moyo
singular
The Swahili word for heart is moyo.
moyo refers to the biological organ, but it is also used metaphorically to describe a person's emotions, courage or the center of their feelings. For example, the phrase kuvunja moyo means to break the heart and kupenda kwa dhati means to love with all your heart.
Meaning: an organ (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
By adding the suffix -ni to moyo, you create the locative form moyoni, which means 'in the heart' or 'in the heart/soul'.
Did you know?
- In some coastal Swahili contexts, 'having a heart' can be described through phrases involving 'liver' or 'stomach' to denote different depths of feeling.
- In many Swahili-speaking cultures, the 'heart' is not just a metaphor for emotion but is seen as the seat of physical strength and willpower.
- The word moyo is an inherited term from Proto-Bantu *mʊ̀jòjò. This means it shares a deep ancestral root with similar words across hundreds of languages in Central and Southern Africa.
Examples in context
- Yeye hana moyo hata kidogo.He has no heart at all.This sentence is useful for expressing that someone lacks any emotion or compassion using moyo.Tatoeba #10866042 by ecorralest101, translation #3771199 by Eldad
- Alikuwa na mbadiliko moyoni.He had a change of heart.This sentence demonstrates using the locative form moyoni to describe a change of heart.Tatoeba #10845499 by ecorralest101, translation #1989653 by Spamster
- Moyo hutumikia kusukuma damu.The heart serves to pump blood.This sentence describes the biological function of the moyo.Tatoeba #10835639 by ecorralest101, translation #945551 by spockofvulcan
- Ana moyo uliojaa upendo.Her heart is full of love.
- Muziki huigusa kiini cha nafsi yangu.Music touches my heart.
- Nakupenda kwa dhati ya moyo wangu.I love you with all my heart.
- 10 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Aisha and Omari are discussing health at a clinic.
- AishaDaktari anasema moyo wangu uko vizuri.The doctor says my heart is fine.
- OmariHiyo ni habari njema sana, Aisha.That is very good news, Aisha.
- AishaJe, moyo wako unadunda kwa kasi?Is your heart beating fast?
- OmariHapana, moyo wangu unatulia sasa.No, my heart is calming down now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “heart” translations and entries moyo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries moyo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
