Swahili Family & People Vocabulary

This list gathers commonly used Swahili words for talking about family and people: from close relatives like mama and baba to broader social terms like jamii and jumuiya. It's built for learners who already have some grammar and want to fill in real, everyday vocabulary rather than start from zero.

Each word comes with an English translation and an example sentence, so you can see how it is used before you try to recall it yourself. On Vocab Voyage you type the Swahili word for an English prompt, and spaced repetition brings words back just as you are about to forget them.

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Swahili Family & People Vocabulary: the list

#	Swahili	English	Type	Example
1	watu	people	noun	Wakati wa sherehe, watu walikusanyika kwenye uwanja wa michezo.
2	watoto	children	noun	Wanafunzi wanapenda kucheza na watoto baada ya masomo.
3	jumuiya	community	noun	Watu wengi walikusanyika katika jumuiya ya kijiji.
4	mtu	person	noun	mtu ni rafiki yangu mzuri.
5	wanawake	women	noun	Watu wengi wanapenda wanawake katika jamii.
6	jamii	community	noun	Watu wote katika jamii wanashirikiana kusaidiana.
7	familia	family	noun	Mimi na familia tunapenda kukutana kila Jumamosi.
8	wakaazi	residents	noun	Watu wengi wanaishi katika wakaazi hii ya jiji.
9	jirani	neighbor	noun	Mimi na jirani tunacheza pamoja kila siku.
10	wakazi	residents	noun	Watu wengi wanaishi katika wakazi ya jiji hili.
11	mahusiano	relationships	noun	Watu wanahitaji mahusiano ili kuishi kwa amani na furaha.
12	mtoto	child	noun	mtoto, anacheka na wenzake kwenye uwanja.
13	mama	mother	noun	mama anapika chakula kwa ajili ya familia.
14	binaadamu	human beings	noun	binaadamu ni kiumbe mwenye akili na uwezo wa kufikiri.
15	mwanamke	woman	noun	Yeye ni mwanamke mwenye nguvu na akili.
16	wamarekani	americans	noun	wamarekani ni watu wengi wanaishi nchini Marekani.
17	wanaume	men	noun	wanaume wengi wanapenda michezo ya mpira.
18	mkenya	kenyan	noun	Yeye ni mkenya anayeishi Nairobi.
19	ndugu	brother or sibling	noun	Mimi na ndugu tunapenda kucheka pamoja.
20	waislamu	muslims	noun	Watu wengi waislamu wanasherehekea Eid.
21	mfalme	king	noun	mfalme alikalia kiti cha enzi na kutawala nchi kwa hekima.
22	mwenyeji	host	noun	Mtu ambaye anaishi hapa ni mwenyeji wa eneo hili.
23	mwanaharakati	activist	noun	Mwanaharakati mwanaharakati anapigania haki za wanawake.
24	baba	father	noun	baba anapenda watoto wake sana.
25	wasichana	girls	noun	wasichana wanacheka na kucheza uwanjani.
26	wageni	guests	noun	Leo tunakaribisha wageni kutoka nchi mbalimbali.
27	mwenza	partner	noun	Mimi na mwenza tunapenda kucheka pamoja.
28	waisraeli	israelis	noun	waisraeli ni watu wa Mungu katika Biblia.
29	mrithi	heir	noun	Yeye ni mrithi wa mali za baba yake.
30	wajerumani	germans	noun	wajerumani ni watu kutoka Ujerumani.
31	mkewe	his wife	noun	Jana, mkewe alileta chakula nyumbani.
32	waumini	believers	noun	Watu wengi walihudhuria ibada ya waumini jana.
33	kijana	youth or young person	noun	kijana anasoma kitabu chini ya mti.
34	wazee	elders or old people	noun	wazee wanatoa hekima kwa vijana.
35	rafiki	friend	noun	Mimi na rafiki tunacheka pamoja kila siku.
36	mahujaji	pilgrims	noun	Watu wengi huja hapa kama mahujaji kila mwaka.
37	wazazi	parents	noun	wazazi wangu wananiunga mkono katika masomo yangu.
38	majirani	neighbors	noun	Watu wa majirani wanakutana kila Jumamosi kwa ajili ya mazungumzo.
39	mkaazi	resident	noun	mkaazi ni mtu anayeishi katika eneo fulani.
40	bi	mrs	noun	bi ni rafiki yangu mzuri.
41	mume	husband	noun	Yeye ni mume wangu na ninamthamini.
42	marafiki	friends	noun	Watu wengi wanapenda kuwa na marafiki katika maisha yao.
43	mke	wife	noun	mke ni mpenzi wangu na tunapenda kusafiri pamoja.
44	wapendwa	beloved	noun	Ninawapenda wapendwa wangu sana.
45	waandamizi	seniors	noun	Wanafunzi wa waandamizi walifika shuleni mapema kwa ajili ya mazoezi.
46	wenyeji	hosts	noun	Watu wa wenyeji wanakaribisha wageni kwa furaha.
47	mwanawe	his/her child	noun	Yeye alileta zawadi kwa mwanawe siku ya kuzaliwa.
48	binti	daughter	noun	Yule binti anacheka sana na marafiki zake.
49	mwanamfalme	prince	noun	Yule mwanamfalme ni maarufu katika nchi yetu.
50	mwanaume	man	noun	mwanaume huyo ni rafiki yangu.
51	shabaab	youth	noun	shabaab wanashiriki katika shughuli za kijamii.
52	bibi	grandmother or wife	noun	bibi yangu anapenda kupika.
53	kaka	brother	noun	Ninapenda kucheza na kaka yangu.
54	wahuthi	the elders	noun	wahuthi wanajulikana kwa ujuzi wao wa jadi.
55	vizazi	generations	noun	Tunaweza kujifunza kutoka kwa vizazi vilivyopita.
56	mzee	elder	noun	Yule mzee alisimulia hadithi za zamani.
57	kuoa	to marry referring to a man marrying a woman	verb	Alikuwa na ndoto ya kuoa msichana mzuri.
58	wasudan	sudanese	noun	Watu wa wasudan wana tamaduni nyingi za kipekee.
59	wahutu	hutus	noun	wahutu ni moja ya makabila makubwa nchini.
60	ndoa	marriage	noun
61	dada	sister	noun	Nina dada ambaye anapenda kusoma.
62	wanafamilia	family members	noun	Nina wanafamilia wengi katika familia yangu.
63	msichana	girl	noun	Yule msichana anajifunza sana shuleni.
64	amir	prince	noun	Yule amir ana mamlaka makubwa.
65	mwana	child	noun	mwana wangu anapenda kucheza soka.
66	mnyika	inhabitant	noun	Mtu mmoja ni mnyika wa jamii yetu.
67	wazawa	natives	noun	wazawa wa eneo hili wana tamaduni za kipekee.
68	mchungaji	pastor	noun	mchungaji wetu anatuongoza katika imani.
69	mzaliwa	native	noun	Yeye ni mzaliwa wa nchi hii.
70	walemavu	disabled persons	noun	Tunahitaji kusaidia walemavu katika jamii yetu.
71	wavulana	boys	noun	wavulana wanacheza mpira uwanjani.
72	kutumbukiza	to plunge	verb	Usiogope kutumbukiza mikono yako kwenye maji.
73	mzazi	parent	noun	Kila mzazi anataka bora kwa watoto wao.
74	utotoni	childhood	noun	Alikuwa na ndoto nyingi utotoni mwake.
75	mapacha	twins	noun	Wanafamilia walileta mapacha wawili nyumbani.
76	wanadamu	humans	noun	wanadamu wanahitaji upendo na huruma.
77	mpenzi	lover	noun	Yeye ni mpenzi wangu wa karibu sana.
78	wenza	partners	noun	Mimi na wenza wangu tunapenda kusafiri pamoja.
79	koo	clan	noun	Familia yangu ina koo kubwa na ya kipekee.
80	kuzaa	to give birth	verb	Mwanamke anataka kuzaa watoto wengi.
81	pacha	twin	noun	Nina pacha mmoja ambaye ni mzuri sana.
82	mwanangu	my child	noun	Ninampenda sana mwanangu na nataka mema kwake.
83	mjamzito	pregnant woman	noun	Mama mjamzito anahitaji mapumziko zaidi.
84	wanigeria	nigerians	noun	Watu wa wanigeria wana tamaduni nyingi tofauti.
85	wapenzi	lovers	noun	wapenzi wa sanaa wanajitokeza kwa wingi.
86	muislamu	muslim	noun	Kila muislamu anapaswa kuishi kwa amani.
87	wanandoa	spouses or married couple	noun	wanandoa wanapaswa kusaidiana katika maisha.
88	mvulana	boy	noun	mvulana huyo anapenda kucheza mpira.
89	ukoo	clan	noun	Familia yangu ina ukoo kubwa.
90	usuhuba	friendship	noun	usuhuba ni muhimu katika maisha.
91	babu	grandfather	noun	Mimi ni mjukuu wa babu yangu.
92	mpendwa	beloved	noun	Yeye ni mpendwa wangu wa karibu.
93	ndugai	brother	noun	ndugai yangu anapenda kusafiri.
94	olewa	to be married	verb	Yeye atakuwa olewa mwezi ujao.
95	bintou	daughter	noun	bintou alileta zawadi nzuri kwa ajili ya sherehe.
96	dame	lady	noun	Yule dame ni mchoraji maarufu.
97	elder	elder	noun	Yule elder anajua hadithi nyingi za zamani.
98	mjane	widow	noun	mjane anahitaji msaada wa kifedha.
99	wajukuu	grandchildren	noun	Babu anawapenda sana wajukuu wake.
100	wanawe	their children	noun	Wana wanawe wanahitaji msaada wa shule.
101	mabinti	girls	noun	mabinti wanapenda kucheza michezo ya mpira.
102	nasaba	lineage	noun	Familia yetu ina nasaba kubwa.
103	udugu	brotherhood	noun	Familia yetu ina udugu mkubwa.
104	atakayemrithi	to inherit	verb	Mtu atakayemrithi atakuwa na jukumu kubwa katika familia.
105	kifamilia	familial	adjective	Tuna mpango wa kifamilia kwa ajili ya likizo.
106	dume	male	noun	Katika familia ya wanyama, dume mara nyingi ni mkubwa.
107	kasisi	bishop	noun	kasisi alihubiri kuhusu upendo na amani.
108	mpwa	nephew	noun	Ninampenda sana mpwa wangu.
109	mukuru	chief	noun	Yeye ni mukuru wa shirika letu.
110	shabab	youth	noun	Kikundi cha shabab kinafanya kazi pamoja.
111	shoga	friend	noun	Mimi ni shoga wa mfalme katika hadithi hii.
112	mababu	ancestors	noun	Hadithi za mababu zinasimuliwa kwa vizazi.
113	mwandani	companion	noun	Kila mwandani anahitaji msaada katika kazi yake.
114	waganda	ganda people	noun	Watu wa waganda wana tamaduni nyingi.
115	wajane	widows	noun	Watu wengi wajane wanahitaji msaada.
116	wanavijiji	villagers	noun	Watu wa wanavijiji wanakutana kila Jumamosi kujadili masuala yao.
117	yatima	orphan	noun	Mtoto yatima anahitaji msaada.
118	yaya	nanny or maid	noun	Ninahitaji yaya kwa watoto.
119	amira	princess	noun	Kiongozi wa kikundi ni amira wa maamuzi yote.
120	kano	clan	noun	kano ni sehemu muhimu ya utamaduni wetu.
121	utoto	childhood	noun	Kila mtu anapaswa kufurahia utotowake.
122	binamu	cousin	noun	Yeye ni binamu yangu wa karibu.
123	waethiopia	ethiopians	noun	Watu wa waethiopia wana tamaduni nyingi.
124	anti	aunt	noun	Nina anti ambaye ni mchoraji mzuri.
125	mkwe	son-in-law	noun	Yeye ni mkwe wa mfalme.
126	mlezi	guardian	noun	Yeye ni mlezi wa watoto wengi.
127	mwanafamilia	family member	noun	Kila mwanafamilia anapaswa kusaidia nyumbani.
128	ujana	youth	noun	ujana ni wakati wa kujifunza.
129	waalikwa	invited guests	noun	Watu waalikwa walifika shereheni.
130	walezi	guardians	noun	walezi wa watoto wanahitaji msaada.
131	waume	men	noun	Wanaume na waume wanapaswa kusaidiana.
132	mwenzi	companion	noun	Yeye ni mwenzi wangu wa karibu.
133	binaadam	human	noun	Kila binaadam ana haki sawa.
134	malome	uncle	noun	malome ni ndugu wa baba yangu.
135	mfawidhi	guardian	noun	Yeye ni mfawidhi wa kampuni kubwa.
136	mjukuu	grandchild	noun	Ninampenda mjukuu wangu sana.
137	mwanadamu	human	noun	mwanadamu ni kiumbe mwenye akili.
138	nyandwi	sibling	noun	Mtu huyu ni nyandwi maarufu katika jamii.
139	padre	father	noun	Katika kanisa, padre alitoa mahubiri mazuri.
140	waamini	believers	noun	Watu waamini wanahitaji msaada.
141	wabaya	bad people	noun	Watu wabaya wanapaswa kuadhibiwa.
142	walihoji	to interrogate	verb	Waandishi walihoji viongozi wa kisiasa.
143	bijan	grandchild	noun	Miti ya bijan inakua haraka katika eneo hili.
144	kipenzi	beloved	noun	Yeye ni kipenzi wangu wa karibu.
145	mathe	mother	noun	Watoto wanapenda kucheza na mathe zao.
146	mayatima	orphans	noun	Watoto wa mayatima wanahitaji msaada wa kipekee.
147	mjomba	uncle	noun	Ninapenda kumtembelea mjomba wangu wakati wa likizo.
148	mpenda	lover	noun	Yeye ni mpenda wa sanaa na anapenda kuchora.
149	mwenzetu	our companion	noun	mwenzetu ni muhimu katika timu yetu.
150	oa	to marry	verb	Ni wakati muafaka oa mpenzi wako.

Tips

Watch for the m-/wa- singular-plural pattern that runs through this whole topic: mtu becomes watu, mtoto becomes watoto, and mwanamke becomes wanawake. Once you notice it, many people-nouns stop feeling like separate words to memorise.
Nationality and religion words use the same noun class: mkenya is a single Kenyan, while wamarekani (americans) and waislamu (muslims) carry the plural wa- prefix. Note whether the form you are learning is singular or plural.
Don't assume jamii and jumuiya are interchangeable just because both are translated as community; treat them as near-synonyms and pay attention to the context in each example sentence.
Wakaazi and wakazi are both given here as residents, so read them as spelling variants rather than two different words, and pick one to produce yourself when you write.
Ndugu is worth extra attention because it is glossed as brother or sibling; don't assume it always points to a male relative, and let the sentence context guide you.
When you type answers, mind the exact vowel spellings of longer words such as binaadamu, mwanaharakati, and mahusiano, since these are easy to shorten by accident.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between jamii and jumuiya?

Both are translated here as community, so treat them as close synonyms. Use the example sentence for each to get a feel for which contexts favour one over the other.

How does Swahili mark singular versus plural for people?

Many people-related nouns in this list take an m- prefix for one person and a wa- prefix for more than one, as in mtu/watu (person/people) and mtoto/watoto (child/children). Recognising this pattern makes pairs like mwanamke/wanawake easier to learn.

Does ndugu only mean brother?

No. Ndugu is translated here as brother or sibling, so it can refer to a sibling in general rather than only a male one. Check its example sentence to see how context narrows the meaning.

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