Category: LanguagePart of speech: nounDifficulty: CommonRecommended for ★ UPSC

lugha

/lugha/Roman

English meaning: Language

Swahili Definition

(Kiswahili)

Mfumo wa mawasiliano ya kibinadamu kupitia maneno, ishara na sarufi.

English Definition

A system of human communication. Swahili (Kiswahili) is Africa's most widely spoken language — 200 million speakers across East and Central Africa. It is the official language of Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Swahili was adopted as the African Union's 4th official working language (2022). Swahili's rich Indian Ocean vocabulary includes Hindi/Gujarati loanwords.

Example

Kiswahili ni lugha inayozungumzwa zaidi Afrika na wazungumzaji zaidi ya milioni 200.

In English: Swahili is Africa's most spoken language with over 200 million speakers.

Synonyms

  • Kiswahili
  • maneno

Literary Heritage

Lugha ya Kiswahili ni daraja linalounganisha mataifa mengi ya Afrika.

The Swahili language is a bridge uniting many nations of Africa.

Shaaban Robert · Poet / Novelist · 20th century

Utu bora Mkulima

Utu bora Mkulima (The Best Person Is a Farmer), essay preface, 1968

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Language information

Language
Kiswahili
Swahili
Script
Latin
Family
Niger-Congo
Speakers
100M
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