ala

How to say it

Meaning

A musical instrument or, in older use, any tool or implement; ala is also the sheath or scabbard in which a knife or sword is kept.

Good to know

N class noun, the same in singular and plural: ala hii, ala hizi. Ala za muziki are musical instruments and mpiga ala is an instrumentalist. As an exclamation, ala! shows surprise.

Examples

• Mwanamuziki huyu anapiga ala tatu tofauti.This musician plays three different instruments.
• Shule imenunua ala mpya za muziki kwa ajili ya kwaya.The school has bought new musical instruments for the choir.
• Aliurudisha upanga wake katika ala yake.He put his sword back in its sheath.

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