upinde wa mvua
class 11, class 12
The English word "rainbow" is translated into Swahili as upinde wa mvua.
The phrase is used to describe the multicolored arch visible in the sky.
Meaning: multicoloured arch in the sky (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
This phrase is composed of upinde, meaning "bow" and wa mvua, meaning "of rain".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Kenya, Kipinde cha Mvua is used to refer to a rainbow.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun belongs to noun classes 11 and 12.
Did you know?
- In Swahili, the concept of a 'bow' used in archery and a 'rainbow' share the same word upinde.
- The word wa used in upinde wa mvua evolved from an ancient Proto-Bantu word meaning 'to become'.
- Because upinde comes from the root for 'bending', a Swahili speaker might metaphorically describe a curved object as having an 'upinde' shape.
Examples in context
- Upinde wa mvua ni mzuri sana.The rainbow is very beautiful.
- Ninaona upinde wa mvua baada ya mvua.I see a rainbow after the rain.
- Upinde wa mvua una rangi nyingi.The rainbow has many colors.
Example conversation
Neema and Juma are walking outside after a storm.
- NeemaJuma, angalia upinde wa mvua!Juma, look at the rainbow!
- JumaWow, ni mkubwa sana!Wow, it is very big!
- NeemaNapenda rangi zake.I love its colors.
- JumaMimi pia, ni mzuri sana.Me too, it is very beautiful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “rainbow” translations and entries upinde wa mvua, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mvua, upinde, wa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
