Swahili
mitepe
mee-TEH-peh
How to say it
Swahilimitepemee-TEH-pehsoon
Englishsailing vesselssoon
Frenchvoilierssoon
Meaning
Traditional sailing vessels, a type of dhow historically used on the Swahili coast, built with sewn planks.
Good to know
Plural of mtepe (m-/mi- class); historical maritime term. Rare word.
Examples
- Mababu zetu walisafiri kwa mitepe pwani ya Uswahilini.Our ancestors traveled on sailing vessels along the Swahili coast.
- Je, mitepe bado inatengenezwa leo?Are sailing vessels like these still built today?
- Mitepe hiyo haikuwa na misumari, ilishonwa kwa kamba.Those vessels had no nails; they were sewn together with rope.
Not yet checked by a native speaker.