Swahili
mabahili
mah-bah-HEE-lee
How to say it
Swahilimabahilimah-bah-HEE-leesoon
Englishmiserssoon
Frenchavaressoon
Meaning
Misers; stingy or frugal people who resist spending or sharing money.
Good to know
Plural of bahili (class 9/6 person noun; takes human/wa- agreement). Mildly pejorative — used to criticize someone's stinginess.
Examples
- Mabahili hawapendi kuchangia harusi za jamaa.Misers do not like contributing to relatives' weddings.
- Je, kweli watu hawa ni mabahili?Are these people really misers?
- Mabahili hao hawakutoa hata senti tano.Those misers did not give even five cents.
Not yet checked by a native speaker.