imara
The English word "strong" is translated into Swahili as imara.
imara is used to describe things that are physically strong, stable or structurally sound, such as a building or a foundation.
Meaning: capable of producing great physical force (adj)
Which one should you use?
While imara describes something that is stable or firm, it is not the primary word used to describe a person's muscular strength. For muscular strength, one would typically use enye nguvu. Additionally, thabiti is another formal option that specifically signifies being firm and reliable.
Did you know?
- The word nguvu for strength is also used to describe electricity or electrical power in Swahili.
- The word imara shares its DNA with the Arabic word for 'building' or 'architecture', which explains why it focuses more on structural stability than muscle.
- In some Swahili dialects, nguvu can be used as a noun to mean 'force', and saying kwa nguvu means doing something 'by force' or 'violently'.
Examples in context
- Kijana huyo ana mwili imara.That youth has a strong body.
Example conversation
Aisha and Omari are looking at a new wooden bench.
- AishaOmari, angalia benchi hili.Omari, look at this bench.
- OmariInaonekana kuwa imara sana.It looks very strong.
- AishaNdiyo, inaweza kubeba watu wengi.Yes, it can carry many people.
- OmariTuitunze vizuri basi.Let's take good care of it then.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “strong” translations and entries imara, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries imara, CC BY-SA 4.0.
