ukata
oo-KAH-tah
How to say it
Swahiliukataoo-KAH-tahsoon
Englishshortage of money, financial hardshipsoon
Frenchmanque d’argent, difficultés financièressoon
Meaning
A state of having too little money to meet one’s needs, said of a person, a club, a business or a government office.
Good to know
No plural. Common in news as kukumbwa na ukata or kukabiliwa na ukata, to be hit by a cash crunch. In casual speech it is simply being broke.
Examples
- Timu yetu inakabiliwa na ukata tangu mdhamini ajitoe.Our team has been short of money since the sponsor pulled out.
- Ukata ulimlazimisha kuuza pikipiki yake.Lack of money forced him to sell his motorbike.
- Mwisho wa mwezi wafanyakazi wengi huwa na ukata.At the end of the month many workers are broke.
Not yet checked by a native speaker.