anga
/ˈɑ.ᵑɡɑ/
The Swahili word for sky is anga.
anga refers to the atmosphere above a given point, specifically the visible space from the Earth's surface where one sees the sun, moon, stars and clouds.
Meaning: atmosphere above a given point, especially as visible from the surface of the Earth as the place where the sun, moon, stars, and clouds are seen (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables and is pronounced /ˈɑ.ᵑɡɑ/. The stress is on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- The word anga also means 'space' or 'the cosmos', so it is used to describe both the blue sky above you and the vacuum of outer space.
- An English speaker might use 'sky' to talk about a 'sky-blue' color, but in Swahili, you would use a completely different adjective to describe that specific shade.
- While anga is the general term for sky, you will often see mbingu used in religious or poetic contexts to mean 'heaven'.
Examples in context
- Anga ilikuwa ikitishia kabla sijafika kituo.The sky had become threatening before I got to the station.This sentence shows how to describe a threatening sky before arriving at a station.Tatoeba #10807145 by ecorralest101, translation #26067 by CK
- Usijaribu kufunika anga lote kwa kiganja cha mkono wako.Don't try to cover the whole sky with the palm of your hand.This sentence uses the phrase to illustrate the impossibility of covering the entire sky with a hand.Tatoeba #10835547 by ecorralest101, translation #923357 by Spamster
- Mimi ni binti wa mfalme, ninatafuta ndugu zangu kumi na wawili, na nitatembea hadi anga liwe la bluu mpaka nitakapowapata.I am a king's daughter, and am seeking my twelve brothers, and I will walk as far as the sky is blue until I find them.This sentence uses the phrase to describe the sky being blue as a distance or condition.Tatoeba #10872862 by ecorralest101, translation #4846304 by Hybrid
- Wingu la mvua linaelekea kwenye mbingu.The rain cloud is moving towards the sky.
- Jua linaanza kuzama katika anga.The sun is beginning to set in the sky.
- Leo kuna mawingu mazito katika anga.Today, there are heavy clouds in the sky.
Example conversation
Bakari and Fatuma are looking up at the evening sky.
- BakariAnga lina rangi ya machweo.The sky is the color of sunset.
- FatumaNi nzuri sana, Bakari.It is very beautiful, Bakari.
- BakariAnga lina nyota nyingi leo.The sky has many stars today.
- FatumaNdiyo, na mwezi unaonekana pia.Yes, and the moon is visible too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sky” translations and entries anga, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
