Swahili
mtani
m-TA-ni
How to say it
Swahilimtanim-TA-nisoon
Englishclose friendsoon
Frenchamie prochesoon
Meaning
a close friend or age-mate with whom one shares a joking, familiar relationship; also a fellow clan or tribe member.
Good to know
reflects the East African custom of utani, a joking relationship between clans or age-groups.
Examples
- Hawezi kukasirika, kwa sababu ni mtani wangu.He can't get angry, because he's my joking-friend.
- Mtani wangu na mimi tulisoma shule moja.My close friend and I went to the same school.
- Je, huyo ni mtani wako wa kweli?Is that your true joking-relation?
- Hatukuwa watani, ila tulipendana kama ndugu.We weren't joking-kin, but we loved each other like siblings.
The same word in
Not yet checked by a native speaker.