Swahili · Work & Business
mteja
Customer
Beginnernoun
Definition
A person who buys goods or services; also means an unreachable phone!
Example
Mteja ni mfalme.
The customer is king.
Etymology
The term 'mteja' is derived from the Swahili root 'teja', meaning to encounter or to meet. Historically, it evolved to refer specifically to someone who engages in a transactional relationship, especially in commerce.
How & Where It’s Used
'Mteja' is commonly used in both spoken and written formats in informal and formal contexts, especially in business settings across East African countries like Kenya and Tanzania.