Swahili Definition

Swahili
noun

1. A language that is widely spoken in E Africa both as a mother tongue and as a second language; it is thought to be an Arabic-influenced pidgin of Bantu and is the official language of Kenya and Tanzania and a lingua franca in Uganda and Zaire.
Swahilis, Swahili
2. A member of a people who speak this language and who live mainly in the area of the former state of Zanzibar.

adj

1. Belonging or relating to this language or people.

Etymology: 19c: Kiswahili, meaning ‘pertaining to the coast', from Arabic sahil coast.