List of Swahili Words

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

General[]

Asante - Thank you
Bakora - Walking Stick
Bila - Without
Cheka - Laugh
Daima - Always
Fujo - Chaos
Furahi - Joy/Happiness
Harufu - Smell
Hakuna - No or There are no
Hapana - No
Haraka - Fast, Quickly, Swifty, Speedily
Hevi - Totally
Hiyo - Those, Those ones, That, That one
Hofu - Fear
Huwezi - Fuli’s catchphrase,"You can't catch me!"
Jambo - Hello
Jenga - to build or building
Ka - And then
Kali - Terrific
Kabisa - Intense
Karibu - Welcome
Kibado - Still
Kiboko - Hippopotamus
Kucheka - Laugh
Kuishi - Live
Kumbuka - Remember
Kupatana - Peace
Kwa - For/By
Kweli - Real, true, truth
Kwetu - Home
Lenga - To aim at sth.
Mashindano - Competition
Matata - Worries
Mjuzi - Know
Miaji - Citizens
Moja - One
Musuli - Muscles
Nchi - Land
Ni - Are/Is
Nawaza - To think about sth.
Nzuri - Beautiful
Pamoja - Together
Poa - Cool
Ponda - Smash
Roo-ka - Jump
Sawa - Same
Shwari - Calm
Siku - Day
Simama - Stand
Sisi - We
Tamasha - Concert
Tay-kay - Kick
Tay-layza - Slide
Tujiinue - Lift ourselfs up
Tuliza- Calm Down
Twende - Let's go
Udugu - Kinship, close friend
Ukumbusho - Memorial
Utamu - Sweetness
Usiguse - Don't touch
Wa - Of
Wapa - Give it up
Walinda - Protecting
Woja - Come
Yaukoo - Pride as in lion pride
Zimwi - Goul
Zama - Dive in
Zuka - Pop up

Character Names[]

Ajabu - Amazing, Wonderful
Aminifu - Devoted, Faithful, Honest
Ãnanda - Joy
Askari - Police, Guard, Soldier
Astuto - Shrewd, Cunning
Anga - Sky, Air, The Heavens
Azaad - Free, Liberated
Badili - Change, Switch
Baliyo - Strong, Powerful
Bambun - Fat
Basi - Ok, Alright
Beshte - derived from English word bestie meaning "best friend"
Boboka - Blabber
Bogino - Short
Bunga - Foolish person
Bupu - Empty
Chama - Party, Society, Club, Group
Cheezi - Possibly derived from Chizi; Crazy
Chuluun - Stone
Chungu - Bitter
Chura - Toad
Dhahabu - Gold
Dogo - Small
Domog - Legends
Dughi - Round
Fahari - Splendor
Feliks - Lucky, Happy, Fortunate
Fikiri - to think
Fuli - Extremely Fast
Furaha - Happiness
Goigoi - Sluggish, Slow
Gumba - Thumb
Hadithi - Story, Myth, Legend
Hafifu - Weak, Poor
Hamu - Wish, Yearning
Haya - Shame, Modesty
Heng Heng - Eternal, Constant, Permanent
Hitashi - Soak
Hodari - Brave
Imara - Stable, Strong
Janja - Crafty, Artful
Janna - To know
Jasiri - Brave
Jiona - Boast, Evening
Johari - Essence, Jewel
Juhudi - Effort
Kasi - Work derived from Kazi
Kiazi - Potato
Kenge - Monitor lizard
Kiara - Bright
Kiburi - Arrogance, Pride
Kifaru - Rhinoceros
Kijana - Young
Kimyo - You
Kinyonga - Chameleon
Kion - Possibly short for Kiongozi; Leader
Kitendo - Act, Action, Deed
Kongwe - Ancient, Very Old
Kiril - Lord
Kovu - Scar
Krud'dha - Fierce
Kuchimba - to dig sth. /to really like sth. e.g. I dig lions
Kulinda - to guard, protect
Kwato - Hoof
Laini - Soft, Smooth
Lumba-Lumba - Dolphin
Madoa - Spots
Majinuni - Buffoon, Silly Talk
Makucha - Claws
Makini - Calmly, Quietly, With Dignity
Makuu - Arrogant
Mapigano - Fighting, Battle, Clash
Mbeya - Bad
Mbuni - Ostrich
Mjomba - Uncle
Mpishi - Cook, Chef
Mtoto - Child
Muhanga - Aardvark
Muhimu - Important, Essential
Mwenzi - Companion
Mwoga - Fear, Cowardice
Mwizi - Thief, Burglar
Mzaha - Joke, Ridicule, Derision
Mzingo - Circumference
Masikio - Ears
Mufasa - King
Nabasu - Navas
Nala - Gift, Present (as in give a present to someone)
Nduli - Ruffian, Thug
Nirmala - Clean, Pure
Njano - Yellow
Nne - Four
Nuka - Stink
Nyata - Sneak Along, Stalk
Nyeusi - Black
Nyuni - Bird
Ogopa - Fear
Ona - See, Feel
Ono - Passion
Ora - Komodo Dragon
Pãgala - Madman
Pasha - Net, Snare, Bond
Pua - Nose, Steel
Pumbaa - Dump
Pim - Possibly derived from Pimbi; Hyrax
Pinguino - Penguin
Polina - Small
Raha - Comfort
Rafiki - Friend
Rani - Queen
Reirei - Possibly derived from Rairai; Flattering
Sâhasí - Courageous and brave
Sarabi - Mirage
Shabaha - Target
Shauku - Enthusiasm
Shingo - Neck
Shujaa - Hero, Fighter
Shupavu - Tough, Stubborn, Pertinent
Simba - Lion
Sita - six (number)
Sokwe - Gorilla or Ape
Starehe - Rest, Comfortable
Swala - Gazelle
Sumu - Poison, Virus, Venom
Surak - Clue
Tafu - Tough
Tamaa - Greed
Tamka - Announce, State
Tangaagim- bear
Tano - Five
Tazama - Look
Tembo - Elephant
Tenuk - Tapir
Tompok - Spot, Patches, Blotch
Tiifu - Loyal, Faithful
Timon - Honor
Tumbili - Monkey
Tunu - Precious, Treasure, Dear
Twiga - Giraffe
Ullu - Owl
Uroho - Greed, Gluttony
Ushari - Aggression
Varya - brave one (female person)
Vitani - War, Battle
Vuli - Period of lightest rainfall and onset of Kaskazi (Months September - October)
Vuruga - Distract, Mix, Disarrange
Waza - Assume, Think, Imagine
Wema - Good, Virtues, Goodness
Yuki - Snow, Courage
Zazu - Movement
Zigo - Wildlife
Zira - Hate
Zito - Heavy
Zuri - Beautiful

Places[]

Baridi - Cold
Chakula - Food
Chekundu - Red
Dirisha - Patience
Embamba - Narrow
Kilio - to cry
Maji - Water
Mapango - Cave
Mapema - Early
Matope - Mud
Mbali - Far away
Mekundu - Red
Mirihi - Miracles
Mizimu - Spirits
Maumivu - Pain
Ndefu - Long
Nyani - Baboon
Poromoko - Flood
Pratibimba - image
Sehemu - Partially
Theluji - Snow
Ukuni - Firewood
Urembo - Beauty
Ziwa - Lake
Shangaza - Wonder
Cikha - possibly derived from english word seeker

Verbforms[]

Kilio - Cry

Kimbia - to run

Kucheka - Laugh

Kuchimba - dig

Kulinda - protect

Kuona - Seeing

Ni - is or are

Starahe - rest

Tazama - Glance or look

Waza - think, assume

Zama - to dive

Zuka - to pop up somewhere

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.