ziwa

Swahili

ziwa

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈzi.wɑ/

• Audio (Kenya):

  (file)

Etymology 1

From Proto-Bantu *ìdìbà.

Noun

ziwa (ma class, plural maziwa)

1. lake (body of water)

Etymology 2

From the same Cushitic borrowing as maziwa (“milk”), which represents the original semantics, but was shifted to a plurale tantum to match other liquids.

Noun

ziwa (ma class, plural maziwa)

1. breast (organ)

   Synonym: dodo

References

• Nicholas Awde, Swahili-English, English-Swahili Dictionary (2002, →ISBN)
• Arthur Cornwallis Madan, Swahili-English Dictionary (1902–3)