ndege
/ˈⁿdɛ.ɠɛ/class 10, class 9
The Swahili word for bird is ndege.
The word ndege is used to refer to the animal (a bird).
Meaning: animal (noun)
Which one should you use?
The word ndege is polysemous, meaning it is also the word used for an airplane in Swahili.
How does it change in a sentence?
ndege is an invariant noun, which means its form does not change whether you are talking about one bird or multiple birds.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables, with the stress on the first syllable. It is pronounced /ˈⁿdɛ.ɠɛ/.
Did you know?
- Because ndege is used for both animals and aircraft, the logic follows a descriptive pattern where the machine is named after the creature it mimics.
- The word ndege was actually a borrowed term from a neighboring Bantu language that replaced the original word nyuni in certain dialects.
- The word ndege starts with a prenasalized consonant, meaning the 'n' and 'd' are blended into a single sound rather than two distinct letters.
Examples in context
- Wakati mwingine ningependa kuwa ndege mdogo.Sometimes, I'd like to be a small bird.This sentence shows how to express a wish to be a small ndege.Tatoeba #10889466 by ecorralest101, translation #6794892 by Eccles17
- Paka alitumia faida ya nyasi kuwa ndefu katika kummendea ndege.The cat took advantage of the high grass to creep on the bird.This sentence describes a cat stalking a ndege through grass.Tatoeba #10811309 by ecorralest101, translation #44559 by shekitten
- Susan anakula kama ndege na kubakisha chakula kwenye sahani yake.Susan eats like a bird and leaves most of the food on her plate.This sentence uses the phrase to describe someone who eats like a ndege.Tatoeba #10811807 by ecorralest101, translation #52399 by CN
- Ndege huyu ni mrembo sanaThis bird is very beautiful
- Ninapenda ndegeI love birds
- Ninawaangalia ndege anganiI am watching birds in the sky
- Unajua aina hii ya ndege inaitwaje?Do you know what this type of bird is called?
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Zuwena and Juma are walking through a park.
- ZuwenaAngalia yule ndege mweupe!Look at that white bird!
- JumaNdiyo, ni mrembo sana.Yes, it is very beautiful.
- ZuwenaJe, unadhani ataruka wapi?Where do you think it will fly?
- JumaLabda ataenda kwenye mti ule.Maybe it will go to that tree.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bird” translations and entries ndege, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ndege, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
