Swahili
noun
Swa·hi·li
swä-ˈhē-lē 
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
According to the zoo, Rozi (meaning rose in Swahili) was born in February via an emergency cesarean section to her mother, Siri, who resides at the same zoo.
—
Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 2 Aug. 2025
Their banners incorporate the Swahili phrase ‘Hakuna Matata’, which means ‘No worries’ in English and was popularised by the 1994 film The Lion King.
—Art De Roché, New York Times, 31 July 2025
The driver asked my driver in Swahili where the river was and how to reach the crossing.
—Emese MacZko, Forbes.com, 30 July 2025
Johnson plans to use his fellowship to complete his degree in entrepreneurship, pursue certification in cultural intelligence, and deepen his spiritual and cultural leadership through ancestral pilgrimage and learning Swahili.
—Mary Divine, Twin Cities, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for Swahili
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Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 2 Aug. 2025
Their banners incorporate the Swahili phrase ‘Hakuna Matata’, which means ‘No worries’ in English and was popularised by the 1994 film The Lion King.
—Art De Roché, New York Times, 31 July 2025
The driver asked my driver in Swahili where the river was and how to reach the crossing.
—Emese MacZko, Forbes.com, 30 July 2025
Johnson plans to use his fellowship to complete his degree in entrepreneurship, pursue certification in cultural intelligence, and deepen his spiritual and cultural leadership through ancestral pilgrimage and learning Swahili.
—Mary Divine, Twin Cities, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for Swahili
Cite this Entry
“Swahili.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Swahili. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Swahili
noun
Swa·hi·li
swä-ˈhē-lē
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
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