matatu

Where does the word "matatu" come from? It comes from Swahili tatu, and was adopted directly into English (1970s).

Matatu’s story begins in Swahili: tatu meant “three.” Named for the flat fare, originally three shillings, charged for a ride. It reached English by 1970s as matatu. Swahili 'tatu', three, from the three-shilling fare of early minibuses. Today, matatu means a privately owned minibus used as a shared taxi, especially in Kenya.

1. Stage 1 · Swahili · 1960s tatu "three", named for the flat fare, originally three shillings, charged for a ride.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1970s matatu "a shared minibus taxi", Swahili 'tatu', three, from the three-shilling fare of early minibuses.