Topic: Swahili

"Miti mirefu ni mizuri"

Translation:Tall trees are beautiful

March 2, 2017

6 Comments

https://www.duolingo.com/DiegoJaviUnlam
  • 1197

Etymology (-refu)

From Proto-Bantu. Cognate with Zulu -de.

Adjective

-refu (declinable)

1) long, tall; high

2) deep

Antonyms

-fupi

From Wiktionary: https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/refu

March 2, 2017
https://www.duolingo.com/PlasoMathe

    "High" Trees are Beautiful should be acceptable

    March 7, 2017
    https://www.duolingo.com/AGreatUserName

      I guess ... but "high trees" sounds weird to me. Maybe they're trees growing on a mountain?

      April 8, 2017
      https://www.duolingo.com/vtopphol

        Or maybe they just got high...

        April 25, 2017
        https://www.duolingo.com/DakotaPotts

          does -refu also mean 'tall' or is this just how trees are conceptualized in Swahili, as 'long?'

          July 31, 2017
          https://www.duolingo.com/hazzin13

            Yes, -refu means tall. E.g. mtu mrefu - a tall person.

            December 1, 2017
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