kukata tamaa
koo-KAH-tah tah-MAH-ah
How to say it
Swahilikukata tamaakoo-KAH-tah tah-MAH-ahsoon
Englishto despair, to lose hope, to give upsoon
Frenchdésespérer, perdre espoir, abandonnersoon
Meaning
To stop hoping that things will get better and to give up trying, after failure or long difficulty.
Good to know
Literally to cut desire. Usikate tamaa, do not give up, is a common word of encouragement; kukata tamaa ya maisha is to despair of life.
Examples
- Ni rahisi kukata tamaa, lakini lazima tuendelee.It is easy to give up, but we must keep going.
- Wakulima wameanza kukata tamaa kwa sababu ya ukame.The farmers have begun to lose hope because of the drought.
- Hata baada ya kushindwa mara tatu, hakukata tamaa.Even after failing three times, he did not give up.
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Forms
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