What does kwanza mean?
Kwanza is a Swahili word meaning “first.” In English, it is encountered mainly in discussions of Swahili vocabulary, culture, or phrases derived from the language, rather than as a common substitute for the ordinary English word “first.” The term can refer conceptually to the first member of a sequence, the beginning of a period, or the foremost position in an arrangement. Within Swahili, it appears in established expressions such as kwanza kabisa, “first of all,” and kwanza ya mwaka, “the beginning of the year.” Kwanza should not be confused with Kwanzaa, the seven-day holiday honoring African heritage; the holiday’s name was created from the Swahili word kwanza with an additional final “a.” For most English speakers, kwanza is therefore a useful example of how a word from another language can carry cultural and linguistic information beyond a simple direct translation.
nounThe Swahili word for “first.” It may also be used informally in English to refer to the beginning or first place in a sequence.
- The Swahili word meaning “first,” used in English chiefly when discussing Swahili language or culture.
"In Swahili, kwanza means “first.”"
"In Swahili, kwanza means “first.”"
"The phrase kwanza ya mwaka means “the beginning of the year.”"
Kwanzaa, the seven-day African heritage holiday, takes its name from the Swahili word for “first,” celebrating the first day of a year and the first fruits of the harvest.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does kwanza come from?
The English word comes from Swahili kwanza, meaning “first.” Swahili is a Bantu language historically used as a lingua franca along the East African coast, and the term appears in modern international English through the study and cultural use of Swahili. It should be distinguished from Kwanzaa, the holiday name created in the late twentieth century from kwanza and an additional “a,” with reference to the first day of the seven-day observance.
How kwanza is actually used
This is principally a linguistic borrowing rather than ordinary everyday English. It is usually lowercase in modern English, while Kwanzaa is capitalized as the name of the holiday.
Easily confused with kwanza
Kwanza is the Swahili word for “first,” whereas Kwanzaa is the seven-day holiday celebrating African heritage.