mfereji

Swahili

FWOTD – 18 June 2021

Etymology

Borrowed from Malagasy farihy. Compare Malay perigi.

Pronunciation

• Audio (Kenya)

  (file)

Noun

mfereji (m-mi class, plural mifereji)

1. canal, channel, ditch (for water)
   • 1980, S. N. Ndunguru, Urithi wetu: kitabu cha jiografia ya Tanzania Bara, page 45:

     Meli kutoka Ulaya zinapitia tena mfereji wa Suez, na hivi kufupisha urefu wa safari, na papo hapo kupunguza kidogo gharama ya kusafirisha bidhaa.

     Ships from Europe also go through the Suez Canal, by which they shorten the length of the trip, and then reduce the cost of shipping goods.

2. pipe for water, or the tap which dispenses it
   • 1983, Kenya National Assembly Official Record (Hansard), volume LX, page 1427:

     Lakini haifai kuwafariji wananchi na kuwaambia kwamba kila mtu atapata maji ya mfereji katika nyumba yake.

     But we don't need to comfort the citizens and tell them that everyone will get tap water in their home.