uraibu

Swahili

Alternative forms

• ughaibu

Etymology

Borrowed from Arabic غَيْب (ḡayb, “that which is hidden”) or غَائِب (ḡāʔib, “hidden”) because the chewing-packages are kept in a box called kijaluba (from عُلْبَة (ʕulba)), if not in a basket kijamanda, while the ingredients are kept in a box called ufuraha.

Pronunciation

• Audio (Kenya):

  (file)

Noun

uraibu (u class, no plural)

1. a chewing-package from combining betel (tambuu, thambuu), betel nut (popoo), lime (chokaa) and tobacco (tumbako)
2. catechu, a chewing-mixture obtained from Senegalia catechu

   Synonyms: tambuu, kadha

3. addiction