mathalani
mah-thah-LAH-nee
How to say it
Swahilimathalanimah-thah-LAH-neesoon
Englishfor example, for instancesoon
Frenchpar exemplesoon
Meaning
Introduces an example that illustrates what has just been said, like kwa mfano. It is a formal, bookish word, found in news commentary and essays.
Good to know
It comes at the start of a sentence or after its first phrase, often between commas. A loan from Arabic; the everyday equivalent is kwa mfano.
Examples
- Matunda mengi, mathalani maembe, yanapatikana kwa wingi msimu huu.Many fruits, for example mangoes, are plentiful this season.
- Mathalani, mwaka jana mvua ilinyesha kwa wiki mbili tu.For instance, last year it rained for only two weeks.
- Tatizo hili linaonekana mikoani, mathalani Dodoma na Singida.This problem is seen in the regions, for example Dodoma and Singida.
Not yet checked by a native speaker.