gukabakaba
goo-kah-bah-KAH-bah
How to say it
Kinyarwandagukabakabagoo-kah-bah-KAH-bah
Englishto approach, to come close to (a number)
Frenchavoisiner, approcher (un nombre)
Meaning
Of a number, an amount or an age, to come close to a figure without quite reaching it.
Good to know
Mostly with numbers and ages: abaturage bakabakaba miliyoni eshatu, nearly three million people; imyaka ikabakaba 40, about forty years.
Examples
- Abitabiriye ubukwe bakabakaba igihumbi.Those who attended the wedding were close to a thousand.
- Afite imyaka ikabakaba mirongo itanu.He is about fifty years old.
- Igiciro cyayo gikabakaba ibihumbi icumi.Its price is close to ten thousand.
Forms
Not yet checked by a native speaker.