Bedeutung
Literally 'to enter cold'.
Kultureller Hintergrund
In Tanzanian football culture, 'kuingia baridi' is a common way to describe a team that plays defensively because they are intimidated by a bigger opponent. In Nairobi, you might hear this in the context of 'Kanjo' (city council askaris). When people see them, they 'ingia baridi' and run away. In the coastal culture, bravery is often linked to the sea. A sailor who refuses to go out in rough weather might be teased for 'entering cold'. On Swahili TikTok, 'kuingia baridi' is used in 'prank' videos where the victim gets visibly scared.
Use with '-me-'
Most of the time, you'll use 'nimeingia' or 'ameingia' because you're describing a state someone is currently in.
Not for weather
Never use this to say you are cold because of the air conditioning. People will think you are terrified of the AC!
Bedeutung
Literally 'to enter cold'.
Use with '-me-'
Most of the time, you'll use 'nimeingia' or 'ameingia' because you're describing a state someone is currently in.
Not for weather
Never use this to say you are cold because of the air conditioning. People will think you are terrified of the AC!
Social Teasing
Use 'Usiingie baridi!' to playfully encourage a friend who is hesitating to do something fun.
Body Metaphors
Swahili loves using the body to describe feelings. 'Kuingia baridi' is just one of many!
Teste dich selbst
Jaza pengo kwa neno sahihi.
Alitaka kuruka kwa parachuti lakini mwishowe ali____ baridi.
The correct verb for this idiom is 'kuingia' (to enter).
Chagua maana sahihi ya 'kuingia baridi'.
Mchezaji ameingia baridi.
In this context, it means the player lost their courage.
Kamilisha mazungumzo haya.
A: Twende tukaseme ukweli kwa mwalimu. B: Hapana, mimi ____ baridi.
The perfective 'nimeingia' is used to describe the current state of being scared.
Linganisha hali na sentensi.
Hali: Mtu anaogopa kuomba nyongeza ya mshahara.
This correctly describes the employee's fear toward the boss.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenAlitaka kuruka kwa parachuti lakini mwishowe ali____ baridi.
The correct verb for this idiom is 'kuingia' (to enter).
Mchezaji ameingia baridi.
In this context, it means the player lost their courage.
A: Twende tukaseme ukweli kwa mwalimu. B: Hapana, mimi ____ baridi.
The perfective 'nimeingia' is used to describe the current state of being scared.
Hali: Mtu anaogopa kuomba nyongeza ya mshahara.
This correctly describes the employee's fear toward the boss.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenYou can use it to describe a past experience of being nervous, but don't say 'nimeingia baridi' *during* the interview as it might make you look too informal or unconfident.
Similar, but 'kuingia baridi' specifically implies a sudden loss of courage or 'freezing up' right before an action.
You can say 'Sijaingia baridi' (I haven't gotten cold feet).
It's an idiom. It's informal but widely understood and accepted in most casual and semi-formal conversations.
Usually, we use it for humans. For animals, we just say 'anaogopa' (it is afraid).
The opposite would be 'kuwa na ujasiri' (to have courage) or 'kujiamini' (to believe in oneself).
Yes, the idiom is fixed. You cannot say 'kuingia joto' (to enter heat) to mean you are getting brave.
Yes, it is very common in both countries and across the Swahili-speaking world.
Yes, if the movie makes you want to stop watching because you're too nervous, you can say 'nimeingia baridi'.
It is always 'kuingia baridi'. Adding 'kwa' would change the meaning to 'entering by means of cold'.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Kufyata mkia
synonymTo tuck one's tail
Kukata tamaa
similarTo give up hope
Kuwa na ujasiri
contrastTo have courage
Kutetemeka
builds onTo tremble
