balaa
bah-LAH-ah
How to say it
Swahilibalaabah-LAH-ah
Frenchcalamité, malheur; (familier) phénomène
Meaning
A great misfortune such as famine, floods or a run of injuries; in sports and street talk, also a person or thing so good it is frightening.
Good to know
Li agreement in the singular: balaa la njaa, the scourge of famine. Plural mabalaa. Kukumbwa na balaa is to be struck by misfortune.
Examples
- Mafuriko yalileta balaa kubwa kijijini.The floods brought great disaster to the village.
- Tunaomba familia yetu iepushwe na balaa kama hilo.We pray our family is spared such a calamity.
- Mshambuliaji huyo mpya ni balaa, anafunga kila mechi.That new striker is a sensation; he scores every match.
Not yet checked by a native speaker.