indimi

kuiba

koo-EE-bah

How to say it

Swahilikuibakoo-EE-bah
Englishto steal
Frenchvoler, dérober

Meaning

To take something that belongs to someone else without permission and without meaning to give it back.

Good to know

What is stolen is the object: kuiba pesa, to steal money. The passive kuibiwa means to be robbed or to have something stolen: nimeibiwa simu, my phone has been stolen. Mwizi is a thief.

Examples

  • Mtu fulani aliiba baiskeli yangu jana usiku.Someone stole my bicycle last night.
  • Ni kosa kuiba mali ya umma.It is a crime to steal public property.
  • Wezi waliiba mbuzi watano kijijini usiku.Thieves stole five goats in the village at night.

The same word in

Forms

ibiwa

Not yet checked by a native speaker.

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