Kirundi
gushinyanga
Word parts: gu-shinyanga
goo-shee-NYAH-ngah
How to say it
Kirundigushinyangagoo-shee-NYAH-ngahsoon
Englishto grit one's teethsoon
Frenchserrer les dentssoon
Meaning
to clench the teeth together tightly, especially to bear pain without showing it.
Good to know
describes bearing physical pain or hardship in silence.
Examples
- Umwana arashinyanga kubera ububabare.The child grits his teeth because of the pain.
- Ese urashinyanga iyo ubabaye?Do you grit your teeth when you're in pain?
- Ntashinyanga, aravuga ako kanya ibimubabaza.He doesn't grit his teeth in silence — he says right away what's hurting him.
- Azoshinyanga kugira ngo atarira imbere y'abandi.He will grit his teeth so as not to cry in front of others.
Not yet checked by a native speaker.