Yesu
The Swahili word for Jesus is Yesu. Wiktionary also lists Isa.
Meaning: religious figure (name)
Ways to say it
| Swahili |
|---|
| Yesu |
| Isa |
The phrase refers to the religious figure Jesus.
Which one should you use?
Yesu is the standard term used by Christians, whereas Isa is the name used to refer to Jesus within an Islamic context.
Did you know?
- The switch from Isa to Yesu between 1890 and 1910 was a deliberate attempt by missionaries to emphasize Christian doctrine over Islamic teachings.
- While Yesu is used for the biblical figure, Swahili speakers often use the term Kristo to refer to the role of the Messiah.
Examples in context
- Yesu aliwafukuza wabadilishaji fedha kutoka Hekaluni.Jesus drove the money-changers out of the temple.This sentence shows how Yesu is used in a biblical context regarding the temple.Tatoeba #10874893 by ecorralest101, translation #5096489 by CarpeLanam
- Unakaribia Yesu kwa nyakati za gumu, sio nyakati za urahisi.You get closest to Jesus in the tough times, not the good times.This sentence uses Yesu to describe a spiritual relationship during difficult times.Tatoeba #10868894 by ecorralest101, translation #3990528 by vertigo93
- Yesu alituambia tuwageuzie shavu lingine, tuwapende maadui zetu, na tuwaombee.Jesus told us to turn the other cheek, love our enemies, and pray for them.This sentence uses Yesu when recounting his teachings.Tatoeba #10872998 by ecorralest101, translation #4905799 by Ekselans
- Mwana wa Mungu anatupenda soteThe Son of God loves us all
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Zuwena and Juma are discussing their favorite Bible stories.
- ZuwenaUnapenda hadithi gani ya Yesu?Which story of Jesus do you like?
- JumaNapenda wakati Yesu alilisha watu wengi.I like when Jesus fed many people.
- ZuwenaHiyo ni hadithi nzuri sana.That is a very good story.
- JumaNdiyo, Yesu alikuwa na upendo mwingi.Yes, Jesus had a lot of love.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “Jesus” translations and entries Yesu, Isa, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Isa, Yesu, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
