Jifunze Kiswahili

The Swahili phrase “chini ya kapeti” literally means “under the carpet.”

Meaning It is an idiomatic expression borrowed from the English phrase “under the carpet” (or “swept under the carpet”). In usage, it means to hide something, cover it up, or avoid dealing with a problem openly.

Origin The expression entered modern Swahili through translation and borrowing from English during colonial and post-colonial contact.In many cultures, carpets are household items, and sweeping dirt “under the carpet” became a metaphor for pretending a problem doesn’t exist instead of cleaning it properly.Swahili speakers adopted the same figurative sense: hiding mistakes, scandals, or issues instead of solving them.

Example Sentences 1. Kashfa hiyo iliwekwa chini ya kapeti na viongozi hawakuwahi kuzungumzia tena.→ That scandal was swept under the carpet and the leaders never spoke about it again.2. Usiweke matatizo yako chini ya kapeti, jaribu kuyakabili moja kwa moja.→ Don’t sweep your problems under the carpet, try to face them directly.

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