muuguzi
In Swahili, the English word 'nurse' can be translated as muuguzi or nesi.
Meaning: person trained to provide care for the sick (noun)
Ways to say it
| Swahili |
|---|
| muuguzi |
| nesi |
The term refers to a person trained to provide care for the sick. You can also use the related noun uguzi to refer to the act of nursing or the care provided to a patient.
What does it mean word for word?
The word muuguzi is constructed from the verb uguza (to tend or care for), the noun-forming prefix mu- (denoting a person) and the suffix -i (denoting an agent or doer), literally meaning 'one who tends/cares for'.
Which one should you use?
While both words mean nurse, muuguzi is the standard Swahili term, whereas nesi is a loanword from English.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The word is derived from the verb uguza, which means to care for the sick or to tend gently and with extra care.
Did you know?
- The word muuguzi shares its root with the verb uguza, which can also be used to describe the careful tending of a young plant or a fragile object.
- The term muuguzi follows a linguistic pattern common to many Bantu languages, where the identity of a person is tied directly to the action they perform.
- The existence of the word nesi shows the significant influence of English on modern Swahili, particularly in professional and technical vocabulary.
Examples in context
- Muuguzi alimpa mgonjwa juisi yake ya machungwa kupitia bomba la glasi.The nurse gave the patient his orange juice through a glass tube.This sentence shows how to use muuguzi in a sentence regarding a nurse giving juice to a patient.Tatoeba #10855874 by ecorralest101, translation #3071540 by sharptoothed
- Ninahitaji kuongea na wauguzi.I need to speak with the nurses.
- Mama John alinielekeza kwa wauguzi wazuri.Mama John directed me to good nurses.
- Muuguzi amekuonyesha upendo mkubwa.The nurse has shown great care.
- Muuguzi anajali wagonjwa sana.The nurse cares for patients very much.
- Natafuta muuguzi wa kuja nyumbani.I am looking for a nurse to come home.
Example conversation
A man is asking a woman about a professional at the clinic.
- ZuwenaSaid, unamjua muuguzi anayefanya kazi hapa?Said, do you know the nurse working here?
- SaidNdiyo, Zuwena, yeye ni muuguzi mzuri sana.Yes, Zuwena, she is a very good nurse.
- ZuwenaJe, anaweza kunisaidia leo?Can she help me today?
- SaidHakika, atakuja kuangalia hali yako.Certainly, she will come to check on you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “nurse” translations and entries muuguzi, nesi, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
