indimi

bakteria

bah-kteh-REE-ah

How to say it

Swahilibakteriabah-kteh-REE-ahsoon
Englishbacteria, bacteriumsoon
Frenchbactérie

Meaning

Tiny living things made of a single cell, seen only under a microscope; some cause diseases such as tuberculosis and cholera, others are useful, as in making yogurt.

Good to know

N class noun, the same in singular and plural: bakteria hawa or bakteria hizi (both agreements are heard). Vijidudu and vimelea are the general Swahili words for germs.

Examples

  • Kipindupindu husababishwa na bakteria.Cholera is caused by bacteria.
  • Osha mikono kuua bakteria.Wash your hands to kill bacteria.
  • Maziwa yaliharibika kwa sababu ya bakteria.The milk went bad because of bacteria.

The same word in

Not yet checked by a native speaker.

Open in the dictionary ›More Swahili words from B ›