maafa
mah-AH-fah
How to say it
Swahilimaafamah-AH-fahsoon
Englishdisaster, calamitysoon
Frenchcatastrophe, calamitésoon
Meaning
A sudden event that causes great loss of life or property, such as floods, fire, drought or an earthquake.
Good to know
Ma class noun used in the plural form for one disaster or many: maafa ya mafuriko, a flood disaster. Kitengo cha maafa is a disaster management unit.
Examples
- Mafuriko yalileta maafa makubwa mwaka jana.The floods brought a great disaster last year.
- Serikali inasaidia familia zilizoathirika na maafa.The government is helping families affected by the disaster.
- Tujiandae mapema kukabiliana na maafa.Let us prepare early to deal with disasters.
The same word in
Not yet checked by a native speaker.