kufyonza

How to say it

Meaning

To take in liquid, gas or another substance, as a sponge soaks up water, trees take in carbon dioxide or an insect sucks blood.

Good to know

Takes what is taken in as object: kufyonza maji, to absorb water; kufyonza damu, to suck blood. Figuratively it can mean to exploit people: kufyonza wananchi, to bleed the people dry.

Examples

• Miti hufyonza hewa ya ukaa kutoka angani.Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the air.
• Mbu hufyonza damu ya binadamu.Mosquitoes suck human blood.
• Tumia kitambaa kufyonza maji sakafuni.Use a cloth to soak up the water on the floor.