Being a Stirring Account of adventures in Tanzania of a Blood and Thunder nature tinged with a Hue of Drama and a side of Angsty Flashbacks. Sponsored by the Peace Corps, in whose service I am making the world a Better Place.
I'm done with Peace Corps. I am now spending a month as a corporate sellout in China. It's a long story.
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The content of this blog does not reflect the positions of the Peace Corps and is solely the responsibility of the author.
Karibu and usijali. Karibu is translated as welcome, which it means, but people are karibued to everything. We do have the word in English, but not exactly the attitude and hospitality. Usijali is a very polite way of saying "oh don't worry about it" which is sometimes translated as "be free." It's something people really mean, too. Don't worry, just hang out and do whatever. Be free.
Also shagalabagala, my favorite Kiswahili word ever. It IS slang, but it means chaos so chaotic everything is just hopeless. Which is exactly what such a word should mean, really.
Disturbing. For the converse, are there any Kiswahili words that English doesn't have, but needs?
ReplyDeleteKaribu and usijali. Karibu is translated as welcome, which it means, but people are karibued to everything. We do have the word in English, but not exactly the attitude and hospitality. Usijali is a very polite way of saying "oh don't worry about it" which is sometimes translated as "be free." It's something people really mean, too. Don't worry, just hang out and do whatever. Be free.
ReplyDeleteAlso shagalabagala, my favorite Kiswahili word ever. It IS slang, but it means chaos so chaotic everything is just hopeless. Which is exactly what such a word should mean, really.
Schnurzegal ...now I shall have to adopt shagalabagala!
ReplyDeleteIt is a frabdous word.
Delete