matete
mah-TEH-teh
How to say it
Swahilimatetemah-TEH-teh
Englishreeds; elephant grass
Frenchroseaux ; herbe à éléphant
Meaning
Tall grasses with hollow stems that grow near rivers and swamps, used for building, fencing, mats and animal fodder.
Good to know
Ma class noun, used in the plural; one stem is tete. Matete in fodder farming is napier or elephant grass for cows.
Examples
- Kingo za mto zimejaa matete marefu.The riverbanks are full of tall reeds.
- Wafugaji hupanda matete kwa ajili ya chakula cha ng’ombe.Livestock keepers plant elephant grass as cattle feed.
- Walijenga uzio kwa matete na miti.They built a fence of reeds and poles.
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