kufeli
koo-FEH-lee
How to say it
Swahilikufelikoo-FEH-lee
Englishto fail
Frenchéchouer, rater
Meaning
To not succeed, especially in an exam, or of a machine or plan, to stop working as it should; an informal loan from English.
Good to know
Informal: kufeli mtihani, to fail an exam; breki zilifeli, the brakes failed. In formal writing kushindwa or kuanguka are used.
Examples
- Alifeli mtihani wa hesabu mara mbili.He failed the maths exam twice.
- Breki za basi zilifeli kwenye mteremko.The bus’s brakes failed on the slope.
- Usiogope kufeli, jaribu tena.Do not be afraid to fail, try again.
Not yet checked by a native speaker.