Kiingereza
class 7
Kiingereza is the Swahili word for the English language.
Kiingereza is used to refer to the English language. It is also related to the adjective form -ingereza, which means of or pertaining to England.
Meaning: the English language (name)
Which one should you use?
While Kiingereza is the standard term for the language, zunguka is a different word used to describe spinning or rotary motion around the vertical axis.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Kiingereza is a noun belonging to the KI- prefix noun class (class 7), which is the class typically used for languages in Swahili.
Did you know?
- In Swahili, while Kiingereza is the formal name for the language, some speakers use the slang term Kizungu to refer to English or any European language.
- If a Swahili speaker refers to someone as Mwingereza, they are calling them an English person, using the M- prefix reserved for humans.
- If you change the prefix from Ki- to U-, you can transform the word from the name of a language into the concept of 'Englishness' or the quality of being English.
Examples in context
- Kiingereza sio rahisi kuelewa.English isn't easy to master.The sentence is useful for stating that Kiingereza is not easy to understand.Tatoeba #10807154 by ecorralest101, translation #26236 by jakov
- Mimi ni mwalimu wa Kiingereza.I am an English teacher.The sentence is useful for saying that one is an English teacher using Kiingereza.Tatoeba #13838353 by ecorralest101, translation #2811861 by robbieheslop
- Ulianza lini kukisoma Kiingereza?When did you start studying English?The sentence is useful for asking when someone began studying Kiingereza.Tatoeba #10831184 by ecorralest101, translation #573896 by FeuDRenais2
- Mimi ninazungumza Kiingereza.I speak English.
- Je, wewe unaelewa lugha ya Kingereza?Do you understand English?
- Naweza kuzungumza Kingereza kiasi.I can speak a little English.
- 17 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Omari and Neema are talking about their studies.
- OmariUnajua kuzungumza Kiingereza?Do you know how to speak English?
- NeemaNdiyo, najifunza Kiingereza shuleni.Yes, I am learning English at school.
- OmariNi lugha nzuri sana.It is a very good language.
- NeemaKweli, lakini ni ngumu kidogo.True, but it is a bit difficult.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “english” translations and entries Kiingereza, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
