explain
gb/ɪksplˈeɪn/ us/ɪksplˈeɪn/
A2
Kiingereza
~ 600
Maana
maana 0
Kitenzi
A2
action
1
Make something understandable
To help someone understand something by giving details or reasons.
Muundo wa matumizi:
to explain [something] to [someone]
Kosa la kawaida:
Learners often forget to include 'to' before the person receiving the explanation (e.g., 'explain me' instead of 'explain to me').
Visawe
clarify (Often used when removing confusion or making something easier to understand.)
|
describe (Focuses more on telling about the appearance, features, or process rather than on making it understood.)
Vinyume
confuse (Means to make something harder to understand.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
explain clearly
|explain briefly
|explain fully
|explain why
|explain in detail
Mada
communication
|education
|daily life
Mifano
- She explained the rules of the game to us.
- Can you explain why you were late?
- The teacher explained how to solve the problem.
- He explained the situation in simple terms.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- Please explain the word to me.
- My father explained the story to me.
- The guide explained the map.
- I will explain my idea to you.
Kitenzi
B1
action
2
Justify or account for actions
To say why something happened or why you did something.
Muundo wa matumizi:
to explain [why/how] [something happened]
Kosa la kawaida:
Learners may confuse this with apologizing; explaining does not always mean saying sorry.
Visawe
justify (Implies defending an action against criticism.)
|
account for (More formal; focuses on giving an explanation for presence, absence, or occurrence.)
Vinyume
conceal (Means to hide the reason or truth about something.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
explain yourself
|explain the reason
|explain why
Mada
communication
|reasoning
|core_vocabulary
Mifano
- He tried to explain his absence from work.
- You need to explain why you missed the meeting.
- She explained how the mistake occurred.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- I will explain why I am late.
- He explained how he lost his bag.
- She explained why she was sad.
Sarufi
Umbo la kamusi
explain
IPA
GB/ɪksplˈeɪn/
US/ɪksplˈeɪn/
Silabi na mkazo
ex - plain (silabi 2)
Stress on 2nd syllable (plain)
Maumbo ya neno
Verb
- Base: explain
- 3rd Person Singular: explains
- Present Participle: explaining
- Past: explained
Familia ya neno
Forms
explains
verb
explaining
verb
explained
verb
Core family
explanation
noun A2
Related words
Negative and opposite forms
unexplainable
adjective
inexplicable
adjective C1
Semi
care to explain?
1/kˈɛɹ tə ɪksplˈeɪn ‖/
fixed phrase
informal
Ask someone to justify something
Used to ask someone why they did something, often when you are surprised or annoyed.
Mifano
- You’re late again—care to explain?
- Care to explain why my phone bill is so high?
explain away
1/ɪksplˈeɪn əwˈeɪ/
phrasal verb
Make a problem seem less serious
To try to make something seem less bad by giving a reason for it.
Mifano
- He tried to explain away his mistake by blaming the computer.
- They explained away the delay as a result of bad weather.
explain oneself
1/ɪksplˈeɪn wˌʌnsˈɛlf/
fixed phrase
Clarify your own actions or words
To say more so that people understand what you mean or why you did something.
Mifano
- I don’t have to explain myself to you.
- She felt she should explain herself after the meeting.