mafua
mah-FOO-ah
How to say it
Swahilimafuamah-FOO-ahsoon
Englisha cold, flusoon
Frenchrhume, grippesoon
Meaning
A common illness with a runny or blocked nose, sneezing and sometimes fever; mafua ya ndege is bird flu.
Good to know
Used in the plural form only (ma class): mafua makali, a bad cold. Kuwa na mafua or kupata mafua is to have or catch a cold.
Examples
- Nimepata mafua kwa sababu ya baridi.I have caught a cold because of the cold weather.
- Mtoto ana mafua na kikohozi.The child has a cold and a cough.
- Mafua haya yamechukua wiki nzima.This cold has lasted a whole week.
The same word in
Not yet checked by a native speaker.