mume
The Swahili word for husband is mume.
Mume is a noun used to refer to a male partner in a marriage. It is the counterpart to mke, which means wife.
Meaning: male partner in marriage (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In certain parts of Kenya, the form mumeo is used to mean "your husband".
How does it change in a sentence?
To say "my husband," you add the possessive pronoun wangu after the noun to form mume wangu. Additionally, the suffix -o can be attached directly to the word to form mumeo, meaning "your husband".
Did you know?
- In Swahili, the term -ume is used not only for people but also to specify the male gender of any animal.
- In some East African cultures, referring to a husband by his given name in public is considered disrespectful, so women use titles or descriptors instead.
- In many Swahili-speaking coastal cultures, the way a woman refers to her husband in public can be softened by using indirect terms to show respect.
Examples in context
- Ninampa mume wangu ujumbe.I'm giving my husband a massage.This sentence shows how to use mume with the possessive pronoun wangu to say "my husband".Tatoeba #10872306 by ecorralest101, translation #4506225 by Jesse
- Mume mzuri hufanya mke mzuri.A good husband makes a good wife.This sentence uses mume to describe a good husband.Tatoeba #10825074 by ecorralest101, translation #318690 by CM
- Tafadhali mpe mumeo, heri zangu njema.Please bid farewell, my Lady, to your husband.This sentence uses the form mumeo to mean "your husband".Tatoeba #10855251 by ecorralest101, translation #2887827 by Scott
- Nimemtambulisha mume wangu kwa jirani zetu.I have introduced my husband to our neighbors.
- Leo jioni nitakuwa na mume wangu nyumbani.This evening, I will be with my husband at home.
- Aliniambia kuwa mumeo yuko India.He told me that your husband is in India.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Fatuma is introducing her spouse to a friend.
- FatumaHuyu hapa ni mume wangu.This here is my husband.
- SaidHabari yako, mume wa Fatuma.Hello to you, Fatuma's husband.
- FatumaMume wangu anafanya kazi hapa.My husband works here.
- SaidNi vizuri kukutana naye.It is good to meet him.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “husband” translations and entries mume, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
