kutokota

How to say it

Meaning

Of food or water, to bubble steadily over the fire; figuratively, of a quarrel or tension, to go on growing quietly.

Good to know

Intransitive: the pot or the food is the subject, chakula kinatokota. To boil something yourself is kutokosa. In news, mvutano unaendelea kutokota, the tension keeps simmering.

Examples

• Maharage yalikuwa yakitokota jikoni kwa saa mbili.The beans were simmering on the stove for two hours.
• Acha mchuzi utokote polepole.Let the stew simmer slowly.
• Mgogoro huo umekuwa ukitokota kwa miezi mingi.That conflict has been simmering for many months.