Food and Drink Terminologies
Learn the terminologies we use in relation to foods and drinks.
Basic Food Terms
| Swahili | English |
|---|---|
| Kula | To Eat |
| Pika | Cook |
| Chakula/Vyakula | Food/Foods |
| Unga | Flour |
| Unga Wa Ngano | Wheat Flour |
| Sandwichi | Sandwich |
| Njugu | Groundnuts/Peanuts |
| Unga Wa Mahindi | Corn Flour |
| Mboga | Vegetable/Vegetables |
| Kabeji/Kabiji | Cabbage |
| Kiazi/Viazi | Potatoes |
| Mchele | Uncooked Rice |
| Wali | Cooked Rice |
| Mahindi | Maize |
| Nyama | Meat |
| Nyama Ya Ng'ombe | Beef |
| Nyama Ya Mbuzi | Goat Meat |
| Nyama Ya Kondoo | Mutton |
| Nyama Ya Kuku | Chicken Meat |
| Nyama Ya Nguruwe | Pork |
| Kuku | Chicken |
| Nyama Ya Kuchoma | Roasted/Grilled Meat |
| Maini | Liver |
| Matumbo | Intestines |
| Keki | Cake |
| Uyoga | Mushroom |
| Uji | Porridge |
| Muhogo/Mihogo | Cassava |
| Viazi Vitamu | Sweet Potatoes |
| Vibanzi/Chipsi | French Fries |
| Pilau | Pilau/pilaf |
| Chapati | Flat Bread |
| Aiskrimu | Icecream |
| Bia | Beer |
| Brokoli | Broccoli |
| Pilipili | Pepper |
| Pilipili Hoho | Chili Pepper |
| Pilipili Saumu | Pepper Garlic |
| Karoti | Carrots |
| Saladi | Salad |
| Samaki | Fish |
| Maharagwe | Beans |
| Sukuma Wiki | Kales/Collard Greens |
| Mchuzi/Michuzi | Soup |
| Ugali | Stiff cornmeal Porridge |
| Yai/Mayai | Egg/Eggs |
| Mkate | Bread |
Example Sentences
1. Mimi ninapenda kupika pilau.
[I like to cook pilau.]
2. Wageni walipendezwa na upishi wako.
[The visitors were pleased by your cooking.]
3. Baba yangu anapika chapati.
[My father is cooking flatbread.]
4. Wewe unapenda kula chakula gani?
[Which food do you like to eat?]
5. Wewe hupendi chakula gani?
[Which food don't you like?]
6. Siagi hufanya mkate kuwa mtamu sana.
[Butter makes bread very tasty.]
7. Chakula hiki kina pilipili nyingi.
[This food has too much pepper.]
8. Mayai yanaweza kuliwa kwa ugali au kama chakula cha asubuhi.
[Eggs can be eaten with stiff cornmeal or as breakfast.]
9. Samaki hupikwa vipi?
[How is fish cooked?]
10. Sisi hupenda kula pamoja kwenye chumba cha kulia.
[We like eating together in the dining room.]
Spices (Viungo)
- Biringanya - eggplant
- Dhania/giligilani - Coriander leaves
- Lavani - Vanilla
- Iliki - Cardamon
- Mdalasini - Cinnamon
- Tangawizi - Ginger
- Kitunguu - Onions
- Kitunguu saumu - Garlic
- Bizari - Curry powder
- Nyanya - Tomatoes
- Pilipili - pepper
- Pilipili manga - Black pepper
- Sukari - Sugar
- Chumvi - Salt
- Mafuta - Oil
- Magadi - Baking soda
Example Sentences with Spices
1. Vitunguu na nyanya hufanya mchuzi kuwa mtamu.
[Onion and tomatoes make soup very tasty.]
2. Dhania huwa na harufu ya kupendeza.
[Corriander leaves have a pleasant smell.]
3. Mafuta hutumiwa mpishi anapokaanga chakula.
[Oil is used when a cook is frying food.]
4. Tafadhali nipatie ugali na nyama. Weka pilipili kidogo.
[Please give me ugali and meat. Put some little pepper.]
Fruits (Tunda/Matunda)
- Embe/maembe - Mango/es
- Nanasi/mananasi - Pineapple/s
- Avokado/Parachichi - Avocado/s
- Limau/malimau - Lemon/s
- Chungwa/machungwa - Orange/s
- Pera/mapera - Guava/s
- Ndizi - Banana/s
- Tofaa/matofaa - Apple/s
- Tikiti maji - Watermelon
- Zambarau - Plums
- Nazi - Coconut
- Nyanya - tomato
- Peya - Pear
- Tende - Dates
- Muwa/miwa - Sugarcane
- Malenge/Boga - pumpkin
- Paipai - Pawpaw
- Ndimu - lime
- Stroberi - Strawberry
- Tomoko - Custard apple
- Ukwaju - Tamarind fruit
- Fenesi - jack fruit
- Chenza - Tangerine
- Tomoko - custard apple
- Zeituni - Olive
Drinks (Vinywaji)
- Kunywa - To drink
- Kinyawaji/Vinywaji - Drink/Drinks
- Maji - Water
- Maziwa - Milk
- Pombe - Alcohol
- Chai - Tea
- Soda - Soda
- Maji ya ndimu - Lime juice
- Maji ya ukwaju - Tamarind juice
- Mnazi - Coconut wine
- Kangara - Maize and honey wine
- Chang'aa - Illicit liquor
- Juisi/Sharubati - Juice
- Maji ya limau - Lemonade
Example Sentences with Drinks
1. Ninapenda kunywa chai na kahawa pia.
[I like drinking tea and coffee also.]
2. Mimi hunywa gilasi tano za maji kila siku.
[I drink five glasses of water every day.]
3. Mama alinunua pakiti nane za maziwa.
[My mother bought eight packets of milk.]
4. Unywaji wa pombe kupita kiasi hudhuru afya yako.
[Excessive consumption of alcohol is harmful to your health.]
5. Ninapenda chai ya maziwa.
[I like milk tea.]
6. Pombe huuzwa kwenye bar.
[Alcohol is sold at the bar.]
7. Pakiti moja ya maziwa ni shilingi ngapi?
[How much does one packet of milk cost?]
8. Kaka yangu anapenda kunywa soda baridi.
[My brother likes drinking cold soda.]
9. Sipendi kunywa mvinyo.
[I do not like drinking wine.]
Important Expressions When Eating Out or in a Restaurant
1. Naomba uniletee orodha ya vyakula.
[Kindly bring me the menu.]
2. Kuna chakula gani?
[Which food do you have?]
3. Ninataka kinywaji. Mna vinywaji vipi?
[I would like to get a drink. Which drinks do you have?]
4. Tafadhali niletee bili.
[Please bring me the bill.]
5. Ninahisi kiu sana.
[I am feeling very thirsty.]