Swahili

noun

Swa·​hi·​li swä-ˈhē-lē How to pronounce Swahili (audio)
plural Swahili or Swahilis
1
: a member of a Bantu-speaking people of Zanzibar and the adjacent coast
2
: a Bantu language that is a trade and governmental language over much of East Africa and in the Congo region

Examples of Swahili in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Not set up for takeaway or delivery, Swahili Village immediately saw its sales plummet, Onyona told The Post. Tim Carman, Washington Post, 16 July 2024 Pre-surgery, no one translated what was going on into Swahili. Maya Silver, NPR, 22 June 2024 Waylon Jennings bailed when Wonder suggested that part of the piece be sung in Swahili. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2024 And when new bonobos are born at the zoo nowadays, their names are in one of three languages spoken in the Congo: Swahili, Lingala or French. Amy Schwabe, Journal Sentinel, 9 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for Swahili 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Swahili.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Arabic sawāḥil, plural of sāḥil coast

First Known Use

1814, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Swahili was in 1814

Dictionary Entries Near Swahili

Cite this Entry

“Swahili.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Swahili. Accessed 27 Jul. 2024.

Kids Definition

Swahili

noun
Swa·​hi·​li swä-ˈhē-lē How to pronounce Swahili (audio)
plural Swahili or Swahilis
1
: a member of a Bantu-speaking people of Zanzibar and the adjacent coast of Africa
2
: a Bantu language that is a trade and governmental language over much of East Africa and in the Congo region
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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