When you're ready to make a meal, the word you'll use in Swahili is pika. It means 'to cook' and it's a very common verb.
You can use it for all sorts of cooking, whether you're boiling, frying, or baking.
When we talk about cooking in Swahili, we use the verb pika. It's a really common and useful word, and you'll hear it a lot in everyday conversations. You can use pika for pretty much any kind of cooking you can think of, whether it's boiling, frying, baking, or stewing. It’s a very versatile verb, making it one of the first verbs you should learn if you’re interested in talking about food and meals in Swahili. Just remember, if someone is preparing food, they are most likely kupika!
§ What 'pika' means
The Swahili word you're learning today is pika. It's a verb, and it simply means to cook. You'll hear and use this word a lot in everyday Swahili conversations, especially when talking about food, meals, or preparing anything in the kitchen. It's one of those essential words you need to know from the start.
Just like in English, 'to cook' in Swahili can refer to the general act of preparing food by applying heat. It covers everything from boiling water to baking a cake. It's a versatile word, so don't overthink it. If you're doing something to food with heat, you're probably kupika.
- DEFINITION
- To cook; to prepare food using heat.
§ When to use 'pika'
You use 'pika' whenever you're talking about the action of cooking. It's straightforward. Here are a few common scenarios:
- Talking about preparing a meal: Mama anapika chakula cha jioni. (Mom is cooking dinner.)
- Asking someone if they know how to cook: Unajua kupika? (Do you know how to cook?)
- Discussing what someone is cooking: Wanapika nini leo? (What are they cooking today?)
- Giving an instruction to cook: Pika wali! (Cook rice!)
It's important to remember that 'pika' is a verb, so its form will change depending on who is doing the cooking (the subject) and when the cooking is happening (the tense). For A1 level, focus on the basic present tense, which we'll see in the examples.
Mimi hupika kila siku.
Translation hint: Mimi (I) hu- (usually/habitually) cook kila siku (every day).
Anataka kupika samaki.
Translation hint: Ana- (he/she is) taka (want) ku- (to) cook samaki (fish).
When you're first learning, focus on understanding the core meaning. Don't worry too much about all the different conjugations right away. Just get comfortable with 'pika' meaning 'to cook' and recognize it in simple sentences.
Je, unaweza kupika chapati?
Translation hint: Je, unaweza (can you) ku- (to) cook chapati (chapati - a type of flatbread).
You'll find 'pika' used in many contexts beyond just preparing a full meal. For instance, you might hear someone say pika chai, which means 'to make tea'. While in English we 'make' tea, in Swahili, they 'cook' it. This shows how flexible the word is.
Mastering 'pika' is a small but important step in building your Swahili vocabulary. It's a foundational verb for discussing daily life and food, which are common topics in any language. Start by using it in simple sentences and observing how native speakers use it. The more you hear and use it, the more natural it will become.
발음 가이드
- pronouncing the 'i' like in 'bike'
수준별 예문
Mama anapika chakula kitamu jikoni.
Mom is cooking delicious food in the kitchen.
Wewe pika wali na kuku kwa ajili ya wageni.
You cook rice and chicken for the guests.
Alipika supu ya mboga jana usiku.
She cooked vegetable soup last night.
Tutapika chapati nyingi leo.
We will cook a lot of chapati today.
Mpishi anapika samaki vizuri sana.
The chef cooks fish very well.
Je, umepika nini kwa kifungua kinywa?
What have you cooked for breakfast?
Wanapika ugali kila jioni.
They cook ugali every evening.
Usipike nyama hiyo vibaya, itaharibika.
Don't cook that meat badly, it will spoil.
Mama yangu anapenda kupika vyakula mbalimbali, hasa vya Kiafrika.
My mother loves cooking various foods, especially African ones.
Here 'kupika' is used as an infinitive, meaning 'to cook'.
Je, umeshawahi kupika ugali kwa kutumia unga wa mahindi?
Have you ever cooked ugali using corn flour?
'Umeshawahi kupika' uses the perfect tense to ask if an action has ever been done.
Watoto walijifunza kupika chapati shuleni jana.
The children learned to cook chapati at school yesterday.
'Kupika' again as an infinitive, following 'kujifunza' (to learn).
Ili chakula kiive vizuri, unapaswa kukipika kwa moto wa wastani.
For the food to cook well, you should cook it over medium heat.
'Kukipika' shows the object prefix 'ki-' referring to 'chakula' (food).
Tafadhali, unaweza kunisaidia kupika supu ya kuku kwa ajili ya wageni?
Please, can you help me cook chicken soup for the guests?
'Kunisaidia kupika' means 'to help me cook'.
Hata kama huna uzoefu, bado unaweza kupika mlo mtamu kwa kufuata maelekezo.
Even if you don't have experience, you can still cook a delicious meal by following instructions.
'Unaweza kupika' means 'you can cook', showing ability.
Nilipika wali na maharagwe jana, na ilikuwa tamu sana.
I cooked rice and beans yesterday, and it was very delicious.
'Nilipika' is the past tense form of 'pika', meaning 'I cooked'.
Kila Jumapili, baba yangu anapika nyama choma kwenye bustani.
Every Sunday, my father cooks grilled meat in the garden.
'Anapika' is the present tense, showing a habitual action.
Mama huwapikia watoto wake chakula kitamu kila siku, akihakikisha wanakula mlo kamili na wenye afya.
Mother cooks delicious food for her children every day, ensuring they eat a complete and healthy meal.
The 'hu-' prefix indicates habitual action.
Tafadhali nipikie chai moto, ninaumwa na kichwa na nahisi baridi kali mwilini.
Please cook (make) hot tea for me, I have a headache and feel very cold.
The '-nie' ending is an applicative suffix, meaning 'for me'.
Wanafunzi walijifunza kupika vyakula mbalimbali vya asili wakati wa somo la upishi shuleni.
The students learned to cook various traditional foods during the cooking lesson at school.
The '-ji-' infix indicates a reflexive action, 'to learn to cook themselves'.
Kila Jumapili, baba hupika pilau la kuku ambalo ni maarufu sana katika familia yetu.
Every Sunday, father cooks chicken pilau which is very famous in our family.
The 'hu-' prefix indicates habitual action.
Mgeni wetu alitaka kujifunza kupika ugali, hivyo bibi alimfundisha hatua kwa hatua.
Our guest wanted to learn to cook ugali, so grandmother taught him step by step.
The 'kujifunza' verb means 'to learn'.
Kazi ya kupika si rahisi kama inavyoonekana, inahitaji uvumilivu na ubunifu.
The task of cooking is not as easy as it seems; it requires patience and creativity.
The infinitive 'kupika' is used as a noun here.
Dada yangu ana kipaji cha kupika, anaweza kutengeneza sahani yoyote bila kufuata mapishi.
My sister has a talent for cooking; she can make any dish without following a recipe.
The word 'kipaji' means 'talent'.
Kabla ya wageni kufika, nilipika samaki wa kukaanga na wali wa nazi kwa ajili ya chakula cha jioni.
Before the guests arrived, I cooked fried fish and coconut rice for dinner.
The '-li-' tense marker indicates past tense.
Hata kama hupiki vizuri, bado unaweza kufurahia mlo uliopikwa na wengine.
Even if you don't cook well, you can still enjoy a meal cooked by others.
The word 'vizuri' means 'well'. The verb 'kufurahia' means 'to enjoy'.
Amekuwa akipika chakula kitamu tangu akiwa mdogo, na sasa ni mpishi maarufu.
She has been cooking delicious food since she was young, and now she is a famous chef.
'Kitamu' means 'delicious'. 'Mpishi' means 'cook' or 'chef'.
Wakati unapika, hakikisha unatumia viungo safi ili chakula kiwe na ladha nzuri.
When you cook, make sure you use fresh ingredients so the food has good flavor.
'Viungo' means 'ingredients'. 'Safi' means 'fresh' or 'clean'. 'Ladha nzuri' means 'good flavor'.
Ingawa kupika kunaweza kuchukua muda mrefu, matokeo yake mara nyingi yanalipa jitihada.
Although cooking can take a long time, the results often pay off the effort.
'Kuchukua muda mrefu' means 'to take a long time'. 'Matokeo' means 'results'.
Kuna utofauti mkubwa wa vyakula unavyoweza kupika duniani kote, kila kimoja kikiwa na utamaduni wake.
There is a wide variety of foods you can cook around the world, each with its own culture.
'Utofauti mkubwa' means 'a wide variety'. 'Kila kimoja' means 'each one'.
Jinsi unavyopika mboga kunaweza kuathiri lishe yake, hivyo ni muhimu kujua mbinu sahihi.
How you cook vegetables can affect their nutrition, so it's important to know the right techniques.
'Jinsi unavyopika' means 'how you cook'. 'Kuathiri' means 'to affect'. 'Lishe' means 'nutrition'.
Kupika kwa kutumia moto wa kuni kunaweza kuongeza ladha ya kipekee kwenye chakula.
Cooking using firewood can add a unique flavor to food.
'Moto wa kuni' means 'firewood fire'. 'Kuongeza' means 'to add'. 'Ladha ya kipekee' means 'unique flavor'.
Mara nyingi, kujifunza kupika ni safari ndefu inayohitaji uvumilivu na majaribio mengi.
Often, learning to cook is a long journey that requires patience and many experiments.
'Safari ndefu' means 'long journey'. 'Uvumilivu' means 'patience'. 'Majaribio mengi' means 'many experiments'.
관용어 및 표현
"Pika maji"
To boil water (literally: cook water)
Mama anapika maji ya chai. (Mom is boiling water for tea.)
neutral"Pika chakula"
To cook food
Leo nitapika chakula kitamu. (Today I will cook delicious food.)
neutral"Pika ugali"
To cook ugali (a common East African staple food)
Wanafunzi walijifunza kupika ugali. (The students learned to cook ugali.)
neutral"Pika chai"
To make tea (literally: cook tea)
Anapika chai kwa wageni. (She is making tea for the guests.)
neutral"Pika dawa"
To prepare medicine (often by boiling herbs)
Mganga anapika dawa ya asili. (The traditional healer is preparing herbal medicine.)
neutral"Pika mchele"
To cook rice
Tafadhali pika mchele kwa chakula cha mchana. (Please cook rice for lunch.)
neutral"Pika kahawa"
To make coffee (literally: cook coffee)
Kila asubuhi anapika kahawa. (Every morning he makes coffee.)
neutral"Pika jamii ya chakula"
To cook a type of food
Ninapenda kupika jamii ya chakula cha kigeni. (I like to cook foreign types of food.)
neutral"Pika roho"
To calm down, to cool one's temper (literally: cook the soul)
Baada ya ugomvi, alihitaji kupika roho yake. (After the argument, he needed to calm down.)
informal"Pika kichwa"
To concentrate, to focus intensely (literally: cook the head)
Alipika kichwa kwenye masomo yake. (He concentrated intensely on his studies.)
informal어휘 가족
명사
동사
형용사
실생활에서 연습하기
실제 사용 상황
Talking about daily chores or routines.
- Mama anapika chakula kizuri. (Mom cooks good food.)
- Ninapenda kupika wali. (I like to cook rice.)
- Unapika nini leo? (What are you cooking today?)
Discussing meals or food preparation.
- Wacha tupike chapati. (Let's cook chapati.)
- Je, umepika maharagwe? (Have you cooked beans?)
- Tunahitaji kupika chakula cha jioni. (We need to cook dinner.)
Asking or giving instructions related to cooking.
- Pika maji ya chai. (Cook water for tea.)
- Unaweza kunisaidia kupika? (Can you help me cook?)
- Nipike nini kwa kifungua kinywa? (What should I cook for breakfast?)
Talking about someone's cooking skills.
- Anapika vizuri sana. (He/She cooks very well.)
- Kupika kwake ni tamu. (His/Her cooking is delicious.)
- Mimi siwezi kupika kama wewe. (I can't cook like you.)
Planning for a party or gathering.
- Tutapika nyama nyingi. (We will cook a lot of meat.)
- Ni nani atapika keki? (Who will cook the cake?)
- Tuandae nini cha kupika? (What should we prepare to cook?)
대화 시작하기
"Je, unapenda kupika? (Do you like to cook?)"
"Unapika mara ngapi kwa wiki? (How often do you cook in a week?)"
"Umejifunza kupika kutoka kwa nani? (From whom did you learn to cook?)"
"Chakula gani unapenda kupika zaidi? (What food do you like to cook the most?)"
"Kuna chakula chochote ambacho huwezi kupika? (Is there any food you can't cook?)"
일기 주제
Andika kuhusu chakula ulichopika hivi karibuni na jinsi kilivyokuwa. (Write about the food you cooked recently and how it was.)
Fikiria chakula unachopenda sana na uandike hatua za jinsi ya kukipika. (Think of your favorite food and write the steps on how to cook it.)
Eleza jinsi tamaduni yako inavyopika chakula fulani cha kitamaduni. (Explain how your culture cooks a certain traditional food.)
Andika kuhusu kumbukumbu yako ya kwanza ya kupika au kusaidia kupika. (Write about your first memory of cooking or helping to cook.)
Ikiwa ungekuwa mpishi maarufu, ungepika chakula gani kwa wageni wako? (If you were a famous chef, what food would you cook for your guests?)
셀프 테스트 42 질문
Write a simple sentence in Swahili saying 'I cook food.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Mimi hupika chakula.
Write a simple Swahili sentence saying 'She cooks ugali.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Yeye hupika ugali.
Write a simple Swahili sentence asking 'Do you cook rice?'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Je, wewe hupika wali?
What does Anna cook today?
Read this passage:
Jina langu ni Anna. Mimi hupika chakula nyumbani. Leo, mimi hupika samaki na wali.
What does Anna cook today?
The passage says, 'Leo, mimi hupika samaki na wali.' 'Samaki' means fish and 'wali' means rice.
The passage says, 'Leo, mimi hupika samaki na wali.' 'Samaki' means fish and 'wali' means rice.
What does Asha cook?
Read this passage:
Hawa ni rafiki zangu, Juma na Asha. Wao hupenda kupika. Juma hupika chapati na Asha hupika mboga.
What does Asha cook?
The passage states, 'Asha hupika mboga.' 'Mboga' means vegetables.
The passage states, 'Asha hupika mboga.' 'Mboga' means vegetables.
How often does her mother cook?
Read this passage:
Mama yangu hupika chakula kitamu sana. Yeye hupika kila siku. Mimi hupenda chakula chake.
How often does her mother cook?
The passage says, 'Yeye hupika kila siku.' 'Kila siku' means every day.
The passage says, 'Yeye hupika kila siku.' 'Kila siku' means every day.
Which sentence correctly uses 'kupika' in the past tense?
'Alipika' is the correct past tense form for 'pika' with 'mama' (she/he). 'Wanapika' is present continuous, 'nitapika' is future, and 'tunapika' is present simple.
Which of these is typically 'cooked' (hupikwa)?
'Chakula' means food, which is cooked. 'Majani' are leaves, 'gari' is a car, and 'jiwe' is a stone.
Choose the sentence where 'pika' is used in the imperative form (command).
'Pika chakula!' means 'Cook food!' and is an imperative. The other options are statements in different tenses.
In the sentence 'Watoto wanapika chapati,' the children are cooking chapati.
'Wanapika' means 'they are cooking,' and 'watoto' means 'children.' So, the sentence translates to 'The children are cooking chapati.'
The sentence 'Mimi sipiki chakula' means 'I am cooking food.'
'Si' is a negative prefix in Swahili. 'Mimi sipiki chakula' means 'I am not cooking food.'
If someone says 'Nitapika wali leo,' they plan to cook rice today.
'Nita' indicates the future tense, 'pika' means 'to cook,' and 'wali' means 'rice.' So, 'Nitapika wali leo' translates to 'I will cook rice today.'
This sentence means 'Mother cooks delicious food every day.' The order follows a typical Swahili sentence structure: Subject-Verb-Object-Adjective-Frequency.
This question means 'Do you like to cook in the afternoon?' 'Je' introduces a question, followed by the subject and verb phrase.
This sentence means 'The children are cooking rice and vegetables in the evening.' The order is Subject-Verb-Object-Conjunction-Object-Time.
Kabla ya wageni kufika, nilipaswa ___ chakula cha kutosha kwa wote.
The infinitive 'kupika' (to cook) is needed after 'nilipaswa' (I should/had to).
Ana ujuzi wa ajabu wa ___ milo mbalimbali kutoka tamaduni tofauti.
Here, 'kupika' (to cook) acts as a noun describing the skill.
Wazazi wangu hupendelea ___ wenyewe nyumbani badala ya kula nje kila wakati.
The infinitive 'kupika' (to cook) is used here to express a general preference or habit.
Ili kuboresha afya yako, ni muhimu kujifunza ___ vyakula vyenye lishe.
The infinitive 'kupika' (to cook) is required after 'kujifunza' (to learn).
Jana usiku, shangazi yangu ___ wali na maharagwe kwa ajili ya sherehe.
The past tense form 'alipika' (she cooked) is appropriate for an action completed yesterday.
Baada ya masaa mawili ya ___ kwa uangalifu, mlo ulikuwa tayari kutumika.
The infinitive 'kupika' (to cook) is used as a noun here to refer to the act of cooking.
Ni ipi sentensi inayoelezea vizuri zaidi kitendo cha 'pika' katika muktadha wa kitamaduni wa Swahili?
Neno 'pika' linamaanisha mchakato mzima wa kuandaa chakula kwa kutumia joto hadi kiive, si tu kukikata au kukila.
Ungeitumiaje 'pika' kuelezea uwezo wa mtu kutengeneza vyakula mbalimbali?
Kuelezea uwezo wa mtu kutengeneza vyakula mbalimbali, 'mzuri wa kupika' ndiyo semi sahihi.
Katika sentensi 'Mama anapika ugali na samaki', neno 'anapika' linaonyesha nini kuhusu kitendo?
Kiambishi 'ana-' kinaashiria kitendo kinachoendelea wakati wa kusema (present continuous tense).
Sentensi 'Nilipika chakula jana' inamaanisha kuwa kitendo cha kupika kimefanyika hivi punde.
Kiambishi 'nili-' kinaashiria kitendo kilichopita, siyo hivi punde. Hivyo, 'Nilipika chakula jana' inamaanisha kitendo kilifanyika jana, siyo hivi punde.
Inawezekana kutumia 'pika' kuelezea maandalizi ya chai au kahawa.
Ndiyo, neno 'pika' linaweza kutumika kwa ujumla kuelezea maandalizi ya vinywaji kama chai au kahawa, ingawa pia kuna maneno mahususi kama 'chemsha' (kuchemsha).
Katika Swahili, 'pika' inaweza pia kumaanisha 'kukaanga' au 'kuoka'.
Neno 'pika' ni pana na linaweza kujumuisha njia mbalimbali za kupika, ikiwemo kukaanga (fry) au kuoka (bake), kulingana na muktadha.
This sentence describes a mother cooking delicious food for the family every day. The word order follows the typical Swahili sentence structure: Subject-Verb-Object-Adverbial Phrase.
This is a question asking for help to cook rice and fish today. 'Je' indicates a question, followed by 'unaweza' (can you), 'kunisaidia' (help me), and then the infinitive 'kupika' (to cook) with the objects 'wali na samaki' (rice and fish) and the time 'leo' (today).
This sentence means 'Famous chefs cook different foods in big hotels.' The subject 'Wapishi maarufu' (famous chefs) comes first, followed by the present continuous verb 'wanapika' (they are cooking), then the object 'vyakula tofauti' (different foods), and finally the location 'kwenye hoteli kubwa' (in big hotels).
Baada ya sherehe, mabaki ya chakula yaliashiria jinsi wapishi walivyokuwa _______ sana, wakihakikisha kila mgeni alifurahia mlo kamili.
The context implies 'cooks' or 'chefs' (plural), which is 'wapishi'. 'Pika' is the verb, 'pikana' implies cooking together, 'kipika' is a cooking style, and 'mapishi' refers to the act of cooking or recipes.
Kadri utamaduni wa chakula unavyoendelea kubadilika, ndivyo ______ mpya zinavyoibuka, zikionyesha ubunifu wa wapishi katika kubuni milo isiyo ya kawaida.
'Mapishi' refers to recipes or cooking styles, which fits the context of new culinary trends emerging. 'Kupika' is the infinitive 'to cook', 'pika' is the imperative 'cook!', and 'pikana' means 'cook together'.
Jumba la kifahari lilikuwa na jiko la kisasa, ambapo wapishi maarufu walitumia vifaa vya hali ya juu kwa ______ milo ya kifalme kwa wageni mashuhuri.
The infinitive 'kupika' (to cook) is required here as the object of 'walitumia' (they used... to cook). The other options don't fit grammatically or contextually.
Wakati wa sherehe za kitamaduni, ni kawaida kwa jamii nzima ______ pamoja vyakula vya asili, ikiimarisha uhusiano na umoja wao.
The infinitive 'kupika' (to cook) is appropriate here, meaning 'to cook together' or 'for the community to cook'. While 'pikana' implies cooking together, 'kupika' is more generally used in this context to express the communal act.
Licha ya ugumu wa kazi ya _______, aliendelea kujifunza mbinu mpya na kusanifu milo yenye ladha ya kipekee, akipata sifa kubwa.
'Upishi' refers to the art or profession of cooking, or cuisine, which fits the context of learning new techniques and designing unique meals. 'Mapishi' are recipes, 'pika' is the verb, and 'mupishi' is not a standard Swahili word.
Katika semina ya upishi, washiriki walijifunza jinsi ya ______ vyakula vya kimataifa kwa kutumia viungo vya asili vya Kiafrika, wakileta ladha mpya sokoni.
The infinitive 'kupika' (to cook) is needed here to complete the phrase 'jinsi ya kupika' (how to cook). The other options do not fit grammatically.
/ 42 correct
Perfect score!
