panya
/ˈpɑ.ɲɑ/
The English word "mouse" is panya in Swahili.
panya refers to a rodent of the genus Mus.
Meaning: rodent of the genus Mus (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables, with the first syllable stressed. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈpɑ.ɲɑ/.
Did you know?
- The word panya is used in the common Swahili slang term panya za mbao, which literally means 'wooden mice' but refers to counterfeit money.
- While panya refers to the animal, the word nyanya means 'grandmother' or 'tomato'. The single letter difference completely changes the meaning from a pest to a family member or food.
- In Swahili, panya is used as a general term for many small rodents, including rats. While English distinguishes between 'mouse' and 'rat', Swahili often groups them under this one word.
Examples in context
- Paka akiwa kipofu, panya anakuwa jasiri.When the cat is blind, the mouse becomes bold.This sentence is useful for seeing how panya functions in a descriptive context.Tatoeba #10850928 by ecorralest101, translation #2570273 by sabretou
- Panya alikimbia haraka na kujificha chini ya meza.The mouse ran quickly and hid under the table.
- Panya mdogo amejificha chini ya meza.A small mouse is hiding under the table.
Example conversation
Omari and Fatuma are cleaning the house.
- OmariFatuma, umeona panya hapa?Fatuma, have you seen a mouse here?
- FatumaNdiyo, nilimwona jana usiku.Yes, I saw it last night.
- OmariTunahitaji mtego wa panya sasa.We need a mouse trap now.
- FatumaNitakwenda kununua mtego leo.I will go buy a trap today.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry panya, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
