pwani
The Swahili word for coast is pwani. Wiktionary also lists mapwaji.
Meaning: edge of land meeting ocean, sea, gulf, bay (noun)
Ways to say it
| Swahili |
|---|
| pwani |
| mapwaji |
pwani means coast or shore, the edge of the land where it meets the sea.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The coastal regions of Kenya and Tanzania, where Swahili first grew, are often called by this word.
Did you know?
- The phrase uungwana is a cultural ideal closely tied to the pwani. It associates living on the coast with refined manners, urbanity and a specific kind of coastal sophistication.
- Historically, the pwani was not a single country but a collection of independent city-states. These entities functioned autonomously for centuries before the arrival of colonial rule.
- The identity of the pwani is a hybrid culture. It was shaped by centuries of interaction between local Africans and traders from Persia, Arabia and India.
Examples in context
- Tunaishi karibu na pwani.We live near the coast.
- Pwani ina upepo mwingi.The coast has a lot of wind.
- Safari ya kwenda pwani ilikuwa ndefu.The trip to the coast was long.
Example conversation
Omari and Zuwena are planning a vacation.
- OmariZuwena, unataka kwenda pwani?Zuwena, do you want to go to the coast?
- ZuwenaNdiyo Omari, napenda pwani sana.Yes Omari, I like the coast very much.
- OmariTunaweza kupumzika kule.We can relax there.
- ZuwenaHiyo ni wazo nzuri.That is a great idea.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “coast” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
