Verbs
ID english swahili notes
2 be able weza
3 be possible wezekana
4 accept kubali
5 agree kubali
6 concede kubali
7 be accustomed to zoea
8 act tenda
9 give birth zaa
10 be born zaliwa
11 admit to laza in reference to a hospital/hospitali
12 affect athiri
13 affirm itika
14 be afraid ogapa
15 allow ruhusu
16 give permission ruhusu
17 be alright poa
20 allow acha
21 let acha
22 announce tangaza
23 answer jibu as in answering a question
24 appear onekana
25 appoint teua
26 select teua
27 approach karibia cf. draw near
28 be appropriate faa
29 argue with gombana
30 arrange panga
31 plan panga
32 arrive fika
33 ask a favor omba
34 ask a question uliza
35 be astonished ona lo
36 be astonished shangaa
37 be astonished staajabu
38 attack shambulia
39 attend hudhuria
40 attract vutia
41 have authority over miliki
42 be available patikana
43 avoid epuka
44 avoid epa
45 bathe oga
46 be kuwa irregular
48 beg omba
49 begin anza
50 behave tenda
51 believe sadiki
52 trust amini
53 bite uma
54 blame laumu
55 bless bariki
56 be blind fa macha cf. pofuka
57 be blind pofuka
58 borrow azima cf. lend
59 bother sumbua
60 break vunja
61 breed fuga
62 keep fuga
63 rear fuga
64 tame fuga
65 bring leta
66 bring up lea bring up children
67 sweep fagia
68 brush teeth piga msuwaki
69 build jenga
70 build unda
71 found unda
72 set up unda
73 burn choma
74 roast meat choma
75 cook on open fire choma
76 be burning waka
77 bury zika
78 be busy shughulika
79 fasten a button funga
80 buy nunua
81 buzz vuma
82 hum vuma
83 call ita
84 call bisha hodi call on a house
85 care jali
87 care for tunza
88 look after tunza
89 be careful tahadhari
90 inspect angalia
91 carry beba carry in arms or on head
92 carry chukua
93 convey chukua
94 take chukua
95 carve chonga
96 catch kamata
97 celebrate sherehekea
98 change badili
99 change geuka turn around, be transformed
100 change geuza
101 modify geuza
102 alter geuza
103 adapt geuza
104 turn upside down geuza
105 charge toza charge a fee/price
106 chase away fukuza
107 cheat punja cf. short-change
108 swindle punja
109 grow up kua
110 choose chagua
111 clap hands piga mafoki
112 clean safisha
113 clean osha clean with water
114 wash osha
115 clear off ondoa cf. clear away
116 remove ondoa
117 climb down shuka
118 disembark shuka
119 climb panda
120 ride panda
121 close funga
122 shut funga
123 fasten funga
124 tie funga
125 collapse bomoka
126 collect kusanya
127 gather kusanya
128 collide gongana
129 come ja
130 return rudi
131 come back rudi
132 come down shuka
133 get down shuka
134 come from toka
135 derive from tokana
136 come to an end koma
137 come up cha
138 rise cha rise only in reference to the sun
139 comfort fariji
140 commemorate adhimisha
141 communicate with each other wasiliana
142 be compared with lingana
143 compare linganisha
144 equate linganisha
145 compared to kulingana na
146 in comparison with/to kulingana na
147 compete with one another shindana
148 complain lalamika
149 complicate tatiza
150 confuse tatiza
151 entangle tatiza
152 compose tunga
153 compose for one another tungiana
154 concern husu
155 be of concern to husu
156 regard husu
157 have concern jali
158 congratulate pongeza
159 consider zingatia
160 think carefully zingatia
161 consult with shauriana
162 advise shauri
163 continue endelea
164 go on and on endelea
165 make progress endelea
166 converse ongea
167 converse zungumza
168 chat ongea
169 chat zungumza
170 cook pika
171 cool off poa
172 get cool poa
173 cool sb./sth. burudisha
174 cooperate with shirikiana
175 correct sth. sahihisha
176 cough kohoa
177 count hesabu
178 cover funika
179 cover over tanda
180 extend over tanda
181 create umba
182 cry lia
183 cultivate lima
184 farm lima
185 be cured -pona cf. become cured
186 cut hair nyoa
187 shave nyoa
188 have a hair cut nyolewa i.e. nywele
189 cut into chanja
190 split chanja
191 make incision chanja
192 cut open pasua
193 cut kata
194 slice kata
195 damage haribu
196 be damaged haribika
197 dance cheza ngoma or cheza dansi
198 debate jadiliana
199 discuss jadiliana
200 decide kata shauri
201 decide amua
202 decorate pamba
203 delay kawia
204 loiter kawia
205 deny kataa
206 depend on tegemea
207 descend teremka
208 go down teremka
209 desire taka
210 want taka
211 despair kata tamaa
212 despair fa moyo
213 despise dharau
214 scorn dharau
215 destroy by fire teketeza
216 have diarrhea hara
217 die fa
218 die kufa
219 die fariki polite
220 dig chimba
221 excavate chimba
223 guide elekeza
224 show the way elekeza
225 discover gundua
226 find out gundua
227 uncover gundua
228 dish out pakua as in "dish out food"
229 distinguish bainisha
230 disturb sumbua
231 divide gawa
232 divide gawanya
233 divorce achana
234 do tenda do a deed
235 do fanya
236 make fanya
237 do for fanyia
238 make for fanyia
239 draw water teka maji
240 smoke vuta sigara
241 draw vuta cf. pull closer
242 pull vuta
243 attract vuta cf. pull closer
244 draw chora as in "draw with a pencil"
245 scribble chora
246 dream ota
247 dress vaa
248 wear vaa
249 drink nywa
250 drive endesha
251 drop angush
252 fall anguka
253 dry up kausha
254 be dry kauka
255 have dysentary hara damu
256 eat la
257 educate sb. elimisha
258 be educated elimika
259 emphasize sisitiza
260 endure dumu
261 be permanent dumu
262 last dumu
263 make last dumisha
264 endure vumilia cf. tolerate
265 tolerate vumilia
266 put up with vumilia
267 engage posa
268 become engaged posa
269 ensure hakikisha
270 enter ingia
271 go in ingia
272 insert ingiza
273 cause to enter ingiza
274 entertain starehesha
275 make comfortable starehesha
276 escape toroka
277 be estimated hesabiwa
278 examine pima as a doctor would examine his or her patient
279 exceed zidi
280 be more zidi
281 increase zidi
282 increase sth. zidisha
283 multiply zidisha
284 exercise zoeza
285 exercise fanya mazoezi
286 explain eleza
287 extinguish zima extinguish a light or fire
288 extract ng'oa
289 pull out ng'oa
290 face a certain direction elekea
291 direct elekeza
292 point in a certain direction elekeza
293 fail shindwa
294 be beaten shindwa
295 be overcome shindwa
296 fall ill ugua
297 fall ill pata ugonjwa
298 be in favor of pendelea
299 feed lisha feed as in "feeding a child or animal"
300 breast feed nyonya
301 suckle nyonya
302 nurse nonya
303 feel hisi
304 feel ona
305 feel sikia
306 feel cold ona baridi
307 feel cold sikia baridi
308 feel sleepy ona usingizi
309 figure out a mystery fumbua mystery or puzzle
310 be filled jaa
311 fill sth. jaza
312 find kuta
313 finish sth. maliza
314 finish isha
315 come to an end isha
316 reach the end isha
317 finish up ishia
318 fish vua
319 fix tengeneza
320 make tengeneza
321 repair tengeneza
322 fly ruka
323 jump ruka
324 follow fuata
325 forbid kataza
326 forget sahau
327 forgive samehe
328 freeze ganda
329 stick together ganda
330 stick to a surface ganda
331 fry kaanga
332 be full shiba as in "be full from eating"
333 get something ready tayarisha
334 get up inuka
335 get pata
336 obtain pata
337 give injection piga sindano
338 give life to tia uhai
339 instill life tia uhai
340 go kwenda or "enda"
341 go shopping enda madukani
342 go to the bathroom enda haja polite
343 go to the bathroom kuwa na haja
344 go to endea also "go for/toward"
345 go around zunguka
346 go about zunguka
347 surround zunguka
348 go first tangulia
349 go in a certain direction elekea
351 go round zingira
352 surround zingira
353 grab shika
354 take hold of shika
355 grate kuna e.g. cocounuts
356 be grateful shukuru
357 greet amkia
358 greet salimu
359 greet salimia
360 greet one another amkiana
361 grow mea as in plants
362 guard linda
363 guess buni
364 cause sth. to happen sababisha
365 happen tokea
366 take place tokea
367 be happy furahi
368 harm haribu
369 harm dhuru
370 be harmed haribika
371 harvest vuna
372 reap vuna
373 gather harvest vuna
374 hate chukia
375 have wa na
376 be headed towards elekea
377 hear sikia
378 be heard sikika
379 help saidia
380 help each other saidiana
381 assist saidia
382 herd cattle chunga
383 take care of cattle chunga
384 hesitate sita
385 hide ficha
386 conceal ficha
387 hire ajiri
388 employ ajiri
389 hit piga
390 strike piga
391 beat piga
392 fight pigana
393 honor heshimu
394 hope tumaini
395 hope for tarajia
396 expect tarajia
397 hunt winda
398 hurry fanya haraka
399 hurt uma
400 be hurt umia
401 hurt sb. umiza
402 feel ill sikia ugonjwa
403 improve in health pona
404 increase in size kua
405 increase ongeza
406 add to ongeza
407 infect ambukiza with disease
408 inform arifu
409 inform sb. julisha
410 make known julisha
411 inform sb. pasha habari
412 make known pasha habari
413 inherit rithi
414 initiate anzisha
415 cause to be begin anzisha
416 inspect kagua
417 instruct fundisha
418 teach fundisha
419 insult tukana
420 intend azimia
421 resolve azimia
422 introduce tambulisha guests or strangers
423 invite alika
424 iron piga pasi
425 press clothes piga pasi
426 join together with ungana na
427 link together something unganisha
428 join sth. unganisha
429 join sth./sb. Together unganisha
430 joke with tania
431 keep weka
432 put weka
433 place weka
434 kick piga teke
435 kill ua
436 kneel piga goti
437 knock gonga
438 hit gonga
439 strike hard gonga
440 know jua
441 be known julikana
442 know fahamu
443 understand fahamu
444 lack kosa
445 be late chelewa
446 laugh cheka
447 amuse chekesha
448 lead ongoza
449 learn jifunza
450 leave ondoka
451 leave be acha
452 leave off acha
453 quit acha
454 stop acha
455 lend azima
456 lend money kopesha
457 be less pungua also "become less"
458 reduce punguza
459 lie down lala
460 lift up inua
461 light washa as in "light a fire"
462 be lit waka
463 like penda
464 love penda
465 link together sth. unganisha
466 listen sikiliza
467 pay attention sikiliza
468 live ishi
469 live kaa
470 reside kaa
471 stay kaa
472 remain kaa
473 load pakia
474 look at tazama also "look for"
475 look at tizama also "look for"
476 look at angalia also "look for"
477 look for tafuta
478 search tafuta
479 lose sth. potea
480 be lost poteza
481 make sth. certain hakikisha
482 make a call to pigia simu
483 telephone sb. pigia simu
484 make a call piga simu
485 make a mistake kosa
486 make an effort jitahidi
487 make one happy furahisha
488 make the bed tandika kitanda
489 marry oa said of a man
490 marry olewa said of a woman
491 be married by ozwa
492 marry each other oana
493 marry funga ndoa
494 mature komaa
495 be fully grown komaa
496 measure pima
497 meet kutana
498 mention taja
499 be missing kosa
500 miss kosa
501 move closer sogea
502 move further sogea
503 move from hama
504 move to hamia
505 move sb./sth. hamisha
506 transfer hamisha (as in move)
507 narrate simulia
508 need hitaji
509 obey tii
510 be obligated lazimu
511 oblige bidi
512 be obtainable patikana
513 be on waka
514 open fungua
515 unfasten fungua
516 untie fungua
517 operate on the body pasua
518 be operated on pasuliwa
519 order agiza
520 be overcast tanda
521 be in pain umia or umwa
522 participate shiriki
523 pass an exam shinda
524 fail an exam shindwa
525 pass away fariki polite
526 pass pita also pass through/by
527 pay lipa
528 peel menya peel an apple
529 photograph sth. piga picha
530 pick chuma e.g. pick fruits and veggies
531 pick up bit by bit -okota also dondoa
532 have pity on hurumia
533 place in tia
534 set into tia
535 put down weka
536 set down weka
537 play cheza
538 please sb. pendeza
539 be pleasing pendeza
540 pound grain twanga
541 pour mimina
542 pour mwaga
543 pray sali
544 procede tangulia
545 prefer pendelea
546 prepare tayarisha
547 prepare andaa prepare food
548 present toa
549 offer toa
550 give toa
551 take away toa
552 subtract toa
553 preserve hifadhi
554 guard hifadhi
555 protect hifadhi
556 prevent zuia
557 print chapa
558 print piga chapa
559 promise ahidi
560 pronounce tamka
561 protect linda
562 be pulled vutwa
563 punish adhibu
564 push sukuma
565 put in for tilia
566 be put in tiwa also tiliwa
567 put out zima put out a fire
568 put to bed laza
569 quarrel with gombana
570 be quiet nyamaza
571 raise lea
572 raise one's hand nyosha mkono
573 raise up inua
574 read soma
575 study soma
576 prepare sth. tayarisha
577 rear lea
578 rebel asi
579 receive pokea
580 recognize tambua
581 be recognized tambuliwa
582 reconcile patanisha
583 recover pona recover from illness
584 be reduced pungua
585 refresh sb. burudisha
586 refuse kataa
587 refuse sb. kataza
588 rejoice shangilia
589 be related to husiana
590 rely on (oneself) (ji)tegemea
591 remember kumbuka
592 remind sb. kumbusha
593 rent kodi
594 hire sth. kodi
595 rent out kodisha
596 request omba
597 require hitaji
598 rescue okoa
599 do research chunguza
600 research tafiti
601 resemble fanana
602 respect heshimu
603 respond itika
604 respond rudia
605 rest pumzika
606 rise up inkua
607 rob nyang'anya
608 roll a hoop piga gurudumu
609 rot oza
610 spoil oza
611 ruin haribu
612 rule tawala
613 govern tawala
614 run kimbia
615 be satisfied shiba satisfied from eating
616 be satisfied tosheka
617 satisfy tosheleza
618 save okoa
619 say sema
620 speak sema
621 say goodbye aga to each other - agana
622 say no kataa
623 say taja
624 mention a name taja
625 say to ambia
626 tell ambia
627 scratch kuna
628 see ona
629 see one another onana
630 seize shika
631 select chagua
632 be self reliant jitegemea
633 sell uza
634 sned sb. on an errand tuma
635 send peleka
636 take peleka
637 separate achana
638 leave each other achana
639 separate tenga
640 set aside tenga
641 serve (food) andaa
642 set a trap tega
643 set a riddle tega
644 set out to dry anika
645 set the table tandika meza
646 set chwa the sun setting
647 set weka
648 sew shona
649 shake tikisa
650 share with gawanya
651 share with gawa
652 distribute gawanya
653 distribute gawa
654 shout piga kelele
655 show onyesha
656 sign signature tia sahihi
657 be similar fanana
658 sin kosa
659 sing imba
660 sit kaa
661 sit down kaa kitako
662 slaughter chinja
663 sleep lala usingizi
664 solve tatua
665 untangle tatua
666 be sorry sikitika
667 cause sb. to be sad sikitisha
668 give speech toahotuba
669 give speech hutubu
670 split (open/apart) pasua
671 have a sprain teguka
672 squeeze bana
673 squeeze out liquid kamua
674 stab choma
675 pierce choma
676 stand simama
677 stand up simama
678 steal iba
679 sting uma
680 stir (up) vuruga
681 stop simama
682 stop up ziba
683 hinder zuia
684 stop zuia
685 straighten nyosha
686 stretch out nyosha
687 strengthen sb./sth. imarisha
688 make strong imarisha
689 succeed faulu
690 succeed fanikia
691 be sufficient tosha
692 be suitable faa
693 supervise simamia
694 suppose dhani
695 think dhani
696 have surgery pasuliwa
697 surpass shinda
698 win shinda
699 beat shinda
700 surprise sb. shangaza
701 surprise sb. staajabisha
702 be surprised shangaa
703 be surprised staajabu
704 be surprised ona lo
705 swallow meza
706 swell vimba
707 get swollen vimba
708 swim ogelea
709 take a trip safiri
710 take part shiriki
711 tease tania
712 tell a story to each other toleana
713 be thankful shukuru
714 become thin konda
715 think fikiri
716 give thought to zingatia
717 throw tupa
718 be tired choka
719 touch gusa
720 translate tafsiri
721 translate fasiri
722 transport safirisha
723 trap tega
724 travel safiri
725 treat medically tibu
726 tremble tetemeka
727 try jaribu
728 turn out a light zima
729 twist sokota
730 type piga taipu
731 understand elewa
732 undress vua
733 take off clothes vua
734 unite uganisha
735 unite with ugana
736 unload pakua
737 be of use to faa
738 use tumia
739 make use of tumia
740 be visible onekana
741 visit tembelea
742 visit zuru
743 vomit tapika
744 vote piga kura
745 wait ngoja
746 wait for ngojea
747 wait patiently subiri
748 wake up amka
749 get up amka
750 walk tembea
751 take a stroll tembea
752 warn onya
753 wash clothing fua nguo
754 do laundry fua nguo
755 wash hands and face nawa
756 clean with water osha
757 watch out for angalia
758 be careful angalia
759 take care angalia
760 wear valia
761 put on valia
762 have on valia refers to clothing
763 weave suka refers to a mat
764 plait suka refers to hair
765 weed palilia
766 remove weeds palilia
767 wipe (up) pangusa
768 witness to shuhudia
769 work fanya kazi
770 worship abudu
771 write andika
772 consider hesabu
773 think hasabu
774 ponder fikiri
775 reflect fikiri reflect, say, on an issue
776 remember fahamu
777 recollect fahamu
778 recognize fahamu
779 maintain hifadhi
780 remember hifadhi
781 memorize hifadhi
782 rain nyesha
783 roar nguruma
784 fornicate tembea
785 repeat kariri
786 reiterate kariri
787 speak out tongoa
788 recite tongoa
789 explain clearly tongoa
790 claim dai
791 demand dai
792 sue dai
793 recommend pendekeza
794 propose pendekeza
795 suggest pendekeza
796 intent kusudia
797 plan kusudia
798 propose kusudia
799 hide banza (in a smal space)
800 expand vimba
801 frown vimba