kukamata
koo-kah-MAH-tah
How to say it
Swahilikukamatakoo-kah-MAH-tahsoon
Englishto catch, seize; to arrestsoon
Frenchattraper, saisir ; arrêtersoon
Meaning
To take hold of something moving or escaping, such as a ball, a fish or an animal; said of the police, to arrest someone.
Good to know
Kukamatwa is to be arrested or caught. Kukamata samaki is to catch fish, and kukamata nafasi is to seize a chance; kamata kamata is slang for a wave of arrests.
Examples
- Paka alijaribu kukamata panya.The cat tried to catch a rat.
- Polisi walifika kukamata wezi hao.The police came to arrest those thieves.
- Mlinda mlango alishindwa kukamata mpira.The goalkeeper failed to catch the ball.
The same word in
Forms
kukamatwa (passive of kukamata, to catch or arrest)
Not yet checked by a native speaker.