List of Swahili Words

This page contains a list of Swahili words that have been used in The Lion Guard and their English translations.

General

 * Asante - Thank you
 * Bakora - Walking Stick
 * Cheka - Laugh
 * Daima - Always
 * Fujo - Chaos
 * Furahi - Joy/Happiness
 * Harufu - Smell
 * Hakuna - No or There are no
 * Hapana - Oh, no
 * Hevi - Intense
 * Huwezi - You can!
 * '''can do something (originated from the swahilian verbform: kuwezi)
 * Jambo - Hello
 * Jenga - verb: to build something/ or noun: building
 * Ka - And then
 * Kabisa - Totally/Complete
 * Karibu - Welcome
 * Kibado - Still
 * Kiboko - Hippopotamus
 * Kucheka - Laugh
 * Kuishi - Live
 * Kumbuka - to remember
 * Kupatana  - Harmony
 * Kwa - For, with, by, to
 * Kweli - true, real
 * Kweto - Home
 * Lenga - aim for something
 * Mashindano  - Competition
 * Matata - Worries
 * Mjuzi - Knowledge
 * Miaji - Citizens
 * Moja - One (as the number) or one person
 * Nchi - Land
 * Ni - are or is
 * Nawaza I think, assume
 * Nzuri  - Beautiful
 * Pamoja - Together/togetherness
 * Poa - Cool
 * Ponda - to crush something
 * Ruka - Jump
 * Sawa - Same
 * Shwari - Calm
 * Siku - Day
 * Simama - Stand
 * Sisi - We
 * Tamasha - Show/Festival
 * Teke - Kick
 * Teleza - Slide
 * Tujiinue - Let our souls be lifted up
 * Tuliza - Calm Down
 * Twende - Let's go
 * Udugu - Kinship/Brotherhood
 * Ukumbusho - Memorial
 * Utamu - Sweet
 * Usiguse - Don't touch
 * Wa - Of
 * Wapa - Give it up
 * Walinda - Protecting
 * Woja - Come
 * Yaukoo - Pride as in animal pride
 * Zimwi - Ghost or Goblin
 * Zama - Dive in
 * Zuka - Pop up

Character Names

 * Ajabu - Amazing or Surprising
 * Aminifu - Honest or Reliable
 * Askari - Police, Guard, Soldier
 * Anga - Sky, Air, The Heavens
 * Badili - Change or Switch
 * Bahati - luck, good furtune
 * Basi - Enough
 * Beshte - (wrong pronounciation for bestie as in best friend)
 * Boboka - Blabber
 * Bunga - stupid
 * Bupu - Empty husk
 * Chama - Society, Club, or Group
 * Cheezi  - Possibly derived from Chizi; Crazy
 * Chungu - bitter (taste)
 * Chura - Frog or Toad
 * Dhahabu  - Gold
 * Dogo  - Small
 * Fikiri -Think
 * Fuli - Very fast
 * Furaha - Happiness, Joy, or Jollity
 * Goigoi  - Sluggish
 * Gumba - Thumb
 * Hadithi - Myth, Legend, or Story
 * Hafifu - Weak or Poor
 * Hamu - Wish or Yearning
 * Haya - Shame or Modesty
 * Hodari - Brave or Capable
 * Janja - Crafty or Artful
 * Jasiri - Brave
 * Johari - Jewel
 * Juhudi - Effort
 * Kiazi - Potato
 * Kenge - Monitor lizard
 * Kiburi - Arrogance
 * Kifaru - Rhinoceros
 * Kijana - Young
 * Kinyonga - Chameleon
 * Kion - Possibly short for Kiongozi; Leader
 * Kongwe - Ancient or Very old
 * Kitendo - Act, Action, Deed
 * Kovu - Scar
 * Kuchimba - Dig
 * Kulinda - Guard or Protect
 * Kwato - Hoof
 * Laini - Smooth
 * Majinuni - Buffoon or Silly talk
 * Makucha - Claws
 * Madoa - Spots or Stained
 * Makini - Calmly, Quietly or With dignity
 * Makuu - Big things
 * Mapigano - Fight, Battle, or Clash
 * Mbeya - Gossip
 * Mbuni - Ostrich
 * Mjomba - Uncle
 * Mpishi - Cook or Chef
 * Mtoto - Child
 * Muhanga - Aardvark
 * Muhimu - Important
 * Mwenzi - Companion
 * Mwoga - Fear or Cowardice
 * Mwizi - Thief
 * Mzaha - Joke, Ridicule, or Derision
 * Mzingo - Circumference
 * Masikio - Ears
 * Mbeya - Bad
 * Nala - present (as in give a present to someone)
 * Nduli - Ruffian or Thug
 * Njano - Yellow
 * Nne - Four
 * Nuka - Stink
 * Nyata - Stalk
 * Nyeusi - Black or Dark
 * Nyuni - Bird
 * Ogopa - Fear
 * Ona - See, Believe, Feel
 * Ono - Passion
 * Pua - Steel or Nose
 * Pumbaa - Foolish
 * Raha - Happiness, Comfort, or Bliss
 * Rafiki - Friend
 * Reirei - Possibly derived from Rairai; Flattering
 * Saba - seven
 * Sarabi - Mirage
 * Shauku - Enthusiasm
 * Shingo - Neck
 * Shujaa - Hero or Fighter
 * Shupavu - Tough or Stubborn or Pertinent
 * Simba - Lion
 * 'Sita - six
 * Sokwe - Gorilla or Ape
 * Starehe - Rest or Comfortable
 * Swala - Gazelle
 * Sumu - Poison
 * Tamaa - Greed
 * Tamka - Announce or State
 * Tano - five
 * Tembo - Elephant
 * Tiifu - Loyal or Obedient
 * Tumbili - Monkey
 * Tunu - Precious, Treasure, or Dear
 * Twiga - Giraffe
 * Uroho - Gluttony or Greed
 * Ushari - Aggression
 * Vitani - At Battle or War
 * Vuruga Vuruga - Mix or Disarrange
 * Waza - Assume
 * Wema - Good, Virtues, or Goodness
 * Zazu - Movement
 * Zigo - Wildlife
 * Zira - Hate
 * Zito - Heavy, Tough, or Thick
 * Zuri - Beautiful

Places

 * Baridi - Cold
 * Chakula - Food
 * Chekundu - Red
 * Embamba - Narrow
 * Kilio - Cry
 * Maji - Water
 * Mapango - Cave
 * Mapema - Early
 * Matope - Mud
 * Mbali - Far or Distant
 * Mekundu - Red
 * Mirihi - Mars
 * Mizimu - Spirits
 * Maumivu - Pain or aches
 * Ndefu - Long
 * Nyani - Baboon
 * Poromoko - Ravine/Avalanche or Cliff
 * Sehemu - Partially
 * Theluji - Snow
 * Ukuni - Firewood
 * Urembo - Beauty
 * Ziwa - Lake or Pool

Trivia

 * Sarah Mirza has revealed a number of Swahili words that are planned to be used in The Lion Guard: Karibu (welcome), and Jenga (to build).
 * Sarah Mirza refers to the Swahili used in The Lion Guard as "Swinglish", which is "Half English and half Swahili." By this, she is most likely referring to the fact that though Swahili is incorporated into the show, English pronunciation and/or spelling is used for the words and phrases.