furaha
The Swahili word for happy is furaha.
While often translated as the adjective 'happy', furaha is actually a noun meaning 'happiness'. To express the feeling of being happy, you can use the verb form Ninafurahi (I am happy). To describe a state of joy in a location, you might say Kuna shangwe hapa (There is happiness/joy here).
Meaning: contented, joyous (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
To describe someone as a 'happy person', Swahili uses the phrase mwenye furaha, which literally means 'one with happiness'.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Swahili, furaha functions as a noun (happiness) rather than a direct adjective. To express that someone is 'happy', you should say they 'have' happiness (Yeye ana furaha) or that they are a person 'with' happiness (Yeye ni mwenye furaha).
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often try to use furaha directly as an adjective, such as saying Yeye ni furaha to mean 'He is happy'. This is incorrect. Instead, use Yeye ana furaha (He has happiness) or Yeye ni mwenye furaha (He is a happy person).
Did you know?
- The word furaha is borrowed from the Arabic word faraḥ.
- In some East African contexts, expressions of joy like shangwe are accompanied by specific rhythmic clapping or ululations.
- If you tell a Swahili speaker 'Wewe ni furaha', you are not saying 'You are happy', but rather 'You are the concept of happiness itself'.
Examples in context
- Mungu na akakufanye kuwa na furaha Sana.May Almighty God make you very happy.This sentence shows how to wish someone much happiness using furaha.Tatoeba #10884266 by ecorralest101, translation #6130037 by carlosalberto
- Tulikuwa na furaha hadi wakati ulipowasili.We were happy until you came around.This sentence demonstrates using furaha to describe a state of being until a specific event occurred.Tatoeba #10893929 by ecorralest101, translation #7367246 by Hybrid
- Mafanikio ya Marilyn Monroe hayakumfanya awe mwenye furaha.Marilyn Monroe's success did not make her happy.This sentence shows how to express that success did not result in the state of furaha.Tatoeba #10834023 by ecorralest101, translation #807621 by Source_VOA
- Shangwe! Tumekamilisha mradi wetu kwa mafanikio!Hooray! We have successfully completed our project!
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Fatuma and Bakari are talking about their weekend.
- FatumaJe, ulikuwa na furaha wikendi hii?Were you happy this weekend?
- BakariNdiyo, nilikuwa na furaha sana.Yes, I was very happy.
- FatumaNimefurahi kusikia hivyo, Bakari.I am glad to hear that, Bakari.
- BakariAsante, Fatuma, na wewe pia.Thanks, Fatuma, and you too.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry furaha, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries furaha, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
