Swahili Health & the Body Vocabulary

Talking about health in Swahili means getting comfortable with a handful of noun-class and verb patterns that keep coming back in this topic: the body and its parts, illness and treatment, and the language you would hear on the news or at a clinic. This list gathers useful words for describing symptoms, going to the hospitali, and talking about the mwili in both everyday and more formal contexts.

Because health vocabulary mixes concrete nouns (mkono, damu) with abstract ones (afya, matibabu) plus a cluster of verbs in the ku- infinitive, it is a good set for practising how Swahili nouns and verbs fit together. Work through it with typed recall so the spelling patterns, and not just recognition, become automatic.

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Swahili Health & the Body Vocabulary: the list

#	Swahili	English	Type	Example
1	mkono	hand	noun	Ninaweka mkono kwenye meza.
2	afya	health	noun	Kuwa na afya ni muhimu kwa maisha mazuri.
3	vifo	deaths	noun	Watu wengi walihuzunika kuhusu vifo vya marafiki zao.
4	kujeruhiwa	to be injured	verb	Ni hatari kujeruhiwa wakati wa michezo.
5	hospitali	hospital	noun	Ninakwenda hospitali kwa ajili ya matibabu.
6	chanjo	vaccination	noun	Watoto wanahitaji chanjo ili kujikinga na magonjwa.
7	miili	bodies	noun	Watu wengi wanajitahidi kutunza miili zao ili kuwa na afya bora.
8	kifo	death	noun	Watu wengi wanaogopa kifo.
9	ugonjwa	disease	noun	Mtu anapojisikia vibaya, anaweza kuwa na ugonjwa.
10	joto	heat	noun	Siku ya leo kuna joto nyingi, tunahitaji kuvaa mavazi ya baridi.
11	kujilinda	to protect oneself	verb	Ni muhimu kujilinda ili kujilinda na hatari.
12	dawa	medicine	noun	Ninahitaji dawa ili kupona haraka.
13	matibabu	treatment	noun	Watu wengi wanahitaji matibabu ili kupona magonjwa.
14	wagonjwa	patients	noun	Watu wengi wanakuja hospitalini kwa ajili ya wagonjwa.
15	ajali	accident	noun	Kuna ajali kwenye barabara, tunapaswa kuwa makini.
16	damu	blood	noun	Mtu anahitaji damu ili kuishi.
17	mwili	body	noun	Mtu ana mwili mzuri na afya bora.
18	virusi	virus	noun	Watu wanapaswa kujikinga na virusi ili kuboresha afya zao.
19	magonjwa	diseases	noun	Watu wengi wanakabiliwa na magonjwa wakati wa msimu wa baridi.
20	madaktari	doctors	noun	Watu wengi wanahitaji madaktari ili kupata matibabu bora.
21	maambukizi	infections	noun	Kuna hatari ya maambukizi katika maeneo ya umma.
22	madhara	harm or damage	noun	Kula vyakula vingi sana kunaweza kusababisha madhara kwa afya.
23	kufariki	to die	verb	Ni huzuni kufariki kwa mtu kupoteza maisha.
24	homa	fever	noun	Nina homa na siwezi kwenda kazini leo.
25	kuzikwa	to be buried	verb	Watu wengi walihudhuria kuzikwa sherehe.
26	moyo	heart	noun	Nina furaha kubwa katika moyo wangu.
27	fariki	to die	verb	Watu wengi walikufa fariki katika ajali.
28	malaria	malaria	noun	malaria ni ugonjwa hatari katika maeneo ya joto.
29	kiafya	healthily	adjective	Lishe bora ni muhimu kwa maisha kiafya.
30	majeraha	wounds	noun	Mtu alikimbizwa hospitali kwa sababu ya majeraha.
31	mikono	hands	noun	Watu wanatumia mikono kufanya kazi nyingi.
32	maumivu	pain	noun	Nilihisi maumivu baada ya kuanguka.
33	ua	to kill	verb
34	daktari	doctor	noun	Mimi ninahitaji daktari kwa sababu ninaumwa.
35	kujeruhi	to injure	verb	Ni hatari kujeruhi mtu kwa makusudi.
36	kutuliza	to calm or to soothe	verb	Dawa hii inasaidia kutuliza maumivu.
37	utapiamlo	malnutrition	noun	Watoto wanahitaji utapiamlo ili kukua vizuri.
38	tiba	treatment	noun	Ninahitaji tiba kwa ajili ya ugonjwa wangu.
39	saratani	cancer	noun	Daktari aligundua saratani mapema.
40	uchafuzi	pollution	noun	uchafuzi wa mazingira unahitaji kushughulikiwa kwa haraka ili kulinda afya zetu.
41	maradhi	disease	noun	Watu wengi wanakabiliwa na maradhi mbalimbali.
42	bega	shoulder	noun	Alimsaidia rafiki yake kubeba bega lake.
43	uviko	covid	noun	Watu wengi walikumbwa na uviko mwaka jana.
44	uso	face	noun	Alikuwa na tabasamu kubwa kwenye uso wake.
45	kimwili	physical	adjective	Anahitaji mazoezi kimwili ili kuwa na afya.
46	kipindupindu	cholera	noun	Kuna hatari ya kipindupindu katika eneo hili.
47	mimba	pregnancy	noun	Mama anatarajia mimba mpya.
48	wazima	healthy	adjective	Watu wazima wanapaswa kusaidia watoto.
49	viungo	joints	noun	Ninapenda kutumia viungo vya asili.
50	miguu	feet or legs	noun	Alikanyaga kwa miguu yake na kuanguka.
51	upasuaji	surgery	noun	Daktari alifanya upasuaji kwa ufanisi mkubwa.
52	kidole	finger	noun	Alijikuta akikosea kwa kutumia kidole lake la kati.
53	ambukizwa	to be infected	verb	Ni rahisi ambukizwa na virusi vya mafua.
54	hatarisha	to endanger	verb	Usiweke maisha yako katika hatari kwa hatarisha bila kufikiria.
55	meno	teeth	noun	Ni muhimu kutunza meno yako ili usipate matatizo.
56	kifua	chest	noun	Aliumia kifua wakati wa mchezo.
57	sumu	poison	noun	Kuna sumu nyingi katika mazingira yetu.
58	mguu	leg	noun	Nimeumia mguu wangu wakati wa mchezo.
59	madawa	medicines	noun	Daktari aliniandikia madawa ya kutibu ugonjwa.
60	mahututi	critical condition	noun	Watu wengi walikimbia kwa mahututi wakati wa mafuriko.
61	uhai	life	noun	Kila kiumbe kina thamani ya uhai katika mazingira.
62	mgonjwa	patient	noun	Yeye ni mgonjwa na anahitaji matibabu.
63	lishe	nutrition	noun	Kula chakula bora ni muhimu kwa afya na lishe ya mwili.
64	kuteseka	to suffer	verb	Watu wengi kuteseka kutokana na umaskini.
65	misuli	muscles	noun	Anahitaji mazoezi ili kuimarisha misuli zake.
66	mkojo	urine	noun	Watoto wanahitaji kujifunza kutumia mkojo vizuri.
67	uzazi	childbirth	noun	uzazi ni hatua muhimu katika maisha ya mwanamke.
68	ambukiza	to infect	verb	Virusi vinaweza ambukiza kwa urahisi.
69	ngozi	skin	noun	Ninatumia bidhaa za asili kwa ajili ya ngozi yangu.
70	uchungu	pain	noun	Alikumbana na uchungu baada ya kupoteza mpendwa.
71	jicho	eye	noun	Alitazama kwa jicho la shingo.
72	pumua	to breathe	verb	Ni vizuri pumua kwa dakika chache baada ya kazi.
73	kuambukizwa	to be infected	verb	Ni rahisi kuambukizwa magonjwa katika msimu wa baridi.
74	kujiua	to commit suicide	verb	Ni hatari kujiua bila msaada wa kitaalamu.
75	shingo	neck	noun	Aliumia shingo wakati wa mchezo.
76	kliniki	clinic	noun	Ninahitaji kwenda kliniki kwa ajili ya uchunguzi wa afya.
77	muuguzi	nurse	noun	Kila muuguzi anafanya kazi kwa bidii.
78	jeraha	wound	noun	Aliumia na jeraha wakati wa mchezo wa mpira.
79	chunguzwa	to be examined	verb	Ni lazima chunguzwa taarifa zote kabla ya kutoa maamuzi.
80	maambukizo	infections	noun	Kuna hatari ya maambukizo katika maeneo ya umma.
81	nyeri	pain	noun	Kuna nyeri nyingi za kisasa mjini.
82	kutibu	to treat	verb	Daktari anajitahidi kutibu wagonjwa wote.
83	kulazwa	to be admitted	verb	Mgonjwa alihitaji kulazwa hospitalini kwa muda.
84	mapafu	lungs	noun	Watu wengi wanapata matatizo ya mapafu wakati wa baridi.
85	figo	kidney	noun	figo ni muhimu kwa afya ya mwili.
86	mafua	flu	noun	Watu wengi wanapata mafua wakati wa baridi.
87	ugua	to be ill	verb	Ni vigumu ugua bila msaada wa marafiki.
88	pua	nose	noun	Alijikuta na pua kubwa baada ya ajali.
89	mishipa	veins	noun	Daktari alichunguza mishipa za mgonjwa.
90	ubongo	brain	noun	ubongo ni kiungo muhimu katika mwili.
91	kumjeruhi	to injure	verb	Alijaribu kumjeruhi mchezaji mwingine.
92	pumzi	breath	noun	Alikosa pumzi baada ya kukimbia.
93	teseka	to suffer	verb	Usijali, tutakusaidia usiteseke teseka.
94	tibiwa	to be treated	verb	Watu wengi wanahitaji tibiwa wakati wa majanga.
95	kutapika	to vomit	verb	Aliweza kutapika chakula baada ya kuugua.
96	zahanati	clinic	noun	Watoto wanahitaji kwenda zahanati kwa matibabu.
97	afueni	relief	noun	Mtu anahitaji afueni baada ya ugonjwa.
98	kutibiwa	to be treated	verb	Aliweza kutibiwa hospitalini baada ya ajali.
99	umiza	to hurt	verb	Usijaribu umiza mtu mwingine kwa maneno mabaya.
100	wauguzi	nurses	noun	wauguzi wanasaidia wagonjwa hospitalini.
101	uponyaji	healing	noun	Mchakato wa uponyaji unahitaji muda.
102	fistula	fistula	noun	Daktari aligundua fistula katika mwili wa mgonjwa.
103	kiu	thirst	noun	Nina kiu kubwa ya maji.
104	masikio	ears	noun	Watoto wanahitaji masikio ili kusikia vizuri.
105	matiti	breasts	noun	matiti ya wanawake yanatofautiana kwa ukubwa.
106	vidonda	wounds	noun	Alipata vidonda baada ya kuanguka.
107	ini	liver	noun	Mtu anaweza kupata ini nyingi katika mwili.
108	shifa	healing	noun	Dawa hiyo ina shifa nzuri kwa afya.
109	uchovu	fatigue	noun	Baada ya kazi ngumu, nilihisi uchovu sana.
110	unene	fatness	noun	unene ni tatizo linalohitaji ufumbuzi.
111	augua	to be sick	verb	Mtu huyo augua na homa kali.
112	mate	saliva	noun	Watoto wanacheka na mate zao.
113	choka	to be tired	verb	Watu wengi hupenda choka baada ya kazi ngumu.
114	jino	tooth	noun	Nimepata jino mpya.
115	jisajili	to register oneself	verb	Unapaswa jisajili kabla ya kuanza.
116	kibofu	bladder	noun	Kila mtu anapaswa kujua kuhusu kibofu na afya yake.
117	kulindwa	to be protected	verb	Watoto wanapaswa kulindwa na wazazi wao kila wakati.
118	kuumwa	to be hurt	verb	Nilihisi kuumwa na nikaenda hospitali.
119	kuwatibu	to treat	verb	Daktari anahitaji kuwatibu wagonjwa kwa ufanisi.
120	limewajeruhi	to injure	verb	Ajali hiyo limewajeruhi watu wengi na kuleta huzuni.
121	mdomo	mouth	noun	Alifungua mdomo wake kuzungumza.
122	mfupa	bone	noun	Aliumia mfupa wakati wa mchezo.
123	kuuma	to hurt	verb	Ni hatari kuuma nyoka bila tahadhari.
124	guu	leg	noun	Aliumia guu wakati wa mchezo.
125	hara	to vomit	verb	Ni muhimu hara wakati wa mazungumzo.
126	kipele	pimple	noun	Nimepata kipele kwenye ngozi yangu.
127	onyonyesha	to breastfeed	verb	Mama anataka onyonyesha mtoto wake.
128	ougua	to be sick	verb	Ni muhimu ougua mara kwa mara.
129	sikio	ear	noun	Ninahitaji sikio langu kusikia vizuri.
130	tendea	to treat	verb	Ni vyema tendea wengine kwa wema.
131	uvimbe	swelling	noun	Alikuwa na uvimbe kwenye mkono.
132	kuogopa	to fear	verb	Watu wengi wana kuogopa giza usiku.
133	kikohozi	cough	noun	Aliugua kikohozi na alihitaji dawa.
134	jasho	sweat	noun	Alienda mbio na jasho lilimwagika.
135	karantini	quarantine	noun	Watu walikuwa katika karantini kwa usalama.
136	upumuaji	respiration	noun	Kila mtu anahitaji upumuaji ili kuishi vizuri.
137	utumbo	intestine	noun	Mnyama alikula utumbo wa samaki baada ya kuvua.
138	vidonge	tablets	noun	Ninahitaji vidonge ili kuponya maumivu yangu.
139	aliyeambukizwa	to be infected	verb	Mtu aliyeambukizwa lazima aende hospitali mara moja.
140	magoti	knees	noun	Watoto wanacheka wakiwa na magoti zao kwenye uwanja.
141	netumbo	belly	noun	Alinunua netumbo kubwa ya samaki.
142	bandeji	bandage	noun	Alitumia bandeji kufunga jeraha lake.
143	guba	sickness	noun	Mtu alikumbwa na guba ya ajabu.
144	kifaduro	a type of illness	noun	Tunaweza kutumia kifaduro kwa ajili ya mawasiliano.
145	kujijeruhi	to injure oneself	verb	Usijaribu kujijeruhi wakati wa mchezo, ni hatari.
146	kumeza	to swallow	verb	Ni vigumu kumeza vidonge vikubwa.
147	kuumizwa	to be hurt	verb	Ni rahisi kuumizwa na maneno makali.
148	ndevu	beard	noun	Alikuwa na ndevu ndefu na nzuri.
149	oksijeni	oxygen	noun	Miti inatoa oksijeni muhimu kwa maisha.
150	umia	to suffer	verb	Ni vizuri umia kidogo kabla ya kuzungumza.

Tips

Drill the singular/plural pairs together: kifo becomes vifo (deaths) in class 7/8, and mwili becomes miili (bodies) in class 3/4, so the class markers stick as a set.
Treat ugonjwa (disease) and magonjwa (diseases) as a pair to memorise, since the u- singular takes a ma- plural rather than the vi- or mi- pattern of the words above.
Several verbs here are passive in form, ending in -wa: kujeruhiwa (to be injured) and kuzikwa (to be buried). They describe something happening to the subject, unlike kufariki (to die).
dawa (medicine) and matibabu (treatment) are close in meaning but not interchangeable: dawa is the substance you take, matibabu is the process of care.
Practise homa (fever) and joto (heat) side by side: both relate to temperature, but homa is a symptom while joto is heat or warmth in general.
Sort the vocabulary into three mental buckets -- body (mkono, mwili), illness and risk (ugonjwa, ajali, virusi, maambukizi), and care or outcome (chanjo, matibabu, kifo) -- and quiz one bucket at a time before mixing them.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between ugonjwa and magonjwa?

ugonjwa means "disease" in the singular and magonjwa is its plural, "diseases." The singular and plural prefixes do not match, so it is worth learning the pair together rather than guessing one from the other.

Are mwili and miili related the same way as kifo and vifo?

Both are singular/plural pairs, but they sit in different noun classes: mwili/miili (body/bodies) is class 3/4, while kifo/vifo (death/deaths) is class 7/8. The prefixes differ, so learn each pair as a set instead of applying one rule to every health noun.

Is dawa the right word for any kind of medicine?

dawa is the general word for medicine, covering a remedy or medicinal substance rather than a specific dosage form. When you mean the process of being treated rather than the substance, use matibabu (treatment).

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