Swahili Meaning in English
word
swɑˈhiɫi
swah-HEE-lee
swɑːˈhiːli
swah-HEE-lee
Definition
Swahili refers to both a Bantu language spoken in East Africa and to the people who belong to the Swahili ethnic group.
Usage & Nuances
'Swahili' can mean the language or the ethnic group; in contexts about languages, it's usually clear. Always capitalize 'Swahili' in English. Common collocations: 'Swahili language', 'Swahili coast', 'speak Swahili.'
Spanish: suajiliPortuguese (BR): swahiliPortuguese (PT): suaíliChinese (Simplified): 斯瓦希里语 - 斯瓦希里人Chinese (Traditional): 斯瓦希里語 - 斯瓦希里人Hindi: स्वाहिलीArabic: السواحليةBengali: স্বরাহিলি (ভাষা) - স্বাহিলি (জাতিগোষ্ঠী)Russian: суахилиJapanese: スワヒリ語（言語） - スワヒリ人（民族）Vietnamese: tiếng Swahili - người SwahiliKorean: 스와힐리어(언어) - 스와힐리족(민족)Turkish: Svahili dili - Svahili halkıUrdu: سواحلی (زبان) - سواحلی (قوم)Indonesian: Swahili (ngôn ngữ) - Swahili (suku bangsa)
Example Sentences
Many people in Kenya speak Swahili.
basic
My teacher knows how to write in Swahili.
basic
She is learning Swahili because she wants to travel to Tanzania.
basic
I wish I could speak Swahili as fluently as the locals.
natural
Do you know any good resources for learning Swahili online?
natural
The Swahili coast is a fascinating mix of cultures and history.
natural