hato

How to say it

Meaning

Introduces something one wants to avoid, like 'lest' or 'so that not'; doubled as hato na hato it means happening again and again.

Good to know

Followed by a negative verb: hato batanenga, lest they criticize. Hato na hato, often after bya or za (intonganya za hato na hato, constant quarrels), has its own page.

Examples

• Mwihute, hato imvura itabasanga mu nzira.Hurry, lest the rain catch you on the way.
• Yabitse amafaranga neza hato atayabura.He kept the money carefully, in case he lost it.
• Barashwanaga hato na hato kubera amafaranga.They quarreled now and then because of money.