Therefore, so
Kwa hiyo (kwa hivyo)
To take (time)
Kuchukua
-Kwa sababu imechukua muda mrefu - Because it took a long time ..
This is great! (Not direct translation)
Vizuri sana!
Juu ya
About
Also on/over
Would you like to go to the Movies?
Utapenda twende sinema?
Inanimate Object infixes for Things - Equivalent in English
It or them
To play a game
Kucheza gemu
And others
Na wengineo
Interesting
-a kuvutia
To act
Kuigiza
Object infixes for Things (It, them) - Ki-Vi
sg. -ki-
pl. -vi-
Ticket/s
Tiketi
All the Places i have visited are attractive
Sehemu zote nilizoenda zinavutia
-Singular location noun -> Mahali class, plural location nouns -> plural N class
If, as, like
Kama
Horror movie
Mchezo wa kutisha
To mix/form
Kuchanganya
New movie
Mchezo mpya
Kuibuka
To emerge
Others: Kuzuka, kujitokeza, kuibua
Humu
Mle/mule
Humu: In here, inside here
Mle/Mule: Inside that Place over there, in that place
To start
Kuanza
To talk
Kuongea
Society, community
Jamii
Politics, political activity, policy
Siasa
-Social politics - Jamii kuanzia (‘from’) siasa (“Society from politics”)
To see a play
Kuona mchezo
Unasemaje?
What do you think (‘What do you say?’)
Love/s, desire/s
Penzi/mapenzi
To finish, to end
Kumaliza
Movie/s
Mchezo/michezo (filamu)
Asha aliutia ugali chumvi nyingi - Translate and dissect the sentence
Asha put a lot of salt in the ugali
- A-
- -li-
- -u- it sg. Object infix U-class
- -tia (to put into)
Mahali noun class - Prefixes for locative/adverbial nouns (-ni) (3)
- Pa-: Refer to definite/specific Place
- Nyumbani pangu - At my home (specific location) - Ku-: Refer to general/indefinite Place
- Nyumbani kwangu - Around my home, in the general vicinity - Mu-: Refer to location inside
- Nyumbani mwangu: Inside my home
(Same pattern as -ko, -po and -mo)
Music of this kind
Muziki wa aina hii
To know
Kujua
To amaze, to surprise
To be amazed, surprised, shocked
Kushangaza
Kushangaa
-Usishangae - Don’t be surprised to ….
To be famous, to be well-known
Kujulikana
Today is my birthday - let’s celebrate!
Leo ni siku yangu ya kuzaliwa - tusherehekee!
Hata
Even
-Na hata redioni - And even on the radio
Mie
Abbreviation of mimi
Employment, work
Ajira
Kuajiri - To employ/hire
No problem!
Hamna tabu!
End
Mwisho
To be killed
Kuuliwa
Mahali noun class - Object infixes for locative/adverbial nouns (-ni) (3)
- Pa –> -pa-
- Anapapenda mahali hapa? (Does he like this Place?)
- Ndio, anapapenda (Yes he likes it) - Ku –> -ku-
- Zanzibar unakupenda? (Do you like (the general Place of) Zanzibar?)
- Ndio, ninakupenda (Yes, i like it) - Mu –> -mu-
- Nyumbani anamupenda? (Does he like it in the house?)
- Ndio, anamupenda (Yes, he likes it)
Kizazi kipya
New generation
Kizazi also means birth
Mahali noun class: Ku- - Subject agreement prefix
Kw- before vowel
Ku- before consonant
Japokuwa
Although
To be late
Kuchelewa
Play/s (Theatre)
Mchezo wa kuigiza/michezo ya kuigiza
Singer/s
Mwimbaji/waimbaji
Naomba
I ask/I Wonder …
-Sasa naomba umwambie na Peter pia twende pamoja -Could you also tell Peter, so that we can go together With him?
(Shortened form om ninaomba (Kuomba - to ask, to beg, to plead)
Let’s go see a band
Twende tukaangalie bendi
Tofauti
Different, several
-Kumeibuka makampuni tofauti - There are several companies
It’ll be good! (Slang)
Itakuwa poa!
Mahali mu prefixes
Mu –> -mu- before consonant (mule, munanukia), -mw- before vowel (mwa, mwako, mwenye..)
Museum/s
Makumbusho
Fun
Kichekesho
To ride a bike
Kuendesha baisikeli
Fundi anaiangalia kompyuta - Translate and dissect the sentence
The technician is checking the computer
- A- He/she
- -na- present tense
- -i- this (N class singular)
- -angalia
Chicago is a big place
Chicago ni mahali pakubwa
Mahali, pu class
Kweli!
Oh, yeah!
Kujipatia
To gain, to earn
To rent a movie
Kukodi mchezo
Siujui mchezo huu - Translate and dissect the sentence
I don’t know this Movie
- -Si - I do not
- -u- it (Object infix singular of M-Mi)
- -jui (Negative form of -jua)
Makamo
Older
-Watu wa makamo - Older people
Basi sawa
Okay then
To listen
Kusikiliza
To tell, to inform
Kuambia
To remember
Kukumbuka
Mixed
Mchanganyiko
See you later then
Kwahiyo tutaonana baadaye
To think
Kufikiri
To lose
Kushindwa
Protagonist / Main actor in movie
Mhusika mkuu
-Mhusika mkuu ni nani? - Who is the protagonist (in the movie)?
Alikuweka - Translate and dissect the sentence
- A-
- -li-
- -ku- Object infix it singular
- -weka (Put, Place)
Hamna tabu
Sure, no problem
Several days ago
Majuzi
Juzi: Day before yesterday
To invite
Kualika
Art exhibition
Maonyesho ya sanaa
Sad movie
Mchezo wa kusikitisha
To have a party
Kuwa na tafrija/sherehe
Mahali ku prefixes
Ku –> -ku- before consonant (kule, kananukia), -kw- before vowel (kwa, kwangu, kwenye)
Fani (2)
Successful, valuable
Type
-Katika fani hii ya muziki - In this type of music
To invade
Kuvamia
Kuvamiwa - To be invaded (by)
Would you like us to go to the movies?
Utapenda twende sinema?
We were watching a movie on TV yesterday. It was really good
Jana tulikuwa tunaangalia mchezo kwenye TV. Ulikuwa mzuri sana.
To listen
Kusikiliza
Huku
Kule
Huku: Around here, in this general vicinity, hereabouts
-Huku ni Kenya na kule ni Tanzania (This way is Kenya, and that is Tanzania)
Kule: Somewhere over there, in that area
-Kule kunanukia (That Place over there smells Nice)
To prepare
Kufanya tayari
Anything
Chochote
Object infixes for Things (It, them) - Ku
sg. -ku-
Don’t exist as plural
I read this book at School
I read these books at school
Kitabu hiki nilikisoma shule
Vitabu hivi nilivisoma
(Object prefixes: -ki- for it, -vi- for them)
Mtoto alijikata - Translate and dissect the sentence
The child cut herself
- A-
- -li-
- -ji- reflexive marker
- -kata
Comedy (Movie)
Mchezo wa kuchekesha
To decide
Kuamua
There was a time in the 70s
Kuna wakati katika miaka ya sabini
I saw a great play this weekend
Nimeona mchezo mzuri sana wikiendi hii
Together
Pamoja
Song/s
Wimbo/nyimbo
Object infixes for Things (It, them) - Ji-Ma
sg. -li-
pl. -ya-
Pale
At
-Disko pale Cantina - The disco at Cantina
To develop, to invent, to pop up, to emerge
Kuzuka
-Katika miaka ya tisini kumezuka muziki wa ….
To listen (I.e. Music)
Kusikiliza
-Kusikiliza muziki
To play cards
Kucheza karata
Itakuwa poa tu
That’ll be cool
-Cool
(Kupoa: To become Cold, to cool Down)
Concert/s (2)
Konsati
Tamasha/matamasha
Do you have any plans? Have you decided on anything?
Umeamua chochote?
Mahali class - Demonstratives (This, That), alternative usage
This - Hapa
That - Pale
(Also note that hapa can mean “here” and “pale” can mean “there”.)
To review
Kupitia upya
Movie star/s
Mhusika mkuu/wahusika wakuu
True
Kweli
Ulimwona daktari leo asubuhi? - Translate and dissect the sentence
Did you see the doctor this morning?
- U-
- -li-
- -w- him Object infix for Ji-Ma (All Nouns referring to animate Objects belonging to other noun classes than M-Wa use M-Wa Object infixes, even though they’re technically in other classes)
- -ona
Ready
Tayari
To play chess
Kucheza chesi
Ready, prepared
Tayari
Also means already (Adverb
Let’s go out to eat
Twende sehemu tukale
Kwanini mnaikata miti yangu - Translate and dissect the sentence
Why are you cutting my trees?
- M- You pl.
- -na-
- -i- Them Object infix pl M-Mi
- -kata
Birth/s
Kizazi/vizazi
Beginning
Mwanzo
… you know … (word filler)
… unajua …
-Unajua Hamilton anaigiza kama daktari na anaambiwa kuwa ameuwa lakini yeye sie aliyeuwa - Hamilton plays a doctor, and he’s accused of being a murderer, but he wasn’t the one
Object infixes for Things (It, them) - N
sg. -i-
pl. -zi-
Two days ago/Day before yesterday
Juzi
Invitation/s
Mwaliko/mialiko
Who will you invite?
Utamwalika nani?
Action movie
Mchezo wa kupigana
To be shown, to be screened
Kuonyeshwa
Let’s celebrate!
Tusherehekee!
Bad movie
Mchezo mbaya
Art gallery/ies
Nyumba ya sanaa/Nyumba za sanaa
Sanaa: Art
Party/ies (2)
Tafrija
Sherehe
Kompyuta yangu inajizima - Translate and dissect the sentence
Kompyuta yangu inajizima - My computer switches itself off
- I- subject prefix sg. N class
- -na- present tense
- -ji- reflexive marker
- -zima to
To have sex (4)
Kujamii
Kupuana
Kutwaana
Kukwea
Meaning/s, cause/s
Maana
To play (instrument)
Kupiga
-Kupiga na kuimba muziki - To play instruments and sing
Film/s
Filamu (N class)
To be about, about
Kuhusu
What do you say?
Unasemaje?
Nilikinunua Kenya - Translate and dissect the sentence
I bought it in Kenya
- Ni-
- -li-
- -ki- Object prefix (It for Ki-Vi class)
- -nunua
To entertain oneself, to have a good time
Kujistarehesha
-Vijana wanajistarehesha Kwa muziki - The Young People are entertaining themselves With Music / are enjoying themselves listening to music
To take
Kuchukua
Burundi na Rwanda kuna amani - Translate and dissect
Burundi and Rwanda have Peace
-Kuna: Ku- (Subject prefix (Them/they) of Mahani class ku- (General location/around here/hereabouts))
Uliyanunua wapi machungwa haya? - Translate and dissect the sentence
Where did you buy these Oranges?
- U-
- -li-
- -ya- them (Object infix Ji-Ma plural)
- -nunua
To be played
Kuchezwa
Local/s, indigenous person/people
Mwenyeji/wenyeji
What good movie is there today?
Kuna sinema gani leo nzuri?
War movie
Mchezo wa kivita
Kupigwa
To be beaten
To be played (music)
To book, to reserve
Kuwekesha
Ulikinunua wapi kitanda hiki? - Translate and dissect the sentence
Where did you buy (it) the bed?
- U-
- -li- past tense infix
- -ki- Object prefix (It for ki-vi class)
- -nunua
In the 80s
Katika miaka ya themanini
Until
Mpaka
Kompyuta zangu nitaziwacha hapa - Translate and dissect the sentence
I’ll leave my computers here
- Ni-
- -ta-
- -zi- them (N class plural)
- -wacha
That’s no problem!
Haina shida hiyo!
This is a beautiful place
Hapa ni mahali pazuri
Mahali class
Let’s go dancing
Twende tukacheze
Kujisaidia
To go to the bathroom (Literally ‘to help oneself’)
-Ninaenda kujisaidia - I am going to the bathroom
Good movie
Mchezo mzuri
Boring
-a kuchosha
Reflexive - What, how to Express in Swahili
The grammatical term “reflexive” describes an action that someone does to him- or herself, “i see myeslf in the Mirror”, “she gave herself a present”…
In Swahili there is a special reflexive marker infix, -ji- which is inserted right before the verb stem. --> If kukuna means "to scratch", then kujikuna means "to scratch oneself/yourself", the inflix is always the same regardless of noun class or number -Watoto wanajikuna (The children are scratching themselves)
Large building/s
Jumba/majumba
Nyumbani kwao kuna wadudu
Their home (their Place) over there has bugs
-Kw- and ku- = Mahali ku class (specific location)
(Nyumbani kwetu ni kudogo - Our Place is small (‘The general area of Our house’))
Popular
Maarufu
What are you up to this weekend?
Lete habari za wikiendi?
Object infixes for Things (It, them) - M-Mi
sg. -u-
pl. -i-
Republic
Jamhuri
- Jamhuri ya Kenya
- Demokrasia ya Jamhuri ya Kongo (Democratic republic of Congo)
Kujifunza
To learn (Literally 'to teach oneself') -Tom anajifunza Kiswahili - Tom is Learning Swahili
This is boring! (2)
Hii haichangamshi! / Hii ni doro!
-doro: sleep, boring
Mahali pa prefixes
Pa –> -pa- before consonant (Pananukia, pazuri, p- before vowel (Penye, pako, pa)
Haina shida hiyo
“That sounds Perfect” (‘It has not hardship/trouble that’)
Kuongea (na)
To speak/chat (with)
I had a really good time!
Nilistarehe sana
That Place has bugs
Mahali pale pana wadudu
Mahali class
Love story, romantic movie
Mchezo wa mapenzi
To kill
Kuuwa
Among
Miongoni
Juu ya (2)
Above/On
Concerning, about
At Your place
Kwenu
-Nyumbani kwenu - House at Your place
Recently
Hivi juzi
Let’s go out to a bar
Twende kwenye baa
Mahali noun class - Content, use
Noun class With 1. Mahali ("Place") (Because mahali is about location, this class is also referred to as the "locative" class.)
- Locative/adverbial nouns - Noun + -ni
-Nyumba –> Nyumbani
(= Any noun become a ‘mahali’ noun if changed to -ni)
Mahali noun class: Ku-
This
That
Huku
Kule
Board game/s
Mchezo wa kutumia ubao/michezo ya kutumia mbao
A long time
Muda mrefu
To be called
Kuitwa
-Kuna mchezo wa Bruce Willis unaitwa Hostage - There’s a Movie With Bruce Willis called Hostage
Msichana anajiangalia kwenye kioo - Translate and dissect the sentence
The girl is looking at herself in a Mirror
- A-
- -na-
- -ji- reflexive marker
- -angalia
Mahali class - Prefixes
P- before a vowel Pa- before a consonant -Possessives - pangu, pato... -a/of --> pa --enye -> penye -Any: po pote -Pengi, pengine (Only exception)
Ukutani pana kalenda - Translate and dissect
There’s a calendar on the wall (“On-the-wall there is a calendar”)
- Ukuta: Wall
- Pana: Pa- Mahani class, referring to specific/definite Place. -Na: To have stem
(Mahali pale pana wadudu: That Place has bugs)
Card/s
Karata
Mahali noun class - Plural
Use the Word sehemu (Place/s), which is a N-class noun. -Those Places are very popular -> Sehemu zile ni maarufu
I want to have a party
Nataka kufanya tafrija
To watch a movie (2)
Kuangalia mchezo / sinema
To win
Kushinda
What’s the film about?
Mchezo unahusu nini?
Mahali noun class: Mu- - Subject prefix
Mw- before vowel
Mu- before consonant
(Although it often comes up as just m-.)
Mahali noun class: Ku- -
This
That
Humu
Mule/Mle (MLe)
Recreation, Entertainment/s
Burudani
There
Pale
Sasa lete habari za wikiendi. Vipi umeamua chochote?
Now tell me what Your plans are for this weekend. Have you decided on anything?
-Amua: To decide to resolve, to end dispute
Nyumbani mwake munanukia
It smells Nice inside his/her house
(Mw- and mu- –> Mahali hu class (inside location))
(Ofisini mwangu muna kompyuta - There’s a computer inside my Office / “In-my-Office there is a computer”)
Exciting
-a kusisimua
Murderer/s
Muuwaji/wauaji
Bar/s
Baa/mabaa
What did you say?
Semaje?
Object infixes for Things (It, them) - U
sg. -u-
pl. -zi- / -ya- (If ma- plural –> Conjugated as plural ji-ma noun)
This (Place) is Kenya and that (Place) is Tanzania
Hapa ni Kenya na pale ni Tanzania
Mahali class
This (general) Place (over here) is mine, not yours
Huku ni kwangu si kwako
Huku: Mahani class, ku- (general)
(Kw- : Same class)
This Place smells good
Mahali hapa pananukia
- Hapa: Specific location demonstrative
- Pa- : Subject prefix of specific location Mahali class
- -nukia: to smell