Signification
To lose money or fail in a business venture.
Contexte culturel
In Tanzania, 'kula hasara' is often used as a polite way to decline a discount. If a customer pushes too hard, the seller will say 'Ntakula hasara' to end the negotiation with dignity. In Kenya's vibrant 'hustle' culture, 'kula hasara' is seen as a rite of passage. Entrepreneurs share stories of their 'hasara' as lessons for others. In the spice markets of Zanzibar, 'hasara' is sometimes attributed to 'bahati' (luck) or 'mapenzi ya Mungu' (God's will), making the 'eating' of it a spiritual test. It is considered polite to say 'Pole' (Sorry) when someone mentions they 'ate loss,' even in a professional setting, to acknowledge their struggle.
The 'Eating' Metaphor
In Swahili, if you experience something deeply, you 'eat' it. This applies to bribes, oaths, and even winning (kula ushindi).
Not for Sports
Never tell a football fan their team 'alikula hasara' unless the team literally lost money. Use 'fungwa' for losing a game.
Signification
To lose money or fail in a business venture.
The 'Eating' Metaphor
In Swahili, if you experience something deeply, you 'eat' it. This applies to bribes, oaths, and even winning (kula ushindi).
Not for Sports
Never tell a football fan their team 'alikula hasara' unless the team literally lost money. Use 'fungwa' for losing a game.
The 'Ku' Rule
Keep the 'ku' in 'kula' for the 'me', 'ta', and 'na' tenses. It makes you sound much more like a native speaker.
Empathy Matters
Always follow someone's mention of 'kula hasara' with 'Pole' (Sorry). It's a social requirement.
Teste-toi
Fill in the correct form of the verb 'kula' (to eat).
Jana, mfanyabiashara huyu ali____ hasara kubwa.
Since the sentence starts with 'Jana' (Yesterday), we need the past tense prefix 'ali-'.
Which situation is appropriate for 'kula hasara'?
Chagua jibu sahihi:
'Kula hasara' is only for financial loss, like buying high and selling low.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Je, duka lako linapata faida? B: Hapana, mwezi huu tume____ hasara.
While 'kula' is the most idiomatic, 'pata' and 'ingia' are also grammatically correct and used.
Match the phrase to the meaning.
Kula hasara vs. Kula mtaji
'Kula hasara' is general loss; 'Kula mtaji' is specifically using up your starting capital.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
When to use 'Kula Hasara'
Correct
- • Bad business deal
- • Stock market crash
- • Selling at a loss
Incorrect
- • Losing a game
- • Losing your keys
- • Wasting time
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesJana, mfanyabiashara huyu ali____ hasara kubwa.
Since the sentence starts with 'Jana' (Yesterday), we need the past tense prefix 'ali-'.
Chagua jibu sahihi:
'Kula hasara' is only for financial loss, like buying high and selling low.
A: Je, duka lako linapata faida? B: Hapana, mwezi huu tume____ hasara.
While 'kula' is the most idiomatic, 'pata' and 'ingia' are also grammatically correct and used.
Kula hasara vs. Kula mtaji
'Kula hasara' is general loss; 'Kula mtaji' is specifically using up your starting capital.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsOnly if you bought it for a high price and sold it for much less. If you dropped it in the ocean, use 'poteza'.
No, it's a neutral observation of a business fact, but saying it with a smile might be seen as mocking.
The most common opposite is 'pata faida' (get profit). 'Kula faida' is used but less common.
It's a Bantu linguistic feature where consumption represents experiencing the full reality of a situation.
Yes, if explaining a past business failure and what you learned from it.
It is a Swahili word of Arabic origin (khasara).
No, for wasting time use 'poteza muda'.
Yes, 'kuungua' (to get burned) is common in Sheng.
Yes, 'Kampuni imekula hasara' is a very common news headline.
Expressions liées
Kula mtaji
specialized formTo spend one's business capital on personal needs.
Pata faida
contrastTo make a profit.
Kula raha
similarTo enjoy life / have fun.
Filisika
builds onTo go bankrupt.
Choma pesa
similarTo waste money (burn money).
