udi
OO-dee
How to say it
SwahiliudiOO-dee
Englishaloe wood, incense wood; oud (lute)
Frenchbois d'aloès, encens ; oud (luth)
Meaning
A fragrant wood burned as incense, much used on the coast to scent houses and clothes; also the oud, the short necked lute played in taarab music.
Good to know
N class noun with no plural. The idiom kwa udi na uvumba, literally with incense and frankincense, means by every possible means.
Examples
- Bibi alifukiza udi chumbani kabla ya wageni kufika.Grandmother burned incense wood in the room before the guests arrived.
- Polisi wanamtafuta mshukiwa kwa udi na uvumba.The police are looking for the suspect by every possible means.
- Mpiga udi aliongoza bendi ya taarab usiku ule.The oud player led the taarab band that night.
Forms
Not yet checked by a native speaker.