gawanya
The Swahili word for to split is gawanya.
gawanya is used to describe the act of dividing something into parts along a more or less straight line.
Meaning: divide along a more or less straight line (verb)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Tanzania, the word mgao might be heard used interchangeably with gawanya.
Did you know?
- In Swahili culture, the act of kugawana (splitting something together) is often used as a metaphor for deep friendship and communal solidarity.
- When describing a 'split' in a relationship, Swahili speakers often use terms related to 'breaking' vunja rather than the word gawanya.
- The root of gawanya originates from the Proto-Sabaki language, a branch of the wider Bantu family that shaped much of East Africa's linguistic landscape.
Examples in context
- Gawanya kaziSplit the work
- Gawanya mkateSplit the bread
- Gawa pipiSplit the candies
- Gawa pesaSplit the money
- Gawanya vyakula kwenye sahaniSplit the food on the plate
- Makundi yamegawanyika kwa usawaThe groups have been split evenly
- Gawa zawadi kwa watotoSplit the gifts among the children
- Gawa pesa nusu kwa nusuSplit the money fifty-fifty
- Gawanya keki hii katika sehemu mbili.Divide this cake into two parts.
- Gawanya mji huu katika maeneo mawili.Divide this city into two areas.
Example conversation
Neema and Omari are sharing a piece of fruit.
- NeemaTunaweza kugawanya embe hili?Can we split this mango?
- OmariNdiyo, gawanya katika sehemu mbili.Yes, split it into two parts.
- NeemaNitakutunzia sehemu kubwa, Omari.I will save the bigger part for you, Omari.
- OmariAsante sana, Neema.Thank you very much, Neema.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries gawanya, CC BY-SA 4.0.
