indimi

kulewa

koo-LEH-wah

How to say it

Swahilikulewakoo-LEH-wahsoon
Englishto get drunk, to be drunksoon
Frenchs’enivrer, être ivresoon

Meaning

To become drunk from alcohol or a drug; figuratively, to be carried away by power or success.

Good to know

Kulewa pombe is to be drunk on alcohol; amelewa means he is drunk. Mlevi is a drunkard, ulevi is drunkenness, and kulewa madaraka is to be drunk with power.

Examples

  • Alikunywa bia nyingi mpaka akalewa.He drank a lot of beer until he got drunk.
  • Dereva aliyelewa hapaswi kuendesha gari.A driver who is drunk should not drive.
  • Viongozi wengine hulewa madaraka haraka.Some leaders quickly become drunk with power.

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