batela
bah-TEH-lah
How to say it
Swahilibatelabah-TEH-lah
Englishsmall dhow, small sailing boat
Frenchpetit boutre, voilier
Meaning
A small wooden sailing boat of the Swahili coast, built like a dhow with a square stern and used for fishing and short trading trips.
Good to know
N class noun, the same in singular and plural; also spelled betela. Jahazi is the general word for a large dhow, and mashua for a sailing boat.
Examples
- Wavuvi walitoka baharini kwa batela yao.The fishermen went out to sea in their small dhow.
- Batela ile ilibeba magunia ya mchele hadi Pemba.That small dhow carried sacks of rice to Pemba.
- Mafundi wa Nungwi bado wanajenga batela.Boatbuilders in Nungwi still build small dhows.
Forms
Not yet checked by a native speaker.