hakuna matata

English

Etymology

Etymology tree

Swahili hakuna

Proto-Bantu *mà-

Proto-Sabaki *ma-

Swahili ma-

Common Bantu *-táta

Proto-Sabaki *-tata

Swahili -tata

Swahili matata

Swahili hakuna matatabor.

English hakuna matata

From Swahili hakuna matata (“there are no problems”). Popularized in English by the 1994 Disney film The Lion King.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /həˈkunə məˈtɑtə/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

Phrase

hakuna matata

1. No worries, take it easy.

Swahili

Etymology

Compound of hakuna +‎ matata (“troubles”), literally “there are no problems”.

Pronunciation

• (Unguja standard) IPA^(key): /hɑˈku.nɑ mɑˈtɑ.tɑ/

• Audio (Kenya):

  (file)

Phrase

hakuna matata

1. (rare) No worries, take it easy, hakuna matata.

Usage notes

• Although this phrase was popularized in the West by the Disney production The Lion King, it is not usually used in conversation.