fundi cherehani
The English phrase "tailor" is translated into Swahili as fundi cherehani.
A tailor is a person who makes, repairs or alters clothing as a profession.
Meaning: person who makes, repairs, or alters clothing as profession (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase fundi cherehani is composed of fundi, meaning an expert or technician and cherehani, meaning a sewing machine.
Which one should you use?
fundi cherehani is the standard way to refer to a tailor, while mshona nguo is a more formal term that translates literally to cloth maker or sewer.
Did you know?
- The word cherehani for sewing machine traces its roots back to the Persian word čarxe, meaning a wheel or a cycle.
- In many East African contexts, a fundi is not just a technician but is often viewed as a community problem-solver who can fix almost anything.
- Because fundi is so versatile, you can specify a tailor's specialty by adding the object they work on, such as fundi viatu for a shoemaker.
Examples in context
- Ndiyo, ninaweza kukupatia nambari ya simu ya mshona nguo mzuri.Yes, I can give you the phone number of a good tailor.
- Fundi cherehani huyu ni hodari sana.This tailor is very skillful.
- Natafuta fundi cherehani wa kutengeneza suruali.I am looking for a tailor to repair trousers.
- Fundi cherehani amemaliza nguo yangu.The tailor has finished my clothing.
Example conversation
Juma and Fatuma are discussing a dress that does not fit.
- JumaNguo hii ni kubwa sana kwangu.This dress is too big for me.
- FatumaJe, unajua fundi cherehani anayekaribia hapa?Do you know a tailor who is near here?
- JumaNdiyo, kuna mmoja katika soko la jirani.Yes, there is one in the nearby market.
- FatumaSawa, tutaenda huko sasa hivi.Okay, we will go there right now.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cherehani, fundi, CC BY-SA 4.0.
