unyamavu
oo-nyah-MAH-voo
How to say it
Swahiliunyamavuoo-nyah-MAH-voosoon
Englishsilence, quietnesssoon
Frenchsilence, calmesoon
Meaning
The state of there being no sound or no talking, as when people fall quiet together.
Good to know
No plural. From kunyamaa, to be silent. Ukimya and kimya are more common words for the same thing.
Examples
- Unyamavu ulienea darasani mwalimu alipoingia.Silence spread through the classroom when the teacher came in.
- Tulisimama kwa dakika moja ya unyamavu kuwakumbuka marehemu.We stood for a minute of silence to remember the dead.
- Unyamavu wa usiku ulivunjwa na mbwa waliobweka.The silence of the night was broken by barking dogs.
The same word in
Not yet checked by a native speaker.