mbila

See also: mbíla

English

Noun

mbila (plural mbilas)

1. (music) In Southern Africa, an instrument similar to the xylophone, played by striking the bars with mallets.
2. (music) The mbira or thumb piano.

Anagrams

• limba, milab

French

Etymology

Borrowed from Kituba mbila (“a summons, a call”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /mbi.la/

Noun

mbila m (plural mbilas)

1. (slang) jake, police
   • 2016 September 18, Ceelo Squad (lyrics and music), “Tokyo (Freestyle)”‎^[1]:

     J’ai toujours nié, j’ai nié, jamais je ne donnerai de noms à ces mbilas

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • 2017 May 9, Kalash Criminel (lyrics and music), “Je ne comprends pas” (track 8), in Oyoki‎^[2]:

     Kalash Criminel c’est le makila
     On passe nos journée à esquiver les mbila

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • 2021 March 5, WZ (BEL) (lyrics and music), “Street West #2”‎^[3]:

     Faut l’mili là, bicrave tashem hiya, harba y a les mbila, j’sème la concu dans l’virage

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)