Standard Lemma guide

nshima

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A staple food in parts of Africa, a kind of porridge made from ground maize or sorghum flour.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Borrowed from an African language, probably Bemba nshima. Compare Chichewa nsíma.

Across languages

Translations

12 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Afrikaans: mieliepap — porridge made from maize or sorghum
  • Bemba: nshima — porridge made from maize or sorghum
  • Chichewa: nsima — porridge made from maize or sorghum
  • French: nshima — porridge made from maize or sorghum
  • Luhya: busuma — porridge made from maize or sorghum
  • Northern Ndebele: isitshwala — porridge made from maize or sorghum
  • Portuguese: chima — porridge made from maize or sorghum
  • Rwanda-Rundi: ubugali — porridge made from maize or sorghum
  • Shona: sadza — porridge made from maize or sorghum
  • Sranan Tongo: akansa — porridge made from maize or sorghum
  • Swahili: ugali — porridge made from maize or sorghum
  • Tumbuka: sima — porridge made from maize or sorghum