mvua
The Swahili word for 'rain' is mvua.
mvua is the noun used to refer to an instance of particles falling. To describe 'heavy rain', you use the phrase mvua kubwa, employing the adjective kubwa (big/large) instead of a word for 'heavy'. You can also use the phrase mvua ya kutosha to express the idea of 'enough rain' or 'sufficient rain'.
Meaning: an instance of particles falling (noun)
Which one should you use?
While mvua is the noun for 'rain', the specific verb used to describe rain falling from the sky is kunyesha.
Related words
Did you know?
- In East African cultures, mvua is often seen as a direct blessing from God, and its arrival is frequently celebrated with public gratitude or specific prayers.
- In some coastal regions, the arrival of the mvua seasons dictates the timing of traditional festivals and the start of the sailing season for dhows.
- The word mvua is inherited from the Proto-Bantu root *mbúdà, meaning it shares a common ancestor with rain words in hundreds of other African languages.
Examples in context
- Huenda kesho mvua ikanyesha.It's likely to rain tomorrow.This sentence is useful for discussing the likelihood of mvua tomorrow.Tatoeba #10853078 by ecorralest101, translation #2713169 by CK
- Nafasi ya mvua kunyesha iko chini.The chance of rain is low.This sentence is useful for stating the low probability of mvua.Tatoeba #10872116 by ecorralest101, translation #4486275 by mmorton
- Mkutano wa kukimbia ulisitishwa kwa sababu ya mvua kubwa.The track meet was called off on account of the heavy rain.This sentence is useful for explaining how a meeting was cancelled due to mvua.Tatoeba #10811234 by ecorralest101, translation #43487 by CK
- Mvua inanyesha kwa nguvu leo.The rain is pouring heavily today.
- Tunaomba mvua itutie baraka.We pray for rain to bless us.
- Ninaipenda sauti ya mvua.I love the sound of rain.
- Mawingu yako karibu, mvua haitakuwa mbali.The clouds are gathering, rain won't be far off.
- Usiku umenyesha sana leo.It rained a lot tonight.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Omari and Neema are looking out the window.
- OmariTazama, mvua inaanza kunyesha.Look, the rain is starting to fall.
- NeemaSiku hizi mvua ni nyingi sana.These days there is too much rain.
- OmariJe, una mwavuli wa mvua?Do you have a rain umbrella?
- NeemaHapana, Omari, sina mwavuli leo.No, Omari, I don't have an umbrella today.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “rain” translations and entries mvua, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mvua, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
