Ranked by real-world frequency and an example sentence. Study all of them free with spaced repetition.
This list collects the Swahili verbs that carry the most weight in everyday conversation, reading, and writing. Each entry comes with an English translation and an example sentence, so you see the verb doing real work rather than sitting alone on a card. Because the entries are ranked by usage frequency, working from the top down means you are always studying the verb that will pay off soonest — from basics like kuwa (to be) and kufanya (to do) to more specific ones like kusababisha (to cause) or kuimarisha (to strengthen).
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| # | Swahili | English | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | kuwa | to be | Ni muhimu kuwa na mkweli. |
| 2 | kuamka | to wake up | Ninapenda kuamka mapema kila asubuhi ili niwe na muda wa kufanya mazoezi. |
| 3 | kusoma | to read | Ninapenda kusoma vitabu. |
| 4 | kufanya | to do | Ninataka kufanya mazoezi kila siku. |
| 5 | kuendelea | to continue | Ni muhimu kuendelea kujifunza. |
| 6 | kuongeza | to increase | Ninataka kuongeza maarifa yangu. |
| 7 | kutaka | to want | Ninataka kutaka kusoma zaidi. |
| 8 | kusaidia | to help | Ni muhimu kusaidia wengine katika shida. |
| 9 | kusitisha | to suspend | Tunaweza kusitisha mkutano leo. |
| 10 | kusababisha | to cause | Mambo haya yanaweza kusababisha matatizo makubwa. |
| 11 | kuanzisha | to start to establish | Ni muhimu kuanzisha biashara mpya. |
| 12 | kuzingatia | to consider | Ni vizuri kuzingatia maoni ya wengine. |
| 13 | kuchukua | to take | Tafadhali kuchukua muda wako. |
| 14 | kutumia | to use | Ni muhimu kutumia maji mengi kila siku. |
| 15 | kusisitiza | to emphasize | Mwalimu alitaka kusisitiza umuhimu wa usafi. |
| 16 | kutangaza | to announce | Tuna mpango wa kutangaza matokeo ya uchaguzi. |
| 17 | kuzungumza | to speak or to talk | Ni vizuri kuzungumza na watu wapya. |
| 18 | kukuna | to scratch | Ninapenda kukuna ngozi yangu ili iwe laini. |
| 19 | kuzuia | to prevent or to block | Ni muhimu kuzuia mabadiliko mabaya. |
| 20 | kuingia | to enter | Ni rahisi kuingia kwenye mfumo. |
| 21 | kupiga | to hit or to beat | Ninataka kupiga picha nzuri. |
| 22 | kuimarisha | to strengthen | |
| 23 | kukabiliwa | to face | |
| 24 | kuanza | to start | |
| 25 | kupunguza | to reduce | |
| 26 | kufa | die | |
| 27 | kulinda | to protect | |
| 28 | kuondoa | to remove | |
| 29 | kumaliza | to finish | Ni muhimu kumaliza kazi kabla ya tarehe ya mwisho. |
| 30 | kupaswa | to be supposed to | Unapaswa kupaswa kuwa na subira. |
| 31 | kushindwa | to fail | Ni vigumu kushindwa katika mashindano. |
| 32 | kuongoza | to lead | Anataka kuongoza kikundi cha vijana. |
| 33 | kueleza | to explain | Ni rahisi kueleza mawazo yangu. |
| 34 | kujeruhiwa | to be injured | Ni hatari kujeruhiwa wakati wa michezo. |
| 35 | kukutana | to meet | Tunakutana kukutana kila Jumamosi. |
| 36 | fanya | to do | Tafadhali fanya kazi yako vizuri. |
| 37 | kuondoka | to leave | Ninataka kuondoka mapema asubuhi. |
| 38 | kushambulia | to attack | Ni hatari kushambulia wanyama pori. |
| 39 | kukabiliana | to confront | Tunapaswa kukabiliana na changamoto hizi. |
| 40 | kuhakikisha | to ensure | Ninataka kuhakikisha kwamba kila mtu anajua sheria. |
| 41 | kupinga | to oppose | Ni muhimu kupinga mawazo mabaya. |
| 42 | kupeleka | to send | Ninataka kupeleka barua kwa rafiki yangu. |
| 43 | kuishi | to live | Watu wengi wanapenda kuishi mjini. |
| 44 | kukamatwa | to be arrested | Ninataka kukamatwa na polisi ili niwe salama. |
| 45 | kucheka | to laugh | Watoto wanapenda kucheka wakati wa michezo. |
| 46 | kulenga | to aim | Ni muhimu kulenga malengo yetu. |
| 47 | kudai | to claim | Tunahitaji kudai haki zetu. |
| 48 | kurejesha | to return | Ninataka kurejesha kitabu nilichokopa. |
| 49 | kushiriki | to participate | Ni vizuri kushiriki mawazo na wengine. |
| 50 | kuunda | to form | Tunaweza kuunda mpango mzuri pamoja. |
| 51 | kujadili | to discuss | Tunahitaji kujadili masuala haya kwa makini. |
| 52 | kujaribu | to try | Ni vizuri kujaribu mambo mapya. |
| 53 | kupambana | to fight | Tunaweza kupambana na changamoto hizi. |
| 54 | kuua | to kill | Hatupaswi kuua wanyama bila sababu. |
| 55 | kuonya | to warn | Ni vizuri kuonya watu kuhusu hatari. |
| 56 | kuahidi | to promise | Ninataka kuahidi kusaidia jamii yangu. |
| 57 | kulia | to cry | Watoto wanapenda kulia. |
| 58 | kuonyesha | to show | Ni muhimu kuonyesha hisia zetu kwa wengine. |
| 59 | kuripoti | to report | Tunahitaji kuripoti habari sahihi kwa umma. |
| 60 | kurejea | to return | Wanafunzi wanapaswa kurejea nyumbani baada ya shule. |
| 61 | kuonekana | to appear | Jua linapofika, nyota zinaanza kuonekana. |
| 62 | kujibu | to answer | Ni vizuri kujibu maswali kwa ufasaha. |
| 63 | kuja | come | Tafadhali kuja kwenye sherehe yetu Jumamosi. |
| 64 | kudumu | to last to endure | Mahusiano mazuri yanahitaji kudumu muda mrefu. |
| 65 | kutekeleza | to implement | Tunapaswa kutekeleza mpango wetu kwa ufanisi. |
| 66 | onyesha | to show | Tafadhali onyesha picha zako za likizo. |
| 67 | kudhibiti | to control | Ni muhimu kudhibiti matumizi ya rasilimali. |
| 68 | anza | start | Tafadhali anza kazi yako mapema. |
| 69 | kuhitaji | to need | Watu wengi kuhitaji msaada wa kiuchumi. |
| 70 | kuenda | to go | Ninataka kuenda sokoni kesho. |
| 71 | kuthibitisha | to confirm | Ni lazima kuthibitisha taarifa hizi kabla ya kuchapisha. |
| 72 | toa | to give | Mwalimu anataka toa maelezo zaidi. |
| 73 | lenga | to aim | Tafadhali lenga malengo yako ya maisha. |
| 74 | chukua | to take | Tafadhali chukua muda wako kabla ya kuamua. |
| 75 | kuhusika | to be involved | Ni muhimu kuhusika katika shughuli za kijamii. |
| 76 | kuendesha | to drive | Ninapenda kuendesha gari langu. |
| 77 | fanyika | to happen | |
| 78 | kukimbia | to run | Watoto wanapenda kukimbia uwanjani. |
| 79 | kugoma | to strike | Wafanyakazi walikataa kugoma kwa sababu ya mishahara. |
| 80 | kutarajia | to expect | Ninatarajia kutarajia habari njema. |
| 81 | weka | to place | Tafadhali weka vitabu mezani. |
| 82 | kushirikiana | to cooperate | Tunahitaji kushirikiana ili kufanikisha mradi. |
| 83 | kuhusiana | to relate | Mambo haya yanahusiana kuhusiana na afya. |
| 84 | kuendeleza | to develop | Ni muhimu kuendeleza elimu katika jamii. |
| 85 | kuamini | to believe | Ni vizuri kuamini katika uwezo wako. |
| 86 | kushuhudia | to witness | Nilipata fursa kushuhudia tukio hilo la ajabu. |
| 87 | kupoteza | to lose | Usijali kupoteza muda, tutamaliza. |
| 88 | kutawala | to rule | Kiongozi anapaswa kutawala kwa hekima. |
| 89 | endelea | to continue | Tafadhali endelea na kazi yako. |
| 90 | weza | to be able | |
| 91 | kutana | meet | |
| 92 | kupanga | to plan | Ni muhimu kupanga ratiba ya kazi kabla ya kuanza. |
| 93 | kuelezea | to explain | Mwalimu anataka kuelezea mada hii kwa wanafunzi. |
| 94 | kushughulikia | to handle | Ni vizuri kushughulikia matatizo haraka. |
| 95 | kutaja | mention | Tafadhali kutaja majina ya marafiki zako. |
| 96 | kujilinda | to protect oneself | Ni muhimu kujilinda ili kujilinda na hatari. |
| 97 | kuonesha | to show | Mwalimu atakuja kuonesha mfano wa kazi. |
| 98 | taka | to want | Unapaswa taka muda wako vizuri. |
| 99 | pata | get | Ninataka pata nafasi nzuri ya kazi. |
| 100 | onekana | to appear | Yeye onekana mwenye furaha leo. |
| 101 | kuachiliwa | to be released | Alipewa ruhusa kuachiliwa kutoka gerezani. |
| 102 | kupatikana | to be found | Kazi hii inaweza kupatikana kwa urahisi. |
| 103 | kujenga | to build | Tunahitaji kujenga nyumba mpya mwaka huu. |
| 104 | kutambua | to recognize | Ni muhimu kutambua matatizo mapema. |
| 105 | kupiga marufuku | to ban | Watu wanapaswa kupiga marufuku ________ matumizi ya dawa za kulevya. |
| 106 | kuwahi | to arrive early or to hurry | Ni vyema kuwahi kwenye mkutano. |
| 107 | tumia | to use | Tafadhali tumia simu yako kwa busara. |
| 108 | kuileta | to bring | Ninataka kuileta chakula mezani. |
| 109 | kuita | to call | Ninapenda kuita marafiki zangu kwa majina. |
| 110 | kuhudhuria | to attend | Ni muhimu kuhudhuria mkutano wa kesho ili kuelewa mabadiliko. |
| 111 | kujiunga | to join | Ninataka kujiunga na klabu ya michezo shuleni. |
| 112 | kusimamia | to manage or to supervise | Ni jukumu langu kusimamia mradi huu kwa ufanisi. |
| 113 | kulala | to sleep | Ni vizuri kulala mapema ili uwe na nguvu. |
| 114 | kujiri | to happen to occur | Kuna mambo mengi yanayo kujiri katika jamii yetu. |
| 115 | tokea | to happen | Ninataka tokea nyumbani mapema leo. |
| 116 | kutuma | to send | Ninahitaji kutuma barua hii kabla ya mwisho wa siku. |
| 117 | kutetea | to defend | Ni muhimu kutetea haki za watu wote. |
| 118 | kuwasilisha | to present | Nitatakiwa kuwasilisha ripoti yangu kesho. |
| 119 | kukubali | to accept | Ni vigumu kukubali makosa yangu. |
| 120 | kuharibu | to destroy | Usiache kuharibu mazingira yetu kwa sababu ya uzembe. |
| 121 | kukataa | to refuse | Aliamua kukataa ofa hiyo kwa sababu ya masharti. |
| 122 | kufungua | to open | Ninataka kufungua dirisha ili kupata hewa safi. |
| 123 | ongeza | to add | Tafadhali ongeza sauti yako ili nikusikie. |
| 124 | kushikilia | to hold | |
| 125 | kujumuisha | to include | Ni muhimu kujumuisha mawazo ya kila mtu katika mkutano. |
| 126 | piga | hit | Ninataka piga picha nzuri ya mandhari ya jua. |
| 127 | kuruhusu | to allow | Mwalimu atakubali kuruhusu wanafunzi waondoke mapema. |
| 128 | kupitisha | to pass | Tunahitaji kupitisha sheria mpya ili kuboresha mazingira. |
| 129 | kula | eat | Watoto wanapenda kula matunda ya majira ya joto. |
| 130 | kuwasili | to arrive | Watu wengi walikuwa wakiwasubiri kuwasili kwenye uwanja wa ndege. |
| 131 | pinga | resist | Ni vyema pinga mawazo mabaya katika jamii. |
| 132 | kosoa | to criticize | Ni rahisi kosoa kazi za wengine bila kujitathmini. |
| 133 | kuchochea | to incite | Watu wanapaswa kuchochea amani katika jamii zao. |
| 134 | zidi | to increase | Tafadhali zidi juhudi zako ili ufanikiwe. |
| 135 | unga | to support | Ni muhimu unga mikate kwa usahihi. |
| 136 | ongezeka | to increase | Idadi ya watu inatarajiwa ongezeka mwaka huu. |
| 137 | kulipiza | revenge | Ni vyema kulipiza kisasi kwa njia sahihi. |
| 138 | kuamua | to decide | Ni wakati wa kuamua kuhusu mustakabali wetu. |
| 139 | shuhudia | to witness | Ninataka shuhudia tukio hilo la kipekee. |
| 140 | ingia | to enter | Tafadhali ingia ndani ya nyumba. |
| 141 | kuhudumia | to serve | Kampuni hii inajitahidi kuhudumia wateja wake. |
| 142 | kabili | to confront | Ni lazima kabili changamoto hizi kwa ujasiri. |
| 143 | kukumbuka | to remember | Ni muhimu kukumbuka historia yetu. |
| 144 | kurudi | to return | Ninatarajia kurudi nyumbani kesho. |
| 145 | kusonga | to move forward | Tunahitaji kusonga mbele kama timu. |
| 146 | kuvunja | to break | Usiogope kuvunja sheria za zamani. |
| 147 | shinda | to win | |
| 148 | kufika | to arrive | Ni muhimu kufika kwa wakati. |
| 149 | eleza | to explain | Tafadhali eleza mawazo yako kwa uwazi. |
| 150 | kukua | to grow | Watoto wanahitaji kukua katika mazingira mazuri. |
| 151 | kujulikana | to be known | Mji huu unataka kujulikana kwa uzuri wake. |
| 152 | taja | to mention | Tafadhali taja majina ya watu hao. |
| 153 | kutumika | to be used | Kitabu hiki kinaweza kutumika na kila mwanafunzi. |
| 154 | kuathiri | to affect | Mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa yanaweza kuathiri mazao. |
| 155 | onya | warn | Ni muhimu onya watoto kuhusu hatari. |
| 156 | kukomesha | to stop to end to terminate | Serikali inataka kukomesha uhalifu katika mji. |
| 157 | kujiondoa | to withdraw | Alikuwa na sababu ya kujiondoa kwenye shindano. |
| 158 | lazimika | to be forced | Kila mwanafunzi lazimika kufanya kazi za nyumbani. |
| 159 | salia | to remain | Tafadhali salia na mimi hadi mwisho wa hafla. |
| 160 | kuidhinisha | to approve | Mkurugenzi anahitaji kuidhinisha mpango mpya wa biashara. |
| 161 | kufanikisha | to achieve | Tunahitaji kufanikisha malengo yetu mwaka huu. |
| 162 | kuandaa | to prepare | Ninataka kuandaa chakula cha jioni kwa wageni. |
| 163 | kanusha | to deny | Ni muhimu kanusha habari zisizo za kweli. |
| 164 | kuchaguliwa | to be elected | Aliweza kuchaguliwa kuwa kiongozi wa darasa. |
| 165 | kubali | accept | Tafadhali kubali ombi langu la msaada. |
| 166 | kupokea | to receive | Ninatarajia kupokea barua muhimu leo. |
| 167 | shindwa | to fail | Hatupaswi shindwa katika juhudi zetu. |
| 168 | fuata | follow | Tafadhali fuata sheria za barabara. |
| 169 | kumbwa | to befall | Tukio hilo lilikuwa kumbwa na watu wengi. |
| 170 | fanikiwa | succeed | Tunahitaji fanikiwa katika mradi huu. |
| 171 | kubadilisha | to change | Tunahitaji kubadilisha mfumo wetu wa kazi. |
| 172 | thibitisha | confirm | Tafadhali thibitisha tarehe ya mkutano. |
| 173 | kuihitaji | to need | Watu wengi wanapaswa kuihitaji msaada wa kiuchumi. |
| 174 | kuapa | to swear | Ni muhimu kuapa ukweli katika mahakama. |
| 175 | kupanda | to climb | Watoto wanapenda kupanda milima wakati wa likizo. |
| 176 | kukanusha | deny | Alijaribu kukanusha tuhuma hizo bila mafanikio. |
| 177 | andika | to write | Tafadhali andika barua hiyo kwa uangalifu. |
| 178 | kamata | to catch (them) | Mtu huyo alijaribu kamata ndege wa mwituni. |
| 179 | kataa | to refuse | Aliamua kataa ofa hiyo kwa sababu ya masharti. |
| 180 | kufuatilia | to follow up | Ni muhimu kufuatilia maendeleo ya watoto shuleni. |
| 181 | kutengeneza | to make or to repair | Wanafunzi wanajifunza kutengeneza bidhaa mbalimbali. |
| 182 | kuhimiza | to encourage | Walimu wanapaswa kuhimiza wanafunzi kujifunza zaidi. |
| 183 | kuchapisha | to publish | Kampuni inakusudia kuchapisha kitabu kipya mwaka huu. |
| 184 | kupa | to give | Ni vizuri kupa msaada kwa wale wanaohitaji. |
| 185 | kujiuzulu | to resign | Alikuwa na sababu nzuri za kujiuzulu nafasi yake. |
| 186 | kubainisha | to clarify | Ni muhimu kubainisha malengo yako kabla ya kuanza. |
| 187 | kuvuka | to cross | Watoto wanapenda kuvuka mtaa kwa furaha. |
| 188 | kuokoa | to save | Ni muhimu kuokoa maji wakati wa ukame. |
| 189 | subiri | to wait | Tafadhali subiri hapa kwa dakika chache. |
| 190 | jaribu | to try | Tafadhali jaribu kutatua tatizo hili. |
| 191 | kulaani | curse | Ni vibaya kulaani vitendo vya ukatili. |
| 192 | kufafanua | to explain | Mwalimu anahitaji kufafanua mada hiyo. |
| 193 | haribu | destroy | Usiache mvua haribu shamba letu. |
| 194 | kulikuwa | there was there were | Katika mji huo, kulikuwa watu wengi walikusanyika kwa ajili ya sherehe. |
| 195 | sababisha | cause | Mtu mmoja anaweza sababisha mabadiliko makubwa. |
| 196 | kuanguka | to fall | Mti mkubwa utaweza kuanguka wakati wa upepo. |
| 197 | kimbia | to run away | Watoto wanapenda kimbia uwanjani. |
| 198 | kunyonya | to suck | Vikundi vya nyoka kunyonya damu ya wanyama. |
| 199 | julikana | to be known | Huyu ni mtu julikana sana katika jamii. |
| 200 | tangaza | to announce | Tafadhali tangaza matokeo ya uchaguzi. |
| 201 | bainisha | to clarify | Tafadhali bainisha matatizo yako wazi. |
| 202 | kutia | to put | Ni muhimu kutia bidii katika masomo. |
| 203 | kuchagua | to choose | Unapaswa kuchagua kitabu bora cha kusoma. |
| 204 | pokea | receive | Ninataka pokea zawadi hii kwa furaha. |
| 205 | kurusha | to throw | Watoto walifurahia kurusha mpira angani. |
| 206 | kufariki | to die | Ni huzuni kufariki kwa mtu kupoteza maisha. |
| 207 | kulipa | to pay | Unapaswa kulipa bili yako kabla ya tarehe ya mwisho. |
| 208 | kutimiza | to fulfill | Ni muhimu kutimiza ahadi zetu. |
| 209 | kukubaliana | to agree | Ni vizuri kukubaliana kuhusu maamuzi yetu. |
| 210 | kushinikiza | to push | Watu walikuwa kushinikiza serikali kufanya mabadiliko. |
| 211 | kupewa | to be given | Alifurahi kupewa nafasi ya kazi mpya. |
| 212 | kuarifu | to inform | Ni muhimu kuarifu watu kuhusu mabadiliko. |
| 213 | kubeba | to carry | Ninahitaji kubeba mzigo huu kwa muda. |
| 214 | kupita | to pass | Tafadhali usiache kupita muda wa mwisho. |
| 215 | kamatwa | to be arrested | Usijali, tutahitaji kamatwa na usalama. |
| 216 | fikia | to reach | Tunapaswa fikia malengo yetu kwa bidii. |
| 217 | shutumu | to accuse | Usiogope shutumu mtu anayekosea. |
| 218 | tajwa | to be mentioned | Jina langu litakuwa tajwa kwenye orodha. |
| 219 | athiri | to affect | Mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa yanaweza athiri mazao. |
| 220 | kuhamisha | to transfer | Walihitaji kuhamisha ofisi yao katika jiji jipya. |
| 221 | tishia | to threaten | Usiogope, siwezi tishia mtu yeyote. |
| 222 | kugombea | to compete | Watu wengi wanataka kugombea nafasi ya uongozi katika uchaguzi. |
| 223 | kushambuliwa | to be attacked | Wanafunzi walikuwa na hofu ya kushambuliwa na wanyama pori. |
| 224 | laani | to curse | Ni vibaya laani mtu bila sababu. |
| 225 | kubadilishana | exchange | Tunaweza kubadilishana mawazo ili kuboresha mradi. |
| 226 | safiri | to travel | Ninapenda safiri kwa ndege. |
| 227 | sisitiza | to emphasize | Mwalimu alitaka sisitiza umuhimu wa kujifunza. |
| 228 | kukusanyika | to gather | Watu walikusanyika kukusanyika kwenye uwanja. |
| 229 | kuzungumzia | to talk about | Tunaweza kuzungumzia mada hii kwa undani. |
| 230 | wasilisha | submit | Tafadhali wasilisha ripoti yako kabla ya mwisho wa siku. |
| 231 | atarajia | to expect | Yeye atarajia kupata matokeo mazuri. |
| 232 | kumheshimu | to respect | Ni muhimu kumheshimu wazazi wetu kwa sababu wanatupatia kila kitu tunachohitaji. |
| 233 | panga | to plan | Tafadhali panga vitu vyote vizuri. |
| 234 | kuwania | to compete | Watu wengi wanataka kuwania nafasi nzuri katika jamii. |
| 235 | husisha | to involve | Kazi hii husisha watu wengi. |
| 236 | kuwasaidia | to help them | Tunapaswa kuwasaidia wale wanaohitaji msaada. |
| 237 | kuepuka | to avoid | Ni bora kuepuka matatizo kwa kupanga mapema. |
| 238 | kuzikwa | to be buried | Watu wengi walihudhuria kuzikwa sherehe. |
| 239 | kuboresha | to improve | Lazima tu kuboresha mazingira yetu ili kuboresha maisha ya watu. |
| 240 | kubakia | to remain | Ni muhimu kubakia na mipango yetu. |
| 241 | kuandika | to write | Ninapenda kuandika hadithi za kusisimua. |
| 242 | kulazimika | to be compelled or to be forced | Wanafunzi walilazimika kulazimika kufanya mtihani. |
| 243 | kujitolea | volunteering | Ni muhimu kujitolea kwa jamii yetu. |
| 244 | kuzima | to extinguish or to turn off | Ninataka kuzima taa ili kuokoa umeme. |
| 245 | pendekeza | suggest | Ningependa pendekeza wazo jipya kwa mradi. |
| 246 | elezea | to explain | Tafadhali elezea sababu ya kuchelewa kwako. |
| 247 | kusaini | to sign | Unapaswa kusaini mkataba kabla ya kuanza. |
| 248 | kusikiliza | to listen | Ni vizuri kusikiliza mawazo ya wengine. |
| 249 | kusambaza | to distribute | Tuna mpango wa kusambaza chak food kwa wenye njaa. |
| 250 | kuandamana | to demonstrate | Watu walikusanyika kuandamana na kuonyesha mshikamano. |
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