kaka
The Swahili word for brother is kaka. Wiktionary also lists ndugu.
Meaning: male sibling (noun)
Ways to say it
| Swahili |
|---|
| kaka |
| ndugu |
In Swahili, you can express the concept of a brother using two different terms depending on whether you are referring specifically to a male sibling or a broader social connection. kaka is used to identify a male sibling, while ndugu is a much broader term that can mean a brother, a relative or even a fellow person or comrade.
Which one should you use?
kaka is the specific term for a male sibling. In contrast, ndugu is a more general word that can refer to a brother, a relative or a fellow person.
Did you know?
- Unlike English, where 'brother' is strictly male, the broader term ndugu can be used in a gender-neutral way to refer to a sibling or a relative in certain contexts.
- In formal Swahili, the use of ndugu before a person's name functions similarly to 'Mr.' or 'Citizen', stripped of class or colonial rank.
- While kaka is the direct word for a brother, it is also used as a respectful way to address older men in many East African social settings.
Examples in context
- Hafanani na nduguye kabisa.He isn't at all like his brother.This sentence shows how to use ndugu to describe a sibling's likeness.Tatoeba #10894089 by ecorralest101, translation #7389448 by CH
- Nashangaa ndugu yako ameenda wapi.I wonder where your brother has gone to.This sentence uses ndugu to refer to someone's brother.Tatoeba #10830679 by ecorralest101, translation #478577 by BlueLagoon
- Ndugu yake hufanya kazi kwa bidii.Her brother is a hard worker.This sentence uses ndugu to describe a brother's work ethic.Tatoeba #10884345 by ecorralest101, translation #6171496 by RobinvanderVliet
- Karibu, ndugu yangu.Welcome, my brother.
- Nimekuja kukutana na kaka yangu.I have come to meet my brother.
- Nduguye anaendesha gari jipya.His brother is driving a new car.
- Kaka mdogo wangu anapenda kucheza soka.My younger brother likes to play soccer.
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Said and Aisha are talking about their family.
- SaidKaka yangu anasoma chuo.My brother is studying at college.
- AishaJe, kaka yako anaitwa nani?What is your brother's name?
- SaidAnaitwa Juma.His name is Juma.
- AishaNi vizuri sana, Said.That is very good, Said.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “brother” translations and entries kaka, ndugu, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
