uwele 11) millet grain

maziko 6 burial, funeral

mazingaombwe 6 magic, illusion, witchcraft

mazingira 6 surroundings, environment

mazishi 6 burial

mazoea 6 habit

mazoezi ya kijeshi 6 military exercise

mbeba chuma 1/2 weight lifter

mbeleni (-a mbeleni ) future (adj.)

mbegu 9/10 seed

mbingu 9/10 sky, heaven

mbinu 9/10 method, strategy

mbogo 9/10 & 1/2 buffalo (also: nyati)

mbolea 9/10 fertilizer

Mbongo a person from Bongo, i.e. Dar es Salaam (colloqial)

mbu 9/10 & 1/2 mosquito

mbuga 9/10 grassland

mbunge 1/2 member of parliament, congressperson

mbuni 9/10 & 1/2 ostrich

mbuyu 3/4 baobab tree

mbuzi 9/10 & 1/2 goat

mbwa mwitu 9/10 & 1/2 wild dog, wolf

mchana 3/4 daylight, daytime

mchana kutwa all day long

mchanga 1/2 young person

mchanga 3/4 sand

mchikichi 3/4 oil palm

mchongoma 3/4 governor’s plum tree

mchoyo 1/2 miser, greedy person

mchumba 1/2 fianc (c), steady boy- or girlfriend

mchungaji 1/2 shepherd

mchungwa 3/4 orange tree

mchuzi 3/4 broth, curry, gravy, sauce, soup

mchwa 9/10 & 1/2 termite

mdahalo 3/4 debate (organized)

mdeni 1/2 debtor

mdomo 3/4 mouth

mduara 3/4 circumference, circle

mdundo 3/4 beat, rhythm

mechi 9/10 match

medani 9/10 arena, space

meli 9/10 boat

meneja 9/10 & 1/2 manager, administrator (from English)

menya peel

meremeta be furious

meza swallow

methali 9/10 proverb

mezea swallow up

mfadhili 1/2 donor, sponsor

mfano 3/4 example

mfarakano 3/4 division

mfu 1/2 dead person, corpse

mfuatano 3/4 sequence, series

mfululizo 3/4 stream, sequence

mfululizo continously

mfumo 3/4 system

mfumuko 3/4 division

mfunguo 3/4 month in the Muslim calendar

Mfunguotatu   third month in Muslim calendar (Ar. Rabi -Awwal)

mgahawa 3/4 (mkahawa) restaurant, refectory

mganga 1/2 traditional doctor, healer

mgawanyo 3/4 distribution, division

mgogoro 3/4 conflict, obstactle, impediment, dispute, conflict

mgomba 3/4 banana plant

mgombea 1/2 candidate

mgongano 3/4 conflict

mgongo 3/4 back

mgonjwa wa akili 1/2 mental patient

mhadhiri 1/2 lecturer

mhalifu 1/2 lawbreaker (cf. uhalifu)

mhalizeti 3/4 (alizeti 9/10) sunflower plant

mhangaiko 3/4 anxiety

mhariri 1/2 editor

mhasibu 1/2 accountant

mhenga 1/2 elder, ancestor

Mhindi Indian person

mhisani 1/2 benefactor, supporter

mhitimu 1/2 graduate (one who is graduating)

mhubiri 1/2 preacher

mhusika 1/2  character, participant

midadi

mie intensified and contracted form of mimi ndiye, myself

mifugo 4 livestock

milele always, forever, eternally

miliki own, possess (cf. kimilikishi, miliki 9/10)

miliki 9/10 power (cf. miliki, v.)

milioni 9/10 million (from English)

mimba 9/10 pregnancy

minajili for the sake of, in order that

miongoni mwa among

misa 9/10 mass (religious service)

mitala 9/10 polygyny

mithili 9/10 example

miwani 4 glasses, spectacles

mizani 9/10 poetic measure

mjadala 3/4 discussion

mjamzito 1 (wajawazito 2) pregnant woman

mjane 1/2 widow, widower, bereaved person

mjanja 1/2 clever, tricky person

mji 3/4 town, city

mjumbe 1/2 representative, delegate

mjumuiko 3/4 assembly, gathering (cf. jumuia, jumuisha)

mjusi 3/4 & 1/2 lizard

mjuzi 1/2 knowledgeable person

mkabala na facing, opposite

mkakati 3/4 strategy, way, technique

mkalimani 1/2 interpreter, translator

mkarimu 1/2 generous person

mkasi 3/4 scissors

mkataba 3/4 agreement

mkazi 1/2 inhabitant, dweller, resident

mkia 3/4 tail

mkimbikizi 1/2 refugee

mkoa 3/4 region, province

mkoloni 1/2 colonist (from English ‘colony’)

mkojo 3/4 urine

mkondo 3/4 course, current, passage

mkonge 1/2 sisal plant

mkopo 3/4 loan, credit

mkosefu 1/2 person making mistakes; sinner

mkorofi 1/2 nasty person

mkubwa wa darasa class prefect, student chairperson

mkuki 3/4 spear

mkumbo 3/4 destruction, devestation, onslaught

mkusanyiko 3/4 collection

mkuu wa shule 1/2 headmistress/master

Mkuu wa Wilaya 1/2 District Officer

mkurugenzi 1/2 director

mkwaruzomkwaruzo 3/4 scratching, tickling (cf. kwaruza)

mlengwa 1/2 targetted, intended person

mlevi 1/2 drunkard

mlinzi 1/2 watchman, guard

mlio 3/4 cry, sound

mlizamu 3/4 water spout

mlokole 1/2 born-again Christian

mluzi 3/4 whistle

Mmakonde 1/2 Makonde person.  See glossary of cultural references for more detail.

Mmatumbi 1/2 black Tanzanian

mmbea 1/2 gossipmonger

mmoja wao one of them

mmomonyoko 3/4 erosion

mnafiki 1/2 liar, hypocrite

mnajimu 1/2 astrologer, astronomer (cf. unajimu)

mnamo on (a certain date)

mno too much, very much

mngwana 1/2 civilized person

mnunuzi 1/2 buyer

mnyamavu 1/2 quiet person

mnyambuliko 3/4 verb extension

mnyambuliko wa kufanyia applied extension

mnyambuliko wa kufanyika stative extension

mnyambuliko wa kufanyiza causative extension

mnyambuliko wa kufanyua reversive extension

mnyambuliko wa kufanywa passive extension

mnyang'anyi 1/2 thief, pilferer

mnyonge 1/2 weak, poor person

moja kwa moja directly, straight on

Mola 9/10 & 1/2 Lord

moto 3/4 fire, hell

moyo 3/4 heart

mpaka 3/4 border

mpango 3/4 plan, arrangement

mpiga 1/2 one who strikes; fighter

mpini 3/4 handle

mpira 3/4 soccer ball

mpumbavu 1/2 idiot

mpunga 3/4 rice (plant) 

mratibu 1/2 scheduler; master of ceremonies; coordinator (cf. ratiba)

mreteni 3/4 juniper

msalaba 3/4 cross

msaliti 1/2 traitor

msamiati 3/4 vocabulary

msanii 1/2 artist

mseto 3/4 mixture

mshale 3/4 arrow

msamaha 3/4 forgiveness

msharika 1/2 member, parishioner

mshenzi 1/2 uncivilized person

mshikamano 3/4 cohesion

mshipa 3/4 artery, vein

mshirika 1/2 a superstitious person (negative connotation)

msiba 3/4 misfortune, blow

msimamo 3/4 standpoint; principle

msingi 3/4 basis, foundation

mshamba 1/2 country bumpkin

mshangao 3 amazement

mshenga 1/2 messenger, go-between

mshenzi 1/2 savage

mshika 1/2 holder

mshtuko 3/4 shock

msiba 3/4 calamity, misfortune, bereavement

msimamizi 1/2 overseer

msindikizaji 1/2 escort (cf. sindikiza)

mstari 3/4 line

msukumo 3/4 push

msuguano 3/4 friction

msungo 1/2 one who has not been through puberty initiation rites

mtaa 3/4 neighborhood; street, avenue; part of town

mtaala 3/4 curriculum

mtaalamu 1/2 specialist, expert, scholar (cf. -a kitaalamu)

mtahiniwa 1/2 someone being tested (cf. mtihani)

mtaji 3/4 capital

mtandao 3/4 network, website

mtaratibu 1/2 careful person

mtazamo 3/4 observation, viewpoint

mteja 1/2 customer; one who is exorcised by a traditional healer; the healer's assistant (usually a former customer who has been exorcised)

mtekelezaji 1/2 implementer

mtenda 1/2 grammatical subject

mtendaji 1/2 activist, executive

mtende 3/4 date palm

mtendwa 1/2 grammatical object

 mtengenezaji 1/2 producer

mtoto mpotevu 1/2 prodigal son

mtu aliyefiwa bereaved person

mtu mzima 1/2 adult

mtuhumiwa 1/2 suspect

mtume 3/4 & 1/2 prophet, apostle (synonymous with nabii of Arabic origin)

mtumbwi 3/4 canoe

mtumishi 1/2 servant

mtungi 3/4 earthen water jar

mtutu 3/4 barrel of a gun

muafaka appropriate, suitable

muanga clarity, enlightenment (standard: mwanga)

muangalifu 1/2 careful person

muathirika 1/2 affected person (also: mwathirika)

mudu be capable, able, manage

muhadhiri 1/2 lecturer

muhogo 3/4 cassava

muhtasari 3/4 outline, summary

muhula 3/4 semester, academic quarter

mulika shine, gleam, throw light

mumo humo right in there

mungu/miungu 3/4 God

muungano 3/4 union, alliance

mushkili 3/4 difficulty, problem, uncertainty (standard: mushkeli)

muziki 3/4 music

mvi 9/10 gray hair

mvinyo 9/10 wine

mvivu 1/2 lazy person

mvungu 3/4 (space) under the bed

mvutano 3/4 tension, conflict (cf. vuta)

mvuto 3/4 persuasion

mwadilifu 1/2 just, righteous, obedient

mwaga pour (cf. mwagia, mwagilia, mwagiwa, umwagiliaji)

mwagia pour on someone/something (cf. mwaga, mwagilia, mwagiwa, umwagiliaji)

mwagilia water, irrigate (cf. mwaga, mwagia, mwagiwa, umwagiliaji)

mwagiwa be poured on, have something poured on (cf. mwaga, mwagia, mwagilia, umwagiliaji)

mwalimu mkuu 1/2 head teacher, headmaster, headmistress

mwambao 3/4 area along the coast, coastline

mwana 1/2 child

mwanablogu 1/2 blogger

mwanachama 1/2 member of an organization

mwanadiplomasia 1/2 diplomat (from English 'diplomacy')

mwanaharakati 1/2 activist

mwanamke asherati fallen woman, harlot

mwanamazingaombwe 1/2 magician (cf. mazingaombwe)

mwanapropaganda 1/2 propandist

mwandiko 3/4 writing

mwandishi 1/2 writer, author

mwanga 3/4 light; enlightenment

mwasisi 1/2 founder (cf. asisiwa)

mwathirika 3/4 affected person (also: muathirika)

mwehu 1/2 lunatic, madman

mwendeshaji 1/2 driver

mwendo style of walking

mwendo/nyendo 3/10 behavior

mwenendo 3/4 behavior, way of going about things

mwenye bidii hardworking person

mwenye pembe in corners

mwenyeji 1/2 local, indigenous person

mwenyekiti 1/2 chairperson

mwenyembago name of a specific shetani in Uzaramo (from Kizaramo)

mwenyezi 1/2 almighty, possessor of power

mwenzi 1/2 comrade

mwewe 9/10 & 1/2 kind of hawk

mwiba 3/4 thorn

mwigizaji 1/2 actor

mwinjilisti 1/2 evangelist

mwili/miili 3/4 body

mwinda 1/2 hunter

mwoga 1/2 coward

Mwokozi Saviour

mwondoko

mwonea huruma feel sorry for someone

mwongo 3/4 decade

mwongozaji 1/2 director

mwongozo 3/4 guidance

mwuaji 1/2 killer, assassin

mwuguzi 1/2 nurse

mwuja 3 (miuja 4) danger

mwumini 1/2 believer

Myahudi 1/2 Jew

mzaha 3/4 practical joke, prank

mzembe 1/2 careless, lazy person

mzinga 3/4 cannon

mzinga wa nyuki 3/4 beehive

mzizi 3/4 root

mzuka 3/4 ghost

mzunguko 3/4 circulation (from kuzunguka)

mzungumzisha mtu talk at or to someone

N alfabeti

nabii 5/6 & 1/2 prophet (from Arabic; synonymous with mtume of Bantu origin)

nadharia 9/10 theory

nadhifisha arrange, put in good order

nadhifu clean, orderly

nadi announce

nadra 9/10 rare

nadra rarely (also: kwa nadra)

nafasi 9/10 opportunity; space

nafsi 9/10 self

nafuu advantageous, good, nice; better

nahau 9/10 explanation; idiom, figure of speech

nakshi decorate, adron

namna 9/10 kind, type, form (cf. namna gani?, namna hii)

namna gani? what do you say? (cf. namna, namna hii)

namna hii like this (cf. namna, namna gani?)

nanii um (indication of hesitation or pause to think)

nao and they, they too (contraction of na wao)

nasaha 9/10 advice

nasua take from a trap

nawa wash hand or face

nawiri shine; appear healthy

ncha 9/10 point, tip

ndala 9/10 flip-flops (also: viatu vya mpira)

ndevu 9/10 beard

ndiyo maana that's why

ndo contraction of ndiyo

ndoa 9/10 marriage

ndoo 9/10 bucket

neema 9/10 favor, blessing

nenda zako! go away!

nena speak

-nene fat

nenepa put on weight

ng'aa shine, glitter, sparkle (cf. ng'alia)

ng'alia shine at

ng'ambo 9/10 opposite side; abroad

ng'amuliwa be discovered, realized

ng'ang'ania beg, nag

ng’ara gleam, shine, sparkle

ng'ata bite

ngazi 9/10 stage, step

nge 9/10 & 1/2 scorpion

ngoja wait

ngojea wait (for)

ng'oka come out, get pulled out

ngome 9/10 fort, fortress

ngono 9/10 sexual intercourse

ngozi 9/10 skin, leather

nguo za matandiko bed linen

ngurumo 9/10 thundering

nguvu 9/10 strength, power

nguzo 9/10 pillar; principle

nia 9/10 aim, purpose, intention, goal

nidhamu 9/10 discipline

ning'inia swing

njiwa 9/10 & 1/2 dove

njuga 9/10 anklet of bells or rattles worn while dancing

noa sharpen

nong’ona whisper

nong'oneza whisper to

nufaisha cause to benefit, prosper

nukia smell good, sweet

nuksi 9/10 bad luck, misfortune

nukta 9/10 point

nukuliwa be quoted (cf. nukulu, nukuu)

nukulu quote (cf. nukuu, nukuliwa)

nukuu copy, transcribe, quote (cf. nukulu, nukuliwa)

nung'unika grumble, complain

nung'uniko 5/6 grumbling, complaining

nuniana complain about/to eachother

nuru 9/10 light

nusu 9/10 half

nusura 9/10 protection (cf. nusuru, nusurika)

nusuru support, save, deliver from harm (cf. nusura, nusurika)

nusurika narrowly escape (cf. nusura, nusuru)

nyakua snatch

nyamavu quiet, not speaking

nyamaza be quiet, keep quiet, repress oneself

nyang'anya snatch, steal, take by force

nyanya raise, lift

nyanyasa annoy, bother, tease (cf. nyanyasa kijinsia)

nyanyasa kijinsia harass sexually (cf. nyanyasa)

nyanyua lift up, raise

nyati 9/10 & 1/2 buffalo (also: mbogo)

nyemelea sneak up on

nyigu 5/6 & 1/2 large wasp, hornet

nyima refuse to give, deny

nyoa shave, cut hair very short, have one's hair cut

nyoosha kidole point the finger at, accuse

nyonga hang, strangle

nyongeza 9/10 addition, supplement

nyonya suck, nurse

nyosha make straight

nyosha nguo iron clothes

nyota 9/10 star

nyoya 5/6 feather; animal hair (plural)

nyoyo 10 hearts (poetic plural of moyo)

nyuma behind

nyuma yao behind them

nyundo 9/10 hammer

nywesha make someone drink, give drink to someone

nzi 9/10 & 1/2 fly

O alfabeti

oa marry a woman

ofisi 9/10 office

ogopa be afraid

ogopesha frighten

oka bake

okoka be rescued, be saved (cf. wokovu)

okota pick up, come across

okotwa be picked up, found

omba ask, beg, pray (cf. ombaomba, ombea, ombewa)

ombaomba 9/10 & 1/2 beggar (cf. omba, ombea, ombewa)

omba kidole cha pete propose engagement, to marry

ombea ask for something on someone's behalf, pray for (cf. omba, ombaomba, ombewa)

ombewa be prayed for (cf. omba, ombaomba, ombea)

omboleza lament, mourn

ombolezo 5/6 mourning

ona ajabu be amazed

ona kinyaa be disgusted/sick

ona haya feel shy, embarassed (cf. haya)

ondoa take away

ondolea remove for someone

ondolewa be removed

onea huruma show compassion, feel for someone

onekana seem; appear

onesha show

ongea (na) talk (with or to)

ongeza increase (cf. ongezea, ongezeka, ongezeko)

ongezea add to or for (cf. ongeza, ongezea, ongezeka, ongezeko)

ongezeka be enlarged, expanded, increased (cf. ongeza, ongezea, ongezeko)

ongezeko 5/6 growth, increase (cf. ongeza, ongezea, ongezeka)

ongoka be converted, reformed

ongopa lie

ongoza lead

ongozana na follow someone

ongozwa be led

onya warn

orodha 9/10 list (cf. orodhesha)

orodhesha list, put in a list (cf. orodha)

orofa 9/10 story, floor

osha wash up, wash something

oshwa be washed

ota grow

ota kutu become rusty

oteshwa usingizini be caused to dream

ovyo randomly, carelessly

oza rot

P alfabeti

pa give

pa adhabu give punishment, punish

pa mimba make pregnant

pa pole commiserate, express sympathy

pa pongezi congratulate someone

padri 5/6 & 1/2 Catholic priest

pagawa be possessed

paja 5/6 thigh

paka apply, smear on

pakana na border on

pakua dish out

pamba 9/10 cotton

pambana na  encounter, tackle

pambanua separate, discern

pambazuka dawn, be daytime, get light

pamoja na together with

pandikizi 5/6 big piece

pandikizi la mtu giant

pandikizwa be planted

pandisha hoist, raise (cf. panda)

pandwa na mori be beside oneself with anger, emotion

panga 5/6 machete, long knife

panga set up, plan, arrange

panga vitu pack up; arrange things

pangilia set up

pangiwa have something arranged, planned

pango 5/6 cave

pangusa wipe, dust off

panua broaden, expand

papa 9/10 & 1/2 pope

papasa touch gently

para scrape, scratch off

paramia catch hold of

parapanda 9/10 kind of trumpet used in religious ceremonies

parishi 9/10 parish

parokia 9/10 parish

pasa behoove; be necessary (for), be right (for)

pashwa have to (also: paswa)

paswa be behoved

pasi 9/10 passport

pasuka tear, get split

pasuliwa get or be torn

pata find, get

pata bahati be/get lucky

pata mimba get pregnant

patana agree

patiwa have something brought

pazia 5/6 curtain

peke yake by self

peke yangu by myself

peleka send

pelekea send to, for

pelekwa be sent

pembe 9/10 corner; horn

pembejeo 9/10 agricultural supply

pendekeza recommend

pendekezo 5/6 proposal, suggestion, recommendation

pendeza please; look good

pengine perhaps

pentekoste pentecostal

penya penetrate (cf. penyeza, penyezwa)

penyeza smuggle (cf. penya)

penyezwa be smuggled (cf. penya, penyeza)

pepa sway, stagger

peperusha blow away

peperusha bendera hoist a flag

pepesuka totter, stagger, shake

pepetana na face off each other

pepopunda 9/10 lockjaw, tetanus

pesa za matumizi spending money

pevuka become mature

pewa be given

piga beat, hit

piga chapa type, print (cf. chapisha)

piga chenga dodge, avoid

piga hatua take a step

piga kelele be noisy

piga kofi slap or clap

piga magoti kneel

piga miayo yawn

piga mishindo thump

piga mstari underline, draw a line

piga ramli divinate; tell the future

piga vigelegele ululate

pigiwa nguvu be printed in bold

pigiwa simu be called on the phone

pima measure, inspect

pindi if, when

pindua turn over, overturn

pinduka turn over (by itself)

pindukia exceed

pinduliwa be turned

pinga oppose, obstruct, block, object

pingana oppose, obstruct, block eachother; object to one another

pingika be refutable

pingu 5/6 shackle, handcuff

pevuka become mature

pipa 5/6 barrel

pita pass, go by

pitia stop at

pitiliza go on by, pass by

pitisha move something, pass something from one place to another

poda 9/10 powder (also: unga)

pofusha make blind

pokea receive

pokeo 5/6 tradition, custom              

pole gentle

pona get well, heal

pongeza congratulate

ponyoka escape, slip away

pora rob, steal, plunder

pori 5/6 wilderness, inhospitable area

poromoka collapse

posa propose marriage

-potefu destructive (also: -potevu)

poteza lose, waste

poteza muda waste time

-potofu wrong-headed

potosha pervert, spoil, lead astray (cf. potoshwa, -potofu)

potoshwa perverted, spoiled, led astray (cf. potosha)

pozi 9/10 pose (from English)

propaganda 9 propaganda

pulika listen, obey

pumu 9/10 asthma

pumua breath

pumzi 9/10 breath, breathing, respiration

pumzika rest

pumzisha make calm, soothe, cause to rest

punda 9/10 & 1/2 donkey

punde soon

punga wave

punga exorcise

pungua get less, be rare, be scarce (cf. pungukiwa na, punguza ulevi, punguzia)

pungukiwa na be short of (cf. pungua, punguza ulevi, punguzia)

punguza ulevi drink less alcohol (cf. pungua, pungukiwa napunguzia)

punguzia reduce something for somebody (cf. pungua, pungukiwa na, punguza ulevi)

pupa 9/10 eagerness

pura beat, strike

puuza disregard, ignore, belittle

 

R alfabeti  

radhi 9/10 apology

radi 9/10 clap of thunder

Radio Uhuru FM broadcaster in Dar es Salaam, Arusha and Mwanza

rafiki wa kiume 1/2 boyfriend

rai 9/10 advice, opinion, standpoint

raia 5/6 & 1/2 citizen

rakaa 9/10 bowing during prayer

ramli 9/10 fortune-telling (often from markings in sand)

randaranda wander around

rarua tear up

rasimali 9/10 capital/assets

rasmi formal, official

ratiba 9/10 timetable, schedule

ratibiwa be scheduled (cf. ratiba)

refuka get tall, grow tall

rejea return

rekebisha adjust, fix

rekodi 9/10 record

ridhia please

ridhisha satisfy

rika 5/6 age group

ripota 9/10 & 1/2 reporter (from English)

ripoti report, inform (from English 'report')

ripoti 9/10 information, report (from English)

ripotiwa be reported (from English 'report'; cf. ripoti)

risala 9/10 message

risasi 9/10 bullet (see also risasi in the Glossary of Cultural References)

rithi inherit

riwaya 9/10 novel

robo 9/10  one quarter

roho 9/10 soul, spirit, life, vital principle

rudi return

rudia repeat

rudishwa be returned

rudufisha reduplicate

ruhusa allow

ruhusiwa be allowed

ruhusu permit, allow

ruka jump, fly

rukia jump at, fly at

rukwa akili lose one's senses

rukuu bow during prayer

rumande 9/10 remand (from English)

rungu 5/6 knobkerry, defensive knobbed stick

rushwa 9/10 bribe, bribery

S alfabeti

sabahi greet in the morning, make a morning call

sabuni ya kuogea bath soap

sadaka 9/10 religious offering

safiri travel, go on a journey

safirishwa be taken/sent/driven/transported

safisha clean

safu 9/10 series

saga grind

sahili simple

saidia help, assist

saili examine, investigate, question

saini sign one’s name (from English)

saka hunt, search for

sala 9/10 prayer

sali pray

salia remain over

salimu greet somebody

saliti annoy, disturb (from Arabic)

sambamba parallel, abreast, alongside

sambaratika disintegrate

sambaza spread something

sambazwa be spread (cf. sambaza)

samehe forgive

samehewa be forgiven

sanaa 9/10 art

sanamu 5/6 statue, idol, sculpture

sanduku 5/6 record player; box; suitcase

saruji 9/10 cement, concrete

sauti nzito 9/10 deep voice

sawia at that time, at that same time, also

sawiri depict, portray

sawiriwa be depicted, portrayed

sebule 9/10 living room

sekta 9/10 sector (from English)

sema ovyo curse; yell

semekana be said, rumored

semina 9/10 seminar (from German or English)

seng'enge 9/10 barbed wire

sengenya slander

sentensi 9/10 sentence

sh. abbreviation of shilingi, shilling (from English)

shabiki 5/6 & 1/2 fan, supporter (cf. shabikia)

shabikia be a proponent of something (cf. shabiki)

shahada 9/10 academic degree

shahada ya udaktari Ph.D.

shairi 5/6 poem

shaka 5/6 doubt

shambuliwa be attacked

shamiri spread

shangaa be amazed, surprised, astonished

shangaza amaze someone

shangilia rejoice, cheer

sharti 5/6 rule, regulation, term, necessity, stipulation, condition

shauku 9/10 eagerness, craving, passion

shauri advise

shavu 5/6 cheek

shawishi encourage, coax, entice

sheikh 9/10 & 1/2 leader, ruler, chief (from Arabic)

shetani 5/6 & 1/2 devil, demon, evil spirit

shiba get/be full (after a meal)

shibe 9/10 good, big meal

shika hold, take hold, seize, grasp

shika mashavu hold one’s cheeks (in thought or unhappiness)

shikamana hold onto

shikilia hold on to

shikwa be seized, be held

shikwashikwa to be held/touched

shimo 5/6 hole

shina 5/6 stem source

shinda win; succeed

shinda masomo pass in classes/courses

shindikana be unsuccessful

shingo 9/10 neck

shingo upande half-heartedly

shinikiza press one’s point, insist (also: shindikiza, sindikiza)

shirika 5/6 corporation, organization (cf. shiriki, shirikiana)

shirika lililo la serikali 5/6 governmental organization (cf. shirika, shiriki, shirikiana)

shiriki share (cf. shirika, shirikiana)

shirikiana share (cf. shirika, shiriki)

shoka 5/6 axe, hatchet

shoga 5/6 & 1/2 close female friend (when used by women); male homosexual (related: ushoga)

shtukia be startled

shughulikia deal with

shuhudia witness, be present at; confirm, attest (cf. shuhudu)

shuhudu 9/10 bond, covenant, testament, evidence (cf. shuhudia)

shuka 5/6 bed sheet; night wrap (clothing)

shukuru thank

shurutisha make someone do something; nag; put pressure on, force, compel, demand

shusha push down

shutumia reproach

shuzi 5/6 fart

sibu bring misfortune to, afflict, trouble, strike

sifa 9/10 reputation; praise

sifu praise, commend

sifu vikubwa praise to high heaven

siha 9/10 wellness

sikia hear

sikika be audible

sikiliza kwa makini listen carefully

sikilizana get along well, be friendly

sikitika regret, be sorry

sikitiko 5/6 sorrow

siku hizi zilizopita these past days

siku za nyuma (in) the past

siku za usoni in the future

silabi 9/10 syllable

silika 9/10 character, nature

simamia supervise

simanga deride, mock, sneer

simulia tell, give account of

simuliana tell each other

simulizi 5/6 (& 9/10) narrative;  oral tradition

sindikiza accompany part way a guest who is leaving; see someone off (cf. msindikizaji; see also sindikiza in Maelezo ya Utamaduni)

singizia slander (cf. singiziwa)

singiziwa be falsely accused (cf. singizia)

sintofahamu 5/6 misunderstanding (cf. fahamu)

sinzia be drowsy

siri 9/10 secret

sisimizi 9/10 & 1/2 small, black, harmless ant

sisitiza insist, emphasize

sista 5/6 form of address to nun (from English 'sister ')

sita hesitate

sitara 9/10 concealment, covering

sitasita hesitate, be at a loss

slogani 9/10 slogan

sogeza move something

sokota twist

sokwe 9/10 chimpanzee

somba carry (loads)

somea ubruda study to be a monk

somea usista study to be a nun

someka be possible to read, be legible

somo 9/10 & 1/2 close female friend

songa press, compress

songa ugali prepare ugali

spea 9/10 spare (from English)

spika 9/10 & 1/2 speaker of Parliament (from English)

staafu retire

staarabika become civilized

stadi 5/6 (or 9/10) & 1/2 expert (from Arabic)

stahamili endure

stahili deserve

staili 9/10 style

staili zifaazo suitable, appropriate styles

starehe relax

stashahada 9/10 academic certificate

stori 9/10 story

stukia start, be startled at

stusha startle someone

sua eject

suala 5/6 issue

subiri wait

sufuria 9/10 aluminum pot

sugu  callous, insensitive

suka plait, braid

sukuma push

suluhisha mediate, reconcile

suluhu 9/10 agreement

sumbua trouble, harass, annoy, worry

sumbuka be troubled

sumbuliwa be troubled by someone/something

sumu poison

sumu 9/10 poison

sura 9/10 appearance, face

surua 9/10 measles

suti 9/10 suit

swala 5/6 question (topic)

swali 5/6 question

T alfabeti

taabu 9/10 trouble, problem

taadhima 9/10 honor, respect

taamuli 9/10 reflection, contemplation

taarifa 9/10 report (cf. aarifiwa, maarifa)

taasisi 9/10 institute

tabasamu smile

tabia 9/10 habit, behavior

tabiri interpret dreams, tell fortunes (cf. utabiri)

tabiria interpret dreams for, tell fortunes for (cf. utabiri, tabiri)

tafakari think, ponder

taghafali be absent-minded, distracted

tafsiriwa be translated

tafuna chew, bite (metaphorically: waste)

tahadharisha warn (cf. dhahiri, hadhari, hadharisha, jihadhari, tahadharishwa)

tahadharishwa be warned (cf. dhahiri, hadhari, hadharisha, jihadhari, tahadharisha)

tai 9/10 tie (from English)

taiti 9/10 tights (from English)

taja name, utter

taji 5/6 crown

taka 5/6 trash  (also takataka)

takataka 5/6 trash (also: taka)

takasa cleanse, purify

takatifu holy

tako 5/6 thigh, buttock

takribani almost, nearly (also: takriban)

takwimu 9/10 count, statistic

tamaa 9/10 desire

tamani desire, hope

tambaa crawl

tambika make an offering to the spirits

tambua recognize, realize (cf. tambulika)

tambulika be distinguished, remarkable, well-known (cf. tambua)

tamka utter, pronounce (cf. tamkwa)

tamkwa be pronounced, spoken (cf. tamka)

tamthilia 9/10 drama, play

tanda spread

tandika get spread, cover

tandika meza set/prepare a table

tangaza announce

tangu since (cf. tangulia)

tangulia precede (cf. tangu)

tanuka be expanded, stretched

tapakaa spread

tapeli 5/6 & 1/2 criminal, rogue, cheat

tapika vomit

tarafa 9/10 administrative division; district

taraji hope, expect (cf. tarajia, tarajio, tarajiwa)

tarajia hope for (cf. taraji, tarajio, tarajiwa)

tarajio 5/6 expectation, hope (cf. taraji, tarajia, tarajiwa)

tarajiwa be intended, expected (cf. taraji, tarajia, tarajio)

tarehe 9/10 date

taslimu 9/10 cash

taswira 9/10 image, picture

tatanisha perplex, confuse, complicate (cf. tatiza, tatua, tatuliwa)

tatiza perplex (cf. tatanisha, tatua, tatuliwa)

tatua tear (up) (cf. tatanisha, tatiza, tatuliwa)

tatuliwa be torn (up) (cf. tatanisha, tatiza, tatua)

taulo 9/10 towel

taurat 9 the Torah (standard: taurati, torati)

tawala rule

tawaliwa be ruled

tawanya disperse

tayari ready

tayarisha prepare, arrange

tayarishia prepare for someone

tazamana machoni look into each others eyes

tazamia expect

tazamiwa be expected

tega set a trap

tega mgongo turn one's back

tegatega entangle

tegemea expect

tegemezi dependent

tegua solve

teka take up, get water

tekeleza accomplish, fulfill (cf. tekelezeka, tekelezwa)

tekelezeka fulfillable, achievable (cf. tekeleza, tekelezwa)

teketea get destroyed

teketezwa be destroyed

tele abundant, plenty

telekezwa be acheived (cf. tekeleza, tekelezeka)

telekeza to leave behind

telemka move down

tema mate spit saliva

tembea walk

tembelea fimbo walking with (the support of) a stick

temea spit at/on

tenda do, act, commit

tenda 9/10 tender, bid (from English tender)

tendeka be done, be happening, be committed

tendo 5/6 act, doing

tenga separate, isolate; prevent, postpone

tengana separate from each other

tengwa be separated, isolated; be prevented, postponed (cf. tenga, tengana)

tensi 9/10 verb tense

tesa annoy, torment, afflict, cause trouble (cf. teso)

teso 5/6 pain, misfortune, suffering, annoyance (cf. tesa)

tetea defend

tetema shake, tremble (cf. tetemeka)

tetemeka shake, tremble (stative of tetema)

tetemeko 5/6 earthquake

teua choose, select, pick out (cf. teuliwa)

teuliwa be selected, appointed, chosen, designated (cf. teua)

tezo 9/10 adze

thabiti clear

thamani 9/10 price, value

thamini value

thibiti be firm, strong, assured, resolute, steadfast, brave (cf. thibitisha, thibitishia)

thibitisha affirm, maintain, confirm, establish (cf. thibiti, thibitishia)

thibitishia prove to (cf. thibiti, thibitisha)

thubutu dare

tia mbaroni arrest, put in custody

tia mkazo emphasize

tia saini sign one's name

tiba 9/10 medical treatment

tibiwa be cured, treated, healed (cf. tibu, tiba)

tibu cure, treat, heal

tii obey

tija 9/10 earnings, income

tikisa cause to shake, wave

tima run away

timati 9/10 end, finale

timia end, reach

timiza accomplish

timua run away

timuliwa be chased away

tingishika  shake, vibrate

tisha impress, frighten

tishia threaten

tishio threat  (cf. tisha, tishia)

tiwa jino be bitten

tizama look (standard: tazama)

toa give; give out, take out, remove

toa maganda remove husks

toa maua flower

toa mimba have an abortion

toa sauti make a sound, play a sound

toba 9/10 repentance, confession, penance, penitance, remorse

toboa bore a hole

tochi 9/10 flashlight (from British English 'torch')

tofali 5/6 brick

toka come out, come from

toka jasho sweat, perspire

tokea happen

tokeo 5/6 result

tokeza come out

tokwa na machozi break out in tears

tolea give to

tolewa be removed; taken out

tone 5/6 drop

toona not to see

tope 5/6 mud

Torati 9/10 the Torah (Jewish law)

toroka flee, run away from

tosha be sufficient, be enough

tosheka be satisfied, have enough

tota get soaked

toweza not to be able

tua set, land, settle (down); put down

tubisha make remorseful

tubu repent

tuhuma 9/10 suspicion

tuhumu accuse

tukana curse, speak angrily

tukia happen, come about (cf. tukio)

tukio 5/6 event , incident (cf. tukia)