Swahili
kigelegele
ki-ge-le-GE-le
How to say it
Swahilikigelegeleki-ge-le-GE-lesoon
Englishululationsoon
Frenchyouyousoon
Meaning
a shrill, joyful ululating cry, especially made by women to celebrate an occasion such as a birth, wedding, or homecoming.
Good to know
synonymous with shangwe and kijijo; typically produced by trilling the tongue against the roof of the mouth.
Examples
- Wanawake walipiga vigelegele bibi arusi alipoingia.The women ululated when the bride entered.
- Kigelegele kimoja kilisikika mbali kabisa.One ululating cry was heard far away.
- Hawakupiga vigelegele kwa sababu ya msiba.They did not ululate because of the bereavement.
- Mtoto alipozaliwa, nyanya alipiga kigelegele cha furaha.When the baby was born, grandmother let out a joyful ululation.
Not yet checked by a native speaker.