Pleasant, enjoyable
-a kufurahisha
Profession/s
Amali
Fireman/men
Askari wa zimamoto
Business/es
Biashara
Boss/es
Bosi
Dentist/s
Daktari la meno/madaktari wa meno
Doctor/s
Daktari/madaktari
Bus driver/s
Dereva wa basi
Photocopy/ies
Fotokopi
Mechanic/s
Fundi/mafundi
Plumber/s
Fundi bomba/mafundi bomba
Electrician/s
Fundi umeme/mafundi umeme
Company/ies
Kampuni
Close to, near to, next to
Karibu
Secretary/ies
Katibu muhutasi
Job/s, work/s
Kazi
Address book/s
Kitabu cha anuani/vitabu vya anuani
Datebook/s
Kitabu cha tarehe/vitabu ya tarehe
To leave a message
Kuacha ujumbe
To hire
Kuajiri
To write a report
Kuandika ripoti
To take a message
Kuchukua ujumbe
To work
Kufanya kazi
To please
Kufurahisha
To need
Kuhitaji
To welcome
Kukaribisha
To show
Kuonyesha
To schedule an appointment
Kupanga miadi
To type
Kupiga chapa
To take a break, to rest
Kupumzika/Kuenda kupumziko
To be busy
Kushughulika
To go to a meeting
Kwenda mkutanoni
Must
Lazima
Followed by verb in subjunctive
Fax machine
Mashine ya/za faksi
Environment/s
Mazingira
In front of
Mbele ya
Desk/s
Meza
Businessperson/people
Mfanyabiashara/wafanyabiashara
Engineer/s
Mhandisi/wahandisi
Farmer/s
Mkulima/wakulima
Intern/s, apprentice/s
Mkurufunzi/wakurufunzi
Director/s
Mkurugenzi/wakurugenzi
Meeting/s
Mkutano/mikutano
Artist/s
Msanii/wasanii
Important
Muhimu
Unemployed
Mvinjari
Teacher/s
Mwalimu/walimu
Musician/s
Mwanamuziki/wanamuziki
Lawyer/s
Mwanasheria
Writer/s
Mwandishi
Journalist/s
Mwandishi wa habari
Colleague/s
Mate/s, fellow/s, companion/s
Mwenza/wenza
(Mwenza (literally “companion, fellow”) is usually attached to possessives -angu, -ako, -ake, -etu, etc., as mwenzangu, mwenzake, mwenzetu, etc., to mean “colleague”, “mate”, “fellow”, “companion”
Actor/s
Mwigizaji/waigizaji
Singer/s
Mwinbaji/waimbaji
Nurse/s (2)
Mwuguzi/wauguzi
Nesi
Salesperson/people
Mwuzaji/wauzaji
Behind (the)
Nyuma (ya)
Office/s
Ofisi
Police officer/s
Polisi
Report/s
Ripoti
Pilot/s
Rubani/marubani
Carpenter/s
Seremala
Drawer/s
Shubaka/mashubaka
Telephone/s
Simu
Message/s
Ujumbe
Meeting room/s
Ukumbi wa mkutano/kumbi za mkutano
Well
Vizuri
What’s your profession? / What do you do for work?
Unafanya kazi gani?
I got a new job
Nimepata kazi mpya
I work in a large company
Ninafanya kazi katika kampuni kubwa
I quit my job
Nimeacha kazi
What experience do you have?
Una uzoefu gani?
How long have you had your job?
Umefanya kazi hii muda gani?
This (here) is my resume
Huu hapa wasifu wangu
Please make a photocopy of this document
Tafadhali fanya fotokopi ya waraka huu
Waraka/nyaraka: Document/s
I have to write a report
Lazima niandike ripoti
I have an appointment at 1:30
Nina miadi saa saba na nusu
I have to (must) go to a meeting now
Lazima niende mkutanoni sasa
Teaching is hard
Kufundisha ni kugumu
I’ll take you to see him/her
Nitakupeleka umwone
I’ll be happy to see him/her
Nitafurahi kumwona
Welcome to our new office
Karibu katika ofisi yetu mpya
This is the receptionist
Huyu ni mpokeaji wageni
Here’s your office
Hii hapa ni ofisi yako
Where’s the photocopier?
Mashine ya fotokopi iko wapi?
What are the working hours?
Saa za kazi ni zipi?
Do you like your new job?
Unapenda kazi yako mpya?
I like it very much! (N class singular object)
Ninaipenda sana!
Bila shaka
Probably, doubtless, without a doubt, of course
Kabisa
By all means, without a doubt, absolutely, completely
It’s a pleasure to meet you
Nimefurahi kukuona
To hope
Kutamaini
Tamaa, tumaini: Hope, faith
When did you start working here?
Lini ulianza kufanya kazi hapa?
Kuanza: To begin, To start
Iliyopita
Last/previous (The thing/s that passed/The things that went on)
- Wiki iliyopita (Last week)
- Mwaka iliyopita
(Derived from kupita: to pass, to go on, to proceed)
To be employed, to be hired
To employ/hire
Kuajiriwa
Kuajiri
Tokea
Since
Huo
That, then
-Nimefanya kazi hapa tokea wakati huo - I have worked here since that time
Receptionist
Mpokeaji wageni
Question/s
Swali/maswali
To transfer, to bring for/to
Kuletea
Listen!
Sikiliza!
Region/s, province/s
Mkoa/mikoa
-Mikoani - In the region/province
Jirani (2)
Close by, near
Neighbour - Majirani
Sometimes
Mara nyengine
To visit
Kutembelea
Actually, really
Kwa kweli
Group/s
Kikundi/vikundi
To cooperate with
Kusharikiana
That’s good
Hiyo ni nzuri
To attend, to be present
Kuhudhuria
To give, to share
Kupa
Information
Taarifa
To discuss, to argue, to debate
Kujadili
To plan, to organize, to arrange
Kupanga
What are the working hours?
Saa za kasi ni zipi?
More time
Muda zaidi
-Kwa kazi muhimu utahitaji kukaa ofisini kwa muda zaidi - For more important work, you need to stay in the office for more time
That (Uspesifikk)
Hiyo
To happen/occur
Kutokea
-Lakini hiyo haitokei mara kwa mara - But that doesn’t happen often/frequently
Mara kwa mara
From time to time/often/frequently
I don’t mind …
Mimi sijali
(Kujali: To care, to mind)
(Mimi sijali kukaa kazini zaidi ikiwa lazima - I don’t mind staying at work longer if it is necessary.)
(Ikiwa: if it is, when it is)
Ikiwa
if it is, when it is
-Mimi sijali kukaa kazini zaidi ikiwa lazima - I don’t mind staying at work longer if it is necessary.
To know
Kujua
Pause/s, break/s
Pumziko/hapumziko
Short, brief, concise
- fupi
- Kupata mapumziko mafupi - to get short pauses
Lunch
Chakula cha mchana
To be kept, to be set aside
Kuwekwa
-Hakuna wakati maalum uliowekwa kwa mapumziko hayo - There is no set time for breaks
Third floor
Ghorofa ya tatu
I hope (that) …
Natumai …
Kutumai, kutumaini : to hope
To prepare
Kutayarisha
-Mimi nina miadi baada ya dakika kumi na lazima nijitayarishe sasa - I have an appointment in ten minutes and have to/should prepare now
To be available
Kupatikana
-I will be available later on - Nitapatikana tena baadaye
I’m sure … (‘I trust (that)’)
Naamini …
-Asante sana. Naamini nina kila kitu ninachohitaji - Thank you very much. I’m sure i have everything i need
(Inflected from Kuamini: to believe, to trust, to image)
Basi sawa
Well then
GDP
Pato la taifa
(Pato: Earnings/income)
(Taifa: Nation)
Agriculture
Farming
Farmer/s
Kilimo
Ukulima
Mkulima/wakulima
(Kulima: to farm/cultivate)
Percent
Asilimia
Village/s
Kijiji/vijiji
Plaintain
Ndizi
Same word as banana
Cash crops (Crops that are specifically produced for sale)
Mazao ya biashara
Mazao: Crops, offspring
Cotton
Pamba
Cashew nuts
Korosho
Cloves
Karafuu
Animal keeping, livestock management
Someone who breeds and tames animals, breeder/s
Ufugaji
Mfugaji/wafugaji
Fishing
Fisherman/men
Uvuvi
Mvuvi/wavuvi
Military officer/s
Askari jeshi
Animate object infixes
- Me
- You
- Him/her
- Us
- You all/all of you
- Them
- -ni-
- -ku-
- -m/mw-
- -tu-
- -wa-
- -wa-
(One of the most important functions of the object infixes is to act as pronouns; that is, they play the role of the English object personal pronouns me, you, him, her, us, (all of) you, and them. These forms do not exist as independent words in Swahili, but rather are always found as infixes inside the verb.)
Object infix: I saw you
Nilikuona (Ni- : subject prefix) (-li- : tense infix (-ku- : object infix) ( -ona : verb)
Object infix - I will take you to …
Nitakupeleka
- Subject prefix: ni-
- Tense infix: -ta-
- Object infix: -ku-
- Verb: -peleka
Object infix - Have you seen (them) our teachers?
Umewaona walimu wetu?
- Subject prefix: u-
- Tense infix: -me-
- Object infix: -wa-
- Verb: -ona
Object infix - He will show you the office
Atakuonyesha ofisi yako
- Subject prefix: a-
- Tense infix: -ta-
- Object infix: -ku-
- Verb: -onyesha
Object infix - Welcome, meet (“see”) (them) our teachers
To you/2nd person singular
Karibu, uwaone walimu wetu
- Subject prefix: u-
- Tense infix: None (subjunctive)
- Object infix: -wa-
- Verb: -ona
Object infix - The director is waiting (for) us
Mkurugenzi anatusubiri
- Subject prefix: a-
- Tense infix: -na-
- Object infix: -tu-
- Verb: -subiri
Object infix - You will teach them English and math
Utawafundisha Kiingereza na hesabu
- Subject prefix: u-
- Tense infix: -ta-
- Object infix: -wa-
- Verb: -fundisha
Object infix - I will be glad to see (them) my colleagues
Nitafurahi kuwaona wenzangu
- Subject prefix: ni-
- Tense infix: -ta-
- Object infix: -wa-
- Verb: -ona
(Parts of two verbs)
Object infix - Juma will show you your students
Juma atakuonyesha wanafunzi wako
- Subject prefix: a-
- Tense infix: -ta-
- Object infix: -ku-
- Verb: -onyesha
Object infix - Teaching pleases me (Gives me pleasure)
Kufundisha kunanifurahisha
- Subject prefix: none (Infinitive)
- Tense infix: -na-
- Object infix: -ni-
- Verb: -furahisha
Object infix - He has not shown me the students
Hajanionyesha wanafunzi
- Subject prefix: ha- (negative)
- Tense infix: -ja- (negative, perfect tense)
- Object infix: -ni-
- Verb: -onyesha
(Negating verbs with object infixes follows the same rules as in other verb forms)
Object infix - The director is not waiting (for) us
Mkurugenzi hatusubiri
- Subject prefix: ha- (negative)
- Tense infix: Omitted due to present tense negative
- Object infix: -tu-
- Verb: -subiri
(Negating verbs with object infixes follows the same rules as in other verb forms)
Object infix - You will not teach them English and math
Hutawafundisha Kingereza na hesabu
- Subject prefix: hu- (negative)
- Tense infix: -ta-
- Object infix: -wa-
- Verb: -fundisha
(Negating verbs with object infixes follows the same rules as in other verb forms)
Object infix - I will not be glad to see (them) my colleagues
Sitafurahi kuwaona wenzangu
- Subject prefix: si- (negative)
- Tense infix: -ta-
- Object infix: -wa-
- Verb: -furahi, -ona
(Negating verbs with object infixes follows the same rules as in other verb forms)
My colleague/s, mate/s (Own grammatical construction)
Mwenza (Literally “companion, fellow”) is attached to possessives -angu, -ako, -ako etc –> Mwenzangu, mwnzake to mean colleague, ate, fellow, companion..
Ku class: Content
Noun form of verbs, i.e. to swim (infinitive) –> swimming (Gerund)
In Swahili the infinitive form = the gerund form
-Do you like teaching? -> Unapenda kufundisha?
-Teaching is difficult –> Kufundisha ni kugumu
Only exist singular forms (As in English)
Ku class
a. Subject prefix
b. Demonstratives - This, that
c. Possessives and of (-a)
a. Ku
b. This - Huku, That - Kule
- Kuimba kwangu - MY singing
- Kusoma kwao - Their studying
c. Kw- –> kwango, kwako…, kwa
Ku class
a. Adjective agreement
b. -ingi/-ingine
a. ku- if the adjective begins with a consonant. kw- if it begins with a vowel
- Kuandika kuzuri (Beautiful writing)
- Kuimba kwema (Pleasant singing)
b. kw- –> kwingi, kwingine
- Kuishi kwingi (Living a lot, long life)
- Kuishi kwingine (Another life)
Ku class
a. -ote
b. -o -ote
c. enye
d. -pi?
a. Kote
- Kuishi kote (The whole life)
b. Ko kote
- Kuishi ko kote (Any life)
c. Kenye
- Kuishi kwenye (Living that has …)
d. Kupi?
- Kuishi kupi? (Which life?)
Ku class: The leader’s departure (‘leaving’) caused a loss
– did not cause a loss
Kuondoka kwa kiongozi kulisababisha hasara
Kuondoka kwa kiongozi hakukusababisha hasara
Ku #1 for infinitive, ku #2 for present negative tense
Ku class: How to form negatives (‘Studying’, ‘Not studying’)
Place the infix -to- between the ku- prefix and the root
- Kusoma/kutosoma (studying/not studying)
- Kujua/kutojua (to know/not to know)
- Kuwa/Kutokuwa (To be/not to be)
- Kufanya kazi/kutofanya kazi (working/not working)
- Kula/kutokula (Eating/not eating)
(Kutojua kusoma na kuandika ni hatari - Not to know/knowing (how) to read and write is dangerous)
(Kutokula ni kubaya kwa afya yako - Not eating is bad for your health)
(Kutokuwa na pesa ni kugumu - Not having money is hard)
(Kutofanya kazi kunaleta umasikini - Not working brings poverty)
Mourning
Matanga
To annoy, to irritate
Kukera
Kuchelewa kwake kuliwakera watu wengine - Negate, translate and dissect the sentence
Kuchelewa kwake hakukuwakera watu wengine - His lateness/being late did not annoy the other people
- Ha- Negative marker
- -ku- Subject prefix of Ku class
- -ku- negative past tense
- -wa- them/they
- -kera (to annoy)
Kufika mapema kulimsaidia - Negate, translate and dissect the sentence
Kufika mapema hakukumsaidia – arrriving early helped him
- Ha - Negative marker
- -ku - Subject prefix of Ku class
- -ku- Negative past tense
- -m- him
- -saidia
Happiness, joy
Furaha
-a furaha: happy
Kusaidia maskini kulimpa furaha - Negate, translate and dissect the sentence
Kusaidia maskini hakukumpa furaha – Helping the poor did not give him/her happiness
- Ha - Negative marker
- -ku- Subject prefix of Ku class
- -ku- Negative past tense
- -m- him/her
- -pa
(Kupa: To give, to to accomplish, to carry out)
To wait for
Kusubiri
Mkurugenzi anakusubiri - Translate and dissect
The director is waiting for him/her
- a- subject prefix
- -na- present tense
- -ku- you (object infix)
- -subiri
Megan atatufundisha Kiingereza - Translate and dissect
Megan will teach us English
- a-
- -ta-
- -tu- us (object infix)
- -fundisha
Wanafunzi walinionyesha mwalimu wangu - Translate and dissect
The students showed me my teacher
- wa- they
- -li- past tense
- -ni- me (object infix)
- -onyesha
To show
Kuonyesha
To welcome
Kukaribisha
Opportunity/ies (2)
Fursa
Nafasi (Also mean space)
To choose
Kuchagua
To lack, to be missing
Kukosa
Kutokuwapo
Absence
Masomo ya juu
Higher education/studies
- Masomo - Subjects, studies
- Juu - Up, above, high
- Ya juu - Higher
To continue, to progress, to develop
Kuendelea
Age
Umri
Manual labour
Kazi za kutumia nguvu
Kuliko
More than, surpassing
Government/public school
Shule za serikali
Private school
Shule sa binafsi
Character/s, property/ies, property/ies
Tabia
To smell good
To stink
Kunukia
Kunuka
Mahali class - Prefixes (General) + exceptions
P- for vocals (Pa, pangu, pako, penye..)
Pa- for consonants (Pazuri, pananukia (verb), pale..)
Exceptions
1. Pengi, pengine