indimi

kutema

koo-TEH-mah

How to say it

Swahilikutemakoo-TEH-mah

Meaning

To force something out of the mouth, such as saliva or food, or to cut with a heavy blow, as in chopping wood or felling trees. Sports news uses it for a club letting players go.

Good to know

Kutema mate is to spit; kutema kuni is to chop firewood; kutema cheche is to spit sparks, to speak fiercely. In football news: klabu imewatema wachezaji watano, the club has dropped five players.

Examples

  • Ni kosa kutema mate barabarani.It is wrong to spit in the street.
  • Babu alitema kuni kwa shoka asubuhi.Grandfather chopped firewood with an axe in the morning.
  • Kocha amewatema wachezaji watatu kikosini.The coach has dropped three players from the squad.

Forms

kutemwa

Not yet checked by a native speaker.

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