Swahili
kisababu
kee-sah-BAH-boo
How to say it
Swahilikisababukee-sah-BAH-boosoon
Englishexcuse, pretextsoon
Frenchprétexte, excusesoon
Meaning
a flimsy reason or excuse given to avoid doing something or to justify an action.
Good to know
Often implies the excuse is not genuine.
Examples
- Alitoa kisababu cha kuchelewa kazini.He gave an excuse for being late to work.
- Usinipe kisababu, nataka ukweli.Don't give me excuses, I want the truth.
- Kila anapokosa kufanya kazi, huwa na kisababu.Whenever he fails to do the work, he has an excuse.
- Je, hicho ni kisababu tu au sababu ya kweli?Is that just a pretext or a real reason?
Not yet checked by a native speaker.