inchi

How to say it

Meaning

A unit of length equal to 2.54 centimeters, used for screens, pipes, tires and rainfall. Swahili speakers use it mostly for the size of televisions, phones and building materials.

Good to know

N class noun, plural also inchi: inchi sita, six inches; televisheni ya inchi 32, a 32 inch television. Do not confuse it with nchi, country.

Examples

• Walinunua televisheni ya inchi arobaini.They bought a forty inch television.
• Bomba hili lina upana wa inchi mbili.This pipe is two inches wide.
• Mvua ya inchi tano ilinyesha usiku mmoja.Five inches of rain fell in one night.