mwana
The Swahili word for son is mwana. Wiktionary also lists auladi and mtoto wa kiume.
Meaning: a male person in relation to his parents (noun)
Ways to say it
| Swahili | Note |
|---|---|
| mwana | |
| auladi | |
| mtoto wa kiume | class 1, class 2 |
In many contexts, mwana can refer to a child or offspring in general, not just specifically a male son.
Which one should you use?
While mwana is a common way to say son, mtoto wa kiume is a more descriptive way to specify a 'male child' to distinguish from a daughter.
How does it change in a sentence?
Additionally, mwanawe means "his/her child."
Did you know?
- The word mwana is shared across a vast geographical area. It is a cognate of ngwana in Sotho and umwâna in Rwanda-Rundi, reflecting a common ancestral language spoken across central and southern Africa.
- In many Swahili-speaking cultures, calling someone mwana is not only for biological children. It is often used as a term of endearment or a way to address a younger person regardless of their relation to the speaker.
- Because mwana is so versatile, it can be used in poetry and songs to refer to anything from a person to a metaphorical 'child' of a specific place or idea.
Examples in context
- Mwanawe anajifunza kuendesha gari.His son is learning to drive.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use the form mwana to talk about someone's son.Tatoeba #10896372 by ecorralest101, translation #7765415 by sharris123
- Hujambo, mwanangu. Ninatumai unaendelea kupona.Hello, son. I trust you're healing well.This sentence shows a friendly greeting using the form mwana.Tatoeba #10855340 by ecorralest101, translation #2904254 by Ooneykcall
- Cleveland hakuwa na hakika kwamba kijana huyo ni mwana wake.Cleveland was not sure the boy was his son.This sentence illustrates the use of the form mwana in a sentence about a boy being a son.Tatoeba #10833989 by ecorralest101, translation #807464 by Source_VOA
- Mwana wa moyo wanguSon of my heart
- Mwanangu anasomaMy son is studying
- Mwanangu mpendwaMy beloved son
- Mwana wa mfalmeSon of a king
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Zuwena and Omari are talking about Omari's young son.
- ZuwenaJe, mwana wako anasoma vizuri?Is your son studying well?
- OmariNdiyo, mwana wangu ni mwerevu sana.Yes, my son is very clever.
- ZuwenaNi jambo la furaha kusikia hivyo.It is a joy to hear that.
- OmariAsante, Zuwena, umekuwa mkarimu sana.Thank you, Zuwena, you have been very kind.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “son” translations and entries mwana, auladi, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries auladi, kiume, mwana, wa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
