rafiki

Swahili

Etymology

Borrowed from Arabic رَفِيق (rafīq, “companion”), from رَفَقَ (rafaqa, “to be friendly”).

Pronunciation

• Audio (Kenya):

  (file)

Noun

rafiki (ma class, plural marafiki) or rafiki (n class, plural rafiki)

1. friend

   Synonym: mwenzi

2. comrade

   Synonym: ndugu

Derived terms

• rafiki wa kike (“girlfriend”)
• rafiki wa kiume (“boyfriend”)
• urafiki (“friendship”)

Descendants

• →? Malagasy: rafiky