ndimu
The Swahili word for lime is ndimu. Wiktionary also lists dimu.
Meaning: green citrus fruit (noun)
Ways to say it
| Swahili |
|---|
| ndimu |
| dimu |
The term refers to the green citrus fruit, specifically limes or lemons.
Which one should you use?
ndimu is the standard term for both limes and lemons, while dimu is a shortened version of the word.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ndimu is the standard form, whereas dimu is a colloquial version used in casual speech.
How does it change in a sentence?
ndimu belongs to the N-class (class 9/10), which means the plural form is also ndimu.
Did you know?
- The colloquial form dimu actually traces its roots back to the Persian word limu, which is also the ancestor of the English word 'lemon'.
- The use of ndimu in Swahili reflects the historical influence of the Indian Ocean trade, which brought citrus varieties to the East African coast.
- While an English speaker might use 'lime' to describe a bright green color, a Swahili speaker would use the word ndimu only to refer to the fruit itself.
Examples in context
- Ninahitaji limau kwa saladi yangu.I need lime for my salad.
- Unaweza kuniletea ndimu tafadhali?Could you bring me lime, please?
- Nahitaji ndimu kwa chai yangu.I need a lime for my tea.
- Ndimu hizi ni nyingi sana.These limes are very many.
- Je, una ndimu moja?Do you have one lime?
Example conversation
Fatuma is shopping at a local market and asks Said for fruit.
- FatumaSaid, unauza ndimu leo?Said, are you selling limes today?
- SaidNdiyo, Fatuma, nina ndimu mbichi.Yes, Fatuma, I have green limes.
- FatumaNipe ndimu tano tafadhali.Give me five limes, please.
- SaidHaya, hapa kuna ndimu zako.Okay, here are your limes.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lime” translations and entries ndimu, dimu, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dimu, CC BY-SA 4.0.
