sambai

Dama (Sierra Leone)

Etymology

Related to obsolete Mende samba (“sandal”).

Noun

sambai

1. shoe

References

• Dalby, T. D. P. (1963) “The extinct language of Dama”, in Sierra Leone Language Review, volume 2, Freetown: Fourah Bay College, pages 50–54

Portuguese

Verb

sambai

1. second-person plural imperative of sambar

Tok Pisin

Etymology

From English stand by.

Verb

sambai

1. to stand by, to wait for
2. to be ready
3. to provide assistance, to help
4. to protect or guard