madau

How to say it

Meaning

A group of dhows, the traditional wooden sailing vessels used along the East African coast.

Good to know

plural of dau (li-/ma- class); the singular dau is more common in everyday speech, since dhows are usually mentioned one at a time.

Examples

• Madau mengi yalitia nanga bandarini asubuhi.Many dhows anchored at the port this morning.
• Je, madau haya yanatoka Zanzibar?Do these dhows come from Zanzibar?
• Madau hayakusafiri leo kwa sababu ya dhoruba.The dhows did not sail today because of the storm.
• Wavuvi wanasema madau yatarudi kesho jioni.The fishermen say the dhows will return tomorrow evening.