Swahili
kijembe
ki-JE-mbe
How to say it
Swahilikijembeki-JE-mbesoon
Englishpocketknife, jibesoon
Frenchcanif, piquesoon
Meaning
a small knife or pocketknife; figuratively, a cutting or sarcastic remark.
Good to know
kutoa kijembe means to make a snide or barbed remark aimed at someone.
Examples
- Alitumia kijembe kumenya tunda mfukoni.He used the small knife to peel the fruit in his pocket.
- Kwa nini unanitupia vijembe kila mkutano?Why do you throw barbed remarks at me in every meeting?
- Hakununua kijembe alichotaka dukani.He did not buy the pocketknife he wanted at the shop.
- Msemaji alitoa kijembe kilichowagusa wengi.The speaker made a cutting remark that touched many people.
Not yet checked by a native speaker.