Swahili
hayawani
hah-yah-WAH-nee
How to say it
Swahilihayawanihah-yah-WAH-neesoon
Englishbeastsoon
Frenchbêtesoon
Meaning
an animal or beast; also, pejoratively, a feeble-minded or brutish person.
Good to know
Rare, and offensive when used of a person.
Examples
- Hayawani mkubwa alionekana msituni.A large beast was seen in the forest.
- Usimwite mtu hayawani, ni tusi kubwa.Don't call a person a beast, it's a great insult.
- Hadithi hiyo inasimulia kuhusu hayawani wa ajabu.That story tells of a strange beast.
Not yet checked by a native speaker.