Funga mlango
Close the door
Phrase in 30 Seconds
A fundamental Swahili command used to ask someone to close a door or entrance for privacy, safety, or temperature control.
- Means: 'Close the door'—the most common way to request an entrance be shut.
- Used in: Homes, offices, public transport (matatus), and shops daily.
- Don't confuse: 'Funga' (close) with 'Fungua' (open)—they sound very similar to beginners!
Explanation at your level:
뜻
Asking to shut the entrance.
문화적 배경
Zanzibar is famous for its intricate doors. Closing a door here is often seen as a way to protect the 'Heshima' (honor) of the household. Leaving a door open is a sign of 'Karibu' (welcome). Closing it during the day might prompt neighbors to ask if everyone is okay. In the fast-paced city, 'Funga mlango' is often said quickly in public transport where safety from snatch-and-grab theft is a concern. In rural areas, closing the door at night is essential to keep out wild animals or livestock.
Politeness counts
Always add 'Tafadhali' at the end to sound like a local who has 'adabu' (manners).
The 'NG' sound
Make sure to pronounce the 'g' in 'funga'. It's a hard 'g' sound.
뜻
Asking to shut the entrance.
Politeness counts
Always add 'Tafadhali' at the end to sound like a local who has 'adabu' (manners).
The 'NG' sound
Make sure to pronounce the 'g' in 'funga'. It's a hard 'g' sound.
Plurality
If you are in a room with many people, use 'Fungeni' to include everyone in the command.
셀프 테스트
Fill in the missing word to complete the command.
Tafadhali ______ mlango.
'Funga' is the correct verb for closing.
How do you tell a group of people to close the door?
Addressing many people:
The suffix '-eni' is used for plural imperatives.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Kuna baridi sana hapa ndani. B: Samahani, nita____ mlango sasa hivi.
If it is cold (baridi), you should close (funga) the door.
Match the phrase to the level of politeness.
1. Funga mlango! 2. Naomba ufunge mlango.
'Naomba' adds a layer of formal request.
🎉 점수: /4
시각 학습 자료
Types of Entrances
Home
- • Mlango
- • Dirisha
Street
- • Lango (Gate)
- • Duka (Shop)
자주 묻는 질문
10 질문By itself, it can be. Adding 'Tafadhali' makes it perfectly polite.
'Funga' means to close or lock. 'Shindika' means to push it shut but not necessarily latch it.
Yes! 'Funga dirisha' is the correct way to say close the window.
You say 'Mlango umefungwa'.
You can still use 'Funga mlango', but 'Piga kufuli' (hit the lock) is more specific.
Yes, 'mlango wa gari' is the standard term.
They are telling the person near the door to slide it shut so the vehicle can move safely.
Yes, 'kufunga' is the verb for religious fasting, especially during Ramadan.
Use the prepositional form: 'Nifungie mlango'.
The plural is 'milango'.
관련 표현
Fungua mlango
contrastOpen the door
Funga safari
builds onTo start a journey
Funga ndoa
specialized formTo get married
Funga mdomo
similarShut your mouth
Shindika mlango
similarShut the door partially
어디서 쓸까?
Leaving the house
Baba: Juma, funga mlango vizuri!
Juma: Sawa Baba, nimefunga.
In a taxi/Uber
Dereva: Tafadhali funga mlango kwa nguvu.
Abiria: Haya, samahani.
At the office
Bosi: Naomba ufunge mlango, tuna kikao.
Katibu: Bila shaka, nitafanya hivyo.
Public Transport (Matatu)
Utingo: Oya! Funga mlango hiyo!
Abiria: Tayari kiongozi.
During a storm
Mke: Mvua inakuja, funga milango yote!
Mume: Nimeshafunga ya jikoni pia.
Closing a shop
Mteja: Habari, bado mko wazi?
Muuzaji: Samahani, tunafunga mlango sasa hivi.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of your 'Finger'—don't get your finger caught when you FUNGA the door!
Visual Association
Imagine a heavy, beautifully carved wooden Zanzibar door being tied shut with a thick rope. The rope represents the 'binding' nature of the word 'funga'.
Rhyme
Funga mlango, epuka kishindo (Close the door, avoid the bang).
Story
You are in a house in Lamu. A strong wind starts blowing from the ocean. Your friend yells 'Funga!' because the 'Mlango' is banging. You grab the handle and 'funga' it tight to stay warm.
Word Web
챌린지
Every time you leave a room today, say 'Ninafunga mlango' (I am closing the door) out loud.
In Other Languages
Cierra la puerta
Swahili verbs change significantly for plural imperatives (Fungeni).
Ferme la porte
French requires the article 'la', whereas Swahili 'mlango' contains its own class identity.
Schließ die Tür
Swahili doesn't use separable verbs; the action is contained in the single word 'Funga'.
ドアを閉めて (Doa o shimete)
The Swahili imperative is much more direct than the Japanese '-te' form request.
أغلق الباب (Aghliq al-bab)
Arabic uses a root-based system (G-L-Q) for 'close', while Swahili uses Bantu agglutination.
关门 (Guānmén)
Chinese uses tones to distinguish meaning, which Swahili does not have.
문 닫아 (Mun dada)
Korean has complex honorific levels that change the verb ending much more than Swahili.
Feche a porta
The pronunciation of 'Funga' is much more phonetic and consistent than Portuguese vowels.
Easily Confused
The words 'Funga' and 'Fungua' differ by only one syllable but mean opposite things.
Remember: 'Fungua' is longer, like the action of opening up.
Learners might think 'funga' always refers to doors.
Mdomo is mouth. Use it only when someone is talking too much!
자주 묻는 질문 (10)
By itself, it can be. Adding 'Tafadhali' makes it perfectly polite.
'Funga' means to close or lock. 'Shindika' means to push it shut but not necessarily latch it.
Yes! 'Funga dirisha' is the correct way to say close the window.
You say 'Mlango umefungwa'.
You can still use 'Funga mlango', but 'Piga kufuli' (hit the lock) is more specific.
Yes, 'mlango wa gari' is the standard term.
They are telling the person near the door to slide it shut so the vehicle can move safely.
Yes, 'kufunga' is the verb for religious fasting, especially during Ramadan.
Use the prepositional form: 'Nifungie mlango'.
The plural is 'milango'.
