Swahili Emotions & Personality Vocabulary

This themed list gathers the Swahili words you need for talking about feelings, character, and inner states: nouns such as hisia (feeling or emotion), furaha (happiness), huzuni (sadness), hasira (anger), and hofu (fear), together with the verbs that go with them, like kulia (to cry), kusherehekea (to celebrate), and kushukuru (to thank or to be grateful).

You will also meet personality-related items such as ujasiri (courage), udhaifu (weakness), utulivu (calmness), and muongo (liar), so you can describe not only how someone feels in the moment but what kind of person they are. Each entry comes with an English translation and an example sentence to show the word in use.

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Swahili Emotions & Personality Vocabulary: the list

#	Swahili	English	Type	Example
1	wasiwasi	worry	noun	Nilihisi wasiwasi kabla ya mtihani wangu wa mwisho.
2	hofu	fear	noun	Watu wengi wanapata hofu wakati wa giza.
3	matumaini	hope	noun	Watu wanahitaji matumaini ili kuendelea na maisha yao.
4	kulia	to cry	verb	Watoto wanapenda kulia.
5	utulivu	calmness	noun	Katika maisha, utulivu ni muhimu kwa ajili ya afya ya akili.
6	chuki	hatred	noun	Watu wanapaswa kuondoa chuki ili kuishi kwa amani.
7	hatia	guilt	noun	Kila mtu ana hatia yake, lakini ni muhimu kujifunza kutokana na makosa.
8	hisia	feeling or emotion	noun	Wakati wa filamu, nilihisi hisia nyingi za furaha na huzuni.
9	kumheshimu	to respect	verb	Ni muhimu kumheshimu wazazi wetu kwa sababu wanatupatia kila kitu tunachohitaji.
10	hasira	anger	noun	Alikuwa na hasira baada ya kutendewa vibaya.
11	machozi	tears	noun	Alikuwa na machozi machoni mwake baada ya kusikia habari.
12	himiza	encourage	verb	Mwalimu anataka himiza wanafunzi kusoma zaidi.
13	muongo	liar	noun	Yeye ni muongo katika hadithi za zamani.
14	tamaa	desire	noun	Watu wengi wanakabiliwa na tamaa katika maisha yao ya kila siku.
15	furaha	happiness	noun	Kila mtu anataka furaha katika maisha yao.
16	rambirambi	condolences	noun	Watu walileta rambirambi kwa ajili ya kuonyesha huruma kwa familia ya marehemu.
17	msamaha	forgiveness	noun	Nahitaji msamaha kutoka kwako ili niweze kuendelea na maisha yangu.
18	masikini	poor	adjective	Watu wengi ni masikini katika jamii hii.
19	hisi	to feel	verb	Ninataka hisi furaha katika maisha yangu.
20	huzuni	sadness	noun	Alikuwa na huzuni baada ya kusikia habari mbaya.
21	ujasiri	courage	noun	Kuwa na ujasiri ni muhimu katika maisha ya kila siku.
22	ndoto	dream	noun	Usiku, nilikuwa na ndoto nzuri kuhusu safari ya baharini.
23	kusherehekea	to celebrate	verb	Tunaweza kusherehekea siku ya kuzaliwa kwa furaha.
24	udhaifu	weakness	noun	Watu wengi wanakabiliwa na udhaifu katika maisha yao ya kila siku.
25	kushukuru	to thank or to be grateful	verb	Ni muhimu kushukuru kwa msaada wote uliopata.
26	kushtukiza	surprise	verb	Alipofika, alifanya kushtukiza kwa wote.
27	mapenzi	love	noun	mapenzi ni muhimu katika maisha.
28	shauku	passion	noun	Ana shauku kubwa ya kusafiri.
29	maombolezo	mourning	noun	Familia ilifanya maombolezo kwa kupoteza mpendwa.
30	pongezi	congratulations	noun	Ninatoa pongezi kwa wote waliofanikiwa.
31	kupongeza	to congratulate	verb	Ni vizuri kupongeza mtu anapofanya vizuri.
32	ghadhabu	anger	noun	Alionyesha ghadhabu baada ya kusikia habari mbaya.
33	kutumai	to hope	verb	Ni vizuri kutumai mambo mazuri yatatokea.
34	ngono	sex	noun	Kujifunza kuhusu ngono ni muhimu kwa afya.
35	masikitiko	sorrow	noun	Alijawa na masikitiko baada ya kupoteza rafiki yake.
36	urafiki	friendship	noun	urafiki ni muhimu katika maisha yetu.
37	waombolezaji	mourners	noun	Watu wengi walijikusanya kama waombolezaji kwenye mazishi.
38	ari	passion	noun	Alikuwa na ari ya kufanya kazi.
39	shtushwa	to be surprised	verb	Aliweza shtushwa na habari hiyo ya kushtua.
40	laumu	to blame	verb	Usi laumu wengine kwa makosa yako.
41	shangwe	joy	noun	Watoto walikuwa na shangwe kubwa wakati wa sherehe.
42	shukrani	thanks	noun	Ninatoa shukrani kwa wote walionisaidia.
43	baraka	blessing	noun	Alipata baraka nyingi katika maisha yake.
44	kumpongeza	to congratulate	verb	Ni vizuri kumpongeza mtu anapofanya vizuri.
45	tulivu	calm	adjective	Hali ya hewa ilikuwa tulivu jana.
46	kupenda	to love	verb	Ni rahisi kupenda wanyama wa kipenzi.
47	kizalendo	patriotic	adjective	Wimbo huu ni kizalendo na unatuhamasisha.
48	kuchoshwa	to be tired	verb	Watu wengi wanakabiliwa na kuchoshwa na kazi zao za kila siku.
49	sikitishwa	to be saddened	verb	Watu wengi walikuwa sikitishwa na habari za ajali hiyo.
50	kuomboleza	to mourn	verb	Watu wanakusanyika ili kuomboleza kwa ajili ya aliyefariki.
51	ishiba	to be satisfied	verb	Ni vizuri ishiba kabla ya kuanza kazi.
52	mshangao	surprise	noun	Nilipata mshangao kubwa alipoingia.
53	hamasa	motivation	noun	hamasa inahitajika ili kufanikisha malengo.
54	mshtuko	shock	noun	Alipata mshtuko baada ya kusikia habari hiyo.
55	zozana	to quarrel	verb	Watu wanapaswa zozana kwa upendo.
56	tumaini	hope	noun	Tuna tumaini ya siku zijazo bora.
57	upendo	love	noun	upendo ni muhimu katika mahusiano ya kifamilia.
58	kiwewe	anxiety	noun	Wakati wa mtihani, nilihisi kiwewe sana na sikuweza kufikiri vizuri.
59	heshimu	to respect	verb	Ni muhimu heshimu wazee wetu.
60	karim	generous	adjective	Yeye ni mtu karim na mwenye huruma.
61	watulivu	calm	adjective	Watu watulivu wanapata suluhisho bora.
62	sugu	persistent	adjective	Huyu ni mgonjwa sugu ambaye anahitaji matibabu.
63	haiba	charisma	noun	Yeye ana haiba ya kuvutia sana.
64	udhalilishaji	humiliation	noun	udhalilishaji ni tatizo kubwa katika jamii zetu.
65	kero	annoyance	noun	Kila mtu ana kero zake katika maisha.
66	mkanganyiko	confusion	noun	Katika mji, kulikuwa na mkanganyiko wa watu.
67	anahisi	to feel	verb	Yeye anahisi huzuni baada ya kupoteza rafiki.
68	sherehekea	to celebrate	verb	Tunaweza sherehekea siku ya kuzaliwa pamoja.
69	hofia	to fear	verb	Sijui kwa nini unapaswa hofia mambo yasiyo na maana.
70	jivunia	to pride oneself	verb	Ninapenda jivunia utamaduni wangu.
71	huruma	compassion	noun	Anahitaji huruma kwa sababu hali yake ni mbaya.
72	fahari	pride	noun	Kujivunia ni fahari kwa kila mtu.
73	kilio	cry	noun	Sikia kilio la mtoto aliyeumia.
74	ahueni	relief	noun	Baada ya matibabu, alihisi ahueni kubwa.
75	faraja	comfort	noun	Msaada wa marafiki ni faraja wakati mgumu.
76	sikitisha	to sadden	verb	Ni sikitisha kuona wanyama wakipoteza makazi yao.
77	kasirishwa	to be angered	verb	Ni muhimu kujifunza jinsi ya kasirishwa kwa njia sahihi.
78	kufurahia	to enjoy	verb	Watoto wanapenda kufurahia michezo ya nje.
79	lalamikia	to complain about	verb	Watu wanapenda lalamikia huduma mbovu.
80	ilaumu	to blame	verb	Usi ilaumu wengine kwa makosa yako.
81	kuhisi	to feel	verb	Watu wengi wanahitaji kuhisi upendo na msaada.
82	shwari	calm	adjective	Hali ya hewa ni shwari leo.
83	samehe	to forgive	verb	Tafadhali samehe makosa yangu ya zamani.
84	majonzi	grief	noun	Watu wengi wanakabiliwa na majonzi katika maisha.
85	jinamizi	nightmare	noun	Alikuwa na jinamizi mbaya usiku.
86	kihisia	emotional	adjective	Anahitaji msaada wa kihisia.
87	maraga	sorrows	noun	Alipeleka maraga sokoni kwa ajili ya kuuza.
88	furahisha	to please	verb	Ni vizuri furahisha watoto kwa zawadi.
89	huzunisha	to sadden	verb	Kukosa marafiki huzunisha sana.
90	khofu	fear	noun	Alikuwa na khofu ya giza.
91	kuhofu	to fear	verb	Nilihofu kuhofu matokeo ya mtihani.
92	masirah	sorrow	noun	Hadithi za masirah zinavutia sana.
93	msongo	stress	noun	Alikuwa na msongo wa mawazo mengi.
94	vilio	wailing	noun	Sikio langu lilijaa vilio wakati wa sherehe.
95	tabasamu	smile	noun	Kila mtu alionyesha tabasamu wakati wa sherehe.
96	hofiya	to fear	verb	Usiogope hofiya mambo mapya.
97	kizembe	lazy	adjective	Alifanya kazi kizembe na alikosa matokeo mazuri.
98	wakiamini	to believe	verb	Watu wengi wakiamini katika uwezo wa viongozi.
99	woga	fear	noun	Kila mtu ana woga wake katika maisha.
100	ogopa	to fear	verb	Usi ogopa kujaribu mambo mapya.
101	kughadhabisha	to anger or to enrage	verb	Sijui jinsi ya kughadhabisha watu kwa maneno yangu.
102	fedheha	shame	noun	Alijisikia fedheha baada ya kushindwa.
103	ameipongeza	to congratulate	verb	Yeye ameipongeza timu kwa ushindi.
104	dharau	contempt	noun	Ni vibaya kuonyesha dharau kwa watu wengine.
105	kukerwa	to be annoyed	verb	Sijui ni kwanini kukerwa na sauti hiyo.
106	minong	gossip	noun	Watu walikusanyika kwenye minong ya kijiji.
107	msiba	mourning	noun	Tulihudhuria msiba wa rafiki yetu jana.
108	mzaha	joke	noun	Alitengeneza mzaha mzuri na marafiki zake.
109	neema	grace	noun	Tunaishi kwa neema ya Mungu.
110	nyanyaswa	to be oppressed	verb	Ni muhimu nyanyaswa watu wote kwa heshima.
111	wanyanyasa	to oppress	verb	Hatupaswi wanyanyasa wengine kwa sababu ya tofauti.
112	wema	goodness	noun	Alionyesha wema kwa kusaidia maskini.
113	jutia	to regret	verb	Sijawahi jutia uamuzi wangu.
114	matamanio	desires	noun	Yote ni kuhusu matamanio na malengo ya maisha.
115	love	love	noun	love ni hisia ya pekee kati ya watu.
116	ukaidi	stubbornness	noun	ukaidi wake ulisababisha matatizo mengi.
117	usonji	sorrow	noun	usonji ni tatizo linalohitaji ufumbuzi wa haraka.
118	jasiri	brave	adjective	Yeye ni mtu jasiri katika kufanya maamuzi.
119	jema	good	adjective	Kila mtu anapaswa kufanya jema kwa wengine.
120	kiburi	pride	noun	kiburi hakileti mafanikio katika maisha.
121	kasirisha	to anger	verb	Usijaribu kasirisha watu bila sababu nzuri.
122	moody	moody	adjective	Yeye ni mtu moody mara nyingi.
123	raha	pleasure	noun	Kila mtu anataka raha katika maisha yake.
124	furahi	to be happy	verb	Watoto wanapenda furahi wakati wa sherehe.
125	kusikitishwa	to be saddened	verb	Nilihisi kusikitishwa na habari mbaya.
126	kufurahi	to be happy	verb	Ni vizuri kufurahi katika maisha.
127	starehe	pleasure	noun	Watu wanapenda starehe wakati wa likizo.
128	anasa	pleasure	noun	Kila anasa ina thamani yake.
129	bashasha	excitement	noun	Kila mtu alikuja na bashasha ya furaha.
130	msisimko	excitement	noun	Kila mtu alijawa na msisimko kabla ya mchezo.
131	mtulivu	calm	adjective	Yeye ni mtu mtulivu hata katika hali ngumu.
132	simanzi	sorrow	noun	Alikuwa na simanzi baada ya kupoteza rafiki yake.
133	stukiza	to surprise	verb	Usijali, nitakusaidia stukiza habari zote.
134	uoga	fear	noun	uoga unaweza kukuzuia kufikia malengo yako.
135	upole	gentleness	noun	upole ni sifa nzuri ya mtu.
136	tulia	to calm down	verb	Ni vizuri tulia na kufikiri kabla ya kuchukua hatua.
137	afif	sorrow	noun	Mtu huyo ni afif wa familia yetu.
138	asha	hope	noun	Mtu huyo ni asha wa jamii yetu.
139	atumaini	to hope	verb	Tunaweza atumaini kupata suluhisho.
140	fadhaika	to be distressed	verb	Usiogope fadhaika wakati wa changamoto.
141	kuchanganyikiwa	to be confused	verb	Watu wengi kuchanganyikiwawakati wa maamuzi magumu.
142	kufadhaika	to be disturbed	verb	Alianza kufadhaika baada ya kusikia habari mbaya.
143	kuhuzunisha	to be saddened	verb	Habari hizo zilimfanya kuhuzunisha sana.
144	kushitushwa	to be surprised	verb	Usijali, kushitushwa ni kawaida.
145	kutovumilia	to be intolerant	verb	kutovumilia ni tatizo kubwa katika mahusiano.
146	majuto	regrets	noun	Alihisi majuto baada ya kufanya makosa.
147	makamo	deputy	noun	Alikuwa na makamo mzuri katika kazi yake.
148	omboleza	to mourn	verb	Watu wanakusanyika ili omboleza kifo cha rafiki yao.
149	patanisha	to reconcile	verb	Ni muhimu patanisha watu wawili wanapokosana.
150	rahma	mercy	noun	Mungu anatoa rahma kwa wote.

Tips

Several abstract nouns here (hisia, furaha, huzuni, hasira, tamaa) keep the same form whether you mean one feeling or many, so look at the agreement elsewhere in the sentence rather than hunting for a plural prefix.
Learn hisia (feeling or emotion) alongside hisi (to feel): drilling the noun with its matching verb makes it easier to switch between naming an emotion and describing the act of feeling it.
Group opposites when you review -- furaha (happiness) against huzuni (sadness), ujasiri (courage) against udhaifu (weakness) -- because contrasting pairs stick better than a random order.
Take the ku- verbs (kulia, kushukuru, kusherehekea) and re-use them with subject and tense markers in sentences about yourself, since that is the form you will actually speak.
Notice that kumheshimu (to respect) already carries the object marker -m-, so it means respecting a specific person; keep that in mind when you build your own sentences.
With abstract nouns like matumaini (hope), msamaha (forgiveness), or rambirambi (condolences), write one short personal sentence each -- abstract vocabulary sticks better when it is tied to a real situation than to a bare translation.

Frequently asked questions

Why do some of these Swahili emotion words look the same in the singular and the plural?

Nouns such as hisia (feeling or emotion), furaha (happiness), and huzuni (sadness) do not take a separate plural form, so you rely on context and on agreement elsewhere in the sentence to tell whether one feeling or several is meant.

What is the difference between hisia and hisi?

Hisia is the noun for a feeling or emotion, while hisi is the verb meaning to feel. They share a root, so learning them as a pair helps you move between naming an emotion and talking about experiencing it.

How should I practise this Emotions & Personality vocabulary on Vocab Voyage?

You type the Swahili word for an English prompt and the spaced repetition schedule brings each word back as you need it; accents are forgiven, so you can concentrate on the word itself. After a session, try building one short sentence per word, for example pairing an emotion noun like hasira (anger) with a verb from the list.

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