tunutu
too-NOO-too
How to say it
Swahilitunututoo-NOO-too
Englishlocust hopper, young wingless locust
Frenchlarve de criquet, criquet sans ailes
Meaning
A young locust or grasshopper that has hatched but has no wings yet and moves by hopping. Bands of hoppers eat crops and grass as they march.
Good to know
N class, with animal agreement: tunutu wanatoka, the hoppers come out; same form in the plural. The winged adult locust is nzige.
Examples
- Tunutu wamevamia mashamba ya mahindi kijijini.Locust hoppers have invaded the maize fields in the village.
- Wataalamu wanapuliza dawa kuua tunutu kabla hawajaruka.Experts spray pesticide to kill the hoppers before they can fly.
- Kundi la tunutu linaweza kula shamba zima kwa siku moja.A band of hoppers can eat a whole field in one day.
Forms
Not yet checked by a native speaker.