kingugwa
kee-NGOO-gwah
How to say it
Swahilikingugwakee-NGOO-gwah
Englishspotted hyena
Frenchhyène tachetée
Meaning
The large spotted hyena, a meat eating animal with a sloping back and a laughing call; in coastal stories it is linked with witches.
Good to know
A noun that takes animal agreement, the same in singular and plural; also spelled kingubwa. Fisi is the everyday word for any hyena.
Examples
- Kingugwa alilia karibu na kijiji usiku.A spotted hyena howled near the village at night.
- Hadithi za zamani zinasema wachawi humpanda kingugwa.Old stories say witches ride the spotted hyena.
- Kingugwa ni mkubwa kuliko fisi wengine.The spotted hyena is bigger than other hyenas.
Forms
Not yet checked by a native speaker.