Top 1000 Most Common Words in Swahili

These are the top 1000 most common words in Swahili language used in everyday conversations.

Feel free to memorize them and enjoy learning new languages.

*Examples for every word will be added in the near bright future so stay tuned.
*Download pdf at the end

Number	Swahili	in English
1	kama	as
2	mimi	I
3	yake	his
4	kwamba	that
5	yeye	he
6	mara	was
7	kwa	for
8	juu ya	on
9	wako	are
10	kwa	with
11	wao	they
12	kuwa	be
13	katika	at
14	moja	one
15	na	have
16	hii	this
17	kutoka	from
18	na	by
19	moto	hot
20	neno	word
21	lakini	but
22	nini	what
23	baadhi	some
24	ni	is
25	yake	it
26	ninyi	you
27	au	or
28	alikuwa	had
29	akaonekana	the
30	ya	of
31	kwa	to
32	na	and
33	a	a
34	katika	in
35	sisi	we
36	unaweza	can
37	nje	out
38	nyingine	other
39	walikuwa	were
40	ambayo	which
41	kufanya	do
42	yao	their
43	wakati	time
44	kama	if
45	mapenzi	will
46	jinsi	how
47	alisema	said
48	an	an
49	kila	each
50	kuwaambia	tell
51	gani	does
52	kuweka	set
53	tatu	three
54	wanataka	want
55	hewa	air
56	vizuri	well
57	pia	also
58	kucheza	play
59	ndogo	small
60	mwisho	end
61	kuweka	put
62	nyumbani	home
63	kusoma	read
64	mkono	hand
65	bandari	port
66	kubwa	large
67	Spell	spell
68	kuongeza	add
69	hata	even
70	ardhi	land
71	hapa	here
72	lazima	must
73	kubwa	big
74	high	high
75	kama	such
76	kufuata	follow
77	tendo	act
78	kwa nini	why
79	kuuliza	ask
80	wanaume	men
81	mabadiliko ya	change
82	akaenda	went
83	mwanga	light
84	aina	kind
85	mbali	off
86	haja	need
87	nyumba	house
88	picha	picture
89	kujaribu	try
90	sisi	us
91	tena	again
92	mnyama	animal
93	uhakika	point
94	mama	mother
95	dunia	world
96	karibu	near
97	kujenga	build
98	binafsi	self
99	dunia	earth
100	baba	father
101	yoyote	any
102	mpya	new
103	kazi	work
104	sehemu	part
105	kuchukua	take
106	kupata	get
107	mahali	place
108	alifanya	made
109	kuishi	live
110	ambapo	where
111	baada ya	after
112	nyuma	back
113	kidogo	little
114	tu	only
115	pande zote	round
116	mtu	man
117	mwaka	year
118	alikuja	came
119	Onyesha	show
120	kila	every
121	nzuri	good
122	mimi	me
123	kutoa	give
124	wetu	our
125	chini ya	under
126	jina	name
127	sana	very
128	kupitia	through
129	tu	just
130	aina	form
131	hukumu	sentence
132	kubwa	great
133	kufikiri	think
134	kusema	say
135	msaada	help
136	chini	low
137	line	line
138	tofauti	differ
139	upande	turn
140	sababu	cause
141	kiasi	much
142	maana	mean
143	kabla ya	before
144	hoja	move
145	haki	right
146	mvulana	boy
147	umri wa	old
148	pia	too
149	sawa	same
150	yeye	she
151	kila	all
152	huko	there
153	wakati	when
154	up	up
155	kutumia	use
156	yako	your
157	njia	way
158	kuhusu	about
159	wengi	many
160	kisha	then
161	yao	them
162	kuandika	write
163	ingekuwa	would
164	kama	like
165	hivyo	so
166	haya	these
167	yake	her
168	muda mrefu	long
169	kufanya	make
170	kitu	thing
171	kuona	see
172	naye	him
173	mbili	two
174	ina	has
175	kuangalia	look
176	zaidi	more
177	siku	day
178	inaweza	could
179	kwenda	go
180	kuja	come
181	alifanya	did
182	simu	number
183	sauti	sound
184	hakuna	no
185	zaidi	most
186	watu	people
187	yangu	my
188	juu ya	over
189	kujua	know
190	maji	water
191	kuliko	than
192	simu	call
193	kwanza	first
194	ambao	who
195	inaweza	may
196	chini	down
197	upande	side
198	imekuwa	been
199	sasa	now
200	kupata	find
201	kichwa	head
202	kusimama	stand
203	mwenyewe	own
204	ukurasa	page
205	lazima	should
206	nchi	country
207	kupatikana	found
208	jibu	answer
209	shule	school
210	kukua	grow
211	utafiti	study
212	bado	still
213	kujifunza	learn
214	kupanda	plant
215	cover	cover
216	chakula	food
217	jua	sun
218	nne	four
219	kati ya	between
220	hali	state
221	kuweka	keep
222	jicho	eye
223	kamwe	never
224	mwisho	last
225	basi	let
226	wazo	thought
227	mji	city
228	ya mti	tree
229	msalaba	cross
230	shamba	farm
231	ngumu	hard
232	kuanza	start
233	nguvu	might
234	hadithi	story
235	saw	saw
236	mbali	far
237	bahari	sea
238	kuteka	draw
239	kushoto	left
240	marehemu	late
241	kukimbia	run
242	kufanya si	don’t
243	wakati	while
244	vyombo vya habari	press
245	karibu	close
246	usiku	night
247	halisi	real
248	maisha	life
249	chache	few
250	kaskazini	north
251	kitabu	book
252	kubeba	carry
253	alichukua	took
254	sayansi	science
255	kula	eat
256	chumba	room
257	rafiki	friend
258	alianza	began
259	wazo	idea
260	samaki	fish
261	mlima	mountain
262	kuacha	stop
263	mara moja	once
264	msingi	base
265	kusikia	hear
266	farasi	horse
267	kata	cut
268	uhakika	sure
269	kuangalia	watch
270	rangi	color
271	uso	face
272	mbao	wood
273	kuu	main
274	wazi	open
275	wanaonekana	seem
276	pamoja	together
277	ijayo	next
278	nyeupe	white
279	watoto	children
280	kuanza	begin
281	got	got
282	kutembea	walk
283	mfano	example
284	kupunguza	ease
285	karatasi	paper
286	kundi	group
287	daima	always
288	muziki	music
289	wale	those
290	wote wawili	both
291	alama	mark
292	mara nyingi	often
293	barua	letter
294	mpaka	until
295	maili	mile
296	mto	river
297	gari	car
298	miguu	feet
299	huduma	care
300	pili	second
301	kutosha	enough
302	wazi	plain
303	msichana	girl
304	kawaida	usual
305	vijana	young
306	tayari	ready
307	juu	above
308	milele	ever
309	nyekundu	red
310	orodha	list
311	ingawa	though
312	kujisikia	feel
313	majadiliano	talk
314	ndege	bird
315	hivi karibuni	soon
316	mwili	body
317	mbwa	dog
318	familia	family
319	moja kwa moja	direct
320	litasababisha	pose
321	kuondoka	leave
322	wimbo	song
323	kupima	measure
324	mlango	door
325	bidhaa	product
326	nyeusi	black
327	mfupi	short
328	numeral	numeral
329	darasa	class
330	upepo	wind
331	swali	question
332	kutokea	happen
333	kamili	complete
334	meli	ship
335	eneo	area
336	nusu	half
337	mwamba	rock
338	ili	order
339	moto	fire
340	kusini	south
341	tatizo	problem
342	kipande	piece
343	aliiambia	told
344	alijua	knew
345	kupita	pass
346	tangu	since
347	juu	top
348	zima	whole
349	mfalme	king
350	mitaani	street
351	inchi	inch
352	kuzidisha	multiply
353	chochote	nothing
354	Bila shaka	course
355	kukaa	stay
356	gurudumu	wheel
357	full	full
358	nguvu	force
359	bluu	blue
360	kitu	object
361	kuamua	decide
362	uso	surface
363	kina	deep
364	mwezi	moon
365	kisiwa	island
366	mguu	foot
367	mfumo	system
368	busy	busy
369	mtihani	test
370	rekodi	record
371	mashua	boat
372	kawaida	common
373	dhahabu	gold
374	iwezekanavyo	possible
375	ndege	plane
376	badala	stead
377	kavu	dry
378	ajabu	wonder
379	kucheka	laugh
380	elfu	thousand
381	iliyopita	ago
382	mbio	ran
383	kuangalia	check
384	mchezo	game
385	sura	shape
386	wanalinganisha	equate
387	moto	hot
388	miss ya	miss
389	kuletwa	brought
390	joto	heat
391	theluji	snow
392	tairi	tire
393	kuleta	bring
394	ndiyo	yes
395	mbali	distant
396	kujaza	fill
397	mashariki	east
398	rangi	paint
399	lugha	language
400	kati ya	among
401	kitengo	unit
402	nguvu	power
403	mji	town
404	faini	fine
405	baadhi ya	certain
406	kuruka	fly
407	kuanguka	fall
408	kusababisha	lead
409	kilio	cry
410	giza	dark
411	mashine	machine
412	note	note
413	kusubiri	wait
414	mpango	plan
415	takwimu	figure
416	nyota	star
417	sanduku	box
418	nomino	noun
419	shamba	field
420	wengine	rest
421	sahihi	correct
422	uwezo	able
423	chupa	pound
424	kutenda	done
425	uzuri	beauty
426	gari	drive
427	alisimama	stood
428	vyenye	contain
429	mbele	front
430	kufundisha	teach
431	wiki	week
432	mwisho	final
433	alitoa	gave
434	kijani	green
435	oh	oh
436	haraka	quick
437	kuendeleza	develop
438	bahari	ocean
439	joto	warm
440	bure	free
441	dakika	minute
442	nguvu	strong
443	maalum	special
444	akili	mind
445	nyuma ya	behind
446	wazi	clear
447	mkia	tail
448	kuzalisha	produce
449	ukweli	fact
450	nafasi	space
451	habari	heard
452	bora	best
453	saa	hour
454	bora	better
455	kweli	true
456	wakati wa	during
457	mia	hundred
458	tano	five
459	kumbuka	remember
460	hatua	step
461	mapema	early
462	kushikilia	hold
463	magharibi	west
464	ardhi	ground
465	maslahi	interest
466	kufikia	reach
467	haraka	fast
468	kitenzi	verb
469	kuimba	sing
470	kusikiliza	listen
471	sita	six
472	meza	table
473	usafiri	travel
474	chini ya	less
475	asubuhi	morning
476	kumi	ten
477	rahisi	simple
478	kadhaa	several
479	vowel	vowel
480	kuelekea	toward
481	vita	war
482	kuweka	lay
483	dhidi ya	against
484	muundo	pattern
485	polepole	slow
486	kituo cha	center
487	upendo	love
488	mtu	person
489	fedha	money
490	kutumika	serve
491	itaonekana	appear
492	barabara	road
493	ramani	map
494	mvua	rain
495	utawala	rule
496	serikali	govern
497	kuvuta	pull
498	baridi	cold
499	ilani	notice
500	sauti	voice
501	nishati	energy
502	kuwinda	hunt
503	kinachowezekana	probable
504	kitanda	bed
505	ndugu	brother
506	yai	egg
507	safari	ride
508	kiini	cell
509	amini	believe
510	labda	perhaps
511	kuchukua	pick
512	ghafla	sudden
513	kuhesabu	count
514	mraba	square
515	sababu	reason
516	urefu	length
517	kuwakilisha	represent
518	sanaa	art
519	somo	subject
520	kanda	region
521	ukubwa	size
522	kutofautiana	vary
523	kuishi	settle
524	kusema	speak
525	uzito	weight
526	ujumla	general
527	barafu	ice
528	jambo	matter
529	mzunguko	circle
530	jozi	pair
531	ni pamoja na	include
532	mgawanyiko	divide
533	silabi	syllable
534	waliona	felt
535	kuu	grand
536	mpira	ball
537	bado	yet
538	wimbi	wave
539	kuacha	drop
540	moyo	heart
541	ni	am
542	sasa	present
543	nzito	heavy
544	ngoma	dance
545	injini	engine
546	nafasi	position
547	mkono	arm
548	pana	wide
549	meli	sail
550	vifaa	material
551	sehemu	fraction
552	msitu	forest
553	kukaa	sit
554	mbio	race
555	dirisha	window
556	kuhifadhi	store
557	majira ya joto	summer
558	treni	train
559	usingizi	sleep
560	kuthibitisha	prove
561	ya lone	lone
562	mguu	leg
563	zoezi	exercise
564	ukuta	wall
565	kukamata	catch
566	mlima	mount
567	unataka	wish
568	anga	sky
569	bodi	board
570	furaha	joy
571	majira ya baridi	winter
572	ameketi	sat
573	imeandikwa	written
574	pori	wild
575	chombo	instrument
576	naendelea	kept
577	kioo	glass
578	nyasi	grass
579	ng’ombe	cow
580	kazi	job
581	makali	edge
582	ishara	sign
583	ziara	visit
584	siku za nyuma	past
585	laini	soft
586	furaha	fun
587	mkali	bright
588	gesi	gas
589	hali ya hewa	weather
590	mwezi	month
591	milioni	million
592	kubeba	bear
593	kumaliza	finish
594	furaha	happy
595	matumaini	hope
596	ua	flower
597	nguo	clothe
598	ajabu	strange
599	kuondoka	gone
600	biashara	trade
601	kuimba	melody
602	safari	trip
603	ofisi	office
604	kupokea	receive
605	mstari	row
606	kinywa	mouth
607	halisi	exact
608	ishara	symbol
609	kufa	die
610	angalau	least
611	shida	trouble
612	kelele	shout
613	ila	except
614	aliandika	wrote
615	mbegu	seed
616	tone	tone
617	kujiunga na	join
618	kupendekeza	suggest
619	safi	clean
620	mapumziko	break
621	mwanamke	lady
622	yadi	yard
623	kupanda	rise
624	mbaya	bad
625	pigo	blow
626	mafuta	oil
627	damu	blood
628	kugusa	touch
629	ilikua	grew
630	cent	cent
631	kuchanganya	mix
632	timu	team
633	waya	wire
634	gharama	cost
635	waliopotea	lost
636	kahawia	brown
637	kuvaa	wear
638	bustani	garden
639	sawa	equal
640	alimtuma	sent
641	kuchagua	choose
642	akaanguka	fell
643	fit	fit
644	kati yake	flow
645	haki	fair
646	benki	bank
647	kukusanya	collect
648	kuokoa	save
649	kudhibiti	control
650	decimal	decimal
651	sikio	ear
652	mwingine	else
653	kabisa	quite
654	kuvunja	broke
655	kesi	case
656	katikati	middle
657	kuua	kill
658	mwana	son
659	ziwa	lake
660	wakati	moment
661	wadogo	scale
662	kubwa	loud
663	chemchemi	spring
664	kuchunguza	observe
665	mtoto	child
666	moja kwa moja	straight
667	consonant	consonant
668	taifa	nation
669	kamusi	dictionary
670	maziwa	milk
671	kasi	speed
672	njia	method
673	chombo	organ
674	kulipa	pay
675	umri	age
676	sehemu	section
677	mavazi	dress
678	wingu	cloud
679	mshangao	surprise
680	utulivu	quiet
681	jiwe	stone
682	vidogo	tiny
683	kupanda	climb
684	baridi	cool
685	kubuni	design
686	maskini	poor
687	mengi	lot
688	majaribio	experiment
689	chini	bottom
690	ufunguo	key
691	chuma	iron
692	moja	single
693	fimbo	stick
694	gorofa	flat
695	ishirini	twenty
696	ngozi	skin
697	tabasamu	smile
698	na crease	crease
699	shimo	hole
700	kuruka	jump
701	mtoto	baby
702	nane	eight
703	kijiji	village
704	kukutana	meet
705	mizizi	root
706	kununua	buy
707	kuongeza	raise
708	kutatua	solve
709	chuma	metal
710	kama	whether
711	kushinikiza	push
712	saba	seven
713	aya	paragraph
714	tatu	third
715	atakuwa	shall
716	uliofanyika	held
717	nywele	hair
718	kuelezea	describe
719	mpishi	cook
720	sakafu	floor
721	ama	either
722	matokeo	result
723	kuchoma	burn
724	kilima	hill
725	salama	safe
726	paka	cat
727	karne ya	century
728	kufikiria	consider
729	aina	type
730	sheria	law
731	kidogo	bit
732	pwani	coast
733	nakala	copy
734	maneno	phrase
735	kimya	silent
736	mrefu	tall
737	mchanga	sand
738	udongo	soil
739	orodha	roll
740	joto	temperature
741	kidole	finger
742	sekta ya	industry
743	thamani	value
744	kupambana	fight
745	uongo	lie
746	kuwapiga	beat
747	kuchochea	excite
748	asili	natural
749	mtazamo	view
750	maana	sense
751	mji mkuu wa	capital
752	si	won’t
753	kiti	chair
754	hatari	danger
755	matunda	fruit
756	tajiri	rich
757	nene	thick
758	askari	soldier
759	mchakato	process
760	kazi	operate
761	mazoezi	practice
762	tofauti	separate
763	vigumu	difficult
764	daktari	doctor
765	tafadhali	please
766	kulinda	protect
767	saa sita mchana	noon
768	mazao	crop
769	kisasa	modern
770	kipengele	element
771	hit	hit
772	mwanafunzi	student
773	kona	corner
774	chama	party
775	usambazaji	supply
776	ambao	whose
777	Machapisho	locate
778	pete	ring
779	tabia ya	character
780	wadudu	insect
781	hawakupata	caught
782	kipindi	period
783	zinaonyesha	indicate
784	za Redio	radio
785	alizungumza	spoke
786	chembe	atom
787	binadamu	human
788	historia	history
789	athari	effect
790	umeme	electric
791	kutarajia	expect
792	mfupa	bone
793	reli	rail
794	kufikiria	imagine
795	kutoa	provide
796	kukubaliana	agree
797	hivyo	thus
798	mpole	gentle
799	mwanamke	woman
800	nahodha	captain
801	nadhani	guess
802	muhimu	necessary
803	mkali	sharp
804	mrengo	wing
805	kujenga	create
806	jirani	neighbor
807	osha	wash
808	bat kwa	bat
809	badala	rather
810	umati wa watu	crowd
811	nafaka	corn
812	kulinganisha	compare
813	shairi	poem
814	kamba	string
815	kengele	bell
816	hutegemea	depend
817	nyama	meat
818	kusugua	rub
819	tube	tube
820	maarufu	famous
921	dola	dollar
822	mkondo	stream
823	hofu	fear
284	mbele	sight
825	nyembamba	thin
826	pembetatu	triangle
827	sayari	planet
828	haraka	hurry
829	wakuu	chief
830	koloni	colony
831	saa	clock
832	yangu	mine
833	tie	tie
834	kuingia	enter
835	kuu	major
836	safi	fresh
837	search	search
838	kutuma	send
839	njano	yellow
840	bunduki	gun
841	kuruhusu	allow
842	magazeti	print
843	wafu	dead
844	doa	spot
845	jangwa	desert
846	suti	suit
847	sasa	current
848	kuinua	lift
840	kufufuka	rose
850	kuwasili	arrive
851	bwana	master
852	kufuatilia	track
853	mzazi	parent
854	pwani	shore
855	mgawanyiko	division
856	karatasi	sheet
857	Dutu	substance
858	neema	favor
859	kuungana	connect
860	baada	post
861	kutumia	spend
862	gumzo	chord
863	mafuta	fat
864	furaha	glad
865	awali	original
866	kushiriki	share
867	kituo cha	station
868	baba	dad
869	mkate	bread
870	malipo	charge
871	sahihi	proper
872	bar ya	bar
873	kutoa	offer
874	sehemu	segment
875	mtumwa	slave
876	bata	duck
877	papo	instant
878	soko	market
879	shahada ya	degree
880	idadi ya	populate
881	kifaranga	chick
882	wapenzi	dear
883	adui	enemy
884	jibu	reply
885	kunywa	drink
886	kutokea	occur
887	msaada	support
888	hotuba	speech
889	asili	nature
890	mbalimbali	range
891	mvuke	steam
892	mwendo	motion
893	njia	path
894	kioevu	liquid
895	kuingia	log
896	maana	meant
897	quotient ya	quotient
898	meno	teeth
899	ganda	shell
900	shingo	neck
901	oksijeni	oxygen
902	sukari	sugar
903	kifo	death
904	wa pretty	pretty
905	ujuzi	skill
906	wanawake	women
907	msimu	season
908	ufumbuzi	solution
909	sumaku	magnet
910	fedha	silver
911	kuwashukuru	thank
912	tawi	branch
913	mechi	match
914	suffix	suffix
915	hasa	especially
916	mtini	fig
917	hofu	afraid
918	kubwa	huge
919	dada	sister
920	chuma	steel
921	kujadili	discuss
922	mbele	forward
923	sawa	similar
924	kuongoza	guide
925	uzoefu	experience
926	alama	score
927	mboni	apple
928	kununuliwa	bought
929	kuongozwa	led
930	lami	pitch
931	kanzu	coat
932	habari	mass
933	kadi	card
934	bendi	band
935	kamba	rope
936	kuingizwa	slip
937	kushinda	win
938	ndoto	dream
939	jioni	evening
940	hali	condition
941	kulisha	feed
942	chombo	tool
943	jumla	total
944	msingi	basic
945	harufu	smell
946	bonde	valley
947	wala	nor
948	mara mbili	double
949	kiti cha	seat
950	kuendelea	continue
951	kuzuia	block
952	chati	chart
953	kofia	hat
954	kuuza	sell
955	mafanikio	success
956	kampuni	company
957	Ondoa	subtract
958	tukio	event
959	hasa	particular
960	mpango	deal
961	kuogelea	swim
962	mrefu	term
963	kinyume	opposite
964	mke	wife
965	kiatu	shoe
966	bega	shoulder
967	kuenea	spread
968	kupanga	arrange
969	kambi	camp
970	mzulia	invent
971	pamba	cotton
972	aliyezaliwa	born
973	kuamua	determine
974	lita moja	quart
975	tisa	nine
976	lori	truck
977	kelele	noise
978	ngazi ya	level
979	nafasi	chance
980	kukusanya	gather
981	duka	shop
982	kunyoosha	stretch
983	kutupa	throw
984	uangaze	shine
985	mali	property
986	safu	column
987	molekuli	molecule
988	kuchagua	select
989	makosa	wrong
990	kijivu	gray
991	kurudia	repeat
992	zinahitaji	require
993	pana	broad
994	kuandaa	prepare
995	chumvi	salt
996	pua	nose
997	wingi	plural
998	hasira	anger
999	madai	claim
1000	bara	continent

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