A1 Idiom Informal

Kuwa na macho juu

To be expectant

Practícalo

Significado

Looking forward to something greedily.

🌍

Contexto cultural

In Tanzania, showing off wealth is often frowned upon. 'Macho juu' is used to keep people humble and focused on community needs rather than individual accumulation. The phrase is often used in Taarab music to describe unfaithful lovers who are always looking for 'better' partners. In the fast-paced life of Nairobi, 'macho juu' can sometimes be used to describe 'social climbers' who try to enter circles they can't afford. It is a common parenting tool to teach children not to be 'tempted' by things they see in other people's houses.

🎯

Use with 'Sana'

Adding 'sana' (very) makes the idiom much more expressive. 'Ana macho juu sana!'

⚠️

Don't use for yourself

Unless you are joking, saying 'Nina macho juu' makes you sound like a bad person.

Significado

Looking forward to something greedily.

🎯

Use with 'Sana'

Adding 'sana' (very) makes the idiom much more expressive. 'Ana macho juu sana!'

⚠️

Don't use for yourself

Unless you are joking, saying 'Nina macho juu' makes you sound like a bad person.

Ponte a prueba

Fill in the correct form of the verb 'kuwa na'.

Mimi sitaki ____ macho juu.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: kuwa na

After 'sitaki' (I don't want), we use the infinitive 'kuwa na'.

Which sentence correctly uses the idiom?

Choose the best sentence:

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: Ali ana macho juu, anataka kila gari analoona.

This correctly uses the idiom to describe greed for cars.

Match the response to the situation.

Situation: Your friend is complaining that their new shoes aren't as expensive as yours.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: Acha macho juu, viatu vyako ni vizuri.

This tells the friend to stop being greedy/envious and appreciate what they have.

🎉 Puntuación: /3

Ayudas visuales

Banco de ejercicios

3 ejercicios
Fill in the correct form of the verb 'kuwa na'. Fill Blank A1

Mimi sitaki ____ macho juu.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: kuwa na

After 'sitaki' (I don't want), we use the infinitive 'kuwa na'.

Which sentence correctly uses the idiom? Choose A2

Choose the best sentence:

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: Ali ana macho juu, anataka kila gari analoona.

This correctly uses the idiom to describe greed for cars.

Match the response to the situation. situation_matching B1

Situation: Your friend is complaining that their new shoes aren't as expensive as yours.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: Acha macho juu, viatu vyako ni vizuri.

This tells the friend to stop being greedy/envious and appreciate what they have.

🎉 Puntuación: /3

Preguntas frecuentes

2 preguntas

90% of the time, yes. It implies greed. However, in very specific contexts, it can mean having high ambitions, but even then, it's a risky phrase to use.

Yes, if you are looking at someone else's food greedily, you have 'macho juu'.

Frases relacionadas

🔄

Kuwa na tamaa

synonym

To be greedy or have lust.

🔗

Macho makuu

similar

Big eyes.

🔗

Kuridhika

contrast

To be satisfied/content.

🔗

Jicho la husuda

similar

The eye of envy.

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