embe
/ˈɛ.ᵐbɛ/
The Swahili word for mango is embe.
The word refers to the mango fruit.
Meaning: fruit (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The singular form of the fruit is embe, while the plural form is maembe, which is created by using the noun class prefix ma-.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ˈɛ.ᵐbɛ/. It has two syllables, and the stress is on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- In Swahili culture, the mango is often associated with the 'season of abundance' because maembe ripen in such massive quantities that they are frequently given away for free to neighbors.
- The word embe entered Swahili through Omani Arabic, and it likely travelled even further back from a Persian word anbe.
- The journey of the word embe mirrors the physical journey of the mango fruit, which traveled from Asia through Persia and Arabia to Africa.
Examples in context
- Nataka embeI want mango
- Nataka embe tafadhali.I want mango, please.
- Ninataka juisi ya embeI want mango juice
- Napenda embe sanaI really like mangoes
- Ninapenda kula embe.I like to eat mango.
- Embe hili ni tamu sana.This mango is very sweet.
- Ninataka kununua embe leo.I want to buy a mango today.
- Je, una embe mezani?Do you have a mango on the table?
Example conversation
Bakari and Neema are at a fruit market.
- BakariNeema, tazama embe hili kubwa!Neema, look at this big mango!
- NeemaNaona, lakini embe lile ni bora.I see, but that mango is better.
- BakariJe, tununue embe moja au mawili?Should we buy one or two mangoes?
- NeemaTununue mawili tuwe na ziada.Let's buy two so we have extra.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mango” translations and entries embe, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries embe, CC BY-SA 4.0.
