sifa mbaya
SEE-fah MBAH-yah
How to say it
Swahilisifa mbayaSEE-fah MBAH-yah
Englishbad reputation, notoriety
Frenchmauvaise réputation
Meaning
The poor opinion that people hold of a person, a place or a group because of what they have done.
Good to know
Sifa, reputation, is an n class noun, so mbaya stays the same in the plural. Kuwa na sifa mbaya is to be notorious; kupata sifa mbaya is to get a bad name.
Examples
- Mtaa huo una sifa mbaya ya wizi.That neighborhood has a bad reputation for theft.
- Kitendo chake kiliipa shule sifa mbaya.His act gave the school a bad name.
- Hataki kupata sifa mbaya kazini.She does not want to get a bad reputation at work.
Not yet checked by a native speaker.