mbaya
The Swahili word for ugly is mbaya.
mbaya is used to describe something that is displeasing to the eye or not aesthetically pleasing. Beyond physical appearance, it is also the primary word used to describe things that are morally bad or unpleasant in character.
Meaning: displeasing to the eye, not aesthetically pleasing (adj)
Which one should you use?
While mbaya functions as an adjective meaning ugly or bad, you should use vibaya when you want to use the word as an adverb to describe how an action is performed (badly or uglily).
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective mbaya is invariant. It does not change its form to agree with the noun class of the subject it describes.
Did you know?
- Because mbaya implies badness, calling a person's face mbaya is a much harsher social insult than simply saying they are unattractive.
- The adverb vibaya is used not only for 'badly' but also to describe an intense or overwhelming feeling, such as being 'badly' missed or 'badly' shocked.
- In some contexts, mbaya is used to describe a 'bad' habit or a 'bad' mood, but it can also refer to weather that is stormy or unpleasant.
Examples in context
- "Lugha hiyo inasikika vibaya." "La, mtu huyo ana sauti mbaya tu. Ukisikiliza mtu huyo mwingine akizungumza, unasikia inapendeza." "Uko sawa. Inapendeza.""That language sounds terrible." "No, that guy just has an ugly voice. If you listen to this other guy speaking it, you'll see it sounds quite beautiful." "You're right. It does sound lovely."This sentence shows how mbaya can be used to describe a voice.Tatoeba #10880946 by ecorralest101, translation #5933850 by mailohilohi
- Picha hii ni mbaya sana.This picture is very ugly.
- Jengo hilo lina muonekano mbaya.That building has an ugly appearance.
- Nyumba mbayaUgly house
- Sura mbayaUgly face
- Rangi hii ni mbaya sana.This color is very ugly.
- Gari hili ni mbaya.This car is ugly.
Example conversation
Two friends are looking at an old, poorly designed house.
- ZuwenaNyumba hiyo ni mbaya sana.That house is very ugly.
- BakariNi kweli, inafaa kubomolewa.True, it should be demolished.
- ZuwenaBakari, unaonaje rangi yake?Bakari, what do you think of its color?
- BakariRangi yake ni mbaya sana.Its color is very ugly.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
