---
title: swahili — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «swahili» in the school dictionary: Swahili is a language spoken by many millions of people in East Africa, especially in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and nearby countries; in Swahili itself it is called Kiswahili. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# swahili

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Swahili, language, Jambo, word, teacher, Asante sana · **What happens:** be, speak, call, describe, mean, come · **To what, where:** language, Swahili, people, culture, Kenya, hello · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«swahili» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 8 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [swahili in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/swahili.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Swahili is a language spoken by many millions of people in East Africa, especially in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and nearby countries; in Swahili itself it is called Kiswahili.

<!-- fold The tree, 28 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:swahili:m1:1
# text = Swahili is a language spoken by many millions of people in East Africa, especially in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and nearby countries; in Swahili itself it is called Kiswahili.
1	Swahili	swahili	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	language	language	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	spoken	speak	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl	_	_
6	by	by	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	millions	million	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl:agent	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nmod	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	East	East	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	13	compound	_	_
13	Africa	Africa	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
15	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
16	in	in	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	Kenya	Kenya	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
19	Tanzania	Tanzania	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
21	Uganda	Uganda	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	_
22	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
23	nearby	nearby	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	24	amod	_	_
24	countries	country	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	31	punct	_	_
26	in	in	ADP	IN	_	27	case	_	_
27	Swahili	Swahili	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	31	obl	_	_
28	itself	itself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Emp|Reflex=Yes	27	nmod:unmarked	_	_
29	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	31	nsubj:pass	_	_
30	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	31	aux:pass	_	_
31	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl	_	_
32	Kiswahili	Kiswahili	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	31	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
33	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Swahili | a language |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **speak** *speech: other* | participle |  | a language *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **call** | present · passive | a language *not said here* | language |  | Swahili  language |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Swahili are also a people of the East African coast, and Swahili describes their culture, such as Swahili cities and Swahili food.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:swahili:m2:1
# text = The Swahili are also a people of the East African coast, and Swahili describes their culture, such as Swahili cities and Swahili food.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Swahili	swahili	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	also	also	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
9	East	East	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
10	African	African	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	coast	coast	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
14	Swahili	Swahili	PROPN	NNP	_	15	nsubj	_	_
15	describes	describe	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	parataxis	_	_
16	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	17	nmod:poss	_	_
17	culture	culture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
19	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	22	case	_	_
20	as	as	ADP	IN	_	19	fixed	_	_
21	Swahili	Swahili	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	22	compound	_	_
22	cities	city	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	conj	_	_
23	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	25	cc	_	_
24	Swahili	Swahili	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	25	compound	_	_
25	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the Swahili | a people |  |  |  | of the East African coast | tree rules |
| 2 | **describe** | present | Swahili | people's culture and Swahili cities and Swahili food |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent culture=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Swahili is spoken in Kenya and Tanzania.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:swahili:x1:1
# text = Swahili is spoken in Kenya and Tanzania.
1	Swahili	swahili	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	spoken	speak	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	Kenya	Kenya	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	Tanzania	Tanzania	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **speak** *speech: other* | present · passive |  | Swahili |  | Kenya and Tanzania |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Jambo» means hello in Swahili.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:swahili:x2:1
# text = «Jambo» means hello in Swahili.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Jambo	Jambo	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	hello	hello	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	Swahili	Swahili	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Jambo | hello |  |  |  | in Swahili | vn representation-110.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Pivot hello=Theme in swahili=Attribute |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The word «safari» comes from Swahili and means journey.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:swahili:x3:1
# text = The word «safari» comes from Swahili and means journey.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	safari	safari	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
6	comes	come	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	Swahili	Swahili	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
11	journey	journey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | present | the word |  |  | Swahili |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme from swahili=Initial\_Location |
| 2 | **mean** | present | the word *not said here* | journey |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent journey=Topic |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Hakuna matata» is Swahili for «no worries».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:swahili:x4:1
# text = «Hakuna matata» is Swahili for «no worries».
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Hakuna	Hakuna	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	matata	matata	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	Swahili	swahili	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	10	det	_	_
10	worries	worry	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present |  | matata Swahili |  |  |  | for no worries | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our teacher taught us to count to ten in Swahili.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:swahili:x5:1
# text = Our teacher taught us to count to ten in Swahili.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	taught	teach	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	count	count	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	ten	ten	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	obl	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	Swahili	Swahili	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **teach** *speech: other* | past | Our teacher |  | us |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent we=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **count** | to-infinitive | Our teacher *not said here* |  |  | Swahili |  | to ten | vn matter-91 «NP V PP.experiencer»: agent=Stimulus to ten=Experiencer |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Asante sana» means «thank you very much» in Swahili.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:swahili:x6:1
# text = «Asante sana» means «thank you very much» in Swahili.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Asante	Asante	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	sana	sana	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	thank	thank	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	ccomp	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	very	very	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	much	much	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	Swahili	Swahili	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Asante sana |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **thank** *speech: thank* *in a quote* | present |  |  | you | Swahili |  |  | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent you=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Swahili has borrowed many words from Arabic.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:swahili:x7:1
# text = Swahili has borrowed many words from Arabic.
1	Swahili	swahili	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	borrowed	borrow	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	Arabic	Arabic	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **borrow** | present · perfect · passive |  | Swahili |  | Arabic |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
People on the Swahili coast have traded by sea for centuries.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:swahili:x8:1
# text = People on the Swahili coast have traded by sea for centuries.
1	People	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
2	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	Swahili	Swahili	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	coast	coast	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
6	have	have	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	traded	trade	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
8	by	by	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
10	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	centuries	century	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **trade** | present · perfect | People on the Swahili coast |  |  |  | century | by sea | vn exchange-13.6.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

<!-- pn -->
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