Swahili

noun

Swa·​hi·​li swä-ˈhē-lē How to pronounce Swahili (audio)
plural Swahili or Swahilis
1
: a member of a Bantu-speaking people of Zanzibar and the adjacent coast
2
: a Bantu language that is a trade and governmental language over much of East Africa and in the Congo region

Examples of Swahili in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Stepping into it tells the story of centuries of trade, conquest, and resilience on the Swahili Coast. Emese MacZko, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2025 In Stone Town, a Swahili coastal trading town with UNESCO status, every corner is a story. Alexandra Gillespie, Outside Online, 16 Dec. 2024 Others include places threatened by climate change, such as heritage sites on the Swahili Coast of East Africa. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Jan. 2025 Climate change threatens Africa's Swahili Coast and 66 historic lighthouses on the coast of Maine. Neda Ulaby, NPR, 15 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for Swahili

Word History

Etymology

Arabic sawāḥil, plural of sāḥil coast

First Known Use

1814, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Swahili was in 1814

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Cite this Entry

“Swahili.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Swahili. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

Swahili

noun
Swa·​hi·​li swä-ˈhē-lē How to pronounce Swahili (audio)
plural Swahili or Swahilis
1
: a member of a Bantu-speaking people of Zanzibar and the adjacent coast of Africa
2
: a Bantu language that is a trade and governmental language over much of East Africa and in the Congo region
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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