kuzingira
koo-zee-NGEE-rah
How to say it
Swahilikuzingirakoo-zee-NGEE-rah
Englishto surround, to encircle, to besiege
Frenchencercler, entourer, assiéger
Meaning
To close in on a place or group from all sides, as police surrounding a house to make an arrest or an army besieging a town.
Good to know
Takes a direct object: polisi walizingira nyumba, the police surrounded the house. The passive kuzingirwa, to be surrounded or besieged, is common.
Examples
- Askari walizingira jengo lote usiku.Soldiers surrounded the whole building at night.
- Mji ulizingirwa na maji baada ya mafuriko.The town was surrounded by water after the floods.
- Wananchi walimzingira mwizi sokoni.People surrounded the thief at the market.
The same word in
Forms
kuzingirwa (passive of kuzingira, to surround)
Not yet checked by a native speaker.