mungu
class 3, class 4
The Swahili word for God is mungu. Wiktionary also lists rabi.
Meaning: deity (noun)
Ways to say it
| Swahili | Note |
|---|---|
| mungu | class 3, class 4 |
| rabi | class 10, class 9 |
The term is used to refer to a deity. While mungu is the standard term used by both Christians and Muslims to refer to the Supreme Being, the specific word Allah may also be used by Muslims to refer to God in Swahili-speaking regions.
Which one should you use?
The lowercase form mungu is used when referring to a deity in a general or polytheistic sense, whereas the capitalized form Mungu refers to the specific monotheistic God.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When referring to the specific monotheistic God, the word Mungu is capitalized.
When do people say it?
In Swahili-speaking contexts, Mungu is the standard term used by both Christians and Muslims to refer to the Supreme Being.
Did you know?
- The phrase Mungu akipenda means 'if God likes' or 'God willing', and is used almost as a punctuation mark in conversations about the future.
- In some Bantu languages related to Swahili, the word mungu historically referred to a powerful spirit or an ancestor rather than a single supreme deity.
- In some East African contexts, the term mungu can be used metaphorically to describe a person who has absolute power or total control over a situation, similar to the English 'god complex'.
Examples in context
- Mungu ni mwaminifu kila mara.God is always faithful.This sentence shows the use of mungu to express God's faithfulness.Tatoeba #13189652 by ecorralest101, translation #13189646 by ecorralest101
- Mungu na akakufanye kuwa na furaha Sana.May Almighty God make you very happy.This sentence shows how mungu is used in a blessing or prayer.Tatoeba #10884266 by ecorralest101, translation #6130037 by carlosalberto
- Binamu yangu alipokea wito wa Mungu na kuwa kuhani.My cousin received the call of God and became a priest.This sentence shows the use of Mungu in the context of a religious calling.Tatoeba #10839910 by ecorralest101, translation #1333059 by AMIKEMA
- Ni muhimu kutambua uwepo wa Mungu katika maisha yetu.It is important to recognize the presence of God in our lives.
- Nashukuru kwa baraka zako Mola.I am grateful for your blessings, God.
- 24 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Neema and Juma are talking about their faith at home.
- NeemaMungu ni mwema sana.God is very good.
- JumaNi kweli, Neema.It is true, Neema.
- NeemaTunapaswa kumshukuru Mungu kila siku.We should thank God every day.
- JumaAmina, rafiki yangu.Amen, my friend.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “God” translations and entries mungu, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
