chumvi
class 10, class 9
Salt in Swahili is chumvi.
The term chumvi refers to the mineral sodium chloride. It can also be used figuratively to mean exaggeration, such as when someone is 'adding salt' to a story to make it more interesting. In technical contexts, the same word can function as a verb meaning to add filler bytes before encryption or as an adjective meaning saline.
Meaning: sodium chloride (noun)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
As a noun, chumvi belongs to the N-class (classes 9 and 10), which means it is treated as an inanimate object. Because it is commonly used as an uncountable noun, you should use the quantifier nyingi to express large amounts, as in chumvi nyingi (much salt).
Did you know?
- In some coastal regions, the word chumvi is used to describe a person who is sharp-tongued or cynical, mirroring the 'sharp' taste of the mineral.
- While English uses 'salty' as a separate adjective, chumvi can function as both the noun 'salt' and the adjective 'saline'.
- To describe a saltwater environment, Swahili typically combines chumvi with maji, meaning 'water'.
Examples in context
- Unaweza kunipitishia chumvi, tafadhali?Will you pass me the salt, please?This example shows how to politely ask someone to pass the chumvi.Tatoeba #10869196 by ecorralest101, translation #4030956 by CK
- Jaribu supu na uongeze chumvi kulingana na ladha.Try the soup and add salt according to taste.This sentence demonstrates how to suggest adding chumvi to soup based on taste.Tatoeba #10884410 by ecorralest101, translation #6199767 by sundown
- Nadhani itakuwa ladha bora ikiaongeza chumvi kidogo na pilipili.I think that it'll taste better if you add a little salt and pepper.This is used to suggest that a dish would taste better with a little chumvi and pepper.Tatoeba #10898147 by ecorralest101, translation #7839459 by CK
- Nimeongeza chumvi kidogo kwenye kahawa yangu.I added a little salt to my coffee.
- Amekuwa kama chumvi maishani mwangu.He/she has become like salt in my life.
- Ninahitaji kununua chumvi.I need to buy salt.
- Bei ya chumvi ni kiasi gani?What is the price of salt?
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Said and Fatuma are cooking dinner in the kitchen.
- SaidFatuma, je kuna chumvi ya kutosha?Fatuma, is there enough salt?
- FatumaHapana, supu inahitaji chumvi zaidi.No, the soup needs more salt.
- SaidNitakuletea chumvi sasa hivi.I will bring you salt right now.
- FatumaAsante sana, Said.Thank you very much, Said.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “salt” translations and entries chumvi, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
