labeka
Swahili
Etymology
Borrowed from Arabic لَبَّيْكَ (labbayka).
Pronunciation
Audio (Kenya) (file)
Interjection
labeka!
References
- Eastman, Carol M. (1983) “Exclamations in Standard Swahili as Cultural Communication”, in Journal of African Languages and Linguistics, volume 5, number 2, , page 162 of 157-180:
- When someone wants you to do something for him or her you may indicate willingness by saying labeka! or abee! Abee! is more general and has the sense of 'at your service'. Labeka! is the response used when a superior calls on you. It is a response often associated with women only - particularly as a polite response made by a woman who hears her name called.
This article is issued from Wiktionary. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.