Swahili
kipilipili
ki-pi-li-PI-li
How to say it
Swahilikipilipiliki-pi-li-PI-lisoon
Englishcurly, shrewdsoon
Frenchpoivré, malinsoon
Meaning
resembling pepper or peppercorns, especially, of hair, tightly coiled, and figuratively clever or shrewd.
Good to know
related to pilipili (pepper); nywele za kipilipili describes tightly coiled 'peppercorn' hair; the same headword also names a species of edible fish.
Examples
- Ana nywele za kipilipili zilizosokotana.He has tightly coiled peppercorn hair.
- Je, unamfikiria kuwa mtu wa kipilipili?Do you think he's a shrewd person?
- Hakuwa mjinga, alikuwa kipilipili kweli.He wasn't foolish, he was truly sharp.
- Wavuvi walivua kipilipili kwenye miamba.The fishermen caught kipilipili fish near the reef.
Not yet checked by a native speaker.