curse
gb/kˈɚs/ us/kˈɚs/
B1
Kiingereza
~ 1300
Maana
maana 0
Kitenzi
B1
action
1
Say offensive or obscene words
To say bad or rude words when you are angry or upset.
Muundo wa matumizi:
to curse [someone/something]
Kosa la kawaida:
Learners sometimes confuse 'curse' with 'cuss'. 'Cuss' is informal and mostly American; 'curse' is more general.
Visawe
swear (Commonly used for speaking offensive or impolite words; often interchangeable.)
Vinyume
praise (Expressing approval or admiration instead of offensive language.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
curse loudly
|curse under breath
|curse at someone
Mada
emotions
|communication
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Mifano
- He cursed loudly when he dropped his phone.
- She cursed under her breath as she walked away.
- The driver cursed at the car that cut him off.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- He cursed when he lost the game.
- She cursed at the bad driver.
- I heard him curse in the shop.
Kitenzi
B2
action
2
Invoke supernatural harm on someone
To ask magic or a god to bring bad luck or harm to someone.
Muundo wa matumizi:
to curse [someone/something]
Kosa la kawaida:
Some learners confuse this meaning with simply saying bad words; here it means using magic or supernatural power.
Visawe
hex (Specifically refers to casting a spell for harm; more informal or folkloric.)
Vinyume
bless (To call upon divine favor instead of harm.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
curse an enemy
|curse the land
|curse forever
Mada
supernatural
|beliefs
|religion
|core_vocabulary
Mifano
- The witch cursed the prince to live as a frog.
- They believed the old man had cursed their farm.
- She cursed the thief who stole her necklace.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- The witch cursed the king.
- He cursed the house with bad luck.
- They think she cursed the village.
Nomino
B1
entity
3
Offensive word or phrase
A bad or rude word that people say when they are angry or upset.
Visawe
swear word (Most common informal term for an offensive word.)
Vinyume
compliment (A polite expression showing approval instead of offense.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
shout curses
|mutter curses
|string of curses
Mada
communication
|core_vocabulary
Mifano
- He shouted curses at the referee.
- She muttered a curse as she left the room.
- The air was filled with curses and angry shouts.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- He said a curse when he was angry.
- She spoke a curse quietly.
- They shouted curses at each other.
Nomino
B2
entity
4
Magical spell causing harm
Magic words that bring bad luck or harm to someone.
Visawe
hex (A magical spell causing harm; more informal or folkloric.)
Vinyume
blessing (A magical or divine act giving good fortune instead of harm.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
ancient curse
|break a curse
|lift a curse
Mada
supernatural
|beliefs
|religion
|core_vocabulary
Mifano
- The ancient curse was said to haunt the tomb.
- Only true love could break the curse.
- The hero's quest was to lift the curse from the kingdom.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- The old curse hurt the town.
- He tried to break the curse.
- They feared the witch's curse.
Nomino
B2
entity
5
Source of lasting trouble or harm
Something that brings a lot of problems for a long time.
Visawe
plague (Something that continually causes trouble; often metaphorical.)
Vinyume
blessing (Something that brings happiness instead of trouble.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
curse of poverty
|be a curse to someone
Mada
problems
|core_vocabulary
Mifano
- Illiteracy is the curse of many rural areas.
- For some athletes, fame can be a curse.
- The disease became a curse for the entire community.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- Poverty is a curse for many people.
- Fame can be a curse.
- The war was a curse for the country.
Sarufi
Umbo la kamusi
curse
IPA
GB/kˈɚs/
US/kˈɚs/
Silabi na mkazo
curse (silabi 1)
Stress on 1st syllable (curse)
Maumbo ya neno
Noun
- Base: curse
- Plural: curses
Verb
- Base: curse
- 3rd Person Singular: curses
- Present Participle: cursing
- Past: cursed
Familia ya neno
Forms
curses
noun
cursing
verb
cursed
verb
Semi
a blessing and a curse
1/ə blˈɛsɪŋ ˈænd ə kˈɚs/
idiom
Has good and bad effects together
Something that is good in some ways but bad in other ways.
Mifano
- Fame is both a blessing and a curse for many celebrities.
- Technology can be a blessing and a curse for society.
break the curse
1/bɹˈeɪk ðə kˈɚs/
fixed phrase
End magical or lasting harm
To stop a magic spell or long-lasting problem from causing more harm.
Mifano
- The hero set out to break the curse on the castle.
- Scientists hope to break the curse of this deadly disease.
curse like a sailor
1/kˈɚs lˈaɪk ə sˈeɪlɚ/
idiom
informal
Use many bad words often and strongly
To say many rude words very often and strongly.
Mifano
- He curses like a sailor when he's playing video games.
- Don't mind her—she curses like a sailor when she's stressed.
put a curse on [someone]
1/pˈʊt ə kˈɚs ˈɔn sˈʌmwˌʌn/
fixed phrase
Use magic to harm someone
To say magic words to make something bad happen to someone.
Mifano
- The villagers believed the woman had put a curse on their crops.
- He claimed his rival had put a curse on him.
under a curse
1/ˈʌndɚ ə kˈɚs/
fixed phrase
Affected by magic or lasting harm
Being controlled by magic or suffering from a long-lasting problem.
Mifano
- The town seemed to be under a curse after years of disaster.
- She felt her family was under a curse.