foleni
foh-LEH-nee
How to say it
Swahilifolenifoh-LEH-nee
Englishqueue, line; traffic jam
Frenchfile d’attente, queue; embouteillage
Meaning
A line of people waiting their turn, or a long line of vehicles held up in traffic.
Good to know
N class noun, the plural is also foleni: kupanga foleni or kupiga foleni, to queue; foleni za magari, traffic jams. From English file, through Tanzanian use.
Examples
- Tulipanga foleni ndefu benki asubuhi.We stood in a long queue at the bank in the morning.
- Foleni za magari jijini ni kero kubwa.Traffic jams in the city are a big nuisance.
- Usiingie mbele, rudi nyuma ya foleni.Do not push in, go back to the end of the line.
Not yet checked by a native speaker.