mhalifu
mhah-LEE-foo
How to say it
Swahilimhalifumhah-LEE-foo
Englishcriminal, offender
Frenchcriminel, malfaiteur
Meaning
A person who commits a crime such as theft, robbery or murder and can be punished by law.
Good to know
M class noun for people, plural wahalifu, from kuhalifu, to break the law. Uhalifu is crime.
Examples
- Polisi wamemkamata mhalifu aliyeiba benki.The police have caught the criminal who robbed the bank.
- Wahalifu walikimbia kabla polisi hawajafika.The criminals fled before the police arrived.
- Si kila aliyekamatwa ni mhalifu.Not everyone who is arrested is a criminal.
Not yet checked by a native speaker.