shetani

How to say it

Meaning

In Christian and Muslim belief, the evil spirit who opposes God and tempts people to do wrong; also any evil spirit, and a very wicked person.

Good to know

A noun with the ma plural for evil spirits: mashetani; as Satan it is often written with a capital. Kazi ya shetani, the devil’s work. The spelling sheitani is a variant.

Examples

• Mchungaji aliwaonya waumini dhidi ya hila za shetani.The pastor warned the faithful against the tricks of the devil.
• Watu wa kijiji waliamini nyumba ile ina mashetani.The villagers believed that house had demons.
• Wivu ni kazi ya shetani.Jealousy is the devil’s work.

The same word in

Forms

sheitani