Swa·hi·li
| \ swä-ˈhē-lē
\
\
plural Swahili or Swahilis
Definition of Swahili
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
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Cite this Entry
“Swahili.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Swahili. Accessed 16 Apr. 2021.
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Swahili
noun
English Language Learners Definition of Swahili
: a language widely used in East Africa and the Congo region
See the full definition for Swahili in the English Language Learners Dictionary
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The first known use of Swahili was in 1814
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