karibia
kah-ree-BEE-ah
How to say it
Swahilikaribiakah-ree-BEE-ahsoon
Englishnearly, almost, aboutsoon
Frenchpresque, près de, environsoon
Meaning
Used before a number, time or amount to say it is close to that figure but not quite there.
Good to know
Colloquial beside karibu: karibia watu elfu, nearly a thousand people. As a verb, to come near, it is kukaribia, a separate entry.
Examples
- Karibia wanafunzi wote walifaulu mtihani mwaka huu.Nearly all the students passed the exam this year.
- Tulisubiri karibia saa mbili kituoni.We waited nearly two hours at the station.
- Mji huo una karibia watu laki tano.That town has about five hundred thousand people.
Not yet checked by a native speaker.