kutia hofu
koo-TEE-ah HOH-foo
How to say it
Swahilikutia hofukoo-TEE-ah HOH-foo
Frencheffrayer, faire peur; être inquiétant
Meaning
To make people afraid or anxious, or said of a situation that gives cause for worry.
Good to know
Built from kutia, to put, and hofu, fear. The person frightened comes as the object: kumtia mtu hofu; ya kutia hofu describes something alarming.
Examples
- Habari hizo zilitutia hofu sana.That news frightened us a lot.
- Hali ya mgonjwa inatia hofu.The patient’s condition is worrying.
- Hadithi hizo za mizimu zinatia hofu watoto.Those ghost stories frighten children.
Not yet checked by a native speaker.