kima
/ˈki.mɑ/
The Swahili word for monkey is kima.
kima refers to a primate, though it is typically used to describe smaller species of monkeys.
Meaning: primate (noun)
Which one should you use?
While kima is the term for a monkey, larger primates such as baboons are referred to using the word nyani.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Swahili, kima belongs to the JI-MA noun class. Because of this, the singular form does not require a prefix to indicate 'a' (as in 'a monkey').
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈki.mɑ/
Did you know?
- In many Swahili-speaking regions, the word kima is used in a completely different way to mean 'value' or 'worth'. It is a common term in economics and commerce, rather than biology.
- While kima is used for monkeys, the word nyani is often used in Swahili idioms to describe someone who is cunning or mischievous, similar to how English uses 'monkeying around'.
- The word kima is inherited from the Proto-Bantu root *nkɪ́mà. This means the word has been used to describe primates across vast parts of Sub-Saharan Africa for thousands of years.
Examples in context
- Kima yuko juu ya mti.The monkey is up in the tree.
- Niliona kima kidogo leo.I saw a small monkey today.
- Kima anakula ndizi.The monkey is eating a banana.
Example conversation
Two friends are walking through a forest.
- OmariAisha, angalia kima yule!Aisha, look at that monkey!
- AishaNi kima mdogo sana, Omari.It is a very small monkey, Omari.
- OmariAnapenda sana kula matunda.He really loves eating fruit.
- AishaNdiyo, kima ni mjanja.Yes, the monkey is clever.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry kima, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries kima, CC BY-SA 4.0.
