ndizi
/ˈⁿdi.zi/
The English word banana is ndizi in Swahili.
The word refers to the fruit of the banana plant.
Meaning: fruit (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
ndizi belongs to noun class 9/10, which means the word is used for both the singular and the plural forms of banana/bananas.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 2 syllables, and the stress is on the 1st of 2 syllables. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈⁿdi.zi/.
Did you know?
- The English word 'banana' is believed to have entered the language via Portuguese or Spanish, but it shares a deeper ancestral root with the Bantu languages, including Swahili.
- In East Africa, ndizi describes not just the sweet dessert fruit but also cooking bananas, which are treated as a starchy vegetable similar to a potato.
- Because ndizi is a staple food in countries like Uganda and Tanzania, it is often served as the primary carbohydrate in a meal rather than a snack.
Examples in context
- Tumbili alichukua ndizi kupitia kijiti.The monkey took a banana by means of the stick.This sentence shows the use of ndizi in a sentence about a monkey.Tatoeba #10811691 by ecorralest101, translation #50348 by shekitten
- Millie anakula ndizi.Millie is eating a banana.This sentence shows the use of ndizi when describing someone eating the fruit.Tatoeba #3173998 by ecorralest101, translation #3173997 by CN
- Tafadhali, nipe ndizi mbiliPlease give me two bananas.
- Niko na pesa za kununua ndiziI have money to buy bananas.
- Unauza ndizi aina gani?What type of bananas do you sell?
- Hii ndizi ni tamu sana!This banana is very sweet!
- Napenda kula ndizi asubuhiI like eating bananas in the morning.
- Ndizi zako ni safi kabisa!Your bananas are very fresh!
- Ninahitaji ndizi kwa ajili ya kifungua kinywa.I need a banana for breakfast.
Example conversation
A man and a woman are discussing groceries at a market.
- FatumaJe, Omari, unataka kununua ndizi leo?Omari, do you want to buy bananas today?
- OmariNdiyo, Fatuma, ninapenda ndizi sana.Yes, Fatuma, I like bananas very much.
- FatumaTuchukue nyingi kwa ajili ya watoto.Let's take many for the children.
- OmariNi wazo nzuri sana.That is a very good idea.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “banana” translations and entries ndizi, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
