mfalme
The Swahili word for king is mfalme.
The term mfalme refers to a male of a royal family who is the supreme ruler of his nation.
Meaning: a male of a royal family who is the supreme ruler of his nation (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word mfalme is composed of the noun prefix m-, which is used for persons and the root -falme, which is related to kingdoms or ruling.
Which one should you use?
While mfalme is used to refer to a king, the specific term for a queen is malkia.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Tanzania, the term Mfalme is widely used to refer to a king.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word mfalme is used for both male and female kings in a general sense. To form the plural, use wafalme, which follows the M-/Wa- noun class pattern for human beings.
Did you know?
- The word mfalme is a loanword from the Arabic word malik, reflecting the deep historical influence of Arab traders on the Swahili coast.
- In some Swahili contexts, mfalme can be used colloquially to describe someone who behaves with an air of superiority or arrogance.
- While mfalme is the general term for king, the title Sultan is specifically used for the historical rulers of Zanzibar.
Examples in context
- Tai ni mfalme wa angani.The eagle is the king of the skies.This sentence uses mfalme to describe an eagle as the king of the skies.Tatoeba #10898084 by ecorralest101, translation #7816918 by AlanF_US
- Yeye ni mfalme wa kuvuruta.She's a drag king.This sentence uses mfalme in the context of a drag king.Tatoeba #10877899 by ecorralest101, translation #5642404 by zumley
- Simba ndiye mfalme wa msitu.The lion is the king of the jungle.This sentence uses mfalme to describe a lion as the king of the jungle.Tatoeba #10807366 by ecorralest101, translation #29846 by CM
- Mfalme anaongoza taifa kwa hekima na uadilifu.The king leads the nation with wisdom and justice.
- 21 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a historical story in a cafe.
- SaidJe, mfalme alikuja hapa?Did the king come here?
- ZuwenaHapana, mfalme alikuwa mjini.No, the king was in the city.
- SaidZuwena, unajua habari za mfalme?Zuwena, do you know news about the king?
- ZuwenaSaid, mimi sijui chochote.Said, I don't know anything.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “king” translations and entries mfalme, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
