Swahili
tupu
TU-pu
How to say it
SwahilitupuTU-pusoon
Englishemptysoon
Frenchvide, nusoon
Meaning
empty, bare, or naked; also figuratively meaningless or worthless.
Good to know
common in the saying mkono mtupu haurambwi, roughly 'an empty hand gets nothing'.
Examples
- Chupa hii ni tupu.This bottle is empty.
- Alitembea kwa miguu mitupu.He walked barefoot.
- Maneno matupu hayasaidii.Empty words don't help.
- Mkono mtupu haurambwi.An empty hand licks nothing, you get nothing for nothing.
Not yet checked by a native speaker.