Bedeutung
Literally 'breaking the heart', making someone lose hope.
Kultureller Hintergrund
In Tanzania, 'kuvunja moyo' was often used in a civic sense. Discouraging fellow citizens from national building activities was seen as a lack of patriotism. On the coast, where speech is often more metaphorical and indirect, 'kuvunja moyo' is used with great care to avoid 'shari' (conflict). In Nairobi, while 'kuvunja moyo' is understood, youth often use 'kunyonga vibe' to express the same feeling in a more modern, social context. In both Christian and Islamic Swahili sermons, 'kuvunja moyo' is used to describe the work of 'Shetani' (Satan) in making believers lose faith.
The '-ka' Trick
If you are talking about YOUR feelings, always use 'vunjika'. If you are talking about the CAUSE, use 'vunja'.
Not for Romance
While understood, using this for a breakup sounds like you've lost hope in life, not just lost a boyfriend/girlfriend.
Bedeutung
Literally 'breaking the heart', making someone lose hope.
The '-ka' Trick
If you are talking about YOUR feelings, always use 'vunjika'. If you are talking about the CAUSE, use 'vunja'.
Not for Romance
While understood, using this for a breakup sounds like you've lost hope in life, not just lost a boyfriend/girlfriend.
Pair it with 'Lakini'
Native speakers often follow a 'kuvunja moyo' statement with 'lakini' (but) to show resilience. 'Nilivunjika moyo, LAKINI nikaendelea.'
The Power of Words
In Swahili culture, words are seen as having the power to create or destroy. Be careful using 'kuvunja moyo' as an accusation.
Teste dich selbst
Jaza nafasi kwa kutumia 'vunja' au 'vunjika'.
Baada ya kukosa kazi, Juma al_______ moyo sana.
We use 'vunjika' because Juma is in the state of being discouraged.
Chagua sentensi iliyo sahihi.
Which sentence means 'Don't discourage the child'?
'Usimvunje' includes the object infix 'm' for the child and the negative imperative 'usi-'.
Match the situation to the correct phrase.
Situation: A team loses a game in the last minute.
Losing a game in the last minute is a classic 'discouraging' situation.
Kamilisha mazungumzo haya.
A: 'Mbona unalia?' B: 'Mwalimu amesema siwezi kupita mtihani. Ameni_______ moyo.'
The teacher (mwalimu) is the one doing the action of discouraging.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Vunja vs. Vunjika
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenBaada ya kukosa kazi, Juma al_______ moyo sana.
We use 'vunjika' because Juma is in the state of being discouraged.
Which sentence means 'Don't discourage the child'?
'Usimvunje' includes the object infix 'm' for the child and the negative imperative 'usi-'.
Situation: A team loses a game in the last minute.
Losing a game in the last minute is a classic 'discouraging' situation.
A: 'Mbona unalia?' B: 'Mwalimu amesema siwezi kupita mtihani. Ameni_______ moyo.'
The teacher (mwalimu) is the one doing the action of discouraging.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
12 FragenNo, for a broken leg use 'kuvunjika mguu'. 'Moyo' is only for the heart/spirit.
Use 'moyo' (singular) for one person and 'mioyo' (plural) for many people.
The opposite is 'kutiana moyo' (to encourage each other) or 'kupa moyo' (to give heart).
Not exactly. English 'heartbreak' is usually romantic. Swahili 'kuvunja moyo' is usually about discouragement.
Yes, that is the passive form ('I have been discouraged by someone'), but 'nimevunjika moyo' is more common.
Yes, it is very common to discuss 'morale' using this phrase in professional Swahili.
You say 'Hiyo inavunja moyo sana.'
Yes, 'moyo' is in the M-MI class, so it takes 'wangu', 'u-', and 'unavunja'.
The gerund 'kuvunja moyo' acts as a noun meaning 'discouragement'.
Yes, in Sheng you can say 'kublow vibe' or 'kunyonga ari'.
It's a cultural staple to offer encouragement because resilience is highly valued in East African societies.
Usually, a sad movie 'inasikitisha' (is saddening). Use 'kuvunja moyo' only if the movie makes you lose hope in humanity.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Kukatisha tamaa
synonymTo cut off hope
Kutiana moyo
contrastTo encourage each other
Kuumiza moyo
similarTo hurt the heart
Kuvunja kambi
builds onTo break camp
Moyo mzito
specialized formA heavy heart
