SWAHILI

Basic Course
P R E FAC E

This text is a part of the Foreign Service I nstitutes program m the

preparation of teaching materials for certain of the most important languages of
Sub-Saharan Africa. It has been produced under an agreement with the Office of h
duration, Department of Heallh,E duration and Welfare, under the National
Defense h duration Act. The course is intended far general use by speakers of
English of many occupational background who are living or expect to live in the
areas were Swahili is used.
The Swahili sentences in this course were provided by t. J. Kazi and
Johannes 0. Mlela of Tanganyika, and by Frederick A N/enga of Kenya. I he
linguist, in chargc u as Earl If. Stevick, Coordinator of the Special African
Language Program. Anicet Nkuabi and Daudi Ballali of Tanganyika, and John
Ngumbi of Kenya assisted m the tear!ing arid checked the original version of the
manuscript. The original was also sent for verification to United States Foreign
Service posts m Swahili-speaking areas, and Unit 1 - 8 0 were kindly checked by a
representative of the East African Swahili Committee.
Suggestions from all the above mentioned sources have been used in the
preparation of the present edition. 4 here there appeared to be clear disagreement
among two or more critics of the original draft, the alternative wordings have
usually been indicated in the text. The Foreign Service Institute, while gratefully
acknowledging the generous help of the many readers of the earlier version, takes
full responsibility for the present edition.
The recordings uhich ai company the text were made m the Foreign Service
Institute Language Laboratory, under the supervision of Gabriel Cordova.

----Howard E. Sollenberger, Dean

School of Language and Area Studies
Foreign Service Institute
Department of State

PREFACE TO TIIE SECOND EDITION

The second edition incorporates certain changes and local corrections

suggested by James l.. Brain of Syracuse University and the State University of
New York, New Paltz, who was at one time official examiner in Swahili for
Tanganyika; by Margaret Bryan of the School of Oriental and African Studies,
University of London; and by Frederick K. Kamoga, Instructor in Swahili at
Makerere University. The changes have not been numerous enough to require
preparation of a new set of tapes to replace those that accompanied the original
edition.
The Institute wishes to thank these three experts for their help. Time
unfortunately has not permitted some of the more fundamental changes which the
authors recognize to be desirable.
The corrections were typed by Donna Kowalski and checked by Daria P
ana.

-<J2 U ) <
Earl W. Stevick

^ijurkJL

BASIC COURSE

Introduction
Swahili Basic Course aims first of all at assisting the student to develop ability in understanding and speaking
everyday Swahili of a standard variety. On the basis of well-established speech habits, he can then go on with relatively high
efficiency to the further skills of reading and writing.
The course is designed for use in any of three general types of study situation:

(1) a full-time language program of

thirty or more hours per

week, (2) a language program in which one or more part-time students attend class for three to six hours per week, and (3)
(much the least desirable) individual study in the absence of any speaker of the language.
In any of these situations, the class should be guided in such a way that it concentrates on one small task at a time.
For this reason, the 150 units of the course are comparatively short. Each unit is in turn divided into a brief dialogue (with
notes) and a series of short exercises. The dialogues and exercises are further broken up into individual lines. In most of the
exercises, there is a further division into two or three columns. The word or phrase at the left is called the 'cue. 1 The
sentence in the next column is the desired response to that cue. In those exercises having a third column in Swahili, the
sentence in the second column is intended to serve as a secondary cue, and the corresponding sentence in the third column is
the desired response to it.
In teaching with these materials, it is suggested that the instructor emphasize the following activities:
With dialogues:
1,

Individual and group repetition of the dialogue line- by-line, immediately after the instructor.
Books should be closed at first, so that the students may become accustomed to depending on
their ears. The instructor may correct errors by repeating the mispronounced word as it
should have been said.

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SWAHILI

2 When the students are able to repeat the lines of the dialogue correctly,
they should open their books. The instructor reads the dialogue and
the class repeats, line-by-line, at the same time following with their
eyes the printed words.
3. After going through the dialogue two or three times in this way, students should
take turns reading aloud.
4. Finally, students should close their books, and practice assuming one of the roles in
the dialogue until they are able to do it from memory-without mistakes.
With exercises:
1. Students repeat after the instructor the 'desired response' sentences of the exercise.
2. The instructor gives only the 'cue' for each line.
Individual students give the desired responses.
It should be noted that very little English is needed in any of these activities. In fact, the instructor
or the student who finds that more than 20/ of the words he uses in class are in English, may be sure that
he is proceeding with less than maximum efficiency.
For individual study, tape recordings of the dialogues and the exercises are available. It is also
suggested that while practicing the exercises, the student make use of a notched card which can be slid
down the page as he goes along. As soon as he has given his own response to a particular cue word or
phrase, he slides the card down to reveal the answer, thus receiving immediate confinnation or correction of
his own reply. At the same time, the next cue word or phrase appears in the notch:
kahawa

_______Kahawa inatosha.

chai
(cf.

Unit

17,

Exercise 2B.)
Rate of progress and total achievement, then, should be measured in terms of answers given to the
following questions:
Concerning each dialogue:
Level 1# Can the student repeat the dialogue accurately, line- by-line, after the instructor, with book
closed?
Level 2. Can the student read the dialogue aloud independently of the instructor, with excellent
pronunciation and intonation?

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BASIC COUHSii

Level 3. Can the student take anj role in the dialogue, without hesitation or mistakes, book closed?
Concerning each exercise:
Level i Can the student repeat the Swahili sentences of the
dialogue accurately, line-by-line, after the instructor?
Level 2. Can the student give the Swahili sentence after hearing the Swahili cue word, or the
English translation, with his book closed?

General Hints to the Instructor

1.

When you speak to a student, look directly at him, and insist that he speak directly to you when

he replies.
2.

Dont spend too long with one student; if a student continues to make the same mistake after

three or four tries, go on to another student. Later, come back to the student who made the error*
3* The students should learn to understand and speak Swahili at a normal rate of speed* For this
reason, do not speak to them more slowly or clearly than the slowest and clearest style in which you might
speak with another speaker of Swahili.
L. The students' books should be closed about 8o/o of the time in class.
5* Don't try to explain how the language works: teach the language, not the grammar*

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SWAHILI

6. Emphasize:
hearing before understanding, hearing and understanding
before repetition, repetition before independent production,
speaking before reading and writing.
The Pronunciation of Swahili
The pronunciation of Swahili varies slightly from one geographical area to another. In addition,
since most speakers of Swahili have learned it after first learning some other language, there are noticeable
discrepancies among the speech of persons with different national or tribal backgrounds. The following
notes do not attempt to set forth any of these variations but only to indicate those points which are essential
to an intelligible and widely acceptable pronunciation of the language.
The standard treatment of this subject is A, N. Tucker and E, 0. Ashton, Swahili Phonetics
(Johannesburg: University of the Witwatersrand Press, 1942), It consists of bound reprints of two major
articles which appeared originally in African Studies for that
year.
Vowels, There are five vowels.
Examples
Letter
a

Description
When stressed, similar to a in

basi 'only' kitabu

father, or o in (American English) ni^t

Technically: a low central unrounded vowel.

'book'

When unstressed, between a of father and u of

Letter
e

up.

Description
Technically: a slightly raised low central
Similar to e in bet.
unrounded vowel.
Technically:
a lax lower-mid
vowel.
Speakers
of English
must stillfront
take care
not to

kusoma 'to need' birika

'water vessel'

Other varieties
of this
sound have/a/been
'reduce'
the quality
of unstressed
as
Between
reported the
in certain
vowelsenvironments,
of English but those
boat and bought.
allophones
are absent from the speech of
much
as speakers
theyawould
inserved
English.
the two
Technically:
lax,who
lower-mid,
asback
principal
rounded
sourcesunglided.
vowel,
for this investigation.

ui

Examples

Reminiscent
Roughly similar
of the
to vowel
the vowel
of
of English
English
too,
eat.
but lying somewhere between

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Technically:
that
vowel and
a high
the vowel
front unrounded
of took. livelingua.com
vowel,
vita
'war'
bure
'free'
kuruhusu
'to
kuleta
'to rafiki
bring'
mtoto
'child'kujenga
8
unglided,
andabe
less
slightly
tenselowered
than itshigh-back
nearest
b, d, j, g TheseTechnically,
sounds may
pronounced
'friend'
permit'
'to build' 'ox'
embe 'mango'
ng'ombe
English counterpart.
vowel, unglided.
Consonants rounded
as in English bow, dough, Joe, go respectively.

BASIC COUHSii

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Technically: Bilabial, alveolar, palatal, and velar

voiced stops.

baba 1father' dada

When not in combination with a nasal

'sister' jambo

consonant, these sounds are pronounced

'matter' gogo 'lag'

implosively by most speakers. The sound

represented by the letter ^ has little or no
affrication.
p, t, ch, These sounds may be pronounced as ^ in English
peas, tease, cheese,
kejrs respectively.
Technically: Bilabial, alvealar, palatal, and velar
unvoiced stops. The palatal stop has strong
affrication. The degree of aspiration associated

panga 'large knife' tisa '9'

with these sounds varies. None of the speakers

chache 'few' kaka 'elder

consulted in the preparation of this course has a

brother'

contrast of aspirated vs. unaspirated unvoiced

stops, however.
m, n

These sounds may be pronounced as

in English.
Technically: There is no noticeable difference
between these sounds and the corresponding
nasal sounds of English.

ng'

This sound is pronounced like ng in

English sing. But in English, this sound never

mama 'married woman'

nene 'fat'

occurs at the beginning of a word, while in

Swahili it may occur there.
Technically: A dorso-velar nasal resonant.
Before vowels this sound

ng'ombe 'ox' ngozi 'leather'

is spelled ng', but before other

consonants, it is spelled
n*

ay

As

in Spanish cafion,

Portuguese nenhum,
French gagner.

nyumba 'house 1 nchi 'land,

country' ftje 'outside'

Technically: A palatal nasal*

Before vowels, this sound is spelled njr, but
before other consonants, it is spelled n*
th, dh These sounds are like the initial sounds of
English thin and then, respectively*
Technically: Unvoiced and voiced
ungrooved dental fricatives*
s, z, Like the initial sounds of
English sue, zoo, respectively. Technically:
Alveolar grooved unvoiced fricatives*
sh

thelathini '30' kadhalika

'likewise'

Like the sound spelled the same

way in English she, with accompanying liprounding.
Technically: An unvoiced palatal grooved
fricative.

saa 'hour'
kuzaa 'to produce offspring'

(Note the lack of a voiced counterpart.)

h

Like the initial sound of

English how.

shamba 'farm'
kurusha 'to cause to fly'

kuhama 'to change residence'

Like the initial sounds of English fine, vine,

respectively. Technically: Unvoiced and

idle*

voiced labio-dental fricatives.

r

kuficha 'to hide' vivu

This sound is pronounced like

the sound written with the same
letter in the standard 3ritish

kuruka to fly

pronunciation of very. It is
thus not very different from the
sound written tt in the common
American pronunciation of witty.
Technically: A voiced apico - alveolar
flap.
1, w, y These sounds may be pronounced .

as

in

kulala 'to lie down' sawa

English.

'equal1 haya 'these'

gh

This is the only Swahili sound

that is likely to cause noticeable difficulty for
speakers of English. It is made with the back of
the tongue against the soft palate, in the same
1

position as for English 'golly.' For English g,

however, the tongue makes momentary contact
with the soft palate, completely cutting off the
flow of air. For Swahili gh, on the other hand,
the back of the tongue does not make contact
all the way across the soft palate. Instead, it
comes so close to it that the flow of air from the

ghali 'expensive' gharama 'amount

of money'

PA.SIC COURSE

lungs is constricted. This gives rise to audible turbulence, or

'friction.'
Technically: A voiced dorso- velar fricative.

Syllabic Nasals.
In some words in which they precede other consonants, the nasal sounds may be pronouhced as separate syllables. In
these materials, syllabic nasals are indicated by a grave accent. This seems to be true for n, ny and ng' only when they are at
the beginning of a word and when only one vowel comes after them in the word. It is also true of these three nasals that the
consonants before which they occur are those which are formed at the same position of articulation as the nasal:
Syllabic and nan-syllabic m contrast with one another in:
i&bdvu
A
fly
ng'
The sound m, on the other hand,
mg^nl
mletrfe

'bad' (personal class singular)

flne
flchi

'four*
'land'

scorpion' (pronounced ng'ge) syllabic

nge
may be in words of any length: 'stranger*
'bring to him'
'he doesn't know hi*'

hamjui

mbdvu
'bad' (N class)
These are not distinguished from one another in the customary spelling of Swahili.

Stress
In general, the nsxt to last syllable of a Swahili word or phrase receives a stress, which consists of a slight increase in
loudness, usually with some increase also in length. In those instances where the stress faja s

rLii
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SWAHILI

on some other syllable, its location is indicated in these materials by an acute accent: lzima
'necessary.1
In Swahili, each vowel counts as a syllable, and in addition, pre-con- sonantal nasals are sometimes
syllabic. These facts must be taken into account in calculating which syllable is the next-to-last. Examples:
simlet^i

'1 don't bring to him'

kuk^a

'to stay'

nilimpa
ku<5mba

'1 gave to him'

to request'

nctmna
naifina
hamna

'kind, sort'
'you don't have'

Word Juncture.
In Swahili, there exist, at least for some speakers, two distinct pronunciations for a number of pairs
of expressions which are identical with respect to their vowels and consonants. One such pair of expressions
is spelled with the letters:
w a f a n y a g h a s i a
One of the pronunciations corresponding to these letters means 'they create a disturbance,' while the other
means 'rioters.' The most conspicuous difference between them is that in the first, the syllable fa is more
prominent than it is in the second. In neither pronunciation is fa as prominentas heavily
stressed as the syllable si. We may attribute the differing degrees of
stress on fa to the presence or absence of word boundary, writing the two pronunciations respectively:
wafanya ghasia

'they create a disturbance'

wafanyaghasia

'rioters'

In so doing, of course, we have introduced into our inventory of the Swahili sound system an entity which
might be called word juncture.
Some linguists niay prefer to do without the word juncture, introducing instead an in+^^ediate
aegree of stress, which might be called 'secondary.' MorphologyC&1 word boundaries (for almost all woras )
woula then fall after the firs* syllable following a primary or secondary stress. A strictly ghonemic
transcription of utterances would then contain no word spaces, and each stress would be marked
explicitly.
The lessons in this book do not employ that kind of transcription. Instead, they make use of a
pedagogical orthography, which is thought to be most suitable for the use of foreign learners of the
language. In it, word space sets apart units (words) which have been established on a non-phono- logical
basisj stress is written only when it does not occur on the next-to- last syllable of a word which has been
established on this basis.

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14

SWAHILI

A practical writing system, unlike either the phonemic transcription or the pedagogical
orthography, can afford to do away with the marking of any and all stresses. It is important not to
confound these three types of graphic representation of a language.

Pitch Phenomena.
Swahili, unlike other Bantu languages, is not a tone language. That is to say, there do not exist in
the language pairs of words which are identical in their vowels and consonants, but different in musical
pitch patterns and in meaning. Swahili does make use of a system of sentence intonation which is
comparable to the intonation systems of Indo-European languages, although the details of Swahili
sentence intonation are, of course, peculiar to Swahili. This aspect of the language has been discussed in
some detail by Mrs. Ashton, and will not be described further here.

0. Ashton, Swahili Grammar (Including Intonation) (London: Longmans,

19 UU ).

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25

BASIC COURSE

UNIT 1

Unit_i
1

Basic Dialogue* Routine greeting sequence.

1
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BASIC COURSE

UNIT 2

or

A. This is an exchange of greetings between two men between the hours of daybreak and noon.
Mr. Mutisya is a member of the Wakamba tribe, of Kenya. Sangai is a member of the
Wabondei tribe, of Tanganyika.
B. Note that the first sound of Jambo is not quite the same as the usual English pronunciation of
the first consonant in Jim.

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UNIT 1

SWAHILI

C. Note that in each word it is the next-to-last syllable that is accented* For that reason, we
will not need to mark accented syllables in Swahili except in the very few words which
violate the rule.
D. The symbols (MA.) and (N) which follow certain words in the buildups will be explained in
Unit 15*

s
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BASIC COURSE

UNIT a

Unit a
i.

Basic Dialogue. Midday greetings.

Sangai
hujambo

you have no affair/trouble?

Hujambo, bwana.

Hellol (said to a man)

Mutisja

sijambo

Sijambo.

have no affair/trouble

(reply to Hujambo.)

mchana

daytime

Habari za Achana?

How are you today?

Nzuri.

Pine.
Notes
A.

Greeting at any time of day may begin either with Jambo or with hujambo. The replies to each are as shown in

Units 1 and a. Jambo is an

abbreviation of hujambo, but is not the best usage.
B.

In pronouncing the word Achana, do not produce a vowel sound either before or immediately after the m.

C.

The greeting with mchana may be used at any time during the daylight, but particularly in the middle part of the

day.

3
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UNIT

SWAHILI

Unit 3
1

Basic Dialogue. Routine evening greetings.

Sangai

Jambo, bwana.

Hello (sir) 1
Mirambo

Jambo, bwana.

Hello (sir) l

usiku(U)

night (starts about 7 p.m.)

Habari za jioni?

How are you this evening?

or
Habari za usiku?
Sangai
Habari nzuri.

Finel
Motes

A. These simple perfunctory greetings (Units 1-7) are those which would be used by people
who see each other almost every day.
B. Be sure you have not been pronouncing the last a in bwana and the first a in habari, like
the last vowel sound in English sofa or the first in English above. The quality of both
vov/els in bwana and the first two vowels in habari should be practically identical.
Speakers of English ..re particularly likely to 'reduce' such vowels when they are in
unstressed syllables.
C. Mr. Mirambo is a member of the Nyarawezi tribe (Western Tanganyika)

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UNIT

SWAHILI

Unit 4
1*

Basic Dialogue.

Greetings to a lady.
Hamisi

mama

mother

Hujambo, mama.

Hello (ma 'am) l

Mrs. Mirambo

Sijambo#

(reply to HUjJambo)

Habari za asubuhi?

How are you this morning?

Hamisi

Nzuri.

Finel
Motes

A. Some people may use bibi lady' in place of mama in the above exchange. Many people use
mama as the polite form of address to any grown woman. Bibi is used in the expression Bwana na Bibi
Smith 'Mr. and Mrs. Smith', and in some other circumstances.

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Unit 5
i Basic Dialogue

Some variants on the greeting routine.

Mirambo

Jambo, bwana.

Hello (sir)l
Sangai

Sijambo.

(another reply to ^ambo)

Habari za mchana?

How are you today?

('News of daytime?')
Mirambo

~ jema

good

Njema.

Fine, ('good')

or
Habari njema.

Fine, ('good news')

Notes

A. The new expressions in this exchange are interchangeable with their counterparts in the preceding units. In some
parts of East Africa, the word nzuri is preferred to n^eraa in these contexts.

Unit 6
1

Basic Dialogue* One more common variant in routine greetings*

Sangai

Hujambo, bwana.

Hellol
Mirambo

sana
Sijambo sana*
gani?
Habari gani?

very much (Another reply) what kind oft

How are you? ('What kind of news?') Sangai
Habari njema,

Fine*
Notes

Habari gani za Achana?

The answer of course remains the same*

A* The questions in Units 5 and 6 may be combined to give:

('What kind of news of daytime?')

Unit_J
Test. Listen to the following dialogues. After each, summarize it by specifying the sex of the person spoken to, and the
time of day or night
Hujambo, bwana.

Hujambo, bwana.

Sijambo.

Sijambo bwana.

Habari za mchana?

Habari gani za asubuhi?

Nzuri.

Nzuri, bwana.

Huj ambo, mama.

Hujambo, bwana.

Si jambo, bwana.

Sijambo.

Habari za asubuhi?

Habari za usiku?

Njema.

Habari njema.

BASIC COURSE

UNIT 8

Unit_8
i Basic Dialogue. Breakfast in the dining room of the hotel.
Waiter
tafadhali 3

please

-l9tea

to bring for/to bring

niletee

welli/tall mei (used here to

introduce the yes-no question)

me
to want
Please bring me [some] eggs*
you want

-taka

Tafadhali, nileteeunataka
mayai.
chakula (VI)

food

(je,) unataka chakula':

Would you like [some] food?

Aramian (an American)

ndiyo

that is it

Ndiyo, bwana.

Yes, please.

kuna

there is

gani?

what kind?

Kuna chakula gani?

What kind of food is there?

Waiter

tunda (MA)

a piece of fruit

matunda

fruit

na

and

uji (U)

thin porridge/gruel

yai (MA)

egg

mayai

eggs

Kuna matunda, na uji na mayai.

There is fruit, gruel, and eggs.

Aramian

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BASIC COURSE

UNIT 8

Notes
A. Je at the beginning of a yes-no question.
The word je is used at the beginning of a question to focus the hearer's attention. In this way it is somewhat
comparable to English SayI Je is not necessary in yes-no questions, but would not be likely to be used by an 'inferior' to a
'superior' as in the dialog for this unit,
B.

The subject prefix slot: ni ( 1 sg.) vs. u ( 2 sg.)

Compare the forms:

unataka

'you want'

ninataka

'I want'

The syllables u- and ni- are 'subject prefixes' partly corresponding to the English subject pronouns you (sg*) and I*
C.

Tafadhali*

Though we hare given glease as a rough English equivalent of tafadhali, the latter is used in Swahili less often than
please is used in English*
D* Ni as subject or object prefix*
Compare the forms:
ninataka
niletee

'I want'
'bring me'

In both forms, the syllable ni- is a first person singular prefix standing for I or me. In the form which ends with -e it stands
for the object (me).
. The forms kipo or kiko are used in some parts of East Africa where in this dialogue we have used kuna.
2*

Substitutions in single sentences*

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UNIT 9

SWAHILI
A.Je, unataka

chalk ula

Je, unataka chakula?

Do you want food?

Je, unataka mayai?

Do you want eggs?

natunda

Je, unataka natunda?

Do you want fruit?

chakula

Je, unataka chakula?

Do you want food?

mayai

B.Tafadhali, niletee
mayai

Tafadhali, niletee mayai.

Please bring me eggs.

Tafadhali, niletee natunda.

Please bring me fruit.

mayai

Tafadhali, niletee mayai.

Please bring me eggs.

uji

Tafadhali, niletee uji.

Please bring me porridge

Tafadhali, niletee chakula.

Please bring me food.

natunda

chakula

3. Substitution in sets of sentences*

uji

natunda

mayai

Kuna chakula gani?

What kind of food is there?

Kuna uji.

There is gruel.

Unataka uji?

Do you want gruel?

Ndiyo. Niletee uji.

Yes. Bring me gruel.

Kuna chakula gani?

What kind of food is there?

Kuna matunda.

There is fruit0

Unataka matunda?

Do you want fruit?

Ndiyo. Niletee matunda.

Yes, bring me fruit.

Kuna chakula gani?

What kind of food is there?

Kuna mayai.

There are eggs.

Unataka mayai?

Do you want eggs?

Ndiyo. Niletee mayai.

Yes, bring me eggs.

Unit_9

Basic dialogue* Breakfast at the hotel, revisited*

UNIT 9

SWAHILI
Waiter

Je, unataka matunda?

some fruit?

Would you like ('do you want')

Aramian

Ndiyo, bwana*

Yes, [I would] (sir)*

Kuna matunda gani?

What kind of fruit is there?

ndizi (N)

banana/bananas

Kuna ndizi?
Waiter

Are there [any] bananas?

chungwa (MA)

orange

machungwa

oranges

embe (KA)

mango

maembe

mangoes

Kuna ndizi na machungwa na

There are bananas and oranges and

maembe*
Aramian

mangoes*

moja
basi

one
that is all (an interjection)

Tafacihali, niletee chungwa moja (basi). Please bring me one orange*

Notes
N. B. In some parts of East Africa, the plural of embe 'mango 1 is
embe (N)
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BASIC COURSE

UNIT 9

a. Kuna_______________2
A*

ndizi

Kuna machungva?

Are there

any

oranges?

Kuna

Are there

any

bananas?

ndizi?

maembe natunda

uji chakula mayai

B. Kuna_____________ na____________
Kuna ndizi na naembe.

There

uji

Kuna maembe na uji.

There

natunda

Kuna natunda na mayai.

There

ndizi

Kuna mayai na ndizi.

There

are bananas and mangoes, are

mangoes and gruel, is fruit and
eggs, are eggs and bananas.

3. Substitutions in sequences of sentences.

Kuna natunda gani?
Kuna naembe na ndizi.
Niletee ndizi (basi).
Substitute various combinations of names of fruits in this conversation.

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UNIT 10

SWAHILI

Unit 1 0
i Basic dialogue. Aramian enters the dining room, in ccnpany of his friend Beltrano, who speaks no Swahili*
Waiter
karibu

near

Karibu.

Cone in*
Iranian

-starehe

to be at rest

asante

thank you

Starehe, starehe, asante*

Don't trouble. Thank you*

Waiter -

Anataka

you (pi*) want Do you want food?

Hnataka chakula?

Aranian
bring us

tuletee

Ndiyo, tafadhali tuletee matunda*

Yes, please bring us some

fruit*
lotes
A* Subject prefix A (a plu.).
Compare the forms
ninatakm

I want

unat&ka

you (sg*) want

Anataka

you (pi*) want

The subject pronoun for second person plural is A-. Be careful not to pronounce a vowel between the m and the n in
Anataka. Be careful also not to pronounce a vowel before the m*
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BASIC COURSE

UNIT 10

B. Subject and object prefix tu (i plu.). Compare the forms:

niletee

bring me

tuletee

bring us

The object (and subject) pronoun for first person plural (we, us) is tu-,
2.

hatching parts of paired sentences.

A. First YS, second person, singular and plural.
Unataka

chakulat

Mnataka chakula?
B, Unataka matunda?
Mnataka matunda?
C. Ninataka chakula,
Tunataka chakula.
D, Niletee matunda,
Tuletee matunda.

Ndiyo. Niletee matunda, Ndiyo.

Tuletee matunda,
Ndiyo. Niletee ndizi, Ndiyo,
Tuletee ndizi.
Unataka chakula gani? Mnataka
chakula gani?
Unataka matunda gani? %
Mnataka matunda gard?

3* Free conversation. A goes into the dining room for breakfast. B is his waiter, A is joined by his friend
C,

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UNIT 11

SWAHILI

Unit 11
i.

Basic dialogue, Aramian brings his children into the dining roan between meals.
Aramian
watoto
children
ratoto (WA)

child

~angu

ny

wangu

my

wana

they have

njaa (N)

hunger

Watoto wangu wana njaa.

My children are hungry.

mna

you have

flna chakula?

Have you anything to eat?

(*do you have food' )
Waiter

tuna

we have

mkate (KI)

bread

Nciyo. Tuna matunda na mkate.

Yes, we have [some] fruit and [some

bread.
Aramian

waletee

bring them

Tafadhali, waletee mkate.

Please bring them some bread.

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BASIC COURSE

UNIT 11

Notes
A. Subject prefixes with -na. Compare the forms:
na

and, with

tuna
Ana

we have
you (pi.) have

wana
kuna

they (animate) have

there is

A more literal translation for tuna is we with*

B. Subject and object prefix wa (3 plu*)
The prefixes tu- and A are familiar from Unit 1 0 * The prefix wa- is used for third person
plural, animate subjects and objects*
2*

Matching parts of paired sentences*

A* Watoto wana chakula gani?

What kind of food do the children have?

They have bread.

Wana Akate,

Tuna mkate,

Mna chakula gani?

Nina mkate,

Una chakula gani?

random order as long as needed,) NiDetee

(etc., the above to be repeated in B* Nina

chakula.
Tuletee chakula.

njaa.
Tuna njaa.

Waletee chakula.

Watoto wana njaa.

3.

Substitution in sequences of sentences,

A. Wana njaa.
Wanataka chakula gani?

Wanataka matunda*
For the first word in this conversation, substitute nina, and continue the

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BASIC COURSE

UNIT 11

conversation accordingly* Do the same with tuna* Use other words in place of matunda.

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Unit_i2
i,

Basic dialogue. One of the hungry children.

Mutis^a
Hamisi

given name (male)

ana

he/she has

Je, Hamisi ana njaa?

Is Hamisi hungry?
itramian

Ndiyo,

Yes, he is.
Mutisya

Anataka mkate na uji?

Would he like [some] bread and

porridge?
Aramian

tu

only

basi

that is all (an interjection)

%%
Mletee mkate tu, basi*

Just bring him some bread.

Mutisya

vizuri

good (things)

Vizuri*

Very well.
Notes

A. Subject prefix a ( 3 sg.).

Compare the forms:
una njaa

you are hungry

ana njaa

he/she is hungry

The subject prefix for third person singular of animate nouns is a-.
Aramian brings his hungry children from the waiter.

B. Object prefix m (3 sg.) Compare the

The children chime in are bigger than their stomachs.

forms:

bring us some bread bring him/her some bread

tuletee mkate mletea

singular of animate nouns Is A-.

mkate
The object prefix for third person 2 * Matching parts

Hamisi has some oranges#

of paired sentences#
A. Hamisi

ana machungwa.

Watoto

wana machungwa

B. Hamisi

anataka mkate.

Watoto

wanataka mkate

The children have some oranges.

Hamisi wants some bread.
The children want some bread.
filetee chakula.
Waletee chakula.

C. Ana njaa.

Niletee chakula.

Wana njaa.

Tuletee chakula.

Nina njaa.
Tuna njaa.

into the dining room. He orders food but Aramiar knows that
3.

Free conversation.

their eyes
Unit 1 3

Basic dialogue* Luncheon or dinner at the New Africa*

Waiter
supu (N)
Unataka supu?
('Do you want soup?')

soup
Are you having the soup?

Araroian
Ndiyo, tafadhali niletee*

Yes. Please bring me [it]*

(after the soup)

Waiter
samaki (N or N-animate)

fish

Unataka samaki?
('Do you want fish?')

Will you have the fish?

Aramian

-penda
sipendi

to like
I do not like

la

no

La, sipendi.

No, I don't want [it]*

nyama (N)

meat

sasa

now

Tafadhali niletee nyama sasa*

leo
Kuna nyama gani leo?

Please bring me the meat now.

today
What kind of meat is there today?

Waiter

ng'ombe
hakuna (N-animate)
Kuna
nyama(N-anj.mate)
ya ng'ombe.Hakuna
nguruwe
nyama ya nguruwe?

Waiter
A. rami an

there is not Pig

Isn'tox
there any pork?
cow,
There is beef.
No, we have beef only.

Hakuna, bwana. Tuna nyama ya

Notes

ng'ombe tu, basi.

A.

Negative prefix ha-.

Compare the forms:

kuna

there is

hakuna

there is not

Most negative verb forms in Swahili begin with the negative prefix ha-. Whenever this prefix is used, it always
stands at the very beginning of the word, before other kinds of prefixes like tu-#
B.

Combinations of ha with a-, u- and ni-.

Compare the forms:

Affirmative
Negative

kuna

tuna

warn

mna

hakuna

hatuna

hawana

hamna

In these, the negative is simply ha-, followed by the corresponding affirmative form. The affirmative forms all begin
with consonants. Affirmative
Negative

ana

una

hana

huna

Here, the affirmative forms begin with vowels* The negative forms consist of h- followed by the affirmative forms.
The -a of the negative prefix is said to have been elided*
Affirmative

nine

Negative

sina

Here, where one might expect a negative hani-, the form which actually occurs is si-*
C.

The linking word -a.

In the form
nyama ya ng'anbe

beef (lit* cow-meat) '

the word ya is used to link the main word nyama and its satellite ng^ombe* Note that the main word comes first. Ya is
sometimes translated by English of*
D* Negative present forms, including change of final a of affirmative stem to i*
Compare the forms:
ninataka

I want

sitaki

I dont want

Again, the negative of a form that begins with ni begins with si*
Note also that where the affirmative ends with -a, the negative ends with -i.
2*

Substitution in single sentences*

A.

Hakuna

leo.

supu

Hakuna supu leo*

There is no soup today,

nyama

Hakuna

There is no meat today,

nyama leo.

mkate samaki maembe

B.
supu

Watoto hawana _____________.

Watoto

hawana supu.

The children have no soup*

UNIT

SWAHILI

13

njaa

Watoto hawana njaa.

The children are not hungry.

ndizi chakula nyama C. Hamisi

hana

matunda
machungwa

Hamisi hana matunda.

Hamisi hana machungwa.

nikate
D.

Hamisi has no fruit, Hamisi

has no oranges.

njaa ndizi

Haiina____

_____?

nyama

Hamna nyama?

Don't you have any meat? Don't

mkate

Hamna mkate?

you have any bread?

samaki
E.

Hatuna

ndizi chakula
njaa
F.

maembe chakula

Hatuna ndizi,

We have no bananas. We

Hatuna chakula.

have no food.

Huna

matunda uji

?
njaa

Huna

njaa?

Aren't

you

hungry?

irkate

Huna

mkate?

Have you no bread?

machungwa chakula ndizi

G.

Sina ________

ndizi

Sina

ndizi,

nyama

Sina

nyama,

samaki
H.

have any meat.

chakula

Sipendi_________,

chakula
uji

mkate

I don't have any bananas, I don't

Sipendi chakula.

I don't want any food.

Sitaki uji.

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UNIT

I dont wart any porridge*

SWAHILI

13

matunda nyama samak i I* Hatupendi

*
samaki
mkate
maembe

We don't want any fish. We

Hatupendi samaki.
Hatut.aki mkate.

don't want any bread*

ndizi machungwa

J. Negative of
Hatuna machungwa,

-na vs, negative of -taka, (1-2, 2-1)

Hawana machungwa,

Hatutaki machungwa,

Hana machungwa, Sina

Hawataki machungwa*

machungwa, Huna

Hataki machungwa,

machungwa? Hamna

Sitaki machungwa,

machungwa?

Hutaki machungwa?

K. Affirmative

Hamtaki machungwa? vs,

negative, -taka, no person change,
Tunat-aka mkate, Hatupendi uji.
Wanataka mkate. Hawapendi uji.
^nataka mkate.

L. Affirmative

Hapendi uji.

Ninataka mkate. Sipendi uji.

vs* negative, -taka, with person change,
Wanataka samaki?

La, hawapendi.

Anataka samaki? La, hapendi.

Unataka samaki? La, sipendi,
3. Substitutions in parts*

Mnataka samaki? La, hatupendi,

sequences of sentences. Replace any of the underlined

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B.
X. Watoto_wana r^ama?
I.

Havana nyama,
Wana supu.

X. Hands! anataka ink ate 2

Y.

La, hataki Skate* Anataka n^ama.

BASIC COURSE

UNIT 14

Unit 1 4
i.

Basic dialogue. Afternoon tea*

Waiter
chai (N)

tea

kahawa (N )

coffee

au

or

%
Hnataka chai, au kahawa?
Aramian

Do you want tea, or coffee?

Tafadhali, tuletee chai*

Please bring us some tea*

Waiter
sukari (N )

sugar

maziwa (plu. HA)

milk

Hnataka sukari na maziwa?

Aramian
rafiki (N-personal)

Do you want milk and sugar?

friend

yangu

BQT

-tumia

to use

anatumia

he uses

Ndiyo. Rafiki yangu anatumia

Yes, please* My friend uses milk

sukari na maziwa*

and sugar*

lakini

but

mimi

Lakini mimi, ninatumia maziwa tu,

But I use only milk*

basi.
Notes
A.

Independent subject pronoun mimi.

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UNIT 14

Compare the sentences:

Ninatumia sukari.

I use sugar.

Kind, ninatumia sukari#

[as for me], I use sugar*

Swahili has a set of subject pronouns which are separate words, and not just prefixes. Mimi is one of them. But these
pronouns are used as subjects of verbs for emphasis# They are also used when the verb form is in a tense that does not have
subject prefixes# The complete set is as follows:
sg# plu.
i#

mimi

sisi

2. wewe ninyi
3#

yeye

wao

B. More concerning negative counterparts of the na-tense.

Compare the forms:
tunatumia

anatumia

ninatumia

hatutumii

hatumii

situmii

The combinations of ha- with the subject prefixes are represented in exactly the same way as in the forms studied in
Unit 13#
The affirmative forms in this tense have the tense-sign -na- between the subject prefix and the root. In the
negative forms, the root follows directly after the subject prefix:
tu - na - tumi - a ha - tu -

- tumi - i

Again, the affirmative forms end with -a, while the corresponding negative forms end with -i.

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2.

UNIT 14

Substitution in single sentences. Substitute each item, in

the order given, in the sentence that precedes.

Hamisi uses sugar.

A. Na - present, 3 sg. subject.

Hamisi wants sugar.

Hamisi anatumia sukari. anataka

friend wants sugar. My

Hamisi

anataka sukari.

rafiki

Rafiki

yangu anataka sukari.

maziwa

Rafiki

yangu anataka maziwa,

sukari

Rafiki

yangu anataka sukari. My friend wants sugar,

friend wants milk.

anatumia Rafiki yangu anatumia sukari. My

friend uses sugar, watoto

The children use sugar*

Watoto

wanatumia sukari.
B. Negative present, 3 sg. subject.
Hamisi doesn't want sugar. Hamisi

Hamisi harendi sukari.

hatumii
maziwa
rafiki
sukari
hataki

doesn't use sugar. Hamisi doesn't

Hamisi hatumii sukari.

use milk.

Hamisi hatumii maziwa.

Rafiki yanguhatumiimaziwa.My

friend

doesn't use milk.

Rafiki yanguhatumiisukari.My

friend

doesn't use sugar.

Rafiki yanguhapendi

sukari.

My

frjend doesn't want sugar,

3. Matching parts of paired sentences, affirmative

'I don't use milk' Situmii

vs. negative. A. No change of person.

maziwa. Hatutumii

' 1 use sugar'

maziwa. Hatumii

Ninatumia sukari.

maziwa. Hawatumii

Tunatumia sukari.

maziwa.

Hamisi anatumia sukari.

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BASIC COURSE

Watoto wanatumia sukari.

B. With change of person*
'Do you use milk?'

UNIT 14

'No, I don't use [it]*'

Unatumia maziwa?

La, situmii*

Anatumia maziwa?

La, hatutumii*

Hamisi anatumia maziwa?

La, hatumii*

Watoto wanatumia maziwa?

C. Negative vs* affirmative, with change of person*
' 1 don't use milk'

La, hawatumii*
'Do you use sugar?'

Situmii maziwa*

Unatumia sukari?

Hatutumii maziwa*

Mnatumia sukari?

Hamisi hatumii maziwa*

Anatumia sukari?

Watoto hawatumii maziwa.

Wanatumia sukari?

It* Free conversation.

Aramian brings his children down for their afternoon tea*
Unit_i
1* Basic dialogue* Bread and butter with the tea*

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BASIC COURSE

UNIT 14

Waiter
-tosha

to be sufficient

Mkate unatosha, bwanal

Is there enough bread, sir?

('does the bread suffice!1)
Arami&n

sana

very much

Ndiyo, unatosha sana.

Oh, yes, there's plenty*

('it suffices very much')

siagi (N)

butter

kwa
Lakini siagi haitoshi kwa mkate*

by, with, at
But there's not enough butter for
the bread*

Tafadhali niletee siagi*

Please bring me [some] butter*

.

Waiter

vema

good

Verna. or: Haya.

Very good, [sir].

Notes

A. Concord: Various

classes of third person subjects*

Cotrpare the phrases:

Hamisi anataka . ,
Akate unatosha

Hamisi wants *
the bread is sufficient

nyama inatosha

the meat is sufficient

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BASIC COURSE

UNIT 14

The subjects of all three verbs are 'third person singular', but the subject prefixes are all different. The subject words,
with the subject pronouns that follow them, are:
Hamisi

a-

mkate

u-

nyama

i-

and other combinations like nyama unatosha or Hamisi inataka are forbidden. This obligatory relationship between subject
and subject prefix is an example of 'concordial agreement', or 1 concord'
B, Concord: Various classes of third person subjects.
Here is a list of most of the nouns used so far, together with the subject prefixes which agree with them:
mkate

u-

bread

uji

u-

thin porridge

matunda ya- fruit maembe

mangoes
mayai

eggs

machungwa

oranges

maziwa

milk

Note that all words in this group begin with ma-, and that the first are plural or collective in

four

meaning, while the last is the name of a

liquid.
chakula

ki-

food

siagi

i-

butter

nyama

i-

meat

chai

i-

tea

kahawa

i-

coffee

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BASIC COURSE

UNIT 14

Note that these words have no obvious prefix in common. In meaning, none is a plural.
ndizi

zi- bananas

This word is a plural.

2. Substitutions in single sentences. (Concord of noun subject and subject prefix.)
A.

natosha sana.

% sana.
locate inatosha

mkate

Thereis plenty of bread.

ritkate

siagi
sukari
nyama
kahawa
samaki
chai
supu
uji
B.
matunda
naembe

Mkate hautoshi.
Siagi inatosha sana.
maziwa
Maziwa hayatoshi.
Sukari inatosha sana*
matunda
Matunda hayatoshi*
Nyama inatosha sana..
machungwa
Machungwa hayatoshi.
Kahawa inatosha sana.
maembe
Maembe hayatoshi*
Samaki inatosha sana.
or: Embe hazitoshi.
Chai inatosha sana.
chakula
Chakula hakitoshi*
Supu inatosha sana.
n
sana.
u*Uji unatosha
Siagi
haitoshi.
siagi
nyaroa
chai

There is not enough bread*

Thereis plenty of butter.
There is not enough milk*
Thereis plenty of sugar.
There is not enough fruit.
Thereis plenty of meat.
There are not enough oranges.
Thereis plenty of coffee.
There are not enough mangoes*
Thereis plenty of fish.
Thereis plenty of tea.
There is not enough food*
Thereis plenty of soup.
Thereis plenty There
of porridge
is not enough butter.

Nyama haitoshi.

There is not enough meat.

Nattinda yanatosha
sana.
Chai haitoshi.

Thereis plenty
fruit.
There of
is not
enough tea.
Thereare plenty of mangoes

Naembe yanatosha sana.

kahawa
Kahawa haitoshi.
or: Embe zinatosha sana.
uji
Uji hautoshi.
machungwa
hachungwa yanatosha sana.
ndizi
Ndizi hazitoshi.
maziwa
haziwa yanatosha sana.

There is not enough coffee.

There is not enough gruel.
Thereare plenty of oranges
There are not enough bananas*
Thereis plenty of milk.

ndizi
Ndizi zinatosha sana.
Thereare plenty of bananas
3. Free conversation.
chakula
Chakula kinatosha sana.
Thereis plenty of food.
Aramian and his family are back again for tea. They have trouble getting enough butter for their bread, and enough
milk and sugar for their tea or coffee.

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Unit_i6
i.

Basic dialogue. Preparing to buy food at the door.

Mrtisya
-leta

bring

Hamisi analeta matunda?

Aramian

Is Hamisi bringing fruit?

nazi (N)

c oc onut/coconuts

nanasi (MA)

pineapple

mananasi

pineapples

Ndiyo, anatuletea nazi na

Yes, he is bringing us coconuts and

mananasi.
Mutisya

pineapples.

Ahl Vizuri sanal

Ahl Very goodl

Hatuna mananasi leo.

We don't have any pineapples today.

-jua or: -fahamu

know

bei (N)

price

Unaijua bei ya mananasi?

pineapples?

Do you know (it) the price of the

Aramian

la

no

La, siijui.

No, I don't (know it).

Notes

A. 'Applied or 'prepositional' stem. Compare the forms:

analeta matunda
anatuletea matunda

he is bringing fruit
he is bringing us fruit

In the second verb, the syllable -tu- is of course the i plu. object prefix. The stems of the verbs in
these sentences are respectively -leta and -letea. Both are translated with English bring*

The stem -letea is used to indicate that the action of bringing is performed with reference to
someone or something. A possible gloss would be
2E
The stem -letea is called the 'applied1, or 'prepositional' form of the simple stem -leta*
B.

The N class singular*

The word bei is in the same concord class as n^ama. That is, when it is used as the subject of a
verb, then that verb has the subject prefix i-* Likewise, both words are followed by ^a:
nyama ya ng'ombe

meat of cow

bei ya mananasi

price of pineapples

The word nazi 'coconut' is also in this class. This class of nouns in Swahili (and in Bantu languages
generally) is called 'the N - class'. We indicate membership in this class by the symbol (N)*
C.

Affirmative vs. negative present forms of a verb with vowel-final

root*
The forms
unataka

you want

unajua

you know

are parallel to one another, as are the forms

sitaki

I don't want

sijui

I don't know

D. Concord shown in object prefix, N class. In the form

unaijua?
do you know it2
the syllable -i- is the object prefix used in agreement with a singular noun of the N-class (bei). It is
possible to use either the object prefix without the noun object, as in the above example, or the noun
object without the object prefix, or - as in the basic dialogue - both object prefix and noun object in the
same sentence. The object prefix is used alone without the noun object in the reply siijui.
E.

Object prefix for singular of WA class.

In the exercises we find the sentence

Unamjua Hamisi?

Do you know Hamisi?

Here, -m- is the 3 sg. animate object prefix, agreeing with the noun object Hamisi.
Unlike the other inanimate object prefixes, the animate object prefixes -m- (sg.) and -wa(plu.) must normally be used even when there is a noun object.
Most people prefer the verb -fahamu to tne verb -jua in this context.

F.

Concords: N class singular vs. plural.

In the translations of the sentences in 16.2, the N-class words were translated either as singular or
as plural, with no change in the form of the Swahili word.
nazi

coconut/coconuts

ndizi

banana/bananas

bei

price/prices

and, for some speakers:

embe

mango/mangoes

All nouns of the N-class are

identical in singular and plural, but the can- cordial prefixes that agree with them differ.

ndizi inatosha ndizi

zinatosha
the banana suffices the bananas suffice
The noun habari is a noun of the N-class, used here in the plural. Note the difference in concords with
the linking -a:
nyama ja ng'ombe
habari za asubuhi
1. Table of animate subject and object prefixes.
The animate subject and object prefixes, in tabular form, are:

plural

singular
s.p.

o.p.

1.
2.

niu-

-ni-ku-

3.

a-

H. Literal

meaning of hagana. and

The literal

original meaning

2.

s.p.

o.p.

tum-

-tu-wa-(stem)-eni

wa-

-wa-

of hagana is

'there is not.'

however, often used as a reply equivalent to English ' n o * Another equivalent for 'no' is la.
Matching parts of paired sentences.
A. Subject in first sentence related to object prefix in second.
We have no bananas.'

'Hamisi is bringing us bananas.'

Hatuna ndizi.

Hamisi anatuletea

ndizi.

Sina ndizi.

Hamisi ananiletea

ndizi.

Watoto hawana ndizi.

Hamisi anawaletea

ndizi.

Daudi hana ndizi.

(Daudi is another proper name.)

Hamisi anamletea ndizi.

Huna ndizi?

Hamisi anakuletea ndizi.

B.
We have no coconuts.'
Hatuna nazi.

'He is bringing us coconuts.'

Anatuletea nazi.

Havana nazi.

Anawaletea nazi.

Hana nazi.

Anamletea nazi.

Huna nazi.

Anakuletea nazi.

Sina nazi.

Ananiletea nazi.

C. Root of verb in first sentence vs. object prefix plus applied stem
in second.
'Hamisi is not bringing

He is not bringing us coconuts.'

coconuts.'
nazi

Hamisi haleti nazi.

mkate

Hamisi haleti mkate.

nyama

supu

Hatuletei nazi.
Hatuletei mkate.

matunda

D. Varying subject prefixes before an object prefix.

'Do you knew (it) the
Watoto wanamjua Hamisi?

Hapana, hamjui.
'No, I don't know it.'
Hapana, hawamjui.

price of coffee2'
F.
Unaijua
kahawa?
'Do bei
youyaknow
my children?'
Hamisi anaijua bei ya
Unawajua watoto wangu2
kahawa?
%
Mnawajua watoto wangu?
Watoto wanaijua bei ya
Daudi anawajua watoto wangu?
kahawa?
Daudi na Handsi warawajua
Anaijua bei ya kahawa?
watoto wangu?

Hapana, siijui.
'Yes, I know them very [well].'
Ndiyo, ninawajua sana.
Hapana, haijui.
Ndiyo, tunawajua sana.
Ndiyo, anawajua sana.
Hapana, hawaijui.
Hapana, hatuijui*
Ndiyo, wanawajua sana.

E.
3.

Substitution
inHamisi?'
sequences of sentences. Run
the entire
'Do you know
'No, through
I don't know
him,' dialogue, using various foodstuffs

and modifying the dialogue appropriately.

Unamjua Hamisi?
HnaAjua Hamisi?
i Basic dialogue. How are the oranges?

Hapana,
simjui.
Unit_i_7
Hapana, hatumjui.

~ako

Kutisya
your
What kind of fruit is your friend

Rafiki yako analeta matunda gani?

bringing?
Aramian
~dhani

to think

nadhani
Sijui. Nadhani analeta machuhgwa.

I think
I don't know. I think he's bringing
oranges.
Nutisya

~ake

his/her

~zuri

good

ni

is/are
Are his oranges good?

Kachungwa yake ni mazuri?

(Ni may be omitted here.)

Aramian

kawaida (N)

custom

Kwa kawaida, ni mazuri sana.

They are usually very good.

wakati (U)

time

~ingine

some/other

si

is not/are not

~bivu

ripe

Lakini wakati mwingine si mabivu,

But sometimes they are not ripe.

4i

Notes
A. The verb form nadhani '1 think' is different in two respects from the verbs we have met
previously.
(i) A verb with stem final i in the affirmative.
Its final vowel is -i in both affirmative and negative forms:
nadhani
I think I don't
sidhani
think
(2) An example of the a-tense
Breaking the form down alongside ninataka, we haves
s.g.

tense_sign

stem

ni-

-na-

-taka

n-

-a-

-dhani

We will say that ninataka is an example of 'the na-tense of the verb -taka.' In the same way, nadhani is an
example of 'the a-tense of the verb -dhani.' Other persons and numbers of the a-tense will be met in later
units.
B# Concord exemplified in possessives.
Compare the phrases:

maembe yake

his/her mangoes

or: embe zake

ndizi zake

hisbananas

ndizi yake

hisbanana

kahawa yake

hiscoffee

chakula chake

hisfood

Akate wake

hisbread

uji wake

his gruel

The stem of the possessive pronoun that corresponds to English his/her is ~ake. Like the verbs,
possessives also take concordial prefixes to agree with the nouns that they go with.

Ua

Note that mkate and u^i, which are followed by identical subject prefixes, also have identical
concords with possessives. (They are assigned to different classes, however, for reasons that go beyond
the evidence so far presented.)
Note also that the plural of the MA-class (e.g. maembe) and the singular of the N class (e.g.
kahawa), which require different subject concords, require identical possessive concords.
C.

Concord exemplified with certain adjective stems.

Compare the sentences: Maembe

yake ni mazuri. Ndizi zake ni
nzuri. Ndizi yake ni nzuri.
Chakula chake ni kizuri. Mkate
wake ni Azuri.
Uji wake ni mzuri.
The stem of the adjective that

His mangoes are good. His

bananas are good. His
banana is good. His food is
good.
His bread is good.
His gruel is good.

corresponds to English good in these sentences is 'zuri. Like the verbs and the possessives, most
adjectives must agree with the nouns that they refer to, but the respective forms of the prefixes are
different.
D.

Table of concords encountered in preceding lessons.

Here is a chart of the noun classes which have been met so far, showing characteristic prefix (if
any) of the noun itself, and the prefixes required with adjectives, possessives, and verbs (subject and
object prefixes). The numbers are those used for these classes in many scientific discussions of Bantu
languages.

UNIT 17

SWAHILI

nazi

Sitaki nazi zake.

I dont want his coconuts#
chakulanoun
Chakula
kir.atoshaZ
have enough foodZ
adj. chako poss.
subject Do you object
nanasi
Sitaki nanasi lake#
I
don't
want
his
pineapple#
%
mkate
Do you have enough breadZ
-m-/Mkate
wako unatoshaZ
VWA sg. (1)
mmaB. Concord: Noun, possessive, and subject prefix#
uji
Uji wako unatoshaZ
Do you mw'
have enough porridgeZ
Pi. (2)
wawawaw-wandizi
Ndizi zangu hazitoshi#
I don't have enough bananas# ('my
F. Concord: Noun, possessive, and adjective*
bananas do not suffice'
mwuMI sg. (3)
m-/mw-unazi
hazitoshi#yako yI don'ti-have enough
coconuts
Machungwa
ni mazuriZ
Are your
oranges
-i- goodZ
pi. (4) machungwa
mi-Nazi zangu
mi-/mymachungwa
Machungwa yangu hayatoshi.
I don't have enough oranges#
maembe
Maembe yako ni mazuriZ
Are your mangoes goodZ
MA sg. (5)
(none)
(none)
1li-limatunda
Matunda yangu hayatoshi#
I don't have enough fruit#
mananasi
Mananasi
yako
ni
mazuriZ
Are
your
pineapples
goodZ
-yapi. (6)
mamayamaembe

sg. (7)
VImayai
pi. (8)

c.
sg. (9)
N kahawa
pi.(to)
chai
U sg.(l4)
siagi
mkate

y-

Maembe yangu hayatoshi#

I don't have enough mangoes#
ndizi
Ndizi zako ni nzuriZ
Are your bananas any goodZ
kLki-/chki-/ch-kiMayai yangu
hayatoshi# chI don't
have enough eggs#
nazi vi-/vyNazi
zako ni nzuriZ
Are your coconuts
vyvi-/vyvi-vi- any goodZ
Concord:n Noun, possessive, and subject prefix#
Vi.
Nyama
yangu si nzuri*
y(none,
seeyangu
Note
18C)
Kahawa
haitoshi.
(none, see Note 18C)
znyamaChai yangu haitoshi#
chai u-/wChai yangu si nzuri.
Siagi yangu haitoshi#
kahawa
Kahawa yangu si nzuri*
m-/niw-(with w_ l nonMkate wangu hautoshi#
abstract
) nouns
) si kizuri.
chakula
Chakula
changu
Chakula changu
hakitoshi.f abstract l
] u-/w-(with
mkate
Mkate wangu si mzuri.
nouns)

My meat
is not
-i- good.
I don'ti-have enough
coffee#
zi-ziI don't have enough tea.
My tea is not-ugood.
uI don't have enough butter#
My coffee is not good.

uji

grueloranges?
is not good.
Do you have tty
enough

chakula
n
V

Uji yanatosha?
wangu si mzuri.
Machungwa yako

machungwa chungwa
mayai

I dont have enough bread#

tty food is not good.
I don't have enough food#
tty bread is not good.

Chungwa langu si zuri.

My orange is not good.

sukari
machungwa

Mayai yako yanatosha?

Do you have enough eggs?
H.
Machungwa yake si mabivu.
His oranges are not ripe.
Maziwa yako yanatosha?
Do you have enough milk?
machungwa
Kahawa yako inatosha?
enough
coffee?
maembe
Maembe yake si mabivu. Do you have His
mangoes
are not ripe.
Sukari yako inatosha?
enough
sugar? are not ripe.
Sitaki machungwaMananasi
yake
mananasi
yake si mabivu. Do you have His
pineapples

chai
matunda

Chai yako inatosha?

Sitaki matunda yake.
ndizi
Ndizi zake si mbivu.

iraziwa
kahawa

Is your tea sufficient?

His bananas are not ripe.

TP

mananasi i
maeir.be
ndizi
nazi
ndizi

Sitaki
mananasi
yake.
nanasi
Nanasi lake si bivu.
Ndizi
zako zinatosha?
Sitaki maembe yake.

His pineapple is not ripe.

Do you have enough bananas?
Do you have enough coconuts?

Nazi zako zinatosha?

Sitaki ndizi zake.

k5

46
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UNIT 17

3.

SWAHILI

Substitutions in sequences of sentences.

A. Use other words in place of those that are underlined.
X. Unataka matunda?
Y.

Ninataka matunda mazuri tu basi.

X. Matunda jrangu ni mazuri sana.

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Unit i8
i Basic dialogue What do we need?
Arandan
-hitaji

(to) need

Tunahitaji ndizi?

Do we need any bananas?

Mutisya
kwa

for

sababu (N)

reason

kwa sababu

because

tunazo

we have them

"chache

few

Ndiyo, kwa sababu tunazo chache tu. Yes, we have only a few of them.
Aramian
kiazi (VI)

potato

viazi
Tuna viazi?

potatoes
Do we have potatoes?
Mutisya

"ingi
Hdiyo, tunavyo vingi.

many
Yes, we have a lot of them.
Notes
of n&a

A. Concord exemplified in 'objects'

Compare the following forms:

Tunao.

Tunazo.

We have them. (e.g. bananas)

Tunacho.

We have it. (e.g, food)

48
We have it. (e.g. bread)

Corresponding to the English object pronouns then and it is a suffix consisting of a concoraial element plus -o.
B.

Details of concord with certain adjective stems.

Tuna machungwa mengi.

We have many oranges.

Tuna sukari nyingi.

We have much sugar.

Tuna ndizi nyingi.

We have many bananas.

Tuna viazi vingi.

We have many potatoes.

Tuna uji mwingi.

We have much gruel.

Here, the forms of the adjective stem and of the prefixes themselves are less clear than they were in 17C. It will be
simplest to regard the basic form of the adjective stem as "ingi. Then, in the kA class, where one might expect
ma | ingi

the form that occurs is

mengi

In the N class, which has no uniform shape for prefixes, the form is:

The other forms are given in the exercises.

C.

N-concords with adjective stems beginning in a consonant.

The adjective stem -chache 'few' is usually used with plurals.

Compare the forms:
MA

maembe mazuri

maembe machache

ndizi nzuri

ndizi chache

ndizi mbivu ndizi nyingi

With the N class, the stem -zuri takes a prefix n-, while ~chache takes no prefix at all.

Adjectives whose stems begin with ch, f, k, m, n, s, t act like -chache in this respect, in that they have no prefix at all
for the N class.
Adjectives whose steins begin with d, g, z act like -zuri in this respect, in that they have as their N class prefix a
syllabic nasal hom- organic with the initial consonant of the stem. These nasals are written with the letter n.
Adjectives whose stems begin with v or b act like -bivu in this respect, in that they too have as prefix a syllabic nasal
consonant, homorganic with the initial consonant of the stem, and written m.
D. The VI class.
A new noun class, the VI class, is represented by viazi 'potatoes', the singular of which is kiazi. The concords for the
noun

adj.

vi-/vy- vi-/vy-

jooss.
vy-

VI class plural (cf. Note 17D) are:

subj._gref.

obj, pref.

vi- -vi-

2. Substitution in single sentences.

A.
viazi
chakula
ndizi
nyama
matunda

Concord: Noun and adjective

Tunaviazi vichache.

We have a few potatoes. We have a little food. We have a few

Tunachakula kidogo.

bananas. We have a little meat. We have a little fruit.

Tunandizi chache.
Tunanyama kidogo.
Tunamatunda machache.

viazi

Analeta viazi vingi. Analeta

ndizi

ndizi nyingi. Analeta nyama

nyama

nyingi. Analeta machungwa

machungwa

mengi.

bringing a lot of potatoes. He's bringing a lot of bananas. He's bringing a lot of meat.
He's bringing a lot of oranges.

B.
He's

SWAHILI

UNIT 19

chakula

Analeta chakula kingi.

He's bringing a lot of food.

maembe

Tunahitaji maembe mengi sasa.

YJe need a lot of mangoes now.

maziwa

Tunahitaji maziwa mengi sasa.

We need a lot of milk now.

mananasi

Tunahitaji mananasi mengi sasa.

We need a lot of pineapples now

kahawa

Tunahitaji kahawa nyingi sasa.

We need a lot of coffee now.

sukari

Tunahitaji sukari nyingi sasa.

We need a lot of sugar now.

chai

Tunahitaji chai nyingi sasa.

We need a lot of tea now.

3 * Matching parts of paired sentences.

A. Concord: Noun and object suffix.
do you have potatoes?'

'yes, we have [them]'

Ana viazi?

Ndiyo, tunavyo.

Mna chakula?

Ndiyo, tunacho.

Ana ndizi?

Ndiyo, tunazo.

Mna nyama?

Ndiyo, tunayo.

Ana machungwa?

Ndiyo, tunayo.

%
Mna mkate?

Ndiyo, tunao.

B . Concord: Noun, object suffix and adjective.

'do you have mangoes?'

1 have only a few of them.

Una maembe?

Ninayo machache tu.

Una nyama?

Ninayo chache tu.

Una nazi?

Ninazo chache tu.

Una chakula?

Kinacho kichache tu.

Una viazi?

Ninavyo vichacne tu.

Unit_i_9

1 Basic Dialogue. Buying at the door.

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SWAHILI

UNIT 19

Aramian
-uza

(to) sell

nini

what?

Unauza nini?
Hawker

What are you selling?

njugu (N)
karanga (N)
mahindi
muhindi(M) or: hindi (MA)

nuts
groundnuts maize (off cob)
ear of maize

Nina njugu na mahindi.

Aramian

I have peanuts and corn.

~bovu

bad (i.e. spoiled)

Njugu zako ni mbovu?

Hawker

Are your ground nuts bad?

siyo

(negative of ndiyo)

Siyo, si mbovu.

No, they're not bad.

zima

good (i.e. not rotten), whole

kabisa

quite

Ni nzima kabisa.
Aramian

They're quite good.

Hawker
how?

-je
~moja
Unauzaje (mu)hindi?

one
How much is the maize?
centdo(E.
African)
('How
you
sell the maize?')

senti
kumi

ten

5*

......................_____________

|__i i i f

Mmoja senti kumi

Ten cents apiece*

('one, ten cents' )
Notes

A. In the reply
Mmoja senti kumi.

Ten cents
apiece.
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SWAHILI

UNIT 19

(One-ten cents.)
the adjective mmoja agrees with muhindi, 'ear of maize* 1
B. Use of WA class concords for all nouns denoting living beings*
The words ndizi 'banana' and nazi 'coconut', as N-class singulars, are
found in the phrases
ndizi moja

one banana

nazi moja

one coconut

The words ng'o mb g 'cow, cattle' and ngu ruw e ' p i g ' , which in some respects may be regarded as
belonging to the N-class, behave dilferently with adjectives:

ng'ombe mmoja

one ox

nguruwe ftmoja

one pig

In this respect they are like the singular of the WA-class:

mtoto mmoja

one child

Indeed, nouns of any class, when they stand for animate beings, require that the adjectives which
accompany them have concords of the animate (WA) class*

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UNIT 1 9

SWAHILI

Thus samaki 'fish', when it stands for a live fish, is

w<n

samaki iJimoja
but when the fish has been cooked ready to eat, it may be called
samaki moja
(Most speakers, however, use samaki always as a member of the WA class, never as a member of the N
class*)
C* Contrast between mb- and mb-.
In the phrases usually written in standard spelling:
Nazi yangu ni mbovu.
j Hindi langu ni bovu.

My coconut is bad*

.
w

(Muhmdi wangu ni mbovu.

the words spelled nibovu are not pronounced alike. Accordingly, we shall write mbovu (N-class)

IB

and tfibovu (WA, MI, U classes). In the latter, the constitutes a separate syllable, while in the *
former it does not.
2. Matching parts of single sentences.
A.

Concord: Noun and adjective,

chungwa

Nina chungwa moja tu.

embe

Nina embe moja tu.

I have only one orange.

I have only one mango,
nazi kiazi samaki

tunda nanasi yai ndizi

B.

mtoto ng1

Nina mtoto mmoja tu.

embe
nguruwe

I have only one child. I have

only one ox.

Nina ng'ombe mmoja tu.

muhindi mkate rafiki

B.

Concord: Noun and two adjectives, chungwaChungwa moja ni bovu.

One

spoiled,
embe

Embe moja ni bovu.

One mango is spoiled,

nanasi

Nanasi moja ni bovu.

One pineapple is spoiled.

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orange is

BASIC COURSE

UNIT 19

yai

Yai moja ni bovu.

One egg is spoiled.

ndizi

Ndizi moja ni mbovu.

One banana is spoiled.

nazi

Nazi moja ni mbovu.

One coconut is spoiled.

kiazi

Kiazi kimoja ni kibovu.

One potato is spoiled.

samaki

Samaki moja ni mbovu.

One fish is spoiled.

muhindi

Muhindi mmoja ni mbovu.

One ear of maize is spoiled. One piece of

tunda

Tunda moja ni bovu.

fruit is spoiled.

embe

Embe moja tu ni zima.

Only one mango is good.

nanasi

Nanasi moja tu ni zima.

Only one pineapple is good. Only one egg is

yai

Yai moja tu ni zima.

good.

ndizi

Ndizi moja tu ni nzima.

Only one banana is good.

nazi

Nazi moja tu ni nzima.

Only one coconut is good.

kiazi

Kiazi kimoja tu ni kizirca

Only one potato is good.

samaki

Samaki moja tu ni nzima.

Only one fish is good, (dead) Only one

samaki

Samaki mmoja tu ni mzima.

fish is good, (live) Only one ear of

muhindi

Muhindi mmoja tu ni mzima

maize is good.

machungwa

Machungwa yangu si mabovu

My oranges are not bad.

chungwa

Chungwa langu si bovu.

My orange is not bad.

mananasi

Mananasi yangu si mabovu.

Jfy pineapples are not bad*

nanasi

Nanasi langu si bovu.

My pineapple is not bad.

mayai

Mayai yangu si mabovu.

My eggs are not bad.

D.

E.

F.

G.

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BASIC COURSE

UNIT 19

yai

Yai langu si bovu.

lfy egg is not bad.

maembe

Maembe yangu si mabovu.

My mangoes are not bad.

Embe langu si bovu.

My mango is not bad.

viazi

Viazi vyako ni vibovu.

Your potatoes are spoiled

kiazi

Kiazi chako ni kibovu.

Your potato is spoiled.

ndizi (pi,)

Ndizi zako ni mbovu.

Your bananas are spoiled.

ndizi (sg.)

Ndizi yako ni mbovu.

Your banana is spoiled.

nazi (pi.)

Nazi zako ni mbovu.

Your coconuts are spoiled

nazl (sg.)

Nazi yako ni mbovu.

Your coconut is spoiled*

muhindi

Muhindi wako ni mbovu.

Your maize is spoiled.

mihindi

Mihindi yako ni mibovu.

Your maize is spoiled.

embe
H.

3, Matching parts of paired sentences,

chungwa
Chungwaslots,
lako ni zima;
A, Concord in multiple
maerr.be
Maembe yako ni mazima;
'my potatoes are badj
embc
Embe lako ni zimaj
Viazi vyangu ni vibovuj
mayai
Mayai yako ni mazimaj
Kiazi changu ni kibovuj

viazi
kiazi

yai

langu ni bovu.
yangu ni mabovu.
his are good'
langu ni bovu.
vyake ni vizima.
yangu ni mabovu.
chake ni kizima*

Yai lako ni zimaj

Ndizi zangu ni mbovu;

langu ni bovu.
zake ni nzima.

Correspending singular and plural

Ndizi yangu ni mbovu;

concords.
yake ni nzima.

'are the potatoes good?'

Nazi yangu ni ir.bovu;

'one is bad'
yake ni nzima.

viazi

Viazi ni vizima?
Mihindi yangu ni mibovu;

yake ni mizima.

nuhindi ndizi

Ndizininimbovu;
nzima?
Muhindi wangu

Moja ni mbovu.
wake ni mzima.

ndizi

C.

ndizi
nazi
mihindi

ftcamaki

Samaki ni nzima?

Kimoja ni kibovu

Moja ni mbovu.

nazi

Nazi ni nzirna?
'your oranges are good;

D.
machungwa
Machungwa yako ni mazima;
natunda
Matunda ni mazirra?
machungwa

Machungva ni mazima?

naembe

Maembe ni mazima?

nihindi

Mihindi ni mizirna?

Moja ni mbovu.
mine are bad'
yangu ni mabovu.
Moja ni bovu.
Moja ni bovu.
56

Moja ni bovu.

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Mmoja ni mbovu.

Unit 20
1. Basic dialogue. Where do you live? (NB This dialogue is now obsolete from a political point of
view.)
Aramian
-kaa

(to) live (reside)

wapi?

where?

Unakaa wapi?

Where do you live?

N

Mchukuzi
Ninakaa Morogoro.
Arabian
Aji (MI)

I live in Morogoro.
town

~kubwa

large

~dogo
Korogoro ni Aji inkubwa, au Adogo?

small
Is Morogoro a large town, or a small
one?
%
Mchukuzi

Ni Akubwa.
Aramian
Akubwa (WA)

It's large.
the chief

nani?

who?

huo

that

Mkubwa wa Aji huo ni nani?

Who is the chief of that town?

%

Mchukuzi
Ni Sultani Kunambi.

[He]'s Sultan Kunambi.

Notes

A* Adjective used, without antecedent, in a noun position.

The word inkubwa is used in two different ways in the dialogues
fiji ni mkubwa.

The city is big.

Here, inkubwa represents an adjective in agreement with a singular noun of the Mi-class

riikubwa wa mji

the big [man] of the city

Here, the same written and spoken form represents a singular noun of the WA- class or, if one prefers, it
may be regarded as an adjective agreeing with an understood* antecedent in the singular of the WAclass.
B. Demonstratives in h- -o.
those potatoes that

Compare the phrases:

city that egg

viazi hivyo
mji huo yai
hilo

In each phrase, the second word is a 'demonstrative' which corresponds partially to English that.
All such demonstratives begin with h- and end with -o; what comes in between the h- and the -o depends
on concord class. The meaning is approximately 'that one that we were talking about' or 'that one near
you', rather than 'that one over there within view.'

pi.
MA

Sg.

Fl.

0
1
&

Sg.

MI

sg.
pi.

Si

WA

h-a-o
h-u-o
h - iy - o
h - il - o
h - ay - o

VI

Sg.

pl.

h - ich - o
h - ivy - o

sg.
Pl.

h - iy - o
h - iz - o

Sg.

h-u-o

Compare these forms with the final syllables of the forms discussed in Note 18A.
2. Matching parts of single sentences.
A. Concord: Noun and demonstrative.
mihindi

Unajua bei ya mihindi hiyo?

Do you know the price of that

maize?

matunda

Unajua bei ya matunda hayo?

Do you know the price of that

fruit?

machungwa

Unajua bei ya machungwa hayo?

Do you know the price of those

oranges?

chakula

Unajua bei ya chakula hicho?

Do you know the price of that

food?

B.
viazi

Sijui bei ya viazi hivyo.

ndizi

Sijui bei ya ndizi hizo.

nazi

Sijui bei ya nazi hizo.

I don't know the price of those potatoes.

I don't know the price of those bananas.
I don't know the price of those coconuts.
I don't know the price of that coffee.
I don't know the price of that tea.

kahawa

Sijui bei ya kahawa hiyo.

chai

Sijui bei ya chai hiyo.

c.

Concord: Noun, demonstrative and

mjl

adjective

Aji huo ni mkubwa?

Is that city large?

ng'ombe

Ng'ombe huyo ni mkubwa?

Is that ox big?

nguruwe

Nguruwe huyo ni mkubwa?

Is that pig big?

%
ng'ombe
Ng'ombe hao ni wakubwa?
Mtoto huyo ni mkubwa?
(pl.)

ir.toto

n
ng'ombe (sg.)
viazi

Ng'ombe huyo ni Akubwa?

Viazi hivyo si vikubwa sana.

nguruwe
Nguruwe hao ni wakubwa?
Kiazi hicho si kikubwa sana.
(pl.)

kiazi

maernbe nguruweMaembe
hayo sihuyo
makubwa
sana.
Nguruwe
ni Akubwa?
(sg.)

err.be

Is that child big?

La, niwadogo.

Embe hilo si kubwa sana.

La, niAdogo.
Those potatoes aren't very large
La, niwadogo.
That potato isn't very large.
Those mangoes
aren't very large.
La, niAdogo.
That mango isn't very large.

c.

mayai

Mayai hayo si makubwa sana.

Those eggs aren't very large.
watoto
Watoto wake ni wazuri?
Ndiyo,ni wazuri
yai
Yai hilo si kubwa sana.
That egg isn't very large.
Atoto
%
Ndiyo,ni Azuri
Mtoto
wake
ni
Azuri?
3. Matching parts of paired sentences.
nguruwe
Nguruwe |^^|ni wazuri?
Ndiyo,ni wazuri
(pl.)
A. Concord: Noun, demonstrative, and two adjectives.
nguruwe
(sg.)

Nguruwe wake ni Azuri?

'are those potatoes large?'

Viazi hivyo ni vikubwa?

ng'anibe
Ng'ombe|^^^ni wazuri?
(pl.)
Kiazi hicho ni kikubwa?

viazi
kiazi

La, ni vidogo.
Ndiyo,ni wazuri

sana,

La, ni kidogo.

chungwa

La, ni dogo.

ndizi (pi

.) Ndizi hizo
ni kubwa?
'is that
mango ripe?'

.) Ndizi hiyo ni kubwa?

ndizi (sg
embe
Embe hilo ni bivu?
B.maembe

Maembe hayo ni mabivu?

watotondizi

hiyo
ni mbivu?
WatotoNdizi
hao ni
wakubwa?
(sg.) %
mtoto
Mtoto huyo ni mkubwa?
ndizi
Ndizi hizo ni mbivu?
(pl.)
chungwa
machungwa

sana
sana.

Ndiyo,ni Azuri
La, ni madogo.

Chungwa hilo ni kubwa?

sana.

Ndiyo,ni Azuri
'no, they are small'

ng ombe
Ng'ombe wake ni Azuri?
machungwa
Machungwa hayo ni makubwa?
(sg.)

D.

sana

La, ni ndogo.

sana.

'no, it is not ripe'

La, ni ndogo.
La, sibivu.
La, simabivu.
La, simbivu.
La, ni wadogo.
La, ni rodogo.
La, simbivu.

Chungwa hilo ni bivu?

La, sibivu.

Machungwa hayo ni mabivu?

La, simabivu.

Unit 21^
i

Basic Dialogue. Where is Morogoro from here?

Aramian
uko

it is there

%
Mji wa Morogoro uko wapi?

Where is (town of) Morogoro?

Kis friend

-elewa

understand

Sielewi, bwana.

I don't understand (sir).

Aramian

upande (U)

direction

Fiji wa Morogoro uko upande gani wa What direction is Morogoro from

Dar es Salaam?
Dar es Salaam?
('city of M. is there which side of
D.?' )
His friend
magharibi (N)
west
AhJ Uko magharibi ya Dar es Salaam. Ahl It's west of Dar es Salaam.
Aramian
kusini (N)

south

Je, mji wa Utete uko kusini ya

Dar es Salaam?

Is Utete south of Dar es Salaam?

His friend
Yes [it is] (sir).

Ndiyo, bwana.

Aramian
kaskazini (N)

north

mashariki (N)

east

hapa (PA)
Na m,1i wa Bagamoyo, uko kaskazini

here
And Bagamoyo - is it north, or east

au mashariki ya hapa?

of here?
His friend

Uko kaskazini.

North,
Notes

A. Polite yes - no replies in Swahili and English.

Note the lack of exact parallel between the Swahili and the English in
Ndiyo, bwana.
Yes [it is] (sir).
In either language, the shortest possible answer (respectively ndiyo and yes) would be abrupt in this context. It is
softened in each language by the addition of something. In Swahili it is the honorific title bwana, while in English it is the
clause fragment it_is.
2. The meanings of the four direction-words: Questions on the map.

Is Morogoro west of Dar es Salaam?

Morogoro iko magharibi ya Dar es Salaam?

Bagamoyo iko magharibi ya Dar es Salaam?

Is Bagamoyo west of Dar es Salaam?

Utete iko magharibi ya Dar es Salaam?

Utete iko mashariki ya Dar es Salaam?
Bagamoyo
Utete iko kusini ya Dar es Salaam?

Is Utete westKa.
of Dar es Salaam?
k

Utete
iko kaskazini ya Dar es Salaam?
Morogoro

Ilagh. - Mash.
Is Utete east of Dar es Salaam?

Dar es Salaam iko kusini ya Bagamoyo?

Dar es Salaam

Ku.

Utete iko kaskazini ya Bagamoyo?

Dar es Salaam iko magharibi ya Morogoro?

Utete

Is Utete south of Dar es Salaam?

Is Utete north of Dar es Salaam?

Is Dar es Salaam south of Bagamoyo?

Is Utete north of Bagamoyo?
Is Dar es Salaam west of Morogoro?

(N. B. Place names are treated as being in the N class if they are not preceded by some expression such as mji wa.)
3,

The four direction words: Completion. (The tutor should pause at the point indicated, allowing the student to finish the

sentence for him.)

Dar es Salaam iko kusini ya ---------------- Bagamoyo.
Bagamoyo iko kaskazini ya Dar es Salaam.
Morogoro iko magharibi ya Dar es Salaam.
Dar es Salaam iko kaskazini ya Utete.
Dar es Salaam iko mashariki ya Morogoro.
Utete iko kusini ya ------------- Dar es Salaam.

Unit 22
1.

Basic Dialogue* In a village*

Mirambo
kijiji (VI)

village

Kijiji hiki kiko upande gani wa Dar es

What direction is this village from Dar es

Salaam?

Salaam?
Hasani
Kiko kusini*

It's south,
Mirambo

nyuraba (N)

house, houses

mawe

stones

jiwe (MA)

stone
Are the houses of this village [made] of stone?

Nyumba za kijiji hiki ni za mawe?

Hasani
La* Nyumba za kijiji hiki si za mawe*

No, (the houses of this village) they aren't

udongo (U)

(of stone)* soil

Nyingi ni za udongo*

Many are [made] of mud*

Notes

A* Demonstratives in hV. - V.
In the phrase kijiji hiki 'this village' the word hiki is a demonstrative which corresponds very closely to English
'this/these.' It may be called a 'proximal demonstrative*'
The 'proximal demonstratives' agree with the nouns to which they refer*

Thus:
kijiji hiki

this village

vijiji hivi

these villages

chungwa hili

this orange

The proximal forms for the noun classes that have been met so far are to be found in the exercises.
B. The locative stems -ko, -go.
Compare the phrases:
Kijiji kiko wapi?

Where is the village?

Aji uko wapi?

Where is the town?

The locative stem -ko, takes concordial prefixes ki-, u-, etc.
If the answer contains the word haga 'here', then -go must be instead of -ko. For details, see the exercises.
C.

Phrases with linking -a used without antecedent.

nyumba za mawe
Nyumba ni za mawe.

houses of stone(s)
The houses are of stone.

Phrases which consist of the linking -a + noun need not follow immediately after the nouns to which they refer, and may
even be used alone:
-

Za mawe ziko wapi?

Za uaongo zipo hapa.

D.

Where are the ones (i.e. the

houses) [made] of stone?
[The ones made] of mud are here.

Special form of 3 sg. animate subject prefix with the locative stems. Note that the 1 sg. animate subject prefix

used with -ko and -go is jru- and not a-s

Daudi yupo hapa.
2* Hatching parts of single sentences*
A. Concord: Noun, demonstrative and adjective*

Daudi is here.

kijiji

Kijiji hiki ni kizuri.

This village is nice*

vijiji

Vijiji hivi ni vizuri.

These villages are nice.

kiazi

Kiazi hiki ni kizuri.

This potato is nice*

viazi

Viazi hivi ni vizuri.

These potatoes are nice*

chakula

Chakula hiki ni kizuri.

This food is nice*

vyakula

Vyakula hivi ni vizuri.

These foods are nice*

chungwa

Chungwa hili ni kubwa.

This orange is large.

machungwa

Machungwa haya ni makubwa.

These oranges are large*

embe

Embe hili ni kubwa.

This mango is large.

maembe

Maembe haya ni makubwa.

These mangoes are large.

nanasi

Nanasi hili ni kubwa.

This pineapple is large.

mananasi

Mananasi haya ni makubwa.

These pineapples are large*

yai

lai hili ni kubwa.

This egg is large.

mayai

Mayai haya ni makubwa.

These eggs are large.

Nazi hii ni ndogo.

This coconut is small.

nazi
(pi.)

Nazi hizi ni ndogo.

These coconuts are small.

ndizi
(sg.)

Ndizi hii ni ndogo.

This banana is small.

ndizi
(pl.)

Ndizi hizi ni ndogo.

These bananas are small.

B.

nazi
(sg.)

v#

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D.

mtoto
watoto
ng1ombe
(mmoja)
ngombe
(wengi)
nguruwe
(mmoja)
nguruwe
(wengi
)
samaki
(mmoja)
samaki
(wengi
)
samaki
(mmoja)
samaki

*
Mtoto huyu ni indogo.

This child is small.

Watoto hawa ni wadogo.

These children are small.

Ng'ombe huyu ni mdogo.

This ox is small.

Ng'ombe hawa ni wadogo.

These oxen are small.

Nguruwe huyu ni mdogo.

This pig is small.

Nguruwe havra ni wadogo.

These pigs are small.

Samaki huyu ni mdogo.

This (live) fish is small.

Samaki hawa ni wadogo.

These (live) fish are small.

Samaki hii ni ndogo.

This (cooked) fish is small.

Samaki hizi ni ndogo.

These (cooked) fish are small

C . Concord: Noun, possessive, location.

chai

Chai yako ipo hapa.

Your tea is here.

Kahawa yako ipo hapa.

Your coffee is here.

sukari

Sukari ipo hapa.

The sugar is here.

siagi

Siagi ipo hapa.

The butter is here.

nyama

Nyama ipo hapa.

The meat is here.

mkate

Mkate upo hapa.

The bread is here.

Daudi

Daudi yupo hapa.

Daudi is here.

watoto

Watoto wapo hapa.

The children are here.

kahawa

F.

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Ng'ombe yupo hapa.

The ox is here.

Ng'ombe wapo hapa.

The oxen are here.

Nguruwe yupo hapa.

The pig is here.

Nguruwe wapo hapa.

The pigs are here.

chakula

Chakula chako kipo hapa.

Your food is here.

vyakula

Vyakula vyako vipo hapa.

Your food is here.

kiazi

Kiazi chako kipo hapa.

Your potato is here.

viazi

Viazi vyako vipo hapa.

Your potatoes are here

ng' ooibe
(sg.)
ng'ombe
(pl.)
nguruwe
(sg.)
nguruwe
(pl.)
G.

3. Matching parts of paired sentences.

A.Concord-: Noun and -ko or -go.
chai

Chai yangu iko wapi?

Where is my tea?

Ipo hapa.
kahava

It's here.

Kahawa yangu iko wapi?

Where is rny coffee?

Ipo hapa.
sukari

It's here.

Sukari iko wapi?

Where is the sugar?

Ipo hapa.
siagi

It's here.

Siagi iko wapi?

Where is the butter.

Ipo hapa.
nyama

It's here.

Nyama iko wapi?

Where is the meat?

Ipo hapa.
Akate
Upo hapa.

It's here.

Mkate uko wapi?

Where is the bread?

It's here.

B.
Daudi

Daudi yuko wapi?

Yuko Morogoro.

watoto

Watoto wako wapi?

Wako Morogoro.

ng'ombe
(sg.)

Ng'ombe wako yuko wapi?

ng1ombe
(pl.)

Ng'ombe wako wako wapi?

nguruwe
(sg.)

Nguruwe wako yuko wapi?

nguruwe
(pl.)

Nguruwe wako wako wapi?

Yuko Morogoro.

Wako Morogoro.

Yuko Morogoro.

Wako Morogoro.

Where is Daudi?
He's at Morogoro.
Where are the children?
They are at Morogoro.
Where is your ox?
It's at Morogoro.
Where are your oxen?
They are at Morogoro.
Where is your pig?
It's at Morogoro.
Where are your pigs?
They are at Morogoro.

n
v*

chakula

Chakula changu kiko wapi?

Kipo hapa*

vyakula

Vyakula vyangu viko wapi?

Vipo hapa.

kiazi

Kiazi changu kiko wapi?

Kipo hapa.

viazi

Viazi vyangu viko wapi?

Vipo hapa.

Where is my food?
I t ' s here.
Where is my food?
I t ' s here*
..here is my potato?
I t ' s here.
'..here are inv potatoes?
They are here.

Unlt_23
i Basic Dialogue*

Where are you going?

Sangai
go

-enda

Where are you going?

Unakwenda wapi?
Hadija
soko (MA)

market in, at, on

I'm going to the market.

-ni
Sangai

Ninakwenda sokoni.

make, do to do To do what?
Hadija

-fanya
kufanya Kufanya

buy

nini?

thing
To buy some things.
Sangai

-nunua kitu
(VI) Kununua

What kind of things?

vitu*

Hadija
Groceries, ('to buy foodstuffs' )
Notes

Kununua vitu gani?

>1

A. The locative suffix -ni.

Kununua vyakula.

Ninakwenda Morogcro,

I'm going to Norogoro.

Norogoro uko wapi?

Where is Norogoro?

Nir.akwenda sokoni.

Im going to the market.

Soko liko wapi?

Where is the market?

The 'locative suffix' -ni 'at, to, in' is added to many words, but not to the nan.es of cities.

As noted in Unit 2 1 , the form iko is sometimes used in place of uko in

sentences of this kind.
B. Ku- as 'sign of the infinitive.

9
*

Ninanunua vitu.

I'm buying things.

Ninataka kununua vitu.

I want to buy things*

The prefix ku- used alone before a verb stem corresponds partially to the Lnglish word 'to' used as 'sign of the
infinitive.' Forms like kununua, kufanjra are called 'infinitives.'

C. Use of kw in inflected forms with the stem -enda.

Ninataka kwenda.

I want to go.

Ninakwenda.

I'm going.

The stem, of this verb is -enda. It begins with a vowel. The infinitive
prefix is written kw- instead of ku-.
D.
Ninataka kwenda.

I want to go.

Ninakwenda.

I'm going.

Ninataka kununua . . .

I want to buy . .

Ninanunua ...

I'm buying ...

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The ku-/kw- of the infinitive form is missing from the personal forms of most verbs, including -nunua. But for
-enda, kw- is retained in most forms. This is true for a few other verbs as well.
2.

Substitutions in single sentences.

A. Simple noun vs. noun with -ni.

soko

Ninakwenda sokoni.

Im going to the market.

nyumba

Ninakwenda nyumbani.

I'm going home.

Aji

Ninakwenda Ajini.

I'm going to the town.

kijiji

Ninakwenda kijijini#

I'm going to the village.

Morogoro

Ninakwenda Morogoro.

I'm going to Morogoro.

Bagamoyo
B.

Ninakwenda Bagamoyo.

I'm going to Bagamoyo.

Infinitive after -taka.

vyakula

Juma anataka kununua vyakula.

Juma wants to buy food.

machungwa Juma anataka kununua machungwa.

muhindi
C.
kusini

nyama

sukari

Juma wants to buy oranges.

Akate

Direction words plus ^a.

Juma na Hasani wanakwenda
kusini ya Bagamoyo.

kaskazini

Juma and Hasani are going to

the south of Bagamoyo.

. Juma na Hasani wanakwenda

kaskazini ya Bagamoyo.

mashariki

Juma and Hasani are going to

the north of Bagamoyo.

magharibi

3.
A.
soko
masoko
kijiji

Concord: Noun and -ko.

Soko liko wapi?

Where is the market?

Masoko yako wapi?

Where are the markets?

Kijiji kiko
wapi?

mji wa
Utete

forms.

Mji wa
B. -ko:

Juma

Utete

He is not at the market.

He is at home.

uko

Are the children at the market? They are

wapi?

not at the market. They are at home.

affirmative vs. negative Juma

vatoto

Is Juma at the market?

yuko
sokoni?

Hayuko sokoni.
Njoroge

Is Njoroge at the market?

He is not at the market.
He is at heme.
Are Juma and Njoroge at the market?
They are not at the market. They are at
home.

Juma na
vituNjoroge
vyangu Vitu vyangu viko wapi?

Where are my things?

Where is the village?

Yuko nyumbani. Watoto wako sokoni? Hawako

Where is the town of Utete?

sokoni.
Wako nyumbani. Njoroge yuko sokoni? Hayuko
sokoni,
Yuko nyumbani.
Juma na Njoroge wako sokoni?
Hawako sokoni.
Wako nyumbani.

Unit 24
i

Basic Dialogue Where has Juma gone?

Abasi
amekwenda

Juma amekwenda wapi?

Amekwenda sokoni.

he is gone
Where has Juma gone?
Hadi.ja
He's gone to the market.
Abasi

Kufanya nini?

What for?
Hadija

-ona

see

kama

if, whether

-patikana

be available

Kuona kama machungwa yanapatikana.

To see whether there are any oranges

to be had.

-isha

tayari(sometimes pronounced
[teiyari] or [tiyari])

ready
finish

hind nimekwisha kwenda tayari. ~bichi

I've already gone [there], unripe

Kuna rcachache tu mabichi.

There are only a few green ones five

~tano

I bought five.

Nimenunua matano.

Abasi
Notes
A. Adjectives which do not take Nyama ni

concordial prefixes*

tayari.

The meat is ready.

Nyama ni nzuri.

The meat is good.

Chakula

ni

tayari.

The food is ready.

Chakula

ni

kizuri.

The food is good.

The children are ready.

Watoto ni tayari.

Some adjectives, of which tavari 'ready' is one, do not take prefixes to show agreement with the nour.s to which they
refer.
B.

Adjective stems preceded by subject prefixes.

A more correct way of saying the same thing is as follows:

Nyama i tayari.

The meat is ready.

Chakula ki tayari.

The food is ready.

Watoto wa tayari.

The children are ready.

The list of 'subject prefixes' used in this construction is identical with the list used before -ko, -go, in that the Class

(singular of WA class) prefix is ju, and not a-.

The adjective tayari, as illustrated in Note A, is one of a list of adjectives which never take concordial prefixes. But
after subject prefixes, even those adjectives which do on occasion tale concordial prefixes, appear without those prefixes.
Compare this example from Ashton (p. 9h):
Mkate huu u tamu.

This loaf

is sweet.

Mkate huu ni mtamu.

This loaf

is (a) sweet (one).

In the Dialogue, talari is 'used adverbially.' That is, it does not modify any noun, and does not occupy a slot usually
filled by nouns. It is used here as a counterpart of English 'already.' This usage of tayari after the me-tense is not fully
accepted as standard.
C.

The me-tense.
M

Juma anakwenda wapi?

Where is Juma going?

Juma amekwenda wapi?

Where has

Juma gone?

The tense prefix -me- occurs in the same slot as -na-. -mg- indicates completion of an action or process. The -meforms of some verbs are generallytranslated into English by using an English present perfect' tense.
D. Use of kw in inflected forms with

the stem -isha.

Nimekwisha. ...

I have finished. ...

Nimekwenda.

I have gone*

Nimenunua*

I have bought*

The verb -isha, like -enda,

keeps

the kw- after certain

tense prefixes

including -me- and -na-*

E.

Seme speakers use ikiwa it being* in place of kama where that word appears in the basic dialogue for this

unit*
2

A. Numbers 1-5 with MA class*

moja

Nimenunua

chungwa moja,

leo?
I have bought one orange*

mawili

Nimenunua

machungwa mawili

I have bought two oranges*

matatu marine matano

B* Numbers 1-5 with N-class*
moja

Nimenunua ndizi moja*

I have bought one banana.

mbili

Nimenunua

I have bought two bananas*

ndizi mbili*

tatu Ane tano

C* Numbers 1-5 with MI class*
ftmoja

Nimenunua mkate mmoja,

I have bought a loaf of bread*

miwili

Nimenunua

I have bought two loaves of bread*

mikate miwili.

mitatu miAne mitano

D. -gatikana; concord of noun and
ndizi

Ndizi zinapatikana sokoni

leo?

chai

Chai inapatikana sokoni

subject prefix.
Are bananas available in the market today?
Is tea available in the market today?

mkate

Mkate unapatikana sokoni

leo?

maembe

Maembe yanapatikana sokoni

leo?

nyama

Is bread available in the market todays

Are mangoes available in the market today?
Is meat available in the market today?

Nyama inapatikana sokoni

leo?

A. Concord of noun in first sentence with 'object' of na.

machungwa

Juma arr.ekwenda sokoni

kununua machungwa,

mayai

We don't have any at home,

Juma amekwenda sokoni

Juma has gone to the market to buy eggs.

Hatunayo nyumbani.
Juma amekwenda sokoni
kununua sukari,
Hatunayo nyumbani,
nyama

Juma amekwenda sokoni

kununua nyama,
Hatunayo nyumbani,

ndizi

Juma amekwenda sokoni

kununua ndizi,
Hatunazo nyumbani,

nazi

oranges.

Hatunayo nyumbani,

kununua mayai,

sukari

Juma has gone to the market to buy

Juma amekwenda sokoni

kununua nazi,
Hatunazo nyumbani.

We don't have any at hone,

Juma has gone to the market to buy sugar.
We don't have any at home,
Juma has gone to the market to buy meat.
We don't have any at home,
Juma has gone to the market to buy
bananas.
We don't have any at home,
Juma has gone to the market to buy
coconuts.
We don't have any at home.

B.

mawili

Tunahitaji mananasi?
La, tunayo mawili tayari.

matatu

Tunahitaji mananasi?
La, tunayo matatu tayari.

mi fine

Tunahitaji mananasi?
La, tunayo minne tayari.

matano

Tunahitaji mananasi?

Do we need pineapples?
No, we have two already.
Do we need pineapples?
No, we have three already.
Do we need pineapples?
No, we have four already.
Do we need pineapples?

La, tunayo matano tayari.

No, we have five already.
B.
Some
speakers
prefer
tunataka
to
tunahitaji
in
this
sentence
[N.
r

UQ

mayai

Mnayo mayai?

ndizi

Ndiyo, tunayo mawili.

%
Mnazo ndizi?
Ndiyo, tunazo mbili.
%
Mnao watoto?

watoto
n

Do you have eggs?

Yes, we have two of them.
Do you have bananas?
Yes, we have two of them.
Do you have children?
Yes, we have two of them.

Ndiyo, tunao wawili.

u*

%
Mnayo mayai?

mayai

Ndiyo, tunayo matatu.

ndizi

Mnazo ndizi?
Ndiyo, tunazo tatu.
%
Mnao watoto?

watoto

Do you have eggs?

Yes, we have three of them.
Do you have bananas?
Yes, we have three of them.
Do you have children?
Yes, we have three of them.

Ndiyo, tunao watatu.

TT

Jw#

mayai

%
Mnayo mayai?

ndizi

Ndiyo, tunayo marine.

%
Mnazo ndizi?
Ndiyo, tunazo fine.

Do you have eggs?

Yes, we have four of them.
Do you have bananas?
Yes, we have four of them.

ndizi F.
watoto
Mnao watoto?
Mnayo
mayai?
Hamisi analeta machungwa
mabivu? Ndiyo,
Ndiyo,
tunao
Ndiyo,
tunayowAnne.
matano.
mayai
amekwisha leta mabivu.
watoto
Mnazo ndiz i?
%

G.

Ndiyo, turazo tano.

Analeta mabichi sasa.
hnao watoto?
Ndiyo, tunao watano.

Is
DoHamisi
you have
bringing
eggs?
children?
ripe oranges?
Yes,
Yes, we
we have
have five
fourof
ofthem.
them.
Yes, he has already brought ripe
ones.
Do you have
bananas?
Yes, we have five of them.
He is bringing unripe ones
now.
Do you have children?
Yes, we have five of them.

In the above conversation substitute for machungwa: mananasi, maembe, ndizi.

Conversation Starters
1.

A asks B where C has gone, and what he has gone there for.

2.

A is selling fruit. B, a prospective customer, asks about the condition of one kind of fruit after another.

UNIT 25

SWAHILI

Unit_25
1*

Basic Dialogue. Gone to pay taxes.

Magese

Unakvenda vapi?
Abasi

Where are you going?

bona (MA )

District Office

Ninakvenda bomani.

I'm going to the District Office.

Magese

kodi (N)

tax

-lipa

pay

kodi ya nyumba

rent/house tax

Kulipa kodi ya nyumba?

Abasi

To pay [your] house tax?

La. Nimekvisha lipa kodi ya

No, I've already paid [ny] house tax.

nyumba.
kichwa (VI)

head

ada (N)

fee

shule (N)

school

(skull (N) is used in many parts of East Africa)

Ninakvenda kulipa kodi ya kichwa,

I'm going there to pay [my] poll tax

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na ada ya shule.

UNIT 25

and [my] school fees.

Umelipa kodi ya kichwa?

Have you paid [your] poll tax?

Magese

bado

not yet

Hapana, sijalipa bado.

No, I haven't (paid yet).

82

Notes
A, -mekwisha plus verb stem.
Nimekwisha kwenda.

I've already gone.

Nimekwisha lipa.

I've already paid.

Almost any verb stem can be placed after -mekwisha. The English translation of such
constructions is usually '

has already finished

________ing.' (in speech, one may often hear nimeshalip a. e t c . )

B. The -^a- negative counterpart of the metense.

I have paid I haven't

nimelipa

paid we haven't paid

sijalipa

we don't pay he

hatujalipa

hasnt gone

hatulipi
hajaenda (or hajakwenda)
One set of negative forms corresponding to the affirmative -me- forms contains ha plus subject
prefix plus the prefix -ja-. Note that the final a of the stem does not change in forms containing -^a-.
2

.
A. Umelipa . ?

ada ya shule

Umelipa ada ya shule?

Have you paid the school fees?

kodi ya kichwa

Umelipa kodi ya kichwa?

Have you paid the poll tax

(head tax)?

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UNIT 25

SWAHILI

kodi ya nyumba shule nyumba B. -ja- negative

kichwa

of me-tense.
kichwa

Bado

hatujalipa

kodi ya

Not yet, ve have not paid the school

kichwa.
shule

Bado

hatujalipa

ada ya

Bado

hatujalipa

fees.
Not yet, we have not paid the house

shule.
nyumba

Not yet, we have not paid the poll tax.

kodi ya

rent.

nyumba.

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UNIT 25

C.

nyumba

Juma na Hamisi bado hawajalipa

kodi ya nyumba.
kichwa

Juma and Hamisi have not yet

paid the house rent.

shule

D.
kichwa

Abdallah bado hajalipa kodi

ya kichwa.
shule

Abdallah has not yet paid the

poll tax.

nyuniba

E.
shule

Bade hujalipa ada ya shule?

Haven't you paid your school

fees yet?

(wao) kichwa Wamelipa

kodi ya kichwa?
nyumba
B.
Hapana, hawajalipa.
F,
(wewe)
kichwa
Bado
sijalipa
kodi ya kichwa.
Umeusa
nyumba?

shule
(ninyi)
F.
nyumba
(yeye)

(wao)
3*

kichwa

La, sijauza.
nyumba

*
Mmeuza nyumba?
La, hatujauza.
Bado hamjalipa kodi ya nyumba?
Ameuza nyumba?
La, hajauza.
shule
Wameuza nyumba?
La, hawajauza.
-tense: affirmative vs. (-ja-) negative.

A. Me* Juma amekwenda sokoni?

w

Have they paid poll tax?

No, they haven't paid it.
Have
you paid
sold the
the poll
house?
I haven't
tax
yet.
No, I haven't sold it.
Have you sold the house?
No, we haven't sold it.
Haven't
youthe
(pi.)
paid the house rent
Has
he sold
house?
yet?he hasn't sold it.
No,
Have they sold the house?
No, they haven't sold it.
Has Juma gone to the market?

(wewe)
Juma

Umelipa kodi ya kichwa?

La, hajaenda.
Hapana,
sijalipa,

Have you paid the poll tax?

No,
hasn't
No, he
I have
notgone
paidyet.
it.

(ninyi)
vatoto

Watoto wamekwenda
sokoni?
Kmeiipa
kodi ya kichwa?

Have
gone
the No, we
Havethe
youchildren
(pi.) paid
polltotax?
market?
haven't paid it.

Hapana, hatujalipa.
(yeye)
Daudi

La, hawajaenda.
Amelipa kodi ya kichwa?
Daudi
amekwenda
Hapana,
hajalipa.sokoni?
La, hajaenda.

Daudi na
Hamisi

Daudi na Hamisi wamekwenda

sokoni?
La, hawajaenda.

No, they haven't gone yet.

Has he paid poll tax?
HasNo,
Daudi
gone to
theit.market?
he hasn't
paid
No, he hasnt gone yet.
Have85
Daudi and Hamisi gone to
for free on
to Hosted
the market?
livelingua.com
No, they haven't gone yet.

UNIT 26

SWAHILI

Unit_26
1

Basic Dialogue. Where has Hamisi gone?

Ochieng
Hamisi yuko nyumbani?

Is Hamisi at home?

Hadija
La, amekwenda Magomeni,

No, he's gone to Magomeni*

Ochieng

Kufanya nini?
Hadi.ja
-tazama

What for? ('To do what?')

look at

mzazi (WA)

parent

Kuwatazama wazazi wake*

To see his parents*

baba (N* pers.)

father

Agonjwa (WA)

a sick person

Baba yake ni mgonjva*

His father is ill.

-nunulia

buy for

dawa (N)

medicine

Amekwenda kumnunulia dawa*

He's gone to buy him some medicine*

Notes

A. Regular formation of applied stems*

Amenunua dawa*

He has bought some medicine*

Ametununulia dawa*

He has bought us some medicine*

Ameleta dawa*

He has brought some medicine*

Ametuletea dawa*

He has brought us some medicine*

In this discussion, the 'root' of the verb corresponding to English bring' is -let-, and the affirmative indicative 'stem'
is -lata.
The verbs in the second and fourth sentences both contain instances of the applied, 1 or prepositional suffix.
If the last vowel of the verb root i3 -u- (as in nunu-) or i or a, then the 'applied' suffix is the vowel i.
If the last vowel of the root is -e- (as in -let-), then the 'applied' suffix
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UNIT 26

has the vowel -e-.

If the last sound of the root is a vowel (as in nunu-) then the vowel of the applied suffix is preceded by -1 -, If the last
sound of the root is a consonant (as in let-), then the applied suffix consists of a vowel only,
[Note that in the stem -letea, the root is -let-, the applied suffix is -e- and the final vowel is -a.]
To put the same information in a different form, the applied stems of the Bantu verbs in Swahili may be predicted on
the basis of the simple stems as follows:
Simplestem:

Applied stem:

root ending in
consonant

vowel

-kuta

-kutia
-nunua

-lipa

-nunulia
-lipia

-tia
-pata

-tilia
-patia
-zalia

-zaa
-soma

-toa
-lets

**

-tolea
-letea

-pokes
2

mm

-somea

-pokelea

.
A, Words with and without -ni, following Uko. wapi2

Hamisi yuko wapi? Where is Hamisi?

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E.nyumba
baba yangu
Aji
3*

soko

H&misi yuko nyumbani.

Nimemnunulia baba yangu
Kamisi yuko Ajini.
dawa.
Hamisi
A#
Simpleyuko
vs* sokoni.
applied stems#

mihindi Hamisi yukoBaba

amenunua mihindi?
Morogoro
Morogoro.

UNIT 26

Hamisi is at home.
I have bought my father same
Hamisi is in town.
medicine.
Hamisi is at the market.
father bought seme maize?
Hamisi is inHas
Morogoro.

Ndiyo, ametununulia miwili# Hamisi is at Utete.

Hamisi yuko Utete.
Yes. He has bought us two of them,

Utete

B. mananasi

(i.e* two ears)

Has father bought some pine

Baba amenunua mananasi?

wapi?

Hamisi na JumaNdiyo,
wako ametununulia
wapi?
mawili. Where are Hamisi and Juma? apples? Yes# He has

nyumba

Hamisi na Juma wako nyumbani?

Are Hamisi and Juma at

kijiji

Hamisi na Juma
kijijini?
Babawako
amenunua
ndizi?

the
fatheratbought bananas?
Are Hamisi Has
and Juma

ndizi

Ndiyo, ametununulia mbili.

shule
Utate

nazi

Morogoro

village?

home?
bought
us two of them#

Yes. He has bought us two

of them#
Hamisi na Juma wako shuleni?
Are Hamisi and Juma at
school?
Baba amenunua nazi?
Has father bought coconuts?
Hamisi na Juma wako Utete?
Are Hamisi and Juma at
Utete?
Ndiyo, amet'irunulia mbili#
Yes. He has bought us two
Hamisi na Juma wako Morogoro?
Are Hamisi and Juma in
of them#
Morogoro?

n.
wazazi
wake

Daudi amekwenda mjini

kuwatazama wazazi wake.

Daudi has gone to town

his parents.

to see

rafiki
zake

Daudi amekwenda Ajini

kuwatazama rafiki zake.

Daudi has gone to town

his friends.

to see

Kamisi na
Juma

Daudi amekwenda Ajini

kuwatazama Hamisi na Juma.

Daudi has gone to town

Hamisi and Juma.

to see

watoto
wake

Daudi amekwenda Ajini

kuwatazama watoto wake.

Daudi has gone to town

his children.

to see

Dm

mtoto wangu Daudi

Hasani amekwenda kijijini
rafiki F.
yake
kumtazama
rafiki
yake.
dawa
Wazazi
wangu
wameninunulia
baba yake Daudi
dawa*

Hasani has gone to the

village
to
see
his
friend.
My parents have bought me
some medicine#

chakula

Wazazi wangu wameninunulia

chakula#
9

My parents have bought me

some food#
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vitu vingi

Wazazi wangu wameninunulia

vitu vingi.

My parents have bought me

many things#

BASIC COURSE
(wewe)

Baba amekununulia nini?

What has father bought you?

Hajaninunulia kitu.
(sisi)

He has not bought me anything

Baba ametununulia nini?

What has father bought us?

Hajatununulia kitu.
Watoto
wake

UNIT 26

He has not bought us anything

Baba amewanunulia watoto wake

What has father bought his children? He

nini? Ha jawanunulia kitu.

has not bought them anything.

C,

What are you buying me?

Unaninunulia nini?

I am not buying you anything.

Sikununulii kitu.

What have you bought ms?

Umeninunulia nini?

I have not bought you anything yet.

Sijakununulia kitu.

D
Wanatununulia nini?

What are they buying us? They

Hawatununulii kitu.

are not buying us anything.

What have they bought us? They

Wametununulia nini?

have not bought us anything

Hawajatununulia kitu.

yet.

D
What is Hamisi buying Daudi?
He is not buying him anything.

Hamisi anamnunulia Daudi nini?

Hamnunulii kitu*

What has Hamisi bought Daudi?

He has not bought him anything yet.

Hamisi ameriinunulia Daudi nini?

Hajaninunulia kitu.

things

B. He-tense: affirmative vs* (-ja-) negative; change of person from question to answer*
Conversation Starters

A is looking for C. B explains that C has gone to town to get some

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BASIC COURSE

UNIT 26

for his child, who is ill.

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UNIT 26

Unit_27
i

Basic Dialogue* Who is that?

Abasi

Nani yule?
Butler

Wno is that(over there)?

Huyo ni Bwana Aramian.

Abasi

That is Mr. Aramian.

-toka

cone from, go from

Anatoka wapi?
Butler

Where does he come from?

Anatoka Amerlka.
Abasi

From America.

-ja

come

Amekuja kufanya nini?

Butler (American)

What has he come to do?

-tumwa

be sent

serikali (N)

government

~etu

our

-eleza

explain

mambo (pi. MA)

matters

nchi (N)

land, country

Ametumwa na serikali, kueleza

He has been sent by his government,

mambo ya nchi yetu,

as an information officer, ('he

has beer, sent by the government, to explain
matters of our country' )

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UNIT 27

SWAHILI

Notes
A, Use of ku in certain inflected forms of verbs with monosyllabic stems*
amekuja

he has come

The verb -^a 'come' is like -enda and -igha in that ku is used between the tense prefix -me- and the
root. This is, in fact, true of all verbs whose root consists of a consonant only, and whose stems are thus
monosyllabic# 2* -toka with place expressions.

wapi?

Bwana Hasani anatoka wapi?

Where does Hr. Hasani came from? Mr.

kusini

Bwana Hasani anatoka kusini.

Hasani comes from the South. Mr. Hasani

Bwana Hasani anatoka Nairobi.

comes from Nairobi. Mr. Hasani comes

Bwana Hasani anatoka mashariki

from the East.

Nairobi
mashariki
B.

Concords with some new nouns.

Ametueleza habari za vitu hivi.

vitu

He has explained to us the details of these

things.

mambo

Ametueleza mambo bay a.

He has explained these affairs to us.

He has explained this news to us.

habari

Ametueleza habari hizi.

C. -jua plus infinitive.

vitu

Sijui

kukueleza

habari za

vitu hivi.
mambo

Sijui

kukueleza

I don't know how to explain to you the details

of these things.

mambo haya.

I don't know how to explain these

affairs to you.

habari

Sijui

kukueleza

habari hizi.

I don't know how to explain this news to you.

A*

9*
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UNIT

3*
A. Person change from question to answer, me-tense
(yeye)

Amekuja

kufanya nini?

What has he come to do?

Ametumwa na serikali yake

He has been sent by his government.

What have you come to do?

(wewe)

Umekuja

kufanya nini?

I have been sent by my government#

Nimetumwa na serikali yangu.

(ninyi )

Mmekuja

kufanya nini?

What have you (pi#) come to do?

We have been sent by our government#

Tumetumwa na serikali yetu.

B. Person agreement between subject prefix and possessive stem#

yangu

Nimetumwa na serikali
kueleza

mambo

I have been sent by the governya

richi

yangu.
yake

He has been sent by the govern-

Ametumwa na serikali

to explain the affairs of his country#

kueleza mambo ya Achi

yake#
yako

You have been sent by the government to

explain the affairs of your country#

Umetumwa na serikali
kueleza

to explain the affaire of my country#

mambo

We have been sent by the government to

ya

ftchi

ya

ftchi

explain the affairs of our country#

yako#
yetu

Tumetumwa na serikali
kueleza

mambo

yetu#
N # B. The second verb in each of these sentences is in the infinitive form#

An alternative and possibly more correct way of saying the same thing would use subjunctive forms
instead (See Units U2-U5)#

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27

UNIT *8

SWAHILI

i* Basic Dialogue* An

Huyu ni Bvana Hasani*

siku (N)
Habari za siku nyingi?

Njema. (ors Nzuri.)

-furahi
Nimefurahi kukuona.

pia
Na mimi pia, nimefurahi

Nyumbani hawajambo?

Hawajambo.

Watoto nao hawajambo?

Unit 2 8
introduction,
Abdallah
This is Hassan.

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UNIT *8

SWAHILI

Aramian
day
What news of many days?
Hasani
Fine*
Aramian
be happy
Im happy to know ('see') you.
Hasani
also, too
kukuona.

And I'm happy to know you too.

Aramian
Is everyone all right at your house? ('At home they
have no trouble?')
Abdallah
[Yes], they're fine.
Aramian
And your children?
('children and they, they have no trouble?' )

9U

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BASIC
COURSE
4bdaUafc

salaaa

UNIT 28

with peace

Salama.

They're fine.
Notes

A.

Bwana used with given names.

Huyu ni Bw. Hasani.

This is Hassan.

Unlike English, Swahili uses the title Bwana before given names as well as before surnames.
B.

Me-forms of certain verbs translated into English with present tense.

Nimefurahi kulcuona.

Im glad to see you#

The -me- forms of the verb -furahi be happy are translated into English with the present tense, and
not the present perfect. (One-may also use the a- tense here: nafurahi.)
C.

Na with personal pronoun stems.

The set of forms which includes nao and they/with them is:

sg.

plu.

1.

nami

nasi

2.
3.

nawe

nanyi

naye

nao

2. This dialogue is a concatenation of social formulae. Practice it until you can go through it without
mistakes in 13 seconds or less.
3. A and B have just sat down to order lunch. C joins them and is introduced by A to B. They then
proceed to order lunch.
A and C discuss the whereabouts of an absent friend, D. D has gone to his home town to take care
of official business and to visit friends and relatives.

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UNIT 29

SWAHILI

Unit 29
1. Basic Dialogue. Do you know Mr.

?
Aramian

Waftjua Bwana Hasani?

Abdallah

Do you know Hasani?

Ndiyo, naftjua sana.

Aramian

Yes, I know him very well*

humu

in here

Akaa wapi? Akaa ftj ini humu?

(or: Anakaa***)

Where does he live? Does he live

in this city?

Abdallah
katika
jimbo (MA) mkoa (Ml)

in
province
region

La. Hapana, bwana, akaa katika

No, he doesnt* He lives in Tanga

jimbo la Tanga.
Aramian

Province*

tangu

since
I havent seen him for several days

Sijamwona kwa siku nyingi.

(or: tangu siku nyingi)
Abdallah
yeye

he

ftke

wife

ftkewe

his wife

their

ao
jamaa

family, associate
96

Yeye na Akewe wamekwenda Tanga

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He and his wife have gone to Tanga

kuwatazama jamaa zao.

to visit their families*

Notes

UNIT 29

SWAHILI

A, Difference between concords used with A^i and m^ini.

Akaa (or:Anakaa. * *) mjini humu.
He lives in this city,
Akaa (or:Anakaa. . ) kataka Aji huu*
The words humu 'in here' and huu are both 'proximal demonstratives', Huu agrees with the Mi-class
noun m^i, But when the same noun mji appears with the locative suffix -ni, it is for concordial purposes
transferred out of the Mi-class,
B. Some prepositions,
katika Aji huu

in this city

kwa siku chache

for a few days

The words katika 'in' tangu 'since' and kwa 'by, for, with are prepositions.
C.

'Animate' and 'personal' subdivisions of the N class of nouns, ordinary N-class

N-personal N-animate
ordinary WA-class

nyumba ake iko wapij

rafiki jrake ^uko wapi? ng'ombe
wake yuko wapi? Atoto wake
yuko wapi?

Ordinary nouns of the N-class singular have no class prefix syllable (although from a historical
point of view the nasal consonant with which many of them begin is a relic of a prefix which existed in an
earlier stage of the language). They require the prefix They require the prefix jr- with possessive stems,
and the prefix i- with -ko. They stand for inanimate objects.
Ordinary nouns of the WA-class singular have the class prefix A- (raw- before vowels). They
require the prefix w- with possessive stems, and the prefix ju- with -ko. They stand for animals or people.

UNIT 29

SWAHILI

In addition, there are a number of nouns that display some of the characteristics of each of these
classes. We shall call them 'N-personal' nouns(e.g. rafiki 'friend') and 1N-animate' nouns (e.g. ng^onbe 1 ox,
cow'). As indicated in the diagram, 'N-personal' nouns are like the ordinary N-class nouns in that they
themselves contain no prefix syllable and in the possessive concords which they require. They are like the
ordinary WA-class nouns in all their other concords*
'N-animate' nouns, which stand for animals, are like WA-nouns in this respect, and also with respect
to the possessive concords. They are like the N-class only in the form of the nouns themselves*
The above treatment of 'N-personal' and 'N-animate' nouns covers the principal facts, but further
details may be found in Ch. XV of Ashton's Swahili Qrammar* As pointed out there, speakers of coastal as
well as up- country types of Swahili show a certain amount of latitude in use of concords with these hybrid
noun classes*
D* Difference between Aji and kiji^i.
Aji and kijiji* One of the readers of the original version of this course has pointed out that 'The
distinction between m^i and ki^iji is not so clear cut as between 'town' and 'village'. Kiji^ji is not much
used except in a comparative sense. Kiambaa, for example, would certainly be called aji except when it is
being compared directly or indirectly with a much larger collection of dwellings such as Nairobi.'
2*

A* Concords with N-personal vs* WA nouns*

jamaa

Wamekwenda Tanga kuwatazama

jamaa zao.
They have gone to Tanga to see their
friends*
They have gone to Tanga to see their
children.

They have gone to Tanga to see

their relatives*

rafiki Wamekwenda Tanga kuwatazama

rafiki zao.
watoto Wamekwenda Tanga kuwatazama
watoto wao*
B.
%

rafiki Mkewe amekwenda Malindi kuAtazama

rafiki yake*

His wife has gone to Malindi to see her

friend.

UNIT 29

SWAHILI

UNIT 29

SWAHILI

ft

baba

His wife has gone to Malindi to see her

Mkewe amekwenda Malindi

father*

kumtazama baba yake*

jamaa

His wife has gone to Malindi to see her

ft

Mkewe amekwenda Malindi

C.

kumtazama jamaa yake*

relative*

Bwana Fulani akaa katika jimbo la

Tanga,

nchi

lives in
Kiambaa
township.

categories*

Concords with names of place

jirnbo

Mr. So-and-so

Bwana Fulani akaa katika ftchi ya

Mr. So-and-so lives in Tanga district.

Mr. So-and-so lives in Tanganyika.
Mr. So-and-so lives in Nairobi.

answer: a tense*
Where do you
live? I live
here*

Tanganyika.

Aji

Bwana Fulani akaa katika mji wa Nairobi.

kijiji

Bwana Fulani akaa katika kijiji cha Kiambaa.

Where do you (pi.) live?

We live here.
Where does your friend live?
He lives here.

3*

Change of persons from question to

A.

Wakaa wapi?
Nakaa hapa.

(wave)

Mwakaa wapi?
Twakaa hapa.

(ninyi)

Rafiki yako akaa wapi?

Rafiki
yako
Rafiki
zako

Akaa hapa*
Rafiki zako wakaa wapi?
Wakaa hapa*

Baba yako akaa Morogoro? Hapana, hakai

Affirmative vs. negative, with person change.
B.

baba

Morogoro, akaa Utete.

Where do your friends live?

They live here*
Does your father live in
Morogoro? No, he doesn't live in Morogoro. He
lives in Utete,

UNIT 29

(wewe)

(ninyi)

Rafiki
zako

SWAHILI

Wakaa Morogoro? Hapana,

Do you live in Morogoro?

sikai Morogoro, nakaa

No, I don't live in Morogoro,

Utete.

I live in Utete.

Mwakaa Morogoro? Hapana, hatukai

Do you (pi.) live in Morogoro?

Morogoro, twakaa

No, we don't live in Morogoro.

Utete.

We live in Utete.

Rafiki zako wakaa Morogoro? Hapana,

Do your friends live in Morogoro? No, they

don't live in Morogoro

hawakai Morogoro,
wakaa Utete.

They live in Utete.

Some speakers prefer anakaa or anaishi to akaa in these sentences.]

[N. B.
n
0

(wewe)

WaAjua Bw. Abdallah?

Hapana. SiAjui.

baba

don't know kin.

Baba yako a&jua Bw. Abdallah? Hapana.

Does your father know Abdallah?

No, he doesn't know him.

HaAjui,
rafiki

Do you know Abdallah? No, I

Rafiki zako wamjua Bw.

Do your friends know Abdallah?

No, they don't know him.

Abdallah? Hapana.
HawaAjui.
(ninyi)

MwaAjua Bw. Abdallah?

Do you (pi.) know Abdallah?

Hapana. Hatumjui.

No, we don't know him.

[N. B. Sene speakers prefer unam^ua or uxiaAfahamu to waj&jua In these sentences.]

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BASIC COURSE

UNIT 30

Unit_30
1 Basic Dialogue* Mr. Ochieng,
Hamisi
Ochieng

(a Luo surname)

Wamjua Bwana Ochieng?

Do you know Mr. Ochieng?

Hadija

La, simjui.

No, I dont know him*

mara (N)

time

zamani

formerly

-anza
begin
Sikumwona zamanij leo ndiyo mara ya I've seen him for the first time today.
kwanza*

('I didn't see him formerly; today

is the first time.')

kazi (N)

work

Afanya kazi wapi?

Hamisi

Where does he work?

Kiambti*

In KiambiS. (a town in a Kikuyu area)

Hadija

lugha (N)

language

-sema

speak, say

Asema lugha ya Kikuyu?

Hamisi

Does he speak Kikuyu?

-endelea

to continue, make progress

Asema kidogo, lakini aendelea

He speaks a little, but he is making

vizuri.

good progress.

[N. B. Some speakers prefer anasema to asema in these sentences.]

Notes
A* Special form (mw) of 3 sg. object prefix before a verb stem that begins with a vowel*
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BASIC COURSE

Swahili
Rafiki
zetu

siAjui

I don't know him*

simwoni

I don't see him*

Bwana Kamau asema

Rafiki zetu wasema Klswahili kidogo
Kiswahili vizuri sana.
tu, lakini waendelea vizuri*
Bwana Kamau asema
Daudi aseraa Klswahili kidogo tu,
Kiingereza vizuri sana*
lakini aendelea vizuri.
Bwana Kamau asema

English
Daudi
Nyamwezi

Luganda
Bwana Kamau asema
[N. B.
Some speakers prefer the -na- forms
Kiganda vizuri sana*
B. Same, with negative verbs*
Masai
Bwana Kamau asema
Sisemi Klswahili; siendelei vizuri*
Mind
Kimasai vizuri sana*
Hasemi Klswahili; haendelei vizuri*

A.

Rafiki
Miml
zangu
C.
Rafiki
Kiambii
yetu

Mr. Kamau speaks Swahili very well*

Our friends speak very little Swahili,
Mr. Kamau
speaks
very well.
well*
but they
areEnglish
progressing
Mr. Kamau
speaksvery
Nyamwezi
very well*
Daudi speaks
little Swahili,
but he
is progressing
well.well*
Mr. Kamau
speaks
Luganda very
Mr. Kamau speaks Masai very well*

Kinyamwezi vizuri sana*

Rafiki
yangu

UNIT 30

Hawasemi Klswahili; hawaendelei vizuri*

of the verb in these sentences.]

I don't speak Swahili; I

sun not progressing well.
He doesn't speak Swahili;

Nchiniinasagreement
an equivalent
Noun
with for
twokatika
subject prefixes, affirmative verbs* he is not progressing well.
Kiambil
ninasema
mji mkubwa
MLmi
Kiswahili
Achini (or: katika Achi)

kidogo tu, lakini

mwa Wakikuyu.
naendelea vizuri*
Tanga cd mkoa mkubwa katika Achi
Rafiki yetu asema Kiswahili kidogo
ya Tanganyika*
tu, lakini aendelea vizuri*

Theyvery
don't
speak
Swahili;
I speak
little
Swahili,
butthey aren't
I amprogressing
progressingwell.
well.
Achi*

Our friend
speaks
verytown
little in
Swahili,
Kiambu
is a large
Kikuyubut
he isCountry*
making good progress.
Tanga is a large province in Tanganyika*

Tanga
lot

Before a verb stem beginning with a vowel, the 3 sg. object prefix has the form nr-*

A.

Swahili versions of names of languages*

U. Describe a real or imaginary person. Tell where he is from, where he works, etc*
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Pnit 31
1

Basic Dialogue* What kind of vork do you dot

Mutisya

Wafanya kazi ganit

What kind of vork do you dot

Sangai

ukarani (U)

the vork or status of being

a clerk

Nafanya kazi ya ukarani*

(I do) clerical (vork)*

Mutisya

Wapit

Wheret
Sangai
idara (N)

department

eliinu (N )

education

Mutisya
-pata

get

Ashahara (KI)
Wapata Ashahara va kutoshat (or:

pay
Do you get adequate payt

Unapata.**)

-saidia

help

mahitaji (pi. MA.)

needs

Hapana, lakini hunisaidia kva mahitaji

No, but it helps toward my everyday needs*

yangu*

Mutisjra
-penda
Waipenda kazi yako? (or:

Do you like your work?

Uraipenda, )
Katika Idara ya ELiimi.

In the Department of Education*

like, love
Sangai

Hivyo hivyo. (or: Vivi hivi, or: Hivi

So-so,

hivi}
Notes
A, Noun plus -a plus infinitive,
mshahara wa kutosha

adequate pay

Note that the word-for-word equivalent would be 'pay of to suffice'.

.
A.

Concord: Fossessives with N-personal nouns,

Namsaidia baba yangu

baba

I help my father in his work,

Namsaidia rafiki yangu

rafiki
(nuno ja)

I help my friend in his work.

katika kazi yake.

rafiki
(pl.)

Nawasaidia rafiki zangu katika

watoto

Nawasaidia watoto wangu

I help my friends in their work.

kazi yao,

(wenf-;i)

I help my children in their work.

katika kazi yao.

katika kazi yake.
B, Concord: Fossessives and adjectives with N-personal nouns,
rafiki
yako

Rafiki yako ni mbaya sana.

Your friend is very bad,

Atoto
wako

Atoto wako ni Abaya sana.

Your child is very bad,

rafiki

Rafiki zako ni wabaya sana. Your friends are very bad,

z&ko

w&toto
wako

Watoto wako ni wabaya sana.

Tour children are very bad*

C. Concord: N-animate nouns*

ng'ceibe

Ng'cmbe huyu ni Abaya sana*

This cow is very bad*

nguruwe

Nguruwe huyu ni Abaya sana*

This pig is very bad*

kitu

Kitu hiki ni kibaya sana*

chungwa
Akate

Chungwa hili ni baya sana*

Mkate huu ni Abaya sana*

ng'ambe
(wengi)
samaki
(wengi)
vitu
vlaxi
maembe
mikate

This thing is very bad*

This orange is very bad*
This bread is very bad*

Ng'caibe hawa ni wabaya sana*

These cows are very bad*

Samaki hawa ni wabaya sana*

These fish are very bad*

Vitu hivi ni Vibaya sana*

These things are very bad*

Vlazi hivi ni vibaya sana*

These potatoes are very bad*

Maembe haya ni nabaya sana*

These mangoes are very bad*

Mikate hii ni aibaya sana*

These loaves of bread are

very bad*

Repeat the above exercise using si in place of ni*

B.3*Noun, possessive and adjective.
Concord:
vyakula
riad
viazi

Subject in negative statenent correlated with object in inperative

Siijui kazi hii*
Tafadhali nisaidie*

yeye

siagi

Haijui kazi hii*

Tafadhali Asaidie*

sisi
chai

Hatxiijui kazi hii*

Tafadhali tusaidie*

watoto
inikate

matunda

mayai

A.

Vatoto hawaijui kazi hii*

Tafadhali wasaidie.

I don't know this work*

Please help me*
He doesn't know this work*
Please help him*
We don't know this work.
Please help us*
The children do not know this
work. Please help them*

Tuna vyakula vya kutosha? La* Tuna

vichache tu
Tuna viazi vya kutosha? La. Tuna vichache
tu*
Tuna siagi ya kutosha?
La. Tuna kidogo tu.
Tuna chai ya kutosha?
La. Tuna kidogo tu.
Tuna mikate ya kutosha? La. Tuna
michache tu.
Tuna matunda ya kutosha? La. Tuna
machache tu.

Do we have enough foodstuffs? No, we only have

a few.
Do we have enough potatoes? No, we only have a
few.
Do we have enough butter?
No, we only have a little*
Do we have enough tea?
No, we only have a little.
Do we have enough loaves?
No, we only have a few.
Do we have enough fruit?
No, we only have a few
pieces.

Tuna mayai ya kutosha?

La. Tuna machache tu*

Do we have enough eggs?

No, we only have a few.

SWAHILI

UNIT 32

Unit_32
i Basic Dialogue* You're a farmer aren't you?
Sangai
wewe

you

mkulima (WA)

farmer

Wewe mkulima, sivyo?

You're a farmer, aren't you?

Mirambo
Ndiyo, mimi Akulima.

Yes, I'm a farmer*

Sangai
-panda

raise

-otesha

raise

mmea (MI)

plant

Waotesha mimea gani?

Mirambo
muhogo (MI)

What kind of crops do you raise?

cassava

maharagwe (pi* MA)

beans

kitunguu (VI)

onion

Apunga (MI)

rice (growing in field)

Kwa kawaida, na panda muhogo na

I generally grow cassava, beans,

kuotesha maharagwe, vitunguu na

onions and rice*

rcpunga*
mwaka (MI)

year

mvua (N)

rain

Lakini mwaka huu hakuna mvua ya

But this year there isn't enough rain

kutosha kuotesha mpunga.

for growing rice*

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kwa hiyo

therefore

SWAHILI

UNIT 32

Kwa hiyo ninapanda muhogo, maharagwe For that reason, I'm growing cassava, na vitunguu.

beans

and onions.
Notes
A. Complete sentence consisting of absolute personal pronoun plus noun.
mlmi

mkulima

I'm a farmer

wewe Akulima

you are a farmer

Note that this complete sentence in Swahili is literally ' 1 farmer'

B. Contrast in meaning between -ganda and -otesha.
hatupandi muhogo

we don't grow cassava

hatuoteshi mpunga

we don't grow rice

Different verbs are used for 'growing* cassava and 'growing' rice.
-panda is the word commonly used for the planting and raising of all crops, -otesha (lit* 'cause to sprout')
is used particularly of the sprouting of grain in a seed-bed (for transplanting) or on, e.g., a sack, for beermaking. It is also used for the effect of rain or other form of moisture on seed already planted.
2

.
A. Concord: Nouns with ~ingi.

mimea

Wakulima wa nchi hii waotesha

(or: vanaotesha) mimea mingi.

maharagwe Wakulima wa nchi hii waotesha maharagwe

mengi.
mpunga

Wakulima wa Achi hii waotesha

mpunga mwingi.

vitunguu Wakulima wa nchi hii waotesha vitunguu vingi.

The farmers of this country grow

many plants.
The farmers of this country grow a
lot of beans.
The fanners of this country grow a
lot of rice.
The farmers of this country grow a
lot of onions.

B Mwaka huu.
muhogo Mwaka huu, hatupandi muhogo.

This year, we aren't planting cassava*

This year, we aren't planting beans*

maharagwe Mwaka huu, hatupandi

maharagwe.
Apunga vltunguu
C. Concord: Nouns with "zuri.

This farmer plants very good cassava.

muhogo

Mkulima huyu apanda

muhogo Azuri sana.
(or: ... anapanda. . )

This farmer plants very good plants.

This farmer plants very good rice*

mimea

Mkulima huyu apanda

This farmer plants very good onions.

mimea mizuri sana.

Apunga

Mkulina huyu apanda.

Apunga Azuri sana.

vltunguu

Mkulina huyu apanda

vltunguu vizurl sana.

3*

A. Comparison of a-tense with na-tense.

mimi

Kwa kawaida, napanda (or: hupanda)

muhogo na maharagwe, lakini mwaka

Usually, I plant cassava and beans, but this year I

am only planting cassava.

huu ninapanda muhogo tu.

Kwa kawaida, mkulima huyo apanda

mkulima
huyo
tu.

Usually, that farmer (i.e. one already mentioned)

muhogo na vltunguu lakini

plants cassava and onions, but this year he is

mwaka huu anapanda muhogo

only planting cassava.

vakulima
hao

Kwa kawaida, wakulima hao

wapanda muhogo na

Usually, those farmers (i.e* ones already

maharagwe lakini mwaka

mentioned) plant cassava and beans,

huu wanapanda muhogo

but this year they are only planting

tu*

cassava*
UNIT 33

Unit_
33
i* Basic Dialogue, What do you do
with your crops?
Sangai
mazao (pi, MA)

crops
What do you do with your crops?

Wafanya nini na mazao yako? (or:

Unafanya, , ,)
Mirambo
ingine
Mengine natumia kwa chakula, na

some, other
Seme I use as food, and the others

mengine kwa kuuza.

for selling.
Sangai

Wauza mazao yako wapi?

(or: Unauza, ,)
Mirambo

Where do you sell them?

Sokoni,

At the market.

mke

wife

-peleka

take, send

Mke wangu huyapeleka kuuza.

My wife takes them to sell.

hodari

active, energetic, brave

Yu hodari sana kwa kuuza.

She's very clever in selling.

Notes
A, The adjective ingine as an equivalent
for both 'some' and 'other*
mengine
kwa chakula,
na mengine
kwa kuuza,

so
m
e
as
fo
od
,
an
d
ot
he
r
fo

r
se
lli
ng
.
The adjective "ingine
corresponds equally to English
'some* and other(s)'

Hands
iA#
My Baba
wife is
vary
active
in selling*
Mke
wangu
yu
hodari
Baba yangu
Hands!
yangu
yu
yuhodari
hodari
sana
sana
kwa
kwa
sana kwa kuuza.
kuuza,
kuuza.
Mke wangu
My father is very active in selling*
Hamisi na
na Juma ni hodari sana
JunaHamisi isHamisi
very active in selling,
kwa kuuza*
Hamisiare
andactive
Jumainare
very
active in selling.
Watoto
Watoto wetu ni hodari sana
Our children
kwa
kuuza.
selling*

mji

Wauza mazao yao mjini,

(or: Wanauza. . .)

soko

Wauza mazao yaosokoni.

*UiJi

Wauza mazao yaokijijini

Morogoro
Wauza mazao yaoMorogoro

B, Simple noun vs. noun with

locative -ni.
They sell their crops in town*

They sell their crops at the market*

They sell their crops in the village.
They sell their crops in Morogoro,

my crops
yangu
for mengine
food* natumia
mazao I use some ofMazao
kwa chakula,
vyangu for
vingine
my potatoes
food*natumia
miazi I use seme ofViazi
chakula,
I use some of mykwa
bananas
for food*
ndizi

Ndizi zangu nyingine natumia

kwa chakula.

C. Concord: Noun, possessive, and

adjective*

I use some of my maize for foods

mahlndl
Mahindi
yangu
mengine

Some of the children havent enough

naturaia

food this year*

kva

Some of the cows haven't enough food

chakula.

this year.

D
Animate
plural
nouns with
ingine,

Some of the farmers haven't enough

food this year.

watoto

Watoto wengine havana

chakula
cha kutosha mwaka
huu.
ng'cmbe

Kg'ombe wengine hawana

chakula
cha kutosha mwaka
huu*
wakulina

Wakulima

wengine

hawana chakula
cha kutosha mwaka
huu*
3* Aramian interviews a farmer about his
crops and about the part that his wife and

children play in growing and marketing

them.

Unit 34
i Basic Dialogue# I'm a cook nowadays#
Hamisi
Unafanya kazi gani?

What kind of work are you doing?

Mutisya

upishi (U)

work or status of a cook

Ninafanya kazi ya upishi#

I'm working as a cook.

Hands i

kumbel

(expression of surprise)

Apishi (WA)

a cook
So you're a cook these daysj

Kumbe u Apishi siku hizij (or*

.)

wewe ni mpishi. .

Mutisya
Ndiyo bwana. Mind ni mpishi#

That's right.

Hands!

Unafanya kazi kwa nani?

Who are you working for?

Mutisya

mzungu (WA)

a European

jina (MA)

name

Kwa nizungu ifanoja, jina lake Bwana

For a European named Aramian.

Aramian#
Notes
A, Complete sentences consisting of first or second person subject
prefix plus noun#
you are a cook

u mpishi

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ni mkulima

I am a fanner
tu wapishi

we are cooks

m wakulima

you are farmers

In these sentences, the first and second person subject prefixes are used before nouns denoting
occupations, and the combination is treated as a complete sentence*

A. Subject prefix plus noun*

U mpishi? --------- Hapana, bwana,

Apishi

Mimi ni Akulima,
mkulima

U mkulima? -------- Hapana, bwana*

Are you a cook? No, I am a farmer.

Are you a farmer? No, I am a clerk*
Are you a clerk? No, I am a cook*

Mimi ni karani.
U karani? --------- Hapana, bwana.

karani

Mimi ni mpishi.

Derivation:
Abstract vs, animate nouns with the same stem.
B*
Yeye ni mpishi.-----------Afanya
mpishi
kazi ya upishi,
mkulima

He is a cook. He does cooking*

Yeye ni mkulima. Afanya kazi ya ukuliroa,

He is a farmer* He does fanning.

Yeye ni karani. Afanya kazi ya ukarani.

He is a clerk* He does clerical work*

Daudi na Juma ni wapishi. Wafanya kazi ya

Daudi and Juma are cooks* They do

karani

C.
mpishi

upishi.
Daudi na Juma ni wakulima* Wafanya kazi
ya ukulima.

mkulima

Daudi na Juma ni makarani* Wafanya kazi

ya ukarani*

karani

cooking*
Daudi and Juma are fanners They do
farming,
Daudi and Juma are clerks* They do clerical
work.

A.
Daudi
ihpishi

Daudi ni mpishi mzuri sana.

Hafanyi kazi ya ukulima.

Abdallah ni karani mzuri sana. Hafanyi

Abdallah
karar.i kazi ya upishi,
B, Subject prefixes with nouns,
Wewe u mpishi? Hapana. Mind si Apishi,
mind ni Akulima.
wao

Wao ni wapishi? Hapana. Wao si wapishi,

wao ni wakulima.

yeye

Yeye ni mpishi? Hapana. Yeye si ifrpishi,

yeye ni mkulima.

ninyi

He doesnt do farming.
Hamisi is a very good farmer. He doesn't do

Hand si Hands! ni mkulima mzuri sana. Hafanyi

mkulima
kazi ya upishi.

wewe

Daudi is a very good cook.

Ninyi m wapishi? Hapana. Sisi si wapishi,

sisi tu wakulima.

cooking,
Abdallah is a very good clerk. He doesn't do
cooking.

Are you a cook? No, I am not a cook, I am a

farmer.
Are they cooks^ No, they are not cooks, they
are farmers.
Is he a cook? No, he is not a cook, he is a
farmer.
Are you (pi.) cooks? No, we are not cooks, we
are farmers*

Jnlt_35

1* Basic Dialogue. He's a day laborer*

Hasani
kijana (Vl-anim.)
Yule kijara hufanya kazi gani?

a youth
What kind of work does that young
fellow do? '
Abdallah

kazi ya kibarua

casual

labor

Yeye hufanya kazi ya kibarua*

He is a day laborer*
Hasani

mchukuzi (WA)
Kurnbe yu mchukuzi

porter
Oh, he's a porter, thenl

muda (N)
Amefanya kazi hii kwa muda gani?

period

of time

How long has he done this kind of

work?
Abdallah
Kwa miaka mlnne*

For four years,

Hasani
Does he like his work?

Yeye apenda kazi yake?

Abdallah
-nung 'unika
juu (N )
Hanung'uniki juu ya kazi yake.

to complain on, concerning

He doesn't complain about it.
A, Hu-tense.

Notea

MM

mimi huuza mazao yangu sisi

huuza mazao yetu yeye huuza
mazao yake wao huuza

I sell my crops we Sell our

crops he sells his crops they
sell their crops

mazao yao
The hu-tense of a verb has no subject prefix to indicate the class of the subject. The subject is therefore made
explicit, either as a noun or as a pronoun, unless the identity of the subject is clear from what precedes the sentence.
The hu-tense is used where habitual or recurrent action is implied.
yeye huenda sokoni

he (regularly) goes to the

market

wao huja asubuhi

they (regularly) come in

the morning

In the hu-tense, the verbs -enda and -isha, and verbs with monosyllabic stems like -a, do not have -ku- or -kw- as
they do in the other tenses that have been studied.
B.

'Vi-animate' nouns.
Kijana wao amekwenda.

Their young fellow has gone.

Vijana wao wamekwenda.

Their young fellows have gone.

Compare Note 29.C concerning the 'N-animate' nouns. 'N-animate' nouns acted like ordinary N-class nouns only
with respect to the shape of the singular and plural forms of the noun itself. The word kijana, which we may call a 'VIanimate' noun, is like an ordinary Vl-class noun with respect to the singular and plural forms of the noun only. Otherwise, it
is like a WA-class noun, even in the possessive concords which it requires.
C.

The word Juu.

Hanung'uniki juu ya kazi yake. He doesn't complain about his work.

The word uu is a noun, the approximate translation of which is 'the top'. This noun, however, has two
characteristics which set it apart from other nouns: (1 ) it is seldom used without being followed by jra plus another noun, or
by a possessive (^ake, ^ako, etc.),

(2) it is seldom used as the subject or object of a verb* It may be used ('adverbially') without a possessive or another noun.
(3) it does not occur in the plural.
For these reasons, uu is most commonly translated into English by a preposition, such as 'on, over, above,
concerning'.
D.

Special Note on the 'present tenses* of Swahili.

Swahili possesses three sets of affirmative indicative verb forms which in some sense may be called 'present.' These
are typified by tuNAsema, twAsema, and (sisi)HUsema. In the preparation of the original draft of this course, and in
comparison of the changes suggested in draft by various authorities, the choice among the three 'present tenses' displayed a
greater degree of uncertainty than did any other point of grammar.
Accordingly, alternative tense forms have been indicated in many, though not all of the sentences concerning which
Swahili speakers disagree among themselves.
A. Hu-tense.
wewe

Wewe hufanya kazi gani?

What kind of work do you do?

Juma

Juma hufanya kazi gani?

What kind of work does Juma do?

yeye

Yeye hufanya kazi gani?

What kind of work does he do?

Juma na
Daudi
wao

What kind of work do Juma and Daudi do?

Juma na Daudi hufanya kazi gani?
Wao hufanya kazi gani?
Do you like your work?

B.
wewe

Wewe hupenda kazi yako?

Does Juma like his work?

Juma

Juma hupenda kazi yake?

Does he like his work?

yeye

Yeye hupenda kazi yake?

Do Juma and Daudi like their work?

Juma na
Daudi

What kind of work do they do?

Juma na Daudi hupenda kazi

yao?

wao

Wao hupenda kazi yao?

c. Juu ^a

kazi

Hanung'uniki juu ya kazi

yake.

ryuirba

Hanung'uniki juu ya nyumba

yake*

Apishi

Hanung*uniki juu ya mpishi

wake*

chakula

Hanung*uniki juu ya chakula

chake.

Ake

Hanung'uniki juu ya mke

wake*

watoto

Do they like their work?

Hanunguniki juu ya watoto

wake*

He doesn't complain about his

work.
He doesn't complain about his
house.
He doesn't complain about his
cook.
He doesn't complain about his
food*
He doesnt complain about his
wife.
He doesnt complain about his
children.

D. Concord: Noun plus demonstrative*

kazi

Sitaki kunung'unika juu ya

kazi hii.

chakula

Sitaki kunung'unika juu ya

chakula hiki.

vyakula

Sitaki kunung*unika juu ya

vyakula hivi.

nyumba

Sitaki kunung*unika juu ya

nyumba hii.

ichi

Sitaki kunung'unika juu ya

flchi hii.

vitu

Sitaki kunung'unika juu ya

vitu hivi*

3
A. Me~tense with a characteristic time expression*

I do not want to complain about

this work.
I do not want to complain about
this food.
I do not want to complain about
these foods.
I do not want to complain about
this house.
I do not want to complain about this
country.
I do not want to complain about
these things.

kibarua

Amefanya kazi ya kibarua

kwa nruda gani?

How long has he worked as a

laborer^

ukarani

Amefanya kazi ya ukarani

kwa muda gani?

How long has he worked as a

clerk?

ukulima

Amefanya kazi ya ukulima

kwa muda gani?

How long has he worked as a

fanner?

Amefanya kazi ya upishi

kwa muda gani?

How long has he worked as a

cook?

upishi

B.Cumulative,
Teye hufanya kazi ya upishi*
Kumbe yeye ni Apishi?I

He works as a cook.
So he is a cook?I

Teye hufanya kazi ya ukulima*

Kumbe yeye ni dkulima?!

He works as a farmer*
So he is a farmer?!

Teye hufanya kazi ya ukarani*

Kumbe yeye ni karani?!

He works as a clerk*
So he is a clerk?I

Teye hufanya kazi ya kibarua*

He works as a laborer*

Kumbe yeye ni mchukuzi?!

So he is a porter?!
U* A and B discuss the occupations of their friends C, D and E,

Unit 36
1 Basic Dialogue. Where were you yesterday?
Harrdsi
-va

be

jana

yesterday

Jana ulikuwa wapi?

Where were you yesterday?

Hadija

Nilikuwa sokoni.
Harris i

At the market.

saa (N)

hour

ngapi?

how many?

Ulikwenda saa ngapi?

Hadija
-ondoka

What time did you go?

to leave

sita
six
Niliondoka nyumbani saa sita mchana. I left home at noon.

UNIT 36

SWAHILI
Hamisi

Ulinunua.nini?

What did you buy?

Hadija

mboga (N )

(any food eaten together with a main

starchy dish)

chumvi (N)

salt

pilipili (N)
pepper
Kilinunua mboga, chumvi na pilipili. Green vegetables, salt and pepper.
Notes

mm

A* Li-tense.
ulinunua nini?

what did you buy?

ulikwenda wapi?

where did you go?

The li-forms of a Swahili verb are formed in a manner exactly parallel to the na-forms and the meforms. As with the latter, monosyllabic stems and -enda and -isha are proceded by ku-/kw-
The meaning of the li-tense is similar to that of the English 'simple past 1 tense*
B, Locatives with -ni corresponding to 'at' 'to' 'from' depending on the context*
nilikwenda sokoni

I went to the market

niliondoka sokoni

I left the market

Note that noun plus locative -ni (e.g* sokoni) is translated either 'to' or 'frcai' depending on the
identity of the verb*
C* Literal translation of saa ngagi?
The literal translation of saa ngajoi? 'at
what time?' is 'hours how many?'

A.
ngapi

Hours of

What time did Hamisi go to the market?

the day*

Hamisi alikwenda

sokoni

saa ngapi?
moja

Hamisi alikwenda

sokoni

Hamisi alikwenda

sokoni

tatu

Hamisi alikwenda

o'clock?

Did Hamisi go to the market at

saa mbili?

o'clock?

Did Hamisi go to the market at

saa moja?
mbili

Did Hamisi go to the market at

o'clock?

sokoni
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UNIT 36

SWAHILI

Ane

Hamisi alikwenda sokoni saa

10 Ane?

tano

Hamisi alikwenda sokoni saa

11 tano?

sita

Hamisi alikwenda sokoni saa

12 sita?
B.

saa tatu?
Did Hamisi go to the market at
o'clock?
Did Hamisi go to the market at
o'clock?
Did Hamisi go to the market at
o'clock?

-wa plus locative expression,

wapi

Ulikuwa wapi saa sita

Where were you at 12 noon?

iftchana?
soko

Ulikuwa sokoni saa sita

Were you at the market at noon?

mchana?
boma

Ulikuwa bomani saa sita

mchana?

shule

Ulikuwa shuleni saa sita mchana?

Were you at the District Office at noon?

Were you at school at noon?

-ondoka plus locative expression

C.

Mliondoka nyumbani saa ngapi jara?

ryumba

Mliondoka sokoni saa ngapi iana?

%

Mliondoka shuleni saa ngapi Jana?

soko

Mliondoka bcmani saa ngapi jana?

p

shule

oncord: Noun, demonstrative

bona

What time did you leave home yesterday?

What time did you leave the market
yesterday?
What time did you leave school yesterday?
What time did you leave the District Office

Chumvi hii ni ya nani?

yesterday?

Mboga hizi ri za nani?

possessive; 'whose?'
Whose salt is this?

D.

chumvi

Whose vegetables are these?

mboga

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UNIT 36

SWAHILI

UNIT 36

pilipili

Pilipili hizi ni za nard?

Whose pepper is this?

vitu

Vitu hivi ni vya nani?

Whose things are these?

kiazi

Kiazi hlki ni cha nani?

Whose potato is this?

ng1 cnibe

Ng'ctnbe huyu ni wa nani?

Whose cow is this?

. Concord: Noun, possessive, verb,

adjective*

Apishi

%
Mpishi wao alikuwa Azuri sana*

Their cook was very nice*

nyumba

Nyumba yao ilikuwa nzuri sana*

Their house was very nice*

kijiji

Kijiji chao kilikuwa kizuri

Their village was very nice*

sana*
vyakula

Vyakula vyao vilikuwa vizurl

Their food was very nice*

sana*
3 hula

Shule y 0 ilikuwa nzuri sana*

maembe
F.

Their school was very nice*

Their mangoes were very nice*

Maembe yao y alikuwa mazurl sana*

Mpishi wao alikuwa Azuri

Their cook was very nice*

sana*
wapishl

Wapishi wao walikuwa wazuri

Their cooks were very nice*

sana*
hodari

Wapishi wao walikuwa hodari

Their cooks were very energetic

sana*
watoto

Watoto wao walikuwa hodari

sana*

"baya

Watoto wao walikuwa wabaya

Their children were very

energetic*
Their children were very bad*

sana*
metunda
sana*

Matunda yao yalikuwa mabaya

Their fruit was very bad*

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UNIT 36
"bichi

SWAHILI
Matunda yao yalikuwa mabichi

Their fruit was very green,

sana.
~bivu

Matunda yao yalikuwa rcabivu Their fruit was very ripe,

sana.

3
A.

demon s

mboga

Concord: Object prefix, noun,

trative.

Ulizinunua mboga hizi wapi?

Where did you buy these

vegetables?

I
chvanvi

Nilizinunua sokoni,

bought them in the market

Uliinunua chumvi hii wapi? Niliinunua Where did you buy this salt?
I

nyama
I
chakula

sokoni.

bought-it in the market.

Uliinunua nyama hii wapi? Niliinunua Where did you buy this meat?
sokoni.
bought it in the market.
Ulikinunua chakula hiki wapi?

viazi

Where did you buy this food?

Nilikinunua sokoni.

bought it in the market.

Ullvinunua viazi hivi wapi?

Where did you buy these

potatoes?

B.

Nilivinunua sokoni.

bought them in the market

Times of day.

moja
Did

Ulikwenda sokoni saa moja usiku?

you go to the market at 7

Hapana. Nilikwenda saa moja asubuhi. o'clock in the evening?

No. I

went at 7 o'clock in the

Ulikwenda sokoni saa tatu usiku?

Hapana. Nilikwenda saa tatu asubuhi.

tatu
Did

morning.
you go to the market at 9

Ulikwenda sokoni saa tano usiku?

o'clock at night?
No. I

went at 9 o'clock in the

morning.

ta.no
Did

you go to the market at

II

o'clock at night?

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UNIT 36

SWAHILI

Hapana, Nilikwenda saa tano asubuhi.

saba

Ulikwenda sokoni saa saba usiku?

Hapana. Nilikwenda saa saba
ifcchana#

No* I went at 11 o'clock in the

morning*
Did you go to the market at i o'clock
in the morning?
No. I went at i o'clock in the
afternoon.

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Unit_37
1 . Basic Dialogue. - What is your tribal background?

Butler

UNIT 37

SWAHILI

kabila (MA)

tribe

Kabila lako husema lugna gani?

What language does your tribe speak?

Abasi

Kizaramo

(language of the WaZaramo)

Kizaramol

Kizaramot
Butler

Lena

again

-sikia

hear

Tafadhali, sema tena.

Would you repeat it please?
(or:...rudia tena.)
Sikusikia vizuri.
I didn't hear well.
(A better expression for eliciting a repetition of what has been said is naam?.)
Abasi
Nimesema 'Kizaramo.1

I said 'Kizaramo.'
Butler

Watu hawa wanakaa katika ftchi gani?

What territory do these people live

in?
Abasi

-ishi (or: -kaa)

dwell

sehemu (N)

section

Waishi katika sehemu ya Dar es

They live in the vicinity of Dar es

Salaam. (or: Wanaishi. . . )

Salaam.

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Notes
A.

Articulation of gh.

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BASIC COURSE

UNIT 37

The middle consonant in lugha 'language* is not like anything which is used in standard
pronunciation of English. The back of the tongue is near the soft palate, almost in the position which it
occupies for the g in English gone. But the g in gone requires momentary complete stoppage of the air
stream, while in lugha this stoppage doesn't quite get made.
B.

Past negative forms with -ku-.

nilisikia vizuri

I heard well

sikusikia vizuri

I didn't hear well

hatukusikia vizuri

we didnt hear well

The second and third examples above contain verb forms with past negative meaning. They are
constructed as follows:
subj. prefix

| ku/kw

ha-

-tu-

-ku-

ha-

-tu-

-kw-

ha-

-tu-

-ku-

Jr stem
-sikia
-enda
-ja

These negative forms are sometimes used as negative counterparts of the affirmative li-tense, and
sometimes as counterparts of the me-tense.

a.
A. Vizuri as a modifier of verbs.
-sikia
Sikusikia vizuri.
-sema

Sikusema vizuri.

-ona

Sikuona vizuri.

-elewa
-eleza
habari
-fanya kazi

Juma hakutaka chakula jana.

Sikuelewa vizuri.
Juma hakuja jana.
Sikueleza habari vizuri.
Juma hakwenda jana.
Wachukuzi havakwenda kazini
Sikufanya
kazijana.
vizuri.
Juma
hakufurahi

I did not

hear well.

I did not

speak well.

I did not

see well.

I did not

understand well.

I did not

explain the matters

I did not

work well.

Juma
hakutumwa
jana. kazi.
Wachukuzi
hawakufanya
Juma uakuondoka nyumbani
jana.
Wachukuzi
bawakutumwa
nyumbani.
Wachukuzi hawakufurahi.
Wachukuzi hawakuja hapa.
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Present affirmative and negative vs. past affirmative and negative

UNIT 37

B. Past negatives with -ku-.

-ja -enda

SWAHILI

Juma did not come yesterday.

Juma did not go yesterday.
Juma was not happy yesterday,

-furahi
-tumwa
-ondoka nyumbani

Juma was not sent yesterday.

Juma did not leave home yesterday
Juma did not want food yesterday.

-taka chakula
C.
-enda kazini

The porters did not go to work. The porters did

not work.

-fanya kazi
-tumwa nyumbani
-furahi -ja hapa
3.
A
Unahitaji chakula?
La. Sihitaji.

The porters were not sent home.

The porters were not happy.
The porters did not come here.
Do you need food?
No, I dont need any.
Did you need food?
No, I didnt need any.

Ulihitaji chakula?
La. Sikuhitaji.
B.
Unakwenda sokoni?
La, siendi.
Ulikwenda sokoni?
La, sikuenda.

C.
Una njaa?
La, sina.
Ulikuwa na njaa?
La, sikuwa na njaa.
D.
Kuna nyaraa?
La, hakuna.

Are you going to the mar lest? No, 1 am not

going.

Kulikuwa na nyama?
La, hakukuwa na nyama.
E.
Tuna sukari ya kutosha?
Hatuna*
Tullkuwa na sukari ya kutosha?
La, hatukuua na ya Kutosha.
F.
Analipa kodi ya kichwa?
La, halipi.
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BASIC COURSE

Alilipa kodi ya kichwa?

UNIT 37

Did you go to the market? No, I did not

La, hakulipa.

go*

G.
Anauza nyumba yake?

Are you hungry?

La, hauzi.

No, I am not*

Aliuza nyvunba yake?

Were you hungry?

La, hakuuza.

No, I was not*

Is there any meat?

No, there is not any*
Was there any meat?
No, there was not any*

Do we have enough sugar?

We don't*
Did we have enough sugar? No, we did
not*

Does he pay poll tax?

No, he doesn't*
Did he pay poll tax?
No, he didn't*

Is he selling his house? No, he isn't*

Did he sell his house?
No, he didn't.
Unit 38
# Basic Dialogue* Where have you been?

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UNIT 37

SWAHILI

Magase
Bvana Dodge, unatoka vapi?

Where are you coming from, Hr. Dodge?

Dodge

pwani (N)

beach

Ninatoka pwani*

Fran the beach*

Magese
-ogelea

to swim
\

Ulikwenda pwani kuogelea?

Dodge
-tembea

Did you go there to swim?

-punga hewa

to change air

to go for a walk

Hapana. Nilikwenda kutenibea na

Mo* I went to walk and get a change

kupunga hewa.

of air.
Magese

nitu (WA)

person

Kuna watu wengi pwani?

Are there many people at the beach?

Dodge

-jaza
-jaa
huko

to fill up to get full there

Ndiyo, bwana, watu wengi wame aza

Yes, there are; the place is crowded.

huko*

('Yes, sir. Many people have filled

that place u p , ' )
Notes

This unit contains no new grammar. The students should experiment to see what variety they can
give to conversations that begin with the line, '3wana Fulani, unatoka wapi?'
Listen to the conversations given on the tape. Try to write down the few unfamiliar words that they
contain.
Unit_39
1. Basic Dialogue. Do you speak Luo?
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BASIC COURSE

UNIT 37

Sangai
Jel Wajua kusema Kiluo?

Say, do you know how to speak Luo?

(or: . . .Kijaluo?)
Abasi
barAbara
Ndiyo. Nasema Kiluo barAbara.

thoroughly, very well

Yes, I spesk Luo fluently.

Sangai
-jifunza

to study

lini?

when?

Ulijifunza lini kusema Kiluo?

Abasi
Nilikaa katika mji wa Kisumu kwa
muda wa miaka mitano.
Sangai
ukifanya
Ulikuwa ukifanya nini huko Kisumu?

When did you learn to speak Luo?

I lived in Kisumu for a period of
five years.
you-doing
What wore you doing there at Kisumu?
Abasi

mwandishi (WA)

good writer

-kuu

big, principa]

chama ( V I )

union, association, club

mfanyakazi ( WA)

worker

Nilikuwa mwandisni mkuu katika Chama I was General Secretary in the cha Wafanyakazi.
Labor Union.

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UNIT 37

SWAHILI

Notes
A* The prefix ki- in the names of languages*
Wasema Kiluo? Do you speak Luo?
The name of the Luo language, in that language, is Dholuo, and the people are called Luo. But in
Swahili, the prefix ki- is applied to the (Swahili) name for any people in order to indicate the style of life or
speech of that people. So the Baganda call their language Luganda, but in Swahili it is called Kigandaj the
Mashona call their language Chishona, but in Swahili it is called Kishona*
2*

A. Concord: Noun and demonstrative*

Ulikaa katika mji huo kwa

Aji

muda gani?

How long did you live in that country?

Ulikaa katika Achi hiyo kwa

Achi

muda gani?

gani?
kijiji

How long did you live in that province?

How long did you live in that village?

Ulikaa katika jimbo hilo kwa muda

jimbo

How long did you live in that city?

How long did you live in that section?

Ulikaa katika kijiji hicho kwa muda

gani?

sehemu

Ulikaa katika sehemu hiyo kwa

muda gani?

B. Kwa muda va

Nilikaa huko Dar es Salaam kwa

I lived there in Dar es Salaam

muda wa mwaka nbnoja.

for a period of one year.

Nilikaa huko Dar es Salaam kwa

I lived there in Dar es Salaam

muda wa miaka miwill.

for a period of two years*

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BASIC COURSE

UNIT 37

c . -jifunza.
Luo

Juma anajifunza Kiluo?

Is Juma learning Luo?

Swahili

Juroa anajifunza Kiswahili?

Is Juma learning Swahili?

kazi ya
ukarani

Juma anajifunza kazi ya

lugha

Juma anajifunza lugha mbili?

IsJuma learning clerical work?

ukarani?
Is Juma learning two languages?

A, Present affirmative and negative

Hamisi anajifunza Kiluo sasa? Hapana,
hajifunzi.
Wewe unajifunza lugha ya Kikuyu
sasa?
mbili

Hapana, sijifunzi.
Tunajifunza kazi ya ukarani sasa?
Hapana, hatujifunzi.
Ninajifunza Kizaramo sasa?

Is Hamisi learning Luo now?

No, he isn't.
Are you learning Kikuyu language now?
No, I'm not.
Are we learning clerical work now?
No, we aren't.
Am I learning Zaramo now?
No, you aren't.

Hapana, hujifunzi.
3.
B. A-tense, with person change, question to answer.
Wasema Kiswahili vizuri? Ndiyo.

Do you speak Swahili well?

Nasema barbara.
Twasema Kiswahili vizuri? Ndiyo.
Mwasetna barbara
Watu hawa wasema Kiswahili
vizuri?
Ndiyo. Wasema baribara.
tu huyu asema Kiswahili? Ndiyo.
Asema bar^bara.

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UNIT 37

SWAHILI

Yes, I speak it fluently.

Do we speak Swahili well?
Yes, you speak it fluently.
Do these people speak Swahili
well?
Yes, they speak it fluently.
Does this man speak Swahili well?

Mwasema Kiswahili vizuri? Ndiyo.

Twasema bar^bara,

Do you (pi.) speak Swahili well? Yes, we speak

it fluently*

C.
Wajua kusema Kinyamwezi?
Nasema kidogo tu.

Watu hao wajua kusema Kinyamvezi?

Wasexna kidogo tu*
Atoto huyo ajua kusema Kinyaniwezi?
Asema kidogo tu*

Do you know how to speak Nyamwezi?

I speak just a little#
Do those people know how to speak
Nyamwezi?
They speak just a little.
Does that child know how to speak
Nyamwezi?
He speaks just a little*
Do those children know how to speak

Vatoto hao wajua kusema Kinyamwezi?

Wasema kidogo tu*

Nyamwezi?
They speak just a little#

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BASIC COURSE

UNIT 4o

Unit_4o
1.

Basic Dialogue. Planning a holiday trip.

Mutisja
kesho

tomorrow

~pya

new
%

Kesho ni Sikukuu ya Mwaka Mpya,

Tomorrow is the New Years holiday.

-shinda

spend the

Wewe uta shinda wapi?

day

Where are jou going to spend the day?

Njoroge

matembezi (pi.

MA)

outing

Kami, Ake wangu na watoto tutakwenda My wife and children and I are going Voi kwa matembezi.
Voi for an outing.
Mutisjra
motokaa

(N) (or:motakaa)

automobile

gard (MA.)
!

car

moshi (KI)

smoke

Mtakwenda kwa motokaa, au kwa gari

Are you going by car, or by train?

la moshi?
Njoroge
-panda

mount, climb

-kusudia

plan

Tunakusudia kupanda gari la moshi.

We are planning to take the train.

Na wewe je?

And what about you?

Mutisya

Achezo (MI)
mashindano (MA)

game
race
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to

UNIT 1+0

SWAHILI

farasi (N-anim.)

horse

Sijui. Pengine nitakaa nyumbani

I don't know* Maybe I'll Just stay

tuj au nitakwenda kuona mashindano at home. Or maybe I'll go to watch ya farasi.

the horse races.

Notes
A. Ta-tense.
Utashinda wapi?

Where will you spend the day?

Tutakwenda Voi.

We will go to Voi.

The future tense is formed with the tense prefix -ta-. There are, then, five tense prefixes, any one
of which may fill the slot immediately after the subject prefix:

subj. - tense - obj.

ni

-- na
--

me
-- li

stem
-zietc.

-ona
(ku/kw)

- - ta
- -a
With the last of these tense prefixes, of course, the subject prefixes have special forms. Also, the
ku/kw before -enda, -isha and monosyllabic stems is not used in the a-tense.

il+o

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UNIT 1+0
A, The ta-tense.
Voi

SWAHILI

Mind, na Ake wangu tutakwenda

Voi kesho.

sokoni

Mimi na Ake wangu tutakwenda

sokoni kesho.

kusini ya
Aji
pwani

Mimi na Ake wangu tutakwenda kusini

ya Aji kesho.
Mimi na Ake wangu tutakwenda pwani
kesho.

kazini

Mimi na Ake wangu tutakwenda

kazini kesho.
B. Ta-tense.

wewe

Utakwenda wapi kwa matembezi?

karani

Karani atakwenda wapi kwa

matembezi?

wachukuzi Wachukuzi watakwenda wapi

kwa matembezi?
yeye

Yeye atakwenda wapi kwa

matembezi?

wao

Wao watakwenda wapi kwa

matembezi?
C.

Ta- vs, li- vs, me-tenses with

Wewe utashinda wapi kesho?

yeye Yeye atashinda wapi kesho?

My vdfe and I will go to Voi tomorrow.

My wife and I wil] go tc the market tomorrow.
My wife and I will go to the south of the city tomorrow.
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UNIT 1+0

SWAHILI

My wife and I will go to the beach tomorrow.

My wife and I will go to work tomorrow.

Where will you go for a walk?

Where will the clerk go for a walk?
Where will the porters go for a walk?
Where will he go for a walk?

Where will they go for a walk?

shinda.
Where will you spend the day tomorrow?
Where will he spend the day tomorrow?

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UNIT 1+0

SWAHILI

jana

Yeye alishinda wapi Jana?

vao

Wao walishinda wapi jana?

Where did he spend the day yesterday?

Where did they spend the day yesterday?

kesho

Wao vatashinda wapi kesho?

Where will they spend the day

tan or row?

leo

Wao wameshinda wapi leo?

Where did they spend the day today?

yy

Yeye ameshinda wapi leo?

kesho

Yeye atashinda wapi kesho?

Where did he spend the day today?

Where will he spend the day
tcm orrow?

mini

Mini nitashinda wapi kesho?

Where shall I spend the day

tomorrow?

3* Li-tense vs, ta-tense.

kvenda

Jana nilikwenda Morogoro,---

I went to Morogoro yesterday, and

na kesho nitakwenda tena.

kununua

tomorrow I'll go again.

Jana tulinunua ndizi, --------------

We bought bananas yesterday,

na kesho tutanunua nyingine

and tomorrow we'll buy sane

more.

kuaza

Jana aliuza ng1 anbe,-------------

He sold cows yesterday, and

na kesho atauza wengine.

kulipa

kupanda

Jana nililipa kodi ya nyumba,

na

I paid house rent yesterday, - and

kesho

tomorrow, I'll pay poll

nitalipa kodi ya kichwa.

tax.

Jana tulipanda gari la

moshi, na kesho

kuona

tomorrow he'll sell some more.

tutapanda tena.
Jana tulimwona Bwana

We took a train yesterday, ----------------and tomorrow we'll take it

again.
We saw Hasani yesterday, -

Hasani, ------- na kesho

and tomorrow we'll see him

tutamwana tena.

again.

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Utafanya nini
K. Begin a number of conversations with the opening line, kesho?'

UNIT 4

SWAHILI

Review Sentences, Units 1 - 4o,

mishahara yao.

Nitakwenda sokoni kununua nyama na

machungwa,

2* Kesho asubuhi, tutakuletea dawa ya kichwa,

3* Watu wa kabila la WakLkuyu wanakaa katika
jimbo la Kiambu*
4* Mwandishi huyo allkuja kutoka nchi ya
Amerika*

I'm going to the market to buy meat and oranges*

Tomorrow morning we will bring you a headache
remedy*
People of the Kikuyu tribe live in the province of
Kiambu.
That secretary came from America*

5* Tukapunge hewa huko upande wa mashariki ya

mji.
6 Maziwa ni chakula kizuri sana kwa watoto,
7,

Sitaki kukaa hapa kwa muda wa siku

nyingi,

8 Je, utakaa nyumbani au utakwenda kazini?

9*

Mananasi na machungwa yalikuwa mazuri*

io* Tuliyala*

Let's take a walk to the east of the city*

Milk is a very good food for children

I don't want to stay here for many days*

Are you going to stay at home, or are you going to
go to work?
The pineapples and oranges were good.
Ve ate them (i*e* the pineapples and oranges)*

11 .

Sijambo bwana, nawe hujambo?

12 *

Sijambo, lakini mtoto wangu ni mgonjva,

I'm fine (qir). And you?

I'm all right, but my child is ill.

13* Wachukuzi vananung'unika juu ya

The porters are complaining about their wages*

i4.

Mtauza ndizi, machungwa na mananasi

matano.

15
*
16

You (pi.) will sell bananas, oranges and pineapples.

What direction is Nairobi from Mombasa?

Mji wa Nairobi uko upande gani wa mji

wa Mombasa?
Watu wengi hupenda sana kutembelea
pwani.

Many people are very fond of walking along the sea

shore.

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UNIT 4

17.

SWAHILI

Mwaka huu baba yangu atanilipia This year, my father is going to pay ada ya shule.

my school fees for

me.
18.

Bibi Mariamu husema Kizaramo

Miriamu speaks Kizaramo fluently,

bar^bara
19.
19.
2

22

23.

24.

Unataka samaki wangapi?

How many fish do you want?

Watashinda r.yumbani siku ya leo.

They wil] spend today at home.

Chakula hiki kina pilipili nyingi sana.

This food has a lot of pepper [in it.]

Kwa kawaida wakulima hupata mazao

mengi,

Usually fanners get large crops.

Maembe hayo yalikuwa mabivu au

mabicbi?

Were those mangoes ripe or green?

Nadhani maziwa ya shilingi moja I think a shillings worth of miIk yatatosha.

will be

enough.
25.
26

27.

Wachukuzi havakufanya kazi vizuri. The porters didn't work well.

Pilipili haipatikani sokoni mwetu. Pepper is not available in our market.

Watu wengi hufanya kazi ya

Many people work as clerks and cooks,

ukarani na ya upishi.
a8.

Hapana, sitaki kula maembe.

29.

Bwana Juna aliondoka leo asubuhi Juma left this morning for Voi. kwenda Voi.

30.

Utumie dawa hii mara tatu kwa siku.

No, I don't want to eat mangoes.

Please take this medicine three times a day.

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UNIT 4

SWAHILI

31 . Asubuhi

ya leo tutakula mayai, matunda na

maziwa,
32

Kwa kawalda vibarua hupata mshahara mdogo

tu.

33 TJmelipa kodi ya kichwa?

34 Wazazi wetu hawakuondoka nyunbani jana.

This morning we will have eggs, fruit and milk.

Ordinarily, day laborers get only very low pay.
Have yea paid your pell tax?
Our parents didn't leave home yesterday.
Whose things are these?
I want to buy my child some bananas.

35* Vitu hivi ni vya nani?

36

Hataka kunmunulia mtoto wangu ndizi,

37 Siku hizi ninaotesha muhogo,

These days, I'm raising cassava.

His food was very good.

38 Chakula chake kilikuwa kizuri

Sana,

They are not cooksj they are clerks.

39 Wao si wapishi, wanafanya kazi ya ukarani.

Uo, atu wengi wa Afrika ya Mashariki husema
lugha ya Kisvahili.

Many people of East Africa speak the Swahili

language.

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Unit_M
1*

to put on clothes

Basic Dialogue. Getting ready for church.

cloth, clothes clean

Daudi
BM

Father, why are you putting on clean

-vaa

clothes?

nguo (N)

lohana

safi

reason

Baba, kwa nini unavaa nguo safi?

church
Because Im going to church,
that we should go

sababu (N )

Do you want to go to church with me, Daudi?

kanisa (N)
Kwa sababu ninakwenda kanisani. twende

Daudi
solitude

Daudi, unataka twende kanisani?

No, father.
I don't want to today.
I'll go by myself tomorrow.
peke (N)
Hapana, baba.

mother
But your mother is going too.

Sitaki leo.
Nitakwenda kesho peke yangu.

mama (N-pers.)
T-alH TH mama

Yohana

yako anakwenda pia.

Daudi

ijapokuwa
raahali (PA)
o ote
even if, although place
Ijapokuwa nitakaa nyumbani peke
Even if I'm going to stay (*be*) at
any at all
yangu,
home by myself,
sitakwenda mahali popote siku ya
not going any place at all today.

I'm

leo.
Notes
A. geke jnitakwenda peke yangu

Ill go by myself

The noun peke, like uu (Note 35.C), is

seldom used as subject or object of a verb, and
it is used only with a possessive following it.
B,

Use of ijapokuwa.

The word ijapokuwa is used in this dialogue,

with an English translation of 'even so'. It is actually a
rather complicated form of the verb -wa 'be', but its
internal structure need not concern us here. It is
sometimes used to introduce a clause: ijapokuwa mama
atakwenda nitakaa nyumbani, 'even if mother is going I
shall stay at hone.'

C.

Negative of ta-tense.
sitakwenda
hawataondoka

I won't go they won't

leave
The negative counterparts of the affirmative taforms discussed in Unit 4o are formed simply by
placing the negative prefix ha- before the affirmative.
D.

The mahali class.

mahali
anywhere at all

po

pote

This phrase introduces two new features of

Swahili grammar. One is the mahali concord class,
which contains only this one word. The adjectival concord and the subject prefix which are associated with it
are both joa-, and the possessive concord is -,
E.

~o ~ote.
mahali

po

pote

anywhere at all
kitu

cho

chote

ye

yote

anything at all
mtu
anyone at all
The form ~o ~ote contains a double occurrence
of soma one concord. Such a form is pronounced as one
word, but written as two, Noto in the last example that
the special form of the concord for singular animate
nouns is 2 ,

a.

A. Concords with ~o ~ote.

ndizi

I do notzowant
Sitakindizi
zote. any bananas at all I do not

maziwa

want any mjlk

at all,
Sitakimaziwa
yo yote

kahawa

I do not want
any coffee at all* I do not
Sitakikahawa
yo yote

nyama

want anyyo
meat
at all,
Sitakinyama
yote.

samaki

I do not want
any fish at all,
Sitakisamaki
zo zote
(or: . , wo wote,)

chai

I do notyowant
Sitakichai
yote.any tea at all,

uji

I do not
Sitakiuji
wo want
wote.any gruel at all,

mkate

I do not want
any bread at all,
Sitakimkate
wo wote.

watu

I do notwo
want
anybody at all,
Sitakiwatu
wote.

mtu
B.

I do not
Sitakimtu
yewant
yote.anyone at all.

michezo

Hatukuona michezo yo yote. We did not

see a single game,

mikate

Hatukuona mikate yo yote. We did not

see a single loaf.

Ut

chungwa

Hatukuoma chungwa lo lote.

sbko

Hatukuona soko lo lote.

kijiji

Hatukuona kijiji cho chote.

kitu

Ilatukuona kitu cho chote.

viazi

Hatukuona viazi vyo vyote.

watoto

Hatukuona watoto wo vote.

Atu

Hatukuona Atu ye yote.

W
e
W
e
W
e
W
e
W
e
W
e
W
e

did not

see any orange at all.

did not

see any market at all.

did not

see any village at all.

did not

see anything at all.

did not

see any potatoes at all.

did not

see any children at all.

did not

see anybody at all.

v,
jamaa

Yeye hana jamaa ye yote.

Hedoes not
st all

have any relatives

nyumba

Yeye hana nyumba yo yote.

Hedoes not

have any house.

kazi

Yeye hana kazi yo yote.

Hedoes not

have any job.

rafiki

Yeye hana rafiki ye yote.

Hedoes not

have any friend.

watoto

Yeye hana watoto wo wote.

Hedoes not

have any children.

3,
A. Future affirmative vs. negative.
Nitakwenda sokoni
mchana. Na wewe
j3

La, mimi
sitakwenda.
Nitanunua nyumba
mpya. Na wewe je?

La, mimi sitanunua,

Juma atalipa ada ya

shule, Na Hamisi
je?
La, yeye hatalipa.

I shall go to the market

this afternoon. How
about you?
No, I will not go.
I shall buy a new house.
How about you?

No, I will not buy

one,
Juma will pay school
fees. How about
Hamisi?
No, he will not
pay them.

BASIC COURSE

Juma atawasaidia rafiki zake. Na Hamisi Je?

samaki

UNIT Ui

Wataka samaki hii?

Hapana,

sitaki samaki yo yote.

La, yeye hatawasaidia.

Juma will help his friends. Hew about Hamisi?

Rafiki zangu watajifunza Kinyamwezi.

No, he will not help them.

Na wako Je?

My friends will learn Nyamwezi.

La, wao hawatajifunza,

How about yours?

B. Peke ___________

No, they will not learn it.

Utakwenda sokoni na Juma?

La. Nitakwenda peke yangu.

Will you go to the market with Juma? No, I shall go

Juma atakwenda sokoni na Hasani?

alone.
Will Juma go to the market with Hasani?

La. Atakwenda peke yake.

No, he will go alone*

Watoto watakaa nyumbani na mama yao?

Will the children stay at hone with their mother?

No, they will stay alone*

La. Watakaa peke yao.

Will the porters come with their master?

Wachukuzi watakuja na bv/ana wao?

No, they will come alone.

La* Watakuja peke yao,

Do you want this orange? No, I don*t want any

C. ~o ~ote in reply to a question.

chungwa

orange at all.

Wataka chungwa hill?

Hapana, sitaki chungwa lo

Do you want this mango? No, I don*t want any

lote.
embe

Wataka embe hili?

mango at all.
Hapana,

sitaki embe lo lote.

nyaraa

Wataka nyama hii?

Do you want this meat? No, I don*t want any meat

at all.

Hapana,

sitaki nyama yo yote.

Hos
ted
for
free
on
livel
ing
ua.
co
m

180

Do you want this fish? No, I don't want any fish at

all*

UNIT Ul

mkate

SWAHILI

Wataka mkate huu? Hapana,

sitaki mkate wo vote*

uji

Wataka uji huu? Hapana,

sitaki uji wo wote,

maziwa

Wataka maziwa haya? Hapana

sitaki maziwa yo yote.

Do you want this loaf of bread? No, I don't want any

bread at all.
Do you want this gruel? No, I don't want any gruel
at all.
Do you want this milk? No, I don't want any milk at
all.

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Unit 1+2
i. Basic Dialogue. Trouble in the kitcheni
Hamisi
Vfhat1 s the matter?

Kura nini?
Hadija

-ungua

to burn

Nyama yaungua.

The meat is burning.

Hamisi
-jaribu

to try

-toa

to take away

jiko (plu.: mekc)

stove, oven, kitchen, hearth

Jaribu kuitoa jikoni.

Try to take it out of the oven.

Hacij a

maskini
(she takes it out)

a poor man

Ohi NaskiniJ

Ohl Too badl

Tufanyeje sasa?

What shall we do now?

Hamisi
l^ziroa

necessity

tuile

that we should eat it

-la

to eat

Ni lAzima tuile.

We'll have to eat it.

Notes
A. Subjunctive forms.
unataka waende
ni l^zima twende
tufanyejel

do you want them to go?

it's necessary that we go
what shall we do2
(that we should do how?')

In each of the above sentences, the last word is a subjunctive form. They are formed as follows:

Subj. pref.

objj. pref.

watu-

a-

-end-semmw
etc.

i
c
0
1

nia-

root

-a*-e
-e
-e
-e

-ish-jarib-

-i
-u

If the indicative stem of the verb ends in -a, then the subjunctive stem ends in -e. Otherwise, the final vowel is the
same as in the indicative.
A generally workable first approximation to an English translation of waende is that they should go. In any given
context, however, this translation seldom sounds like idiomatic English. See the examples at the head of this Note.
B. |p~~7~~(,plU3 subjunctive.
ni lizim tuile

we'll have to eat it

('it is necessity that we
should eat it)

.
|lazima\
The word<^"7">'necessity' is commonjy followed by a subjunctive verb.
2

mikate
A. Lizima with subjunctive.
kula

Ni l^zima tule nyama.

Mama anafanya
kazi jikoni.
Jaribu
Mother is working
in thebuy
kitchen.
kununua
Ni l^zima
tununue
nyama.
We haveto
meat. Try to help
kumsaidia.
her.
kuleta
Ni l^ziina tulete nyama.
We haveto bring meat.
Kwa nini hujaribu kumsaidia?
Why do you not try to help her?
kutoa
Ni lzima tutoe nyama jikoni.
We haveto remove meat from the
Mama na Asha wanafanva kazi jikoni
Mother and Asha are working in the kitchen.
stove,
Jaribu kuwasaidia,
Try to help them.

uji

chai

chakula

Kwa nini hujaribu kuwasaidia?

Ninafanya kazi jikoni.
Ni lizima uutoe sasa.
Jaribu kunisaidia,
ToaKwa
mikate
ninijikoni.
hujaribu kunisaidia?

viazi

Imperatives and locatives,

Ni l^zima uitoe sasa.

mama
*

We haveto eat meat.

C.
B. Nenda jikoni.
Toa uji jikoni,

kukaa
ryumba
mama na
kutoka
Asha
mind

Why do you not try to help them?

I am working in the kitchen.
You have to remove it now.
Try to help me.
Remove the loaves of bread from the stove.
Why do you not try to help me?
You have to remove them now.
Go to the kitchen.
Remove the gruel from the stove. You have

lizLma uutoe sasa.

KaaNijikoni,

Stay
the kitchen.
toin
remove
it now.

Kaa
nyumbani,
Toa chai
jikoni,
Toa viazi jikoni,
Ni nyuinbani.
lzima uitoe sasa.
Toka
Toa chakula
jikoni,

Stay
at hone.
Remove
the tea from the stove, to
Remove the potatoes from the stove.
You have
remove it now.
Come
hone.
from
stove, to
Remove
the
Youfrom
have
tofood
remove
themthe
now.

it now.
Ni ldzima
lizima uvitoe
ukitoe
sasa.
sasa. negative forms of a verbYou
Subjunctive,
and present
withhave
finalremove
-u.

shule

Toka shuleni.

Come from school,

kwenda

Nenda shuleni.

Go to school.
Conversation Starters

1. A asks B whether certain articles are available in the market, and whether they are of good
quality. B replies. For some articles, he says that he didn't see any at all in the market.

UNIT 43

SWAHILI

Unlt_43
i. Basic Dialogue* More trouble in the kitchen*
Father
Kuna nini, bibi?

Whats the matter, dear?

('What is there, lady?')
Mother

inaji (pi. MA)

water

-mwaglka

to become spilled

iaji yamemwagika.

Some water has got spilled.

Father

Wapi?

Where?
Mother
kiti (VI)

chair

Juu ya kiti.

On the chair*
Father

-mwaga

to spill

Nani ameyamwaga?

YJho spilled it?

Mother

Juma,

Juma*
Father
afadhali

it is better

-angalia

to pay attention

-pangusa (or -futa)

to wipe up

Si afadhali ayapanguse basi?

[Then] hadn't he better wipe it up?

Angalia, Jumal Usimwage tenai

Careful Jumal Don't spill [it] again.

158

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UNIT 43

SWAHILI

Notes
A* Neuter steins
yamemwagika ^he water is spilled

maji
<

the water has been spilled

miird nimeyamwaga

I spilled it

This dialogue contains two related verb stems: -rrwagika 'to become spilled' and -mwaga to spill'*
Both steins contain the root -mwag-. The first contains, between the root and the final vowel, a non-final
suffix -ik- This is the 'neuter' or 'stative' suffix. It indicates that the subject has gotten into seme state,
without saying anything at all about the means or the agent responsible*
The 'stative' suffix has a number of slightly different forms, largely parallel to those of the 'applied'
suffix (Note 26.A),
-vunja
-rarua
-pita

-vunjika
-raruka
-pitika

-sikla

-sikika

-mwaga

-mwagika

-ona

-oneka

-lata

-leteka

W&

B. afadhali plus subjunctive.

afadhali ayafute

he'd better wipe it up

( ' i t is better that he should
wipe it u p ' )

The uninflectable word afadhali is commonly followed by a subjunctive

verb.

UNIT 43

SWAHILI

C. Negative subjunctive with -si-#

usimwage tenal

don't spill[it] again;

usiendei

don't gol

Asiya fute

don't wipe it up

Negative subjunctive forms

consist

of:

2#
i

HI
an

Subject
prefix
A# Negative subjunctive# waji
<
u
si
Usimwage majil

(obj. joref.)

root

mwag
Do not spill waterl Do

maziwa

A
Usimwage
maziwal

ya
not pour milkl Dofut
not

kahawa

tu
Usimwage
kahawal

pour coffee1 Do not pour

chai

etc#
Usiawage chaii

teaj

B. Afadhali plus subjunctive# kwenda

D. The mass noun ma.ji, which in its form and its concords is exactly like a plural noun of the
Afadhali
better
go. ' o i l ' .
M class, has notwende#
singular counterpart. Compare also We'd
the noun
mafuta
kufuta

We'd better wipe up the water# We'd

Afadhali tufute maji.

kusaidia Afadhali

tumsaidie

Afadhali tulipe kodi zetu#

mtoto.

kulipa

better help the child# We'd better pay our

taxes#

UNIT 43

SWAHILI

UNIT 43

SWAHILI

UNIT 43

SWAHILI

UNIT 43

SWAHILI

UNIT 43

SWAHILI

UNIT 43

SWAHILI

UNIT 43

SWAHILI

UNIT 43

SWAHILI

UNIT 43

SWAHILI

UNIT 43

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UNIT 43

SWAHILI

c.

A 'neuter' stem; juu ya

Maji yainemwagika juu ya kiti.

Same water has been spilled on

the chair.

vyakula

Vyakula vimemwagika juu ya

kiti.

maziwa

Maziwa yainemwagika juu ya

kiti.

kitambaa

Maziwa yamemwagika juu ya

kitambaa.

sukari
chai

Chai imemwagika juu ya

kitambaa.

viazi
j3-ko

Chai imemwagika juu ya jiko.

B. Mmaji

Some food has been spilled on

the chair.
Some milk has been spilled on
the chair.
Some milk has been spilled on
the tablecloth.
Some tea has been spilled on
the tablecloth.
Some tea has been spilled on
the stove*

chumvi

Chxunvi imemwagika juu ya jiko.

Some salt has been spilled on

the stove.

maziwa

kahawa

Neuter vs. simple stems; concord

A.

prefix.
ma ji

chai

Maji yamemwagika. Nani

ameyamwaga?

maziwa
C. Ms
naji

kahawa

Maziwa yamemwagika. Nani

ameyamwaga?
Kahawa imemwagika. Nani
ameimwaga?

naziva

chai

Chai imemwagika. Nani

ameimwaga?

kahawa

of noun, subject prefix, object

chumvi

Chumvi imemwagika. Nani

ameimwaga?

viazi
Sukari imemwagika. Nani ameimwaga?
maharagwe
tense vs. tatense: object prefixes.

Water has gotten spilled.

Who has spilled it?
Milk has gotten spilled.
Who has spilled it?
Coffee has gotten spilled*
Who has spilled it?
Tea has gotten spilled.
Who has spilled it?
Salt has gotten spilled.
Who has spilled it?
Viazi vimemwagika. Nani amevimwaga?

UNIT 43

SWAHILI

Sugar has gotten spilled.

Maji yaraerawagika. Nani atayafuta?

Who has spilled it?

Maziwa yarnsmwagika. Nani atayafuta?

Potatoes have gotten spilled Who has spilled

Kahawa imemwagika. Nani ataifuta?

them?

Chai imemwagika. Nani ataifuta?

Some water has been spilled. Who will wipe it

tense vs. negative subjunctive;

up?

Umemwaga maji. Usiyamwage tenal

Some milk has been spilled.

Who will wipe it up?

Uroerawaga maziwa. Usiyamwage tenal

Some coffee has been spilled. Who will wipe it

Umemwaga kahawa. Usiimwage tenal

up?

Umemwaga viazi. Usivirawage tenal

Some tea has been spilled.

Umemwaga maharagwe. Usiyamwage tenal

Who will wipe it up?

object prefixes.
You have spilled some water.
Do not spill it againl
You have spilled some milk.
Do not spill it againl
You have spilled some coffee. Do not spill it
again!
You have spilled some potatoes. Do not spill
them again!
You have spilled the beans, (lit.) Do not
spill them again!

Unit J+U
1*

Basic Dialogue. Bicycle trouble.

Sangai
-sukuma

to push along

baiskeli (N)

bicycle

UNIT 43

SWAHILI

Kwa nini wasukuma oaiskeli yako?

Why are you pushing your bicycle?

Mutisya

-haribika

to get broken

Jamaa, imeharibika.

It's broken, my friend.

Sangai

-tangeneza

to repair

siyo
equivalent of English 'wouldn't

it is not it (used here as an

it?')

Afadhali uitengeneze basi, siyo?

fixed it, then?

Wouldn't it be a good thing if you

Mutisya

-weza

to be able

Siwezi kuitengeneza.

I can't fix it.

fundi (MA. animate)

skilled worker of any kind

Naipeleka kwa fundi.

I'm taking it to the repairman.

kwa heri

to happiness, with good fortune

Kwa heri, bwana.

Well, good-bye.
Sangai

Asante,

Thanks,

Notes
A* Some additional pairs of simple and neuter stems.
The stative verb stem -haribika is related to the simple stem -haribu 'to damage, destroy'* The
verb -ondoka 'to depart' is related to -andoa 'to start off, take away', and -toka 'to come from' is related
to -toa 'to supply, take out, offer'*

kiti

3
viti

A* -veza plus infinitive.

-sukuma

Watoto wadogo hawawezi kusukuma

Small children cannot push a

baiskeli kubwa*
vitu

big bicycle.

-tengeneza Watoto wadogo hawawezi

Small children cannot repair

kutengeneza baiskeli kubwa*

motokaa
-nunua

Watoto wadogo hawawezi

3.

a big bicycle.
Small children cannot buy a

kununua baiskeli kubwa.

A.
-lata

big bicycle*

Watoto wadogo hawawezi kuleta

mayai

Small children cannot bring a big

baiskeli kubwa*
B.

mboga

baiskeli

bicycle.

Meaning of me-tense with a neuter i

stem*

Baiskeli imeharibika?

Is the bicycle damaged?

Nguo imeharibika?

Is the cloth damaged?

Kiti kimeharibika?

Is the chair damaged?

muhogochakula

Chakula kimeharibika?

Is the food damaged?

motokaa
B.
jiko
second.
C.
etu
baiskeli

Motokaa imeharibika?

Is the motor car damaged?

pilipili nguo
k.iti

angu
nyumba
~ake

Is the stove damaged?

Jiko 1imeharibika?
Concord: object prefix and object.

Please repair my bicycle.

Tafadhali, uitengeneze
baiskeli yangu.
Tafadhali, uitengeneze

Please repair my house.

nyumba yangu.
164

ao

Tafadhali, ukitengeneze kiti changu.

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Tafadhali, uvitengeneze viti vyangu.

Tafadhali, uvitengeneze vitu vyangu.

Please repair my chair.

Tafadhali, uitengeneze motokaa yangu.

Please repair ny chairs.
Concord: Noun, subject prefix w

Please repair ny things.

Mayai yako wapi?

Nimeyapeleka sokoni,

Please repair my motor car

Mboga ziko wapi?

Nimezipeleka sokoni.
Pilipili ziko wapi? Nimezipeleka sokoni.
Muhogo uko wapi?
Nimeupeleka sokoni.
Agreement of possessive stem in

locative stem object prefix.

Where are the eggs?
I took them to the market.
Where are the vegetables?
I took them to the market.

Jiko letu limeharibika. Hatuwezi

kulitengeneza
Jiko langu limeharibika. Siwezi
kulitengeneza,
Jiko lake limeharibika. Hawezi

Where is the pepper?

I took it to the market.
Where is the cassava?
I took it to the market.
st sentence, subject prefix in

kulitengeneza,
Jiko lao limeharibika. Hawawezi
kulitengeneza

Our stove is damaged. We can't

repair it.
My stove is damaged.
I can't repair it.
His stove is damaged. He can't
repair it.
Their stove is damaged They can't
repair it

C. Neuter vs. simple stems*

baiskeli
Baiskeli yangu imeharibika*

Hy bicycle is in bad working

condition.

Nani ameiharibu?
chakula

Who damaged it?

Chakula changu kimeharibika.

Jfy food is spoiled*

Nani amekiharibu?
motokaa

Who spoiled it?

Motokaa yangu imeharibika*

tty motor car is in bad working

condition.
Nani ameiharibu?
kiti

Who damaged it?

Kiti changu kimeharibika*

tty chair is damaged.

Nani amekiharibu?
D. Affirmative vs* negative subjunctive*
kusukuma
Niisukume baiskeli?

Who damaged it?

Should I push the bicycle?
No, dont push it.

Hapana. Usiisukume*
kutengeneza Niitengeneze baiskeli?

Should I fix the bicycle?

Hapana. Usiitengeneze*
kununua

No, don't fix it*

Niinunue baiskeli?

Should I buy the bicycle?

Hapana. Usiinunue*
kuuza

No, don't buy it*

Niiuze baiskeli?

Should I sell the bicycle?

Hapana. Usiiuze*

No, don't sell it.

Conversation Starters
1 . A asks

B whether he can accompany him to town. B replies with a list of things that he must

do first. A offers to help him*

Unit_U5
1* Basic Dialogue. Trouble with a pen.
Abasi
kalamu (N)
Tafadhali nisaidie kalamu.
-andika
Yangu haiandiki.
wino (U)
Sangai
Lakini una wino?
Abasi

pen
Please lend me a pen.
to write
Mine doesn't
ink write.
But do you have ink?

-vunjika

to become broken

Ndiyo, lakini kalamu imevunjika.

Sangai

Yes, but my pen is broken.

Wapi?
Abasi

What part?
nibu (N)

nib

~enyewe

-self

Nibu yenyewe.

The nib itself.

-lazijnu
to be necessary
Yanilazimu ninunue nibu mpya kesho. I must buy a new nib tomorrow.

Notes
A. An additional pair of simple and neuter stems*
The stative verb stem -vunjika 'to get broken' is related to the simple stem -vunja 'to break'*
B* -lazimu plus subjunctive or infinitive.
The verb -lazimu 'to be a necessity [to]' may be followed either by an infinitive or by a
subjunctive form:
yanilazimu kununua Apya /

I've got to buy a new one

yanilazimu ninunue Apya)

The subjunctive is considered better* In these examples, we have the a- tense of the verb* The
subject prefix is that of the singular of the N- class, used here with no antecedent. This subject
prefix used in this way is sometimes called 'impersonal.'
2*

A.

Concords with gra*

I bought a new pen yesterday.

kalamu

Nilinunua kalamu Apya jana*

I bought a new chair yesterday.

kiti

Nilinunua kiti kipya jana.

I bought some new chairs yesterday*

viti

Nilinunua viti vipya jana*

I bought a new bicycle yesterday*

Nilinunua baiskeli mpya jana*

I bought some new clothes yesterday* I bought

nguo

Nilinunua nguo Apya jana*

a new stove yesterday*

Jiko

Nilinunua jiko jipya jana*

baiskeli

B. -lazimu plus infinitive*

I must repair this pen.

-tengeneza Yanilazimu kutengeneza

kalamu hii.

I must buy this pen.

-nunua

Yanilazimu kununua kalamu hii.

I must sell this pen.

-uza

Yanilazimu kuuza kalamu hii*

I must take this pen to the repairman.

-peleka
kwa fundi*

Yanilazimu kupeleka kalamu hii

BASIC COURSE

UNIT U 5

C. -lazimu plus subjunctive.

mimi
Yanilazimu nilipe kalamu.
wao

Yawalazimu walipe kalamu.

yeye

Yamlazimu alipe kalamu.

sisi

Yatulazimu tulipe kalamu.

wewe

Yakulazimu ulipe kalamu.

ninyi

Yawalazimuni ifcLipe kalamu,

Tafadhall tusaidie Zetu

haziardiki.

D. "en^ewe.
mimi

Mimi mwenyewe nilikwenda.

wewe

Wewe mwenyewe ulikwenda.

yeye

Yeye mwenyewe alikwenda.

sisi

Sisi wenyewe tulikwenda.

ninyi

Ninyi wenyewe mlikwenda.

wao

Wao wenyewe walikwenda.

3.
A. Agreement in successive sentences possessive
stem.
mimi

Nahitajl kalamu.
Tafadhall nisaidie Yangu
haiandiki,

Juma

Juma ahitaji kalamu.

Tafadhall msaddie. Yake
haiandiki.

sisi

Twahitaji kalamu.

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I must pay for the pen.

They themselves went.

They must pay for the pen.

He must pay for the pen.

among subject, object, and

We must pay for the pen.

You must pay for the pen.
You (pi.) must pay for the pen

I need a pen.
Please lend me one.
Mine doesn't write.

I myself went.
You yourself went.
He himself went.

Juma needs a pen.

Please lend him one.
His can't write.
We need pens.

We ourselves went.

Please lend us some.

You yourselves went.

Ours don't write.

BASIC COURSE

vatoto

Watoto vahitaji kalamu.

Tafadhali wasaidie.
Zao haziandiki.

UNIT U 5

The children need pens.

Please lend them some.
Theirs dont write.

B. -mekwisha.
wino

Una vino va kutosha?

Do you have enough ink? No, ink is

Hapana, wino umekwisha.

ujl

Una uji va kutosha?

Hapana, uji umekwisha.

sukari

Una sukari 7a kutosha?

Hapana, sukari imekwisha.

chai

Una chai ya kutosha?

all gone.
Do you have enough gruel? No,
gruel is all gone.
Do you have enough sugar? No,
sugar is all gone.
Do you have enough tea? No, tea is

Hapana, chai imekwisha.

maji

Una maji ya kutosha?

Hapana, maji yamekwisha.

maziva

Una maziva ya kutosha?

Hapana, maziva yamekwisha.

all gone.
Do you have enough water?
No, water is all gone.
Do you have enough milk?
No, milk is all gone.

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Unique
i* Basic Dialogue* I've lost a letter.
Hairisi
barua (N)

letter

meza (N)

table

Umeiona barua juu ya meza?

Did you see the letter on the table?

Hadija
Kutoka wapi?
Hamisi
muhuri (MI)

Where from?
postmark

(or: chapa ya posta, alama ya

posta)
Ilikuwa na muhuri wa Afrika

It had a West African postmark*

Magharibi.
Hadija
Sijaiona* Imepotea?
Hamisi
-kumbuka
-veka
Sivezi kukumbuka niliiweka wapi*
-pcteza
Pengine nimeipoteza.
iaciija

I haven't seen it* Is it lost?

to remember
to put
I can't remember where I put it.
to lose
Maybe I've lost it.

Usikate tamaa.'
UNIT 46
tafuta

Don't despair#
SWAHILI
to look for

Nitakusaidia kuitafuta#
-kata
A# Causative stems#
tamaa (N)

I'll help you lode for it#

to cut
imepotea

desire
is it lost?

nimeipoteza

I've lost it I have returned

nimerudi

I have returned it

nimeirudisha
Notes
The stem -goteaa 'to lose' is a 'causative' stem which is related to the applied stem -gotea 'to get
lost'# The vowel of the causative suffix follows the same rule as the vowels of the applied and stative
suffixes: it is -i- after u, i or a, and -e~ after e or o. For this verb and sane others, the consonant is -z-. The
final vowel of causative infinitives is -a, regardless of the final vowel of the simple stem#

17*
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-rud-

'to return'

-furah-

'to rejoice'

Many verbs

-rud-ish-

'to cause to return'

-furah-ish'to cause to rejoice

BASIC COURSE
UNIT 46
have -sh-, without a
suffixial vowel, where a related stem

has -k-:

but

-wak-pend-anguk-pot-kumbuk-

'to burr.*
'to like'
'to fall'
(Simple root no
longer in use in this
to remember'
sense.)

-ja-andik-

-ja-zto write'
-andik-ish'to become full' (Simple
root no
'to put'
-wek-eshlonger in use in this
-temb-ezsense.)

-wek-terab-

-washpend-ez
-angushpotez
-kumbush-

'to ignite'
'to please'
'to drop'
'to lose, throw away'
'to remind'
'to fill'
'to dictate
'to cause
to put'
'to cause
to walk about'

-pelek-

'to go, send, take'

-pelek-ez-

'to cause to send, etc#'

-um-

'to bite, hurt'

-um-iz-

'to cause to hurt'

many other

verbs, the consonant

is -sh-:

-end**

'to go'

-end-esh-

'to cause to go'

-sem-

'to speak'

-sem-esh-

'to cause to speak'

-ottables)'

'to grow, sprout'

-ct-esh-

'to raise (vege-

For more details, see Chapter XXXIV of Ashton's Swahili Grammar* While the above
generalizations will be of great help in organizing and remembering the facts, it is safest in the beginning to
learn each causative form separately*

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UNIT 46

BASIC COURSE

Concord: Noun and demonstrative; Nani

-ku- as object prefix*

alikuletea barua hii?

Who brought you this letter? Who

Nani alikuletea barua hizi?

brought you these letters?

Nani alikuletea kalamu hii?

Who brought you this pen?

Nani alikuletea nguo hii?

Who brought you this cloth?

Nani alikuletea nguo hizi?

Who brought you these clothes?

Nani alikuletea kitu hiki?

Who brought you this thing?

Nani alikuletea vitu hivi?

Who brought you these things?

-veka, ^uu ^a-____________^_*

Niliweka kiti Juu ya meza. Niliweka
barua juu ya meza*

I put a chair on the table.

I put a letter on the table*

.
A.

barua
barua (pl.)
kalamu
nguo (sg. )
nguo (pl*)
kitu
vitu
B.

i
barua

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UNIT 46

SWAHILI

kalamu

Niliweka kalamu juu ya meza* Niliweka I put a pen on the table*

nguo
kiti
iratunda
nyama
jiko
maji
C.

nguo juu ya meza* Niliweka nguo juu ya

I put some clothes on the table* I put some

kiti* Niliweka matunda juu ya kiti*

clothes on the chair* I put some fruit on the

Niliweka nyajna juu ya kiti* Niliweka

chair,

nyama juu ya jiko* Niliweka maji juu ya

I put some meat on the chair*

jiko* weka plus locatives*

I put some meat on the stove*

Weka nguo nezani*

I put sane water on the stove*

nguo

Weka kalamu mezani*

kalamu

Weka ndizi mezani*

Put the clothes on the table*

ndizi

Weka viazi mezani*

Put the pen on the table*

Put the bananas on the table*

viazi
3*

Put the potatoes on the table*

A.

Nimepoteza kalamu*

prefix* Agreement of subject and object prefixes; concord of noun and object
Nitakusaidia kuitafuta*
I lost a pen*
kalamu
Nimepoteza mayai*
I'll help you to look for it*
Nitakusaidia kuyatafuta

mayai

Nimepoteza chungwa*
chungwa

Nitakusaidia kulitafuta
Nimepoteza mkate*
Nitakusaidia kuutafuta*

mkate

1 lost some eggs*

I'll help you to look for them
I lost an orange.
I'll help you to look for it*
I lost a loaf of bread*
I'll help you to look for it*

Causative stem; concord including object prefix,

B.
kalajnu

Kalamu yangu imepotea*

Nani ameipoteza?

My pen is lost*
Who lost it?

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barua

Barua yangu imepotea.

My letter is lost.
Who lost it?

Nani ameipoteza?
barua

Barua zangu zimepotea,

letters are lost.

Who lost them?

Nani amezipoteza?
nguo

Nguo yangu imepotea,

My cloth is lost.

Nani ameipoteza?

Who lost it?

u
kalamu

Kalamu zetu zimepotea, Amezipoteza

Our pens are lost.

lini?
barua

When did you lose them?

Barua zetu zimepotea, Amezipoteza

Our letters are lost.

When did you lose them?

lini?
rguo

Nguo zetu zimepotea, Amezipoteza

Our clothes are lost.

When did you lose them?

lini?
D. Agreement of subject prefix and possessive stem.
wewe

Unatoka wapi?

Where are you from?

I don't remember your name.

Silikumbuki Jina lako.

yeye

Anatoka wapi?

Where is he from?

Silikumbuki jina lake.

ninyi

Mnatoka wapi?

I don't remember his name.

Where are you all from?

Siyakumbuki majina yenu.

wao

Wanatoka wapi?

I don't remember your names

Where are they from?

Siyakumbuki majina yao,

names.

I don't remember their

Conversation Starters
i,

A (an employer) gives directions to B (a domestic servant), and answers B's

questions about details of his duties.

Unit_U7

UNIT 46

SWAHILI

1. Basic Dialogue. Broken dishes.

(Loud crash off stage.)
Mother
VJhat's that that broke?

Nini hicho kilichovunjika?

(or: Kitu kimevunjika nini?)
Daughter
-angusha

to cause to fall

choinbo (VI)

vessel

-pakua

to divide

Mariamu ameangusha vyombo vya

Mary dropped the dishes.

kupakulia chakula.

(' the vessels for dividing out the food.')

Mother
pi?

which?

Vipi vijoevunjika?

Which ones are broken?

Daughter

sahani (N)

plate

kikombe (VI)

cup

kisahani ( V I )

saucer

bilauri (N) or: glasi (ft)

glass

ote

all

Sahani mbili, vikombe vitatu,

kisahani kimoja, na bilauri zotei

Two plates, three cups, one saucer,

and all the glassesJ
Mother

Bilauri zilikuva ngapi?

How many glasses were there?

('Glasses they-were how-many?')

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Daughter
-fikiri

to think

Mama, nafikiri zilikuva Ane,

Four, I think, Mother*

2*

A.

Si as negative copula; the invariable adjective safi*

sahani

Sahani hii si safi sana*

This plate is not very clean*

sahani
(pl.)

Sahani hizi si safi sana*

These plates are not very clean

kikombe
vikombe

Kikombe hiki si safi sana* Vikcmbe

hivi si safi sana* Bilauri hii si safi
sana. Bilauri hizi si safi sana*

bilauri
bilauri
(pl.)

Nguo hii si safi sana* Concord with

"ote*

nguo
B.

vikombe
visahani

safi sasa Bilauri zote ni safi sasa. Nguo

zote ni safi sasa* Concord with ~gi.
Vikcmbe vipi si safi? Kikcmbe kipi

bilauri

si safi?

nguo

These cups are not very clean. This glass is

not very clean* These glasses are not very
clean
This cloth is not very clean.

Sahani zote ni safi sasa* Vikombe

vyote ni safi sasa. Visahani vyote ni

sahani

This cup is not very clean.

All the plates are clean now*

All the cups are clean now*
All the saucers are clean now* All the
glasses are clean now* All the clothes are
clean new*

C.
vikombe

Which cups are not clean?

kikombe

Which cup is not clean?

UNIT 46

SWAHILI

Sahani zip! si safi?

Which plates are not clean?

sahani

Sahani ipi si safi?

Which plate is not clean? Which

nguo

Nguo ipi si safi?

cloth is not clean?

sahani
(pl.)

D.

Concord with ~ote.

bilauri

Mariamu amevunja bilauri zote.

Mariamu has broken

all

the glasses.

vyombo

Mariamu amevunja vyombo vyote.

Mariamu has broken

all

the dishes.

visahani

Mariamu amevunja visahani vyote*

Mariamu has oroken

all

the saucers.

Mariamu amevunja sahani zote.

Mariamu has broken

all

tne cups.

Sahani moja imeanguka* Ipi?

Yako*

Mariamu has broken

all

the plates.

Mariamu amevunja vikombe vyote.

vikombe

sahani

Nani ameiangusha?

Sahani mbili zimeanguka. Zipi?

A.

sahani
moja

Concords in successive short sentences

Zako.

one?

Nani ameziangusha?

Tours.

Kikombe kimoja kimeanguka Kipi?

sahani
mbili

One plate has fallen. Which

Chako.
Nani amekiangusha?
Vikombe viwili vimeanguka Vipi?

Who made it fall?

Two plates have fallen Which
ones?
Yours.
Who made them fall?

kikombe
kimoja

One cup has fallen* Which one?

Yours.
Who made it fall?
Two cups have fallen. Which

vikombe

ones?

viwili

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B.
kalarau

Vyako#

Yours#

Nani ameviangusha?

Who made them fall?

Neuter vs# simple stems; concord including object prefix#

Kalamu yangu imevunjika.
My pen is broken.
Nani ameivunja? or:
Nani aliyeivunja?

bilauri

Bilauri yangu imevunjika#

kisahani

Nani ameivunja?
Kisahani changu kimevunjika# Nani

kikcanbe

amekivunja?
Kikombe changu kimevunjika#

C.
vikombe

Nani amekivunja?
-kuwa "ngagi?; concord with ~ngagi
Vikombe safi vilikuwa vingapi?

vlsahani

Vilikuwa vifine#
Visahani safi vilikuwa vingapi?
Vilikuwa vifine.

sahani

Sahani safi zilikuwa ngapi?

Zilikuwa fine#

bilauri

Bilauri safi zilikuwa ngapi? Zilikuwa

D.
vikombe

fine#
Concord: Noun and two adjectives#
Kuna vikombe vipya vingapi?

visahani

Kuna vitano#

Kuna visahani vipya vingapi? Kuna

vitano#

UNIT 46

SWAHILI

Who broke it?

My glass is broken#
Who broke it?
My saucer is broken#
Who broke it?
tty- cup is broken#

How many clean saucers were there?

There were four#
How many clean plates were there?
There were four#
How many clean glasses were there?
There were four.

Who broke it?

How many new cups are there? There are
How many clean cups were there? There
were four#

five#
How many new saucers are there? There
are five#

kalarni

Kuna kalamu mpya ngapi?

Kuna tano.

How many new pens are there?

There are five.

nguo

Kuna nguo mpya ngapi?

Kuna tano.

How many new cloths are there?

There are five.

nyumba

Kuna nyumba mpya ngapi?

Kuna tano.

How many new houses are there?

There are five.

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Unit 49
i * Basic Dialogue, Lighting the lamp.
Hamisi
giza (MA)

darkness

-ingia

to enter

Giza laingia.

It's getting dark*

taa (N)

a lighting device
(lamp, light bulb, etc,)

mafuta (pi, MA)

oil, grease

-washa
Tafadhali, nipatie taa ya mafuta,

to cause to light up
Please get me the lamp so I [can]

niwashe.
Hadija

light [it].

-chukua
Chukua taa, Nimeileta,
('Take it, I've brought i t , ' )

to take, cany
Here it is.
Hamisi

Inayo mafuta ya kutosha?

Hadi.ja

Does it have enough oil?

-tia

put, pour

chupa (N)

bottle

jioni

evening

Ndiyo, tulitia chupa ubili jana

jioni.

Yes, we put in two bottles yesterday

evening.

Notes
A. Imperative of one verb, followed by subjunctive of a second, nipatie taa niwashe
so that I
[may] light [it]

get me the lamp

After an imperative form of one verb, the subjunctive of a second verb is used to show the purpose of the action of
the first.

Wachukuzi wanacirio cfiaKula

A.-ingia plus locative.
Do the porters have enough food for
cha kutosha usiku huu? Go into the house. tonight?
nyumba
Ingieni nyumbani.
ninyi
Ninyi mnacho chakula cha
Do you have enough food for
kanisa
Ingieni kanisani.
Go into the church.
kutosha usiku huu?
tonight?
shule
Ingieni shuleni.
Go into the school.
Watoto wanacho chakula Go into the District
Do the
children have enough
boma watoto Ingieni bomani.
Office.
nani

cha kutosha usiku huu?

food for tonight?
B.Adverbial use of usiku.
Nani
aliyewasha taa jana usiku?
Who lit the lamp last night?
D.-tia.
1

Tutatia mafuta katika taa.

We will put oil into the lamp.
Juma aliwasha taa jana usiku?
Juma
Did Juma light the lamp last night?
chupa
Tutatia mafuta katika chupa.
We will put oil into the bottle.
Mama aliwasha taa jana usiku?
Mama
Did Mother light the lamp last night
maji
Tutatia maji katika chupa.
We will put water into the bottle
Baba na Juma waliwasha taa usiku? Did Father and Juma light the lamp lamp last
Baba na
Tutatia maji katika kikombe. night?
We will put water into the cup.
Juma kikombe
bilauri
Tutatia maji katika bilauri.
C. Subject and object prefixes with -na-.

We will put water into the glass.

maziwa

Tutatia maziwa katika bilauri.

We will put milk Into the glass.
Taa inayo mafuta ya kutosha
Does the lamp have enough oil for
usiku huu?
chupa
Tutatia maziwa katika chupa. for tonight?We will put milk into the bottle.

sisi

Sisi
tunayo mafuta
E.Imperative
plus ya
subjunctive.
kutosha usiku huu?
mafuta
Lete mafuta nitie katika
wachukuzi Wachukuzi wanayo mafuta ya
chupa hii.
kutosha usiku huu?
maziwa
Lete maziwa nitie katika

Do we have enough oil for tonight?

Bring oil for me to put into
Do the porters have enough oil
this bottle.
for tonight?
Bring milk for me to put into

chupa hii.
maji

Lete maji nitie katika

chupa hii.

vino

Lete wino nitie katika

chupa hii.

this bottle.
Bring water for me to put into
this bottle.
Bring ink for me to put into
this bottle.

3.
A.
kalainu
fix it.

Imperative plus subjunctive.

%
KLetee kalamu aitengeneze.

Bring him the pen so that he can

UNIT 48

kalamu
(pi.)
balskeli

viti

SWAHILI

Mletee kalamu azitengeneze*

Bring him the pens so that he can fix them*

Bring him the bicycle so that he can fix it*

Mletee balskeli altengeneze*

Mletee viti avitengeneze*

Bring him the chairs so that he can fix them*

Bring him the car so that he can fix it*
Bring him the lamp so that he can fix it*

motoka*

Mletee motokaa altengeneze*

Mletee taa altengeneze*

taa

How many cups did Junta get you yesterday

evening?

Second person plural object prefix.

B.
vikoKibe

Juma aliwapatienl vikonibe vingapi

He didn't bring us any cup at alll

How many potatoes did Juma get you

jana jioni? Hakutupatia vikombe vyo

yesterday evening?

vyote J

He didn't bring us any at alll

Junta aliwapatienl viazi vingapi jana

jioni? Hakutupatia viazi vyo vyoteI
viazi

Junta aliwapatienl mayai mangapi jana

jioni? Hakutupatia mayai yo yotel

How many eggs did Junta get you yesterday

evening?
He didn't bring us any egg at alll
How many mangoes did Juma get you

mayai

Junta aliwapatienl maembe mangapi

jana jioni? Hakutupatia maembe yo
yotel

yesterday evening?
He didn't bring us any mango at alll
How many loaves of bread did Juma bring
you yesterday evening?

maembe

Junta aliwapatienl ndkate mingapi jana

jioni?
Hakutupatia miicate yo yote!

Juma aliwapatieni chupa ngapi jana jioni?

Hakutupatia chupa zo zotel

taa
mikate

Juma aliwapatieni taa ngapi jana jioni?

Hakutupatia taa zo zotel

Juma aliwapatieni ng'onbe wangapi jana

jioni? Hakutupatia ng'ombe wo wotel

chupa
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He didn't bring us any loaf of bread at alll

How many lamps did Juma bring you
yesterday evening?

He didn't bring us any bottle at

alii
How many cattle did Juma bring you

He didn't bring us any lamp at

yesterday evening?

alll

He didn't bring us any cattle at

How many bottles did Juma bring you

alii

yesterday evening?

Conversation Starters
ia A (an employer) returns from a trip, and discusses the trip with B (a domestic
servant)*
2.

A then questions B about the state of the house, the dishes, etc* in his absence,

and about the adequacy of supplies for the immediate future*

UNIT 48

SWAHILI

Unit_49
i* Basic Dialogue* Lighting the lamp*
Son
kiberiti (VI)
(or: kibiriti)
kijiti cha kiberiti (VI)
Tafadhali, nipatie kiberiti*

box or book of matches

a single match
Please get me a match*

Mother
Viberiti vyote viraekwisha#
Son
pesa (N)
Unazo pesa za kunurrua vingine?

They're all gone*

coins
Do you have money to buy some more?

Mother
senti (N) (or: pesa (N))

small change

sanduku (N)

box

Ndiyo* Chukua senti kutoka

sandukuni*
haraka (N)
Na ufanye haraka* Giza laingia*

Yes, take some change out of the

box*
haste
And hurry, it's getting dark*
(1 Darkness enters*')

Son
Ndiyo, mama*

Yes, Mother*

2*
A* Concords with ~ja*
kiberiti Tafadhali, nipatie kiberiti Please get me a new match* kipya.

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viberiti

Tafadhali, nipatie viberiti vipya.

sanduku

Tafadhali, nipatie sanduku

jipya*
Tafadhali, nipatie nguo mpya.

nguo

Please get me some new matches.

Please get me a new box.

Please get me some new clothes.

Tafadhali, nipatie chupa mpya.

Tafadhali, nipatie taa mpya. Meaning of

chupa

Please get me a new bottle.

ire-tense of -(kw)isha. Viberiti vimekwisha,

taa

mama.

Please get me a new lamp.

B.
viberiti

vikombe
siagi
sahani

pesa
mafuta

Vikombe vimekwisha, mama.

The matches are all used up, ' mother.

Siagi imekvisha, mama.

The cup8 are all gone, mother.

Sahani zimekwisha, mama.

The butter is all gone, mother.

Pesa zimekvisha, mama.

The plates are all gone, mother.

Mafuta yamekvisha, mama.

The money is all gone, mother.

Maji yamekwisha, mama.

The oil is all gone, mother.

Njugu zimekwisha, mama.

The water is all gone, mother.

msji

The ground nuts are all gone, mother.

rjugu

a plus infinitive.
C.

-runua
-lipa

Anazo pesa za kununua mafuta?

Do you have money to buy oil?

Mnazo pesa za kulipa kodi? Mnazo pesa

Do you have money to pay taxes? Do you

za kutosha?

have money enough?

-chukua

-tosha

Nani alichukua senti kutoka sandukuni?

D.

Who took the change from the box?

UNIT U9

BASIC COURSE

kalarnu

Nani alichukua kalarnu krutoka

Who took the pen from the boot?

sandukuni?
meza

Nani alichukua kalarnu kutoka

mezani?

viberiti

Nani alichukua viberiti kutoka

Who took the pen from the table (drawer)?

Who took the matches from the

mezani?
ryumba

Nani alichukua viberiti kutoka

table (drawer)?
Who took the matches from the

nyumbani?
irotakaa

Nani alichukua viberiti kutoka

hOU86?

Who took the matches from the

motokaani?
bilauri

Nani alichukua viberiti kutoka

carl
Who took the matches from the

bilaurini?
mafuta

Nani alichukua mafuta kutoka

glass?
Who took the oil from the glass?

bilaurini?
taa

Nani alichukua mafuta kutoka

Who took the oil from the lamp?

taanil
3*
A.
pesa

Multiple concords*
Unazo pesa za kutosha?

Do you have enough money?

Sina pesa zo zote*

senti

Unazo senti za kutosha?

I dont have any money at all.

Do you have enough change?

Sina senti zo zote*

mafuta

maji

Unayo mafuta ya kutosha?

I don't have any change at all

Do you have enough oil?

Sina mafuta yo yote*

I don't have any oil at all.

Unayo maji ya kutosha?

Do you have enough water?

Sina maji yo yote*

mikate

Unayo mikate ya kutosha?

I don't have any water at all.

Do you have enough bread?

Sina mikate yo yote.

I dont have any bread at all.

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uji

Unao uji wa kutosha?

Sina uji wo wote.

nyama

Ur.ayo nyama ya kutosha?

Sira nyama yo yote.
B. Li-tense vs, past negative with

kuchukua

Ulichukua senti ngapi

kutoka sandukuni?
Sikuchukua nyingi.

kuweka

Uliveka senti ngapi

sandukuni?
Sikuweka nyingi.

kuona

Uliona senti ngapi

sandukuni?
Sikuona nyingi.
C,

kuchukua KLichukua viberiti vingapi nyumbani?

Hatukuchukua vingi.
kuweka

*
Mliweka viberiti vingapi
nyumbani?

kuona

Hatukuweka vingi.
Mliona viberiti vingapi
nyumbani?
Fatukuona vingi.

Do you have enough gruel?

I don't have any gruel at all.
Do you have enough meat?
I don't have any meat at all,
-ku-

UNIT U9

BASIC COURSE

How many cents did you take out of the bofx? .

I didn't take many.
How many cents did you put into the box?
I didn't put many.
How many cents did you see in the box?
I didn't see many.

How many matches did you (pi,) take out of the house?
We didn't take many.
How many matches did you (pi,) put in the house?
We didn't put many.
Hew many matches did you (pi,) see in the house?
We didn't see many.
Unit_50
i* Basic Dialogue* I'm not hungry*
Mother
Unakitaka chakula hiki?

Do you want this food?

Son

Kapana, sikitaki asante*

No, thank you*

Mother

wa nini?

Why [not]?
Son

-icaliza

to finish

Kwa sababu sina njaa.

Because Im not hungry* Ive just

Nimemaliza kula sasa hivl*

now finished eating*

Mother

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kinyvaji

(VI)

a drink

Pengine wataka kinywaji,

Maybe you'd like a drink.

Son

Ndiyo. Tafadhali nipatie bilauri

Yes, a glass of orange juice would

moja ya maji ya roachungwa*

be fine*
Mother

-nywa

to drink

Basi chukua. Mini nitakunywa soda* Here you are. ('Then, take') Ill
have sane soda*
Notes
A. The phrase sasa hivi*
Note the use of hivi, which has the form of the proximal demonstrative,

UNIT U9

BASIC COURSE

plural VI class, as modifier of sasa 'now' to produce sasa hivi 'just new,' The phrase hivi
sasa is also used in this sense
soda nyingi.

2*

A. Concord: Noun and demonstrative.

chakula

Unataka

chakula hicho?

karanga

Unataka

karanga hizo?

mkate

Unataka

mkate huo?

kinywaji Unataka kinywaji hicho?

siagi

Unataka

siagi hiyo?

nyama

Unataka

nyama hiyo?

B. -me-raaliza plus infinitive*

la

Juma

amemaliza kula sasa

hivi.
-lata

Juma amemaliza kuleta

kinywaji sasa hivi.

tuletea

Juma

amemaliza kutuletea

vinywaji sasa hivi.

-fanya

Juma amemaliza kufanya

kazi sasa hivi.

C. hu-tensej concord with ~ingi.

chai

Watu

wote wa nchi hii hunywa

chai nyingi.
kahawa

Watu

wote wa Achi hii hunywa

kahawa nyingi.
maziwa

Watu

wote wa nchi hii

hunywa

maziwa mengi.
soda

Watu wote wa nchi hii

hunywa

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Do ycu. want that food?

Juma has just new finished working.

Do you want those ground nuts?

Do you want that bread?
Do you want that drink?
Do you want that butter?
Do you want that meat?

Everyone in this country drinks a lot of

tea.
Everyone in this country drinks a lot of
coffee.
Everyone in this country drinks, a lot of

Juma has just now finished eating.

milk.
Everyone in this country drinks a lot of

Juma has just now finished bringing a drink.

Juma has just now finished bringing us drinks.

soda.

maji ya Watu vote wa Achi hli hunyva machungwa

ya. machungwa mengi.

Everyone in this country drinks a lot of

orange Juice*

D.
nyama Watu vengi wa Achi hii hula nyama
nyingi*

karanga Watu wengi wa nchi hii hula

karanga nyingi.
nuhogo Watu wengi wa Achi hii hula muhogo rawing!
mahiodi Watu wengi wa Achi hii hula
raahindi mengi*

Many people in this country eat a lot of

meat*
Many people in this country eat a lot of
ground nuts*
Many people in this country eat a lot of
cassava*
Many people in this country eat a lot of
maize*

A, Me-tense vs* negative with -a-*

wewe

Umemaliza kula sasa?

Hapana, sijamaliza bado*

No, I haven't finished yet*

ninyi

Mmemaliza kula sasa?

Hapana, hatujamaliza bado*

watu vote Watu vote wamemaliza kula sasa?

Hapana, hawajamaliza bado*
B* Present affirmative vs* negative,
chakula

Unakitaka chakula hiki?

Hapana, sikitaki, asante*

Akate

Unautaka Akate huu?

Hapana, siutaki, asante*

mikate

Have you finished eating now?

Unaitaka mikate hii?

Hapana, siitaki, asante*

Have you all finished eating now?

No, we haven't finished yet*
Has everyone finished eating new?
No, they haven't finished yet#
with object prefix*
Do you want this food?
No, I don't want it, thank you*
Do you want this bread?
No, I don't want it, thank you*
Do you want these loaves?
No, I dont want them, thank you*

embe

Unalitaka embe hill?

want this mango?
Hapana, silitaki, asante.
don't want it, thank you*

m&embe

Unayataka maembe haya?

want these mangoes?

ndizi

Hapana, siyataki, asante.

don't want them, thank you*
ndizi

Unaitaka ndizi hii?

want this banana?

(pi.)

Hapana, siitaki, asante.

don't want it, thank you*

kiazi

Unazitaka ndizi hizi?

want these bananas?

viazi

C.

Hapana, sizitaki, asante*

don't want them, thank you*

Do

you

No, I
Do

you

No, I
Do

you

No, I
Do

you

No, I

Mariamu Mariamu anakula viazi?

La, hali viazi, anakula mkate*
Watoto wanakula viazi?
watoto

La, hawali viazi,

wanakula mkate*
Unakula viazi?

wewe

La, sili viazi, ninakula mkate*

*

Mnakula viazi?
La, hatuli viazi, tunakula mkate*
ninyi

D.
Daudi

Unakitaka kiazi hiki?

want this potato?
Hapana, sikitaki, asante*
don't want it, thank you*

Do

you

No, I

Unavitaka viazi hivi?

want these potatoes?

Do

Hapana, sivitaki, asante.

don't want them, thank you*

you

No, I

Negative present of monosyllabic verb stem, with loss of

kuIs Mariamu eating potatoes?
No, she isn't eating potatoes. She's eating bread*
Are the children eating potatoes? No, they aren't
eating potatoes They are eating bread*
Are you eating potatoes?
No, I'm net eating potatoes*
I'm eating bread*
Are you all eating potatoes?
No, we aren't eating potatoes* We' re eating bread.

Daudi anakunywa kahawa?

Is Daudi

drinking coffee?
La, hanywi kahawa,

No, he

isn't drinking coffee*

anakunywa chai.

He's

drinking tea.
vote

wanakunywa
chai.

Wote
wanakunywa
kahawa? La,
hawanywi
kahawa,

Are they all drinking

Theyre drinking

coffee?

tea.

No, they arent

drinking coffee.
wewe
wewe

ny
wa

Unakunyva kahawa?
La,
sin
ywi
kah
aw
a,
nin
aku
ny
wa
cha
i.
%

ninyi
Mnakunywa kahawa?
La,
hat
uny
wi
kah
aw
a,
tun
aku

cha
i.

Are you drinking

coffee?
No,

Are you (pi.) drinking

coffee? No, we

I'm

not

aren't drinking

drinking coffee.

coffee. We're

I'm drinking tea.

drinking tea.

Conversation
Starters
i A inquires of B about what the
people of his country customarily eat and
how they spend their leisure time. B replies,
and asks similar questions about the people
of A's country,
2 . Within the limits of the vocabulary
that has been met up to this point,
give an account of a typical day in
your own life. Do the same for a day
in the life of a domestic servant.

Unit_5 ^
1* Basic Dialogue. What grade are you in?
Magese
sona

to read, study

darasa (MA)

class

Unasoma darasa gani mtoto?

What class are you in, [child]?

Junta

Niko katika darasa la tano.

I'm in Standard 5 .
Magese

sonK) (MA)

an academic subject, a lesson

Wapenda masomo gani shuleni?

What subjects do you like in school?

Juma

hesabu (N)

arithmetic

Mungu (MI)
dini (N)

religion

-Jalia
Napenda hesabu, Eiingereza, dini

I like arithmetic, English, religion

na historia.
mpaka chuo
Magese
-endelea
(VI)
-tumaini
Mungu akinijalia nitaendelea

and history.
to continue
to hope

katika masomo
mpaka
chuo cha
juu masomo?
Watumaini
kuendelea
katika

Do you hope to continue in your

studies?

mwishowe
Mwishowe utafanya kazi gani?

Juma
God

siasa (N)
(or: utetezi (U))
Nitafanya kazi ya siasa.

to assist (ordinarily in the sense of God's help) to, until school, college
If God helps me, I will go on in my .

studies to college.

Mageso
finally
What kind of work will you do after that?
Juma
politics

I'm going into politics.

Notes
A.

Juu with no possessive following it.

chuo cha juu

higher school

Here, Juu is used without a possessive or a linking -a following it. cf. Note 35.C.
B.

First and second person subject prefixes used with locative stems.
niko katika darasa la tano I'm in Standard 5 .

The first-person and second-person subject pronouns as well as the third- person pronouns may be used before the
stem -ko, and before -go and -mo:

yuko nyumbani

he's at home

yupo nyumbani

he's at the house

yumo nyumbani

he's in the house

The difference in meaning between -go and

-ko is

not sharply defined.

Generally speaking, -go implies a more definite idea of the location, while -ko has to do more with the mere
existence of scxnething regardless of place, -mo implies location of something within something else*
a.
A. -endelea plus infinitive; mpaka.
-soma

Utaendelea kusoma mpaka

How late are you going to read?

saa ngapi?
-fanya

Utaendelea kufanya kazi

How late are you going to work?

mpaka saa ngapi?

-tembea -ogelea
B. -^ua plus infinitive.
-ogelea

Watoto wote wanajua

Do all the children know how to swim?

kuogelea?
-soma -andika -seroa
3.
A. Nouns with the same stein but different prefixes.
mpishi
Baba yake ni mpishi.
Yeye afanya kazi ya upishi.
mkuliroa

Baba yake ni mkulima.

Yeye afanya kazi ya

His father is a cook.

He does cooking.
His father is a farmer*
He does farming.

ukulima.
mtetezi

Baba yake ni mtetezi.

Yeye afanya kazi ya
utetezi.

His father is a politician

He does political work.

Apagazi

Baba yake ni mchukuzi

His father is a porter.

Yeye afanya kazi ya kibarua.

He does casual labor.

His father is a secretary.

rawandishi Baba yaks ni mwandishi.

Yeye afanya kazi ya uandishi.

He does secretarial work

B.Personal subject prefixes with locative

wewe

Uko wapi? Nino nyumbani.

stems,
Where are you? I am in
the house.

ninyi

Mko wapi? Tumo nyumbani.

Where are you (pi. ) 2 We are in

the house.

yeye

Yuko wapi? Yumo nyumbani.

Where is he? He is in the

house,

vao

Wako wapi? Wamo nyumbani.

Where are they? They are

in the house.

4 A asks B, a child, about his school work and

about his chores at hone.

Unit 52
i* Basic Dialogue. If you drink too much. .

Mirambo
Mwone, yule mtu hawezi kutembea

Look at himi That man can't walk

vyema.

properly.
Sangai
beer

pombe (N)
Yeye amekwisha kurrywa pombe.

He's been drinking beer.

('he has finished drinking beer' )
Mirambo

Wswe unapenda kunywa p orr.be?

Do you like to drink it?

Sangai

wakati (U) (pi. nyakati)

time

Nyakati nyingine mimi hunyva kidogo Sometimes I drink just a little.

tu.
Mirambo

-leva

to become drunk
Pomba ni rcbaya kwa sababu inamfanya Beer is bad because it makes a person
mtu alewe.
(that he should become) drunk,
Sangai
%

Ndiyo. Mtu akinywa pylngi atalewa. Yes, anyone who drinks much will get

N0tQ8
A.

drunk.

The distal demonstratives (-le)*

yule Atu

that man over there

A third series of demonstratives are formed an the stem -le* The general meaning is 'that/those over there' These
may be called 'distal' demonstratives. The three series of demonstratives may be compared in the following table*

'neutral'

'proximal'

'distal'

huyu
huyo

WA

MI

y u 1 ______e

sg. huyo

huyu

yule

pi* hao

hawa

wale

sg* huo

huu

pi* hiyo

hii
m

ule
ile
mmm

sg* hilo

hili

lile

pi* hayo

haya

yale

sg* hicho

hiki

kile

pi* hivyo

hivi

vile

sg* hiyo

hii

pi* hi20

nizi

zile

huu

ule

PA ('mahali')hapo

hapa

pale

KU

huko

huku

kule

MU

humu

humu

Ale

MA

VI

huo

MB M

ile

B, The kl-tense*
mm

mtu akinywa nyingi atalewa if a person drinks much he will get

drunk
Mungu akinijalia * * *

if God helps roe * * *

These sentences contain verb forms with the prefix -ki-. This prefix stands between the subject and object prefixes,
and in this respect resembles the tense prefixes -na-, -li-, etc. A crude but serviceable kind of translation equivalent for the
ki- form is 'he drinking', 'he helping', ' 1 being', etc* Forms with -ki- in this slot do not ordinarily serve as the main verb in a
complete sentence*
2*

A.
-tembea

-weza plus infinitive; -le,

Wale watu hawawezi kutembea

Those people cannot walk well*

vyema.
-soma

Wale watu hawawezi kusoma

Those people cannot read well*

vyema.
-3ema -andika
B.
pombe

Kidogo after mass nouns*

Nyakati

nyingine

mimi hunywa

Sometimes I drink a little beer.

pombe kidogo*
kahawa

Nyakati

nyingine

mimi hunywa

Sometimes I drink a little coffee.

kahawa kidogo*
chai

Nyakati

nyingine

mimi hunywa

Sometimes I drink a little tea.

chai kidogo*
maji

Nyakati

nyingine

mimi hunywa

Sometimes I drink a little water*

maji kidogo,
C. Two examples of the ki-tense*
akienda Mtoto akienda shuleni hujifunza kusoma*

If a child goes to school, he learns how

to read*

ukifanya

Ukifanya kazi yizurl sana

utapata mshahara wa kutosha.

If you work very well you will get

Ds Mara#
kuona

enough pay.

Ulimwona mara ngapi? Mara

mbllia

kusaidia

How many times did you see him? Twice,

Uli&saidia mara ngapi? Mara

mbilla

kusikia

How many times did you help him? Twice,

Ulimsikia mara ngapi? Mara

How many times did you hear him? Twice,

mbill.
kutazama

How many times did you look at him?

Ulimtazama mara ngapi?

Twice,

Mara mbllia
-fanja plus subjunctive,
chai

Chai haimfanyi Atu alewe,

kahawa

Kahawa haimfanyi Atu alewe*

maji
maji ya

Maji haya&fanyi mtu alewe,

Maji ya machungwa hayaafanyi

Tea does not make one drunk.

Coffee does not make one drunk.

Kchungu ku almla.

Water does not make one drunk.

3*

Orange juice does not make one drunk.

A. Concords: Noun and adjectives,

pambe

Pombe ni nzuri? Rapana, ni

mbaya*

vyakula

Vyakula ni vizurl? Hapana,

Is the beer good? No, it is bad.

ni vibaya.
nyama

Nyama ni nzuri? Hapana, ni

mbaya,

maembe

Maembe ni mazuri? Hapana,

ni mabaya.

machungwa

Machungwa ni mazuri? Hapana ni

mabaya.

ndizi

Ndizi ni nzuri? Hapana, ni rcbaya

Are the foods good? No, they are bad.

Is the meat good? No, it is bad.

Are the mangoes good? No, they are bad.

Are tha oranges good? No they are bad.

Are the bananas good? No they are bad.

Unit_ 5 3
i Basic Dialogue. Juma hurt his leg.
Asha
ndugu (N-pers.)
Baba, ndugu yangu Juma yuko wapi?

kinsman of same generation

Father, where is ray ndugu Juma?

Alipelekwa hospitalini na mama. (ors...hospitali...)

He was taken to the hospital by [his] mother.

Asha
Why?

Kwa nini?
Hamisi
-umia

be hurt

dkono (ME)

arm, hand

Aguu (MI)

leg, foot
Because he hurt [his] arm and [his] foot.

Kwa sababu aliumia aikono na mguu.

Asha How did he get hurt?

Aliumiaje?
Hamisi

knife
He hurt himself with a knife.

kisu (VI)
Alijiumiza mwenyewe kwa kisu.
Asha

a sick person Is
he very ill?

mgonjwa (WA)
Teye mgonjwa sana?

Hamisi
Hainlsi
Hapana, lakini alikuwa akiumwa.

No, but he was in pain.

Notes
A. Passive stems.
Ndugu yangu aliniuma. Niliumwa
na ndugu yangu. Ndugu yangu

% brother bit me.

I

aliniumiza* Niliumizwa na ndugu

yangu.

was bitter, by my brother, tfy

brother hurt me.

I was hurt by my brother.

Passive stems may be derived from simple stems, or from other derived stems, by use of a suffix whose most
common form is -w-. When the passive suffix is used in the same word with another derivational suffix, it follows that
suffix.
In sentences containing passive verbs, the word for the agent or means by which the action is performed follows the
word na.
B.

Passive stems formed on roots which contain vowels.

Wachukuzi walikula nyama.

The porters ate the meat.

Nyama ililiva na wapagazi.

The meat was eaten by the porters.

Maziwa yamenywewa na watoto. The milk has been drunk by the

children.
Passive stems derived from monosyllabic verbs do not have ku-, and the passive suffix itself is -iw-or -ew-. For
details see the exercises.
C.

Difference in meaning between -umwa and -umia.

Niliumwa (na) kichwa.

I had a headache.

Niliumla kichwa.

I hurt my head.

Note the difference in meaning between the derived verb stems in the above examples. The underlying simple stem
-uma means to cause pain, injure, bite'.
The word na is used by some speakers after -umwa, but is omitted by others
D.

The reflexive prefix -^i-.

Ninajifunza Kiswahili.

I'm studying Swahili* I hurt

Nilimwumiza Daudl*

Daudi.

Nilijiumiza*

I hurt myself*

Walijiumiza.

They hurt themselves*

The prefix -ji- occupies the same slot as the other object prefixes. It is a 'reflexive' prefix, which indicates that the
object of the verb is the same as its subject* It has the invariable shape -^i- regardless of the person, class or number of the
subject*
The stem -funza means 'to teach' -^ifunza 'to study, learn' is literally 'to teach oneself'*
2*

A# -umia.
Aguu

Juma aliumia mguu*

Juma hurt his leg*

miguu

Juma aliumia miguu*

Juma hurt his legs*

mkono

Juma aliumia mkono*

Juma hurt his hand*

mikcno

Juma aliumia mikono*

Juma hurt his hands*

kichwa

Juma aliumia kichwa*

Juma hurt his head*

B. -umwa*
kichwa

Juma anaumwa kichua.

Juma has a headache*

mguu

Juma anaumwa mguu.

Juma has a sore foot*

miguu

Juma anaumwa miguu.

Juma's feet hurt*

mkono

Juma anaumwa mkono.

Juma has a sore arm*

c . -jiumiza.
kisu

Nilijiumiza kwa kisu.

kiti
Nilijiumiza kwa kiti.
bilauri baiskeli kalamu

I hurt myself with a knife*

I hurt myself with a chair.

D.Kuna plus locative.

*
* wagonjwa wengi hospitalini?
Kuna

Are there many patients in the hospital?

mtu

Kuna watu wengi hospitalini?

mji

Kuna watu wengi nijini?

mgonjwa

Are there many people in the hospital?

Are there many people in town?

Kuna wagonjwa wengi mjini?

Are there many sick peopTe in town?

Are there many children in town?

mtoto

Kuna watoto wengi Ajinj?

shule

Kuna
wengi
shuleni?
Are watoto
there mary
children
in the
school?

What were you doing at twelve noon?

Were you eating at twelve noon?
Were you reading at twelve noon?
Were you walking at twelve noon?

Were you writing a letter at twelve

noon?
E.
kufanya

-wa plus ki-tense*

Ulikuwa ukifapya nini

saa

sita mchana?
kula

Ulikuwa ukila chakula

saa

sita mchana?
frusoma

Ulikuwa ukisoma saa sita

mchana?

kutembea

Ulikuwa ukitembea saa

sita

mchana?
kvandika Ulikuwa ukiandika barua saa sita mchana?
F.
mahindi

Concord: Norm, adjective, subject prefix, nguo mpya Nguo mpya zilipelekwa
Mahindi yote valipelekwa
All the maize was taken to the
sokoni.

to the
iruhogo

market.
hospital.
All the cassava
was taken to the

hospitali,
Muhogo
vote ulipelekwa

market.
Eggs were taken to the hospital.

sokoni.
Mayai yalipelekwa hospitali.

mayai

mayai
njugu
nguruwe
maziwa ndizi vyakula vvcrte

maembe mazima

H. Passive plus na.Soda vote imenywewa,

baba

All the soda has been drunk.

Nani ameinywa?
Kodi ililipwa jana na baba
maji
Maji yote yamenyvewa,
yangu.
Nani ameyanywa?
mama
ndugu

Who has drunk it?

The tax was paid yesterday by ny
All the water has been drunk.
father.
Who has drunk it?

B,

I* -wa plus na-tense.

Viazi vyote vimeliwa.
viazi
Nani
amevila?kichwa.
kichwa
Jana nilikuwa
ninaumwa
mguu

All the potatoes have been eaten

has eaten them?
Yesterday, I hadWho
a headache.

Jana nilikuwa ninaumwa mguu.

maembe
Maembe yote yameliwa.

Akono

Yesterday, I had a sore foot.

All the mangoes have been eaten.

Jana nilikuwa
ninaumwa
mkono.
Nani
ameyala?

vitu

Yesterday, I had
a sore
arm. them?
Who
has eaten

mkateVitu hivi vyote

% vimeletwa
Mkate
vote umeliwa,
na ndugu
yangu.

All these thingsAll

have
the been
breadbrought
has been eaten.
by my brother.
Who has eaten it?

Nani ameula?
mikateVisu hivi Mikate
yote imeliwa,
vyote vimeletwa

visu

the been
loaves
of bread have
All these knivesAll
have
brought
by my brother.
been eaten.

na ndugu yangu.
Nani ameila?
machungwa
mayai

viti

nyama
mikate

Nyama yote imeliwa,

samaki

Samaki yote imeliwa,

njugu

Nani amelia?

A. Passive of verbs whose

roots contain no vowel.
Nani ameila?
pcmbe

Pombe yote imenywewa.

Nani ameinywa?

chai

kahawa

New clothes werel ^ e nt ^ 1

ndizi

Who has
eaten them?
nyama
siagi
All the meat has been eaten.
Who has eaten it?
All the fish has been eaten.
Who has eaten it?

All the beer has been drunk.

Who has drunk it?

Chai yote imenywewa.

All the tea has been drunk.

Nani aroeinyva?

Who has drunk it?

Kahawa yote imenywewa.

Nani ameinywa?

All the coffee has been drunk.

Who has drunk it?

Conversation Starters
i.

A and his friend B, who are parents, discuss the things that they do for their children, related to their needs for

food, clothing, education.

S09

Unit_5U
1 Basic Dialogue* Where have you been recently?
Sangai
Habari za siku nyingi?

How have you been all this time?

('News of many days?')
Mirambo

Njema*

Fine]
Sangai

Ulikuva wapi siku hizi zote?

Where have you been all these days?

Nilikuva huko Mbeya*

Mirambo
I was at Mbeya*
Sangai

Ulikuwa ukifanya nini?

What were you doing?

Mirambo

Nilikuwa nikifanya kazi ya ukarani* I was doing clerical work*

Notes
A* Huko with names of places*
Tulikuwa nyumbani*

We were at home.

Tulikuwa huko Mbeya.

We were at Mbeya.

The locative suffix -ni is used with such words as n^umba 'house' and soko 'market'. With names of cities the word
huko 'there' or hapa 'here' may be used. The literal translation of the second sentence is thus 'we were there [at] Jbeya'.

210
\

B.

Verb phrases in which the first

verb is -wa.

Nilikuwa nikifanya kazi, Atakuwa

I was working.

akifanya kazi.

He will be working.

Alilewa.

He got drunk.

Alikuva amelewa.

He was drunk.

Amelewa.

He is drunk.

Ilikuwa imevunjika.

It was broken [when I saw it].

Verb phrases of this kind lend great flexibility to the expression of time and aspect with Swahili verbs. Basically, the
action as a whole is located in past or future time by the use of -li- or
-ta- as prefix with -wa. The shape of the action, whether continuing or
completed at that time, is indicated by the use of -na-, -ki-, or of -me-

kusaidia

as prefix for the second verb.

Mbeya Lini? Tulikuwa huko Moeya.
3.
Utete
Waendelee
kusoraa
Tulikuwa
hukonipaka
Utete. saa saba*
A.
Walianza lini kusama?
soko
Tulikuwa sokoni.
wao
Aendelee
kusoma mpaka saa saba*
kanisa
Tulikuwa kanisani.
Alianza lini kusoma?
Nairobi
Tulikuwa huko Nairobi, .
Waendelee kuogelea mpaka saa saba*
B.
yeye
-wa
plus ki-tense.
Walianza
lini kuogelea?
kwenda

We were at Moeya.
We were at Utet9.
We were at the market.
We were at the church.
We were in Nairobi.

Nilikuva
nikienda
nyumbani.
Aendelee
kuogelea
Apaka
saa saba*

I was going hone.

kula
Alianza
lini nikila
kuogelea?
Nilikuwa
chungwa.
wao
kujifunzaWaendelee
kutusaidia
mpaka saa saba*
Nilikuwa
nikijifunza
Walianza
lini kutusaidia?
Kiswahili.

I was eating an orange,

I was learning Swahili

Nilikuwa nikiwasaidia
kuondoka Aendelee
kutusaidia
mpaka saa saba*
Nilikuwa
nikiondoka
yeye
wazazi wangu*
Alianza
lini kutusaidia?
shuleni
wao
kuogelea -wa plus Ici-tense: negative vs
Nilikuwa nikiogelea.
Ulikuwa ukisoma?
Hapana. Sikuwa nikisoma, nilikuwa 2

yeye

nikiandika,

I was
helping
ray school.
parents*
I was
leaving

I was swimming.

A. Huko with names of cities.

Mlikuwa mkisoma?
B.
W9W8

ninyi

Hapana. Hatukuwa tukisoma,

tulikuwa tukiandika*

11

Let them go on reading till one o'clock*

When did they begin reading?

Let him/her go on reading till one o' clock*

When did he/she begin reading?
Let them go on swimming till one o' clock*
When did they begin swimming?
Let him/her go on swimming till one o'clock.
When did he/she begin swimming?
Let them go on helping us till one o'clock*
When did they begin helping us?
Let him/her go on helping us till one o'clock.
When did he/she begin helping us?
affirmative*
Were you (sg,) reading?
No, I was not reading, I was writing.
Were you (pi.) reading?
No, we were not reading, we were writing*

Was the clerk reading?

karani Karani alikuwa akisoma?

Hapana.

Hakuwa

akisoma,

alikuwa akiandika.

No, he was not reading, he was

writing.

C.
wazungu

Wazungu hao walikuwa

Were those Europeans drinking tea?

wakinywa chai?

mzungu

Hawakuwa wakinywa chai,

They were not drinking tea, they

Walikuwa wakinywa pcmbe,

were drinking beer.

Mzungu huyo alikuwa akinywa

Was that European drinking tea?

chai?
Hakuwa akinywa chai, Alikuwa

He was not drinking tea, he

akinywa pombe.

was drinking beer.

wakulima Wakulima hao walikuwa wakinywa

Were those farmers drinking tea?

chai?
Hawakuwa

wakinywa

chai,

Walikuwa wakinywa pombe,

ninyi

Mlikuwa mkinywa chai?

Hatukuwa

tukinywa

They were not drinking tea, they were

drinking beer.
Were you drinking tea?

chai,

Tulikuwa tukinywa pombe.

We were not drinking tea, we were

drinking beer.

UNIT 55

SWAHILI

Unit gg
i*

Basic Dialogue* How's the family?

Hasani
Habari gani za watoto wako?

How are your children?

Hadi.ja
Hawajarabo,
Hasani

They're all right*

kweli

true

Kweli, una watoto wangapi sasa?

Really, how many children do you

have now?
Hadi.ja
Nina watoto watatu*

I have three*

Hasani
kiume (VI)

the male sort

kike (VI)
Watoto hao ni wa kiume au wa kike? Are they boys or girls?
Hadija

the female sort

mwanantka (pi, wanawake )

woman

mwanamume (pi* wanaume)

man
One is a girl and two are boys*

Mmoja ni mwanaAka na wawili ni

wanaume
Hasani
umri (U)

age

Atoto wako Akubwa ana umri gani?

What is the age of your eldest? (your

big [one]')
214
Hadija

Ana miaka kumi na mitatu sasa.

Thirteen.
Notes

A. Numerals which take concordial prefixes.

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UNIT 55

SWAHILI

Ana miaka mitano.

Ana miaka sita.

He is five years old.

He is six years old.

The numerals from 1 - 5, and also 8, take concordial prefixes. None of the other numerals do so.
B.

Stating the ages of persons.

Note that the way of stating ages, as in the above examples, is literally 'he has (five) years'.
a.
A. Numbers and ages.
5

Mtoto wangu mkubwa ana miaka

mitano sasa.

My eldest child is six years old now.

Mtoto wangu mkubwa ana miaka sita

sasa.

Mtoto wangu mkubwa ana miaka saba

%%

Mtoto wangu mkubwa

My eldest child is seven years old now.

My eldest child is eight years old now.
Ify eldest child is nine years old now.

sasa.
8

My eldest child is five years old now.

ana miaka

minane sasa.
Mtoto wangu mkubwa ana miaka tisa

eldest child is ten years old new.

My eldest child is eleven years old now.

sasa.
10

Mtoto wangu mkubwa ana miaka

kumi sasa.

11

Mtoto wangu mkubwa ana miaka

kumi na mmoja sasa.

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kanisa
13
B.wangu
Double
Wanaume
ih
singular
A. The
15
wakae
vs.double
double
sokoni;
plurals;
plural.na
subjunctive*
17
The men
arechild
to goisto
school,
the old
women
eldest
twelve
years
now*are to
12 Mtoto
mkubwa
ana
mi
aka
kur.ii
waende kanisani* SWAHILI
UNIT
55mwanamke
home*
miwili
sasa. wanawake
mwanamke
|
Kuna
Wanaurae
waende
mmoja
shulenij
nyumbani. There is onestay
woman
at home.
18 19

boma

Wanaume
wakae
kanisani;
wanawake
wakae
nyumbani*
Kuna wanawake wengi
many
school,
The shuleni.
men are There
to stayare
home,
thewomen
womenatare
to go

wanawake waende bomani*

theman
market.
mwanamume
soko
Wanaume
Kuna mwanamume
wakae nyumbani
mmoja nyumbani.
j
There is to
one
at home.
mkulima
shule

wanawake waende sokoni*

Kuna mkulima
nraoja
nyumbani.
Kuna
Wanaume
wakae
bomani
j
wakulima
wengiwaende
shuleni
wanawake
shuleni*
Kuna mtoto ftmoja nyumbani. Kuna

mtoto

watoto wengi shuleni.

Kuna karani mmoja nyumbani. Kuna

karani

makarani wengi shuleni.

The men a ire to stay at the market, the women

There
at home.
areistoone
go farmer
to church.
There are many farmers at school.
The men are to stay at church, the women are to
go to the District Office.
There is one child at home.
The men are to stay at the District
There are many children at school.
Office, the women are to go to school*
There is one clerk at home.
There are many clerks at school.

Kuna wanaume wengi shuleni. There are many men at school.

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UNIT 55

SWAHILI

Conversation Starters
1 . A and his friend B, who are parents, exchange information about the ages of their respective children, the grades

that the children are in at school, and their favorite subjects#

Unit_56
1, Basic Dialogue. When are you coining to see us?
Mirambo
-ainkia

to greet, visit

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UNIT 55

Utakuja lini kutuamkia?

SWAHILI

When are you coming to visit us?

nafasi (N )

opportunity

Jumatano

Wednesday

pamoja na

together with

mka (WA)

wife

Nikipata nafasi, nitakuja siku ya Jumatano

If I get a chance, I'll come on Wednesday

pamoja na mke wangu na watoto.

along with my wife and children*

Mirambo
baada (N)

after

livu (N)

leave time

Baada ya livu yako, utakvenda wapi? Where are you going when your
Magese
] abda -rudi

perhaps to

hakika (N)

return

Labda nitarudi tena Kbeya, lakini sina hakika.

certainty
I may go back to Mbeya again, but I'm not
sure.

leave is over?

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UNIT 55

SWAHILI
Notes

A. The days of the week.

Jumamosi

Saturday

Jumapili
Jumatatu

Sunday
Monday

Juinanne

Tuesday

Jumatano

Wednesday

Alhamisi
Ijumaa

Thursday
Friday

Given above are the days of the week in Swahili. When naming them in series it is customary to begin with
Jumamosi. The terminations -mcsi, -gili, etc. are related to forms meaning respectively one* and 'two. Saturday is thus
'day-one*, and Tuesday is 'day-four'.
B. The noun baada.
The noun baada, like uu, does not serve as subject or object of a verb, nor occur in the plural.
2

A. -amkia.
wazazi

Umekuja hapa

kuwaamkia

wazazi wako?
rafiki

Umekuja hapa kumwamkia

rafjki yako?

jaman

Umekuja hapa kumwamkia

jamaa yako?

baba

Umekuja hapa kumwamkia

Have you come here to visit your parents?

Have you ccsne here to visit your friend?
Have you come here to visit your
companion?
Have you come here to visit your father?
Have you come here to visit your brother?

baba yako?
ndvgu

Umekuja hapa kumwamkia

ndugu yako?

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B. -gata nafasi.

I did not have the opportunity of studying the

kuscma Sikupata nafasi ya kusoma darasa la

seventh grade*
UNIT 56
SWAHILI
saba.
I did not have the opportunity of speaking to the
kusema

Sikupata nafasi ya kusema

General Secretary*

na Mwandishi Mkuu.

I did not have the opportunity of continuing with

kuendelea Sikupata nafasi ya

mke
Nilikwenda
Mbeya
pamoja na
kuendelea
na mascctio.

[ray] studies*
I went to Mbeya together with my wife*
I did not have the opportunity of learning
I went to Mbeya together with my eldest child.
arithmetic*

rake wangu.
kujifunza Sikupata nafasi ya kujifunza hesabu,
Nilikwenda Mbeya pamoja na
toto
kuona
Sikupata nafasi ya kuona
ratoto wangu mkubwa.
mashindano ya farasi.
Mwandishi Nilikwenda Mbeya pamoja ^cuu

I went to Mbeya together with the General

I did not have the opportunity of watching the
Secretary.
horse races.
I went to Mbeya together with my friend.

na Mwandishi Mkuu.

I went to Mbeya together with some porters

rafiki Nilikwenda Mbeya pamoja na rafiki

yangu*
uachui:uzi Nilikwenda Mbeya parnoja

na wachuKuzi wengine.
C* pamoja na
D, 'Future progressive.' -ta- plus -ki.mimi

Baada ya mwaka huu,

After this year I shall be living in Kenya.

nitakuwa nikiishi Kenya.

sisi

Baada ya mwaka huu,

tutakuwa tukiishi Kenya.

yeye

After this year we will be living in Kenya.

After this year he will be living in Kenya.

Baada ya mwaka huu, atakuwa

akiishi Kenya.

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UNIT 56

SWAHILI

BASIC COURSE

UNIT 56

WP.O

Baada ya mwaka huu, watakuwa

wakiishi Kenya.

After this year they will be

living in Kenya.

wewe?

Baada ya mwaka huu, utakuwa

ukiishi Kenya?

After this year will you (sg.)

be living in Kenya?

nj ryi?

Baada ya mwaka huu, mtakuwa

mkiishi Kenya?

After this year will you (pi.)

be living in Kenya?

3c

A.

Me-tense, affirmative vs. negative*

kurudi

Daudi amerudi nyumbani?

Hapana, hajarudi bado.

Has Daudi gone back heme?

No, he hasn't gone back yet*

kvanza

Daudi ameanza kusoma?

Hapana, hajaanza bado.

Has Daudi begun reading?

No, he hasn't begun yet*

kumaliza

Daudi amemaliza kusoma?

Hapana, hajamaliza bado.

Has Daudi finished reading?

No, he hasn't finished yet*

kul a

Daudi amekula maharagwe?

Hapana, hajala bado.

Has Daudi eaten beans?

No, he hasn't eaten yet*

kwisha

Chumvi imekvisha?
Hapana, haijaisha bado*

Is the salt all gone?

No, it isn't all gone yet.

B
wewe

Ta-tense, affirmative vs. negative*

Utapata nafasi ya kutuamkia?

Will you have a chance to come

to see us?
No, I will not have a chance.

Hapana. Sitapata nafasi.

ninyi

Mtapata nafasi ya kutuamkia?

Will you (pi.) have a chance to

come to see us?
No, we will not have a chance.

Hapana. Hatutapata nafasi.

wewe

Utaendelea katika masomo?

Hap>ana. Sitaendelea.

Will you continue with your

280

studies?

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No, I will not continue*

UNIT 56
ninyi

SWAHILI
Mtaendelea katika masomo?
Hapana, hatutaendelea.

wewe

Utalipa vitu hivyo?

Will you (pi,) continue with your studies?

No, we will not continue.
Will you pay for those things?

Hapana, sitalipa. (or:

Sitavilipa)
ninyi

Utalipa vitu hivyo? Hapana,

No, I will not pay for them.

Will you (pi,) pay for those things? No, we will
not pay for them.

hatutalipa.

280

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Unit_57
Basic Dialogue, Where will you go after your leave?
Mirambo
-rudishwa

to be caused to return

Unadhani utarudishva tena hapa?

Do you think you will be sent back

here?
Napese

maana

meaning, significance; because

-ahidi

to promise

kwamba

that ('saying')

-hama

to move from one place to

another

Sidhani, maana nimekwisha ahidiwa

kwamba nitahamishwa.

I don't think so, because I've already

been promised that I'll be moved,
Mirambo

ungependa
Unadhani ungependa kurudi hapa?

you would like

Do you think yon would like ",0 return
here?
Magese

Ndiyo, Ningefurahi sana.

Yes, I would be very happy,

Mirambo

-kosa
Asante sana. Na tafadhali usikose
kuja siku hiyo ya Jumatanol

to lack, err
Thanks very much, Arid please don't
fail to come on [that] Wednesday [that we talked
about].

Notes
A.

Statements in indirect discourse*

Unadhani kvamba utarudishwa? j
Unadhani kuwa utarudishwa? \ Do you think you will be returned? Unadhani utarudishwa?

These three sentences are freely interchangeable with one another* That is, a statement in indirect discourse
may follow the preceding verb directly, or it may be introduced by kuwa or kwamba.

A* -hama.
Mbeya

Mwaka

jana

tulihama

(kutoka)

We moved from Mbeya last year*

tulihama

(kutoka)

We moved from the north last year*

Mbeya.
kaskazini

Mwaka

jana

kaskazini*
kusini

Mwaka

jana

We moved from the south last year.

tulihama

(kutoka)

kusini.
mashariki

Mwaka

We moved from the east last year.

We moved from the west last year*

jana

tulihama

(kutoka)

tulihama

(kutoka)

mashariki*
magharibi

Mwaka

jana

magharibi.
B,
Tanga

-hamisha,
Serikali ilituhamisha Apaka
Tanga.

mji mpya

Serikali ilituhamisha Apaka

Aji Apya.

kijiji
kidogo

Serikali ilituhamisha mpaka

kijiji kidogo.

The government moved us to Tanga.

The government moved us to a new
town*
The government moved us to a small
village*

BASIC COURSE

jimbo
jingine

Serikali ilituhamisha mpaka

jimbo jingine.

UNIT 57

The government moved us to a different

district.

C0 --kosa plus infinitive.

kuja

Msikose kuja siku ya

Jamatano*

Don't fail to come on Wednesday*

kua&kia

Msikose kuwaamkia wazazi

Don't fail to welcome your parents.

wenu*
kuscma

Msikose kusoma barua hii.

kurudisha

%
Msikose kurudisha visahani
vyote.

kuendelea

%
Msikose kuendelea katika
kazi yenu*

mvua

Don't fail to read this letter*

Don't fail to return all the saucers*
Don't fail to continue with your work.

We have been short of rain this year.

We have been short of fruit this year*

D. -kosa plus noun*

Mwaka huu tumekosa mvua.

matunda

We have been short of coconuts this year.

Mwaka huu tumekosa matunda*

We have be9n short of vegetables this year,

Mwaka huu tumekosa nazi*.

stem*

nazi

Is the food ready?

Mwaka huu tumekosa mboga*

No, I will prepare it right away.

mboga

Is the dress ready?

No, I will get it ready right away.

A. Adjective vs* related causative

chakula

Chakula tayari?
'

Hapana, Nitakitayarisha
sasa hivi.

Nguo tayari?
nguo

Hapana. Nitaitayarisha sasa

hivi.

ta5

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BASIC COURSE

k&hawa

Kahawa tayari?

uji

Is the coffee ready?

Hapana. Nitaitayarisha
sasa hivi.

No, I will get it ready right

away.

Uji tayari?
Hapana. Nitautayarisha

Is the gruel ready?

No, I will get it ready right

sasa hivi.
ng'onbe

UNIT 57

away.

Ng'onbe tayari?
Hapana* Nita&tayarisha

Is the cow ready?

No, I will get it ready right

sasa hivi.

away.

6.
vyorabo

Vyonibo vyote ni safi?

Hapana. Nitavisafisha

Are all the dishes clean?

No, I will clean them now.

sasa.
vikombe

Vikombe vyote ni safi?

Hapana. Nitavisafisha

Are all the cups clean?

No, I will clean them now.

sasa.
sahani

bilauri

taa

C, Causative vs. causative plus passive.

vyombo

Rudisha vyonibo nyumbani

Return the utensils to the house

sasa.

now.
They have been returned already.

Vimekwisha rudishwa
tayari.
Nani amevirudisha?
vitunguu

Who returned them?

Return the onions to the house now

Rudisha vitunguu nyumbani

sasa.

They have been returned already.

Vimekwisha rudishwa
tayari.
Nani amevimdisha?
njugu

maharagwe

Who has returned them?

muhogo
Unit_58

ta5

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BASIC COURSE

UNIT 57

1 Basic Dialogue, Why didn't you come to see us?

Mirambo
mbona?

why?

Mbona hukuja siku ile ya Jumatano? Why didn't you come that Wednesday?
Magese
-sikitika

to be sorry

heme (N)

fever

Ah I Nasikitika sana. Mke wangu

Oh, I'm very sorry, tty wife got a

alipata homa.

fever.

Mirambo
Hama gani?

What kind of fever?

Magese
Sijui kwa hakika, lakini nadhani ni I'm not sure, but I think it is
malaria.

malaria.

Mirambo
Ulimpeleka hospital!?

Did you take her to the hospital?

Magese

kidonge (VI)

tablet, pills

pig*

to hit

sindano (N)

needle

-pigwa sindano

to get an injection

Ndiyo. Alipata dawa ya vidonge,

Yes, she got some pills and also was

na pia alipigwa sindano.

given a shot.

ta5

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BASIC COURSE

UNIT 57

Notes
A Concordial agreement involving numeral phrases.
mananasi kumi na mawili twelve pineapples watoto kumi na
vawili

twelve children

In numeral phrases which end with the numbers 1 - 5> or 8, the word for 1 - 5 or 8 must agree
concordially with the noun to which the whole phrase refers. The first numeral in the phrase (kumi 'ten' in
these examples) takes no concordial prefixes.

A.
ng'ombe

ten.

Concord: Nouns with number over

Bwana Sangai ana ng'ombe kumi na

Mr. Sangai has twelve cows.

wawili.
Bwana Sangai ana watoto

watoto

Mr. Sangai has twelve children.

kumi na wawili.
Bwana Sangai ana mikate

raikate

Mr. Sangai has twelve loaves.

kumi na miwili.
Bwana Sangai ana nazi kumi na

nazi

Mr. Sangai has twelve coconuts.

mbili,
mananasi

Bwana Sangai ana mananasi kumi na

Mr. Sangai has twelve pineapples.

mawili.
B.
vikombe

Mkewe ana vikombe kumi na

His wife has fourteen cups.

vinne.
%

sahani

Mkewe ana sahani kumi na fine.

%

His wife has fourteen plates.

Mkewe ana nguo kumi na nne

nguo
samaki

Mkewe ana samaki kumi na facie,

(or:...wanne.)

His wife has fourteen dresses His wife

has fourteen fish.

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BASIC COURSE

sindano

Mkewe ana sindano kumi na

UNIT 58

His wife has fourteen needles*

nne*
rafiki

Mkewe ana rafiki kumi na

His wife has fourteen friends*

wanne.
vidonge

%
vidonge kumi na
Mkewe ana

His wife has fourteen pills*

vinne.
3,

Devise short conversations giving ten different reasons why Mirambo didn't go to see Sangai on

Wednesday*

889

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UNIT 59

SWAHILI

Unit_59
i

Basic Dialogue* Is your wife feeling better?

Mirambo

ulipoondoka hali (N)

when you left condition kind, sort

naAna, narana (N)

When you left today, what was her condition like?

Ulipoondoka leo, hali yaka ilikuwa naAna

Magese

gani?

to seem, appear, become visible

Today she seems to be a little better. (Today she

-onekana
Leo anaonekana hajambo kidogo.

seems she has no trouble a little.1 )

Mirambo

-ambukiza
ugonjwa (U)

to infect illness

'

Do you think that she caught the disease there in

Unadhani ameanbukizwa ugonjwa huo

Mbeya, or here?

huko Mbeya au hapa?

Magese

mosquitoes

Abu (N-anim.)

I think it was here, because there aren't

Nadhani ni hapa, kwa sababu hakuna Abu

many mosquitoes there in Mbeya,

wengi huko Mbeya*

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BASIC COURSE

UNIT 59

Notes
A*

-go- as 81X1 <3hivalent for 'when,

uliondoka ulipoondoka

you

left

utarawona utapomwona

when you left see

utakaponwona

you will

him

when you

see him

The relative prefix -go- is commonly used as an equivalent for the when of an English adverbial
clause. It stands between the tense prefix and the object prefix. The form with -takago- is considered more
standard than the form with -tago-, but both are widely used*
2*

A* Huko with locative*

vitunguu

Hakuna vitunguu huko sokcni*

There are no onions in the market*

raaharagwe Hakuna maharagwe huko sokoni. There are no beans in the market* pilipili samaki nasi B*
One use of namna.
ugonjwa

What was the condition of his sickness?

Hali ya ugonjwa wake

What was the condition of his fever?

ilikuwa namna gani?

homa

Hali ya horoa yake ilikuwa

naAna gani?
mguu

watoto

motokaa

kazi

jamaa

3*
A* Concord; -onekana*
machungwa Hali ya machungwa haya ni

What is the condition of these

na&na gani?
bichi

oranges?

Yanaonekana mabichi sana. They look very unripe.

*31

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ng' omb
zuri

Hali ya ng'ombe hawa ni naAna gani?

Wanaonekana wazurl sana.
Hali ya nguruwe hawa ni namna

nguniwe

gani?

What is the condition of these cows?

They look very good.
What is the condition of these pigs?

Wanaonekana wabaya sana*

"baya

Hali ya njugu hizi ni namna gani?

njugu

Zinaonekana mbovu sana.

Hali ya mahindi haya ni na&na gani?

"bovu

Yanaonekana mabichi sana.

mahindi

Hali ya chakula hiki ni namna gani?

Kinaonekana kizuri sana.

~bichi
chakula

Hali ya vitunguu hivi ni namna gani?

Vinaonekana vibaya sana.
Verb forms with -go-.

~zurl

vitunguu

Nilimaliza kazi.
Nilipomaliza kazi, niliondoka

~baya

They look very bad.

What is the condition of these nuts?
They look very spoiled.
What is the condition of this maize.
It looks very unripe.
What is the condition of this food?
It looks very delicious.
What is the condition of these onions?
They look very spoiled.

nyumbani.
B.

kumaliza

Niliona motakaa.
Nilipoona motakaa, niliondoka
nyumbani.
Nilisikia gari la moshi. Niliposikia

kuona

kusikia

gari la moshi, niliondoka

nyumbani.

I finished working.
When I finished work, I left the house.
I saw a motor car.
When I saw the motor car, I left the house.
I heard a train.
When I heard the train, I left the house.

I got a lamp and oil.

kupata Nilipata taa na mafuta,

Nilipopata

taa

na

niliondoka nyumbani.

mafuta,

When I got the lamp and oil, I left the

house.

Unit_6o
1.

Basic Dialogue. The children have coughs.

Mutisjra
Watoto wako hawajambo?

Are your children all right?

Hamisi
-kohoa
Hawajambo, lakini wanakohoakohoa.

to cough
They're all right, but they have
light coughs.
Mutisya

Umevapeleka hospital!?

Have you taken them to the hospital?

Hamisi
-shughulika

to be busy

Bado sijawapeleka, kva sababu

I haven't taken them yet because

ninashughulika na ugonjwa wa

I'm kept buy ('I'm busied') with

mama yao.

the illness of their mother.

Mutisya

-faa
Je, huoni ingefaa kuwapeleka
hospital! pamoja na mama yao?
hospital along with their mother?

to be suitable
But don't you think it would be a
good idea to take them to the

-pa

BASIC COURSE

to give give to

UNIT 60

them kind,

wape
Hamisi

"pole
Ndiyo,
nadhani
nitafanya
hivyo.
Usikose
kufanya
hayo,
na unisalimie
na kuwapa (or t..., wape), pole.

gentle

Yes, (fail)
I think
Don't
toI'll
do do
it, so.
and convey my regards, and
Mutisya my condolences.

-salimia

to convey regards to

*3i
Notes
A.

-faa with 'impersonal prefix.'

Itafaa kuwasaidia* |
Itafaa tuwasaidie. )
Ingefaa kuwapeleka
nyumbani.

It will be a good idea to help them.

It would be a good idea to take them home.

The verb -faa with subject prefix i- is followed by an infinitive, or by the subjunctive. The
translation is usually 'it is/will be/would be suitable
to..,' or 'it is a good idea to..*'. There is no noun
subject 'implied' for the verbs in these sentences]
the N-class prefix with -faa is said to be used

Condole with them*

'impersonally.'

They have ccane to condole with us.

B.

The phrase -pa pole.

Wape pole.
Wamekuja kutupa pole.

A. -faa plus infinitive.

kueleza

Itafaa kueleza mambo haya

yote.

kuelewa

Itafaa kuelewa mambo haya

yote.

kula

Itafaa kula dawa hii yote.

It will be a good thing to explain about all

these affairs.
It will be a good thing to understand all these
affairs.
It will be a good thing to take all this
medicine.

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SWAHILI

kusafisha Itafaa kusafisha vyombo

hivi vyote,

It will be a good thing to clean

all these utensils*

83*
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kusafisha
kununua
kuwasha
kupa B.
kutayarisha

Badoamewasha
sijapangusa.
or:
amesafisha
jiko?
Bado
Mpishi
taa?
Bado
Apishi
ametayarisha chakula cha
Sijafuta.
hajasafisha.
hajawasha.

Have
I the
haven't
you
put
wiped
oil initthe
yet#
lamp?
prepared
food
for theHe
day?
(or:
Has
cook
cleaned
the
kitchen?
hasn't
I haven't
it in yet#
the
midday
meal?).
He hasn't prepared any
cleaned
itput
yet#

mchana?
yet* you gotten me seme matches? UNIT
Mpishi mafuta
amenunua
mafuta
Umetia
katika
taa? BASIC COURSE
Has Have
the cook lit the lamp?
Bado hajatayarisha,
I haven't
Bado sijayatia.
mengine?
He hasn't
lit itgotten
yet# you any yet#

kutia
kuuza
kupatia
B.
baba

Itafaa
mboga hizi
Badokuuza
hajanunua.
Umenipatia
viberiti?
zote
Mpishi
watoto
Badoamewapa
sijakupatia*

ItHas
willthe
becook
a good
thingany
to sell
alloil?
these
bought
more
vegetables*

Akate?
Pamoja
na.
Bado hajawapa.
Tulikwenda pwani pamoja

Tulikwenda pwani pamoja

Tulikwenda pwani pamoja

na rafiki yetu*

Apishi

We went to the beach together with

our cook*

Apishi wetu*

Tulikvrenda pwani pamoja

na wazazi wetu.
c.

We went to the beach together with

our friend.

Tulikwenda pwani pamoja na

wazazi

We went to the beach together with

our brother.

na ndugu yetu*
rafiki

We
to thegiven
beachthetogether
Haswent
the cook
childrenwith
acme bread?
He father.
hasn't given them any yet#
our

na baba yetu.
ndugu

He hasn't bought any yet#

We went to the beach together with our

parents*

-sal ini a; WA. nouns vs. N-pers

onal nouns*

wazazi

Tusalimie wazazi wako*

Give our regards to your parents*

baba

Tusalimie baba yako*

Give our regards to your father*

ndugu

Tjsalimie ndugu yako.

Give our regards to your brother*

watoto

Tusaliirde watoto wako.

Give our regards to your children*

rafiki

Tusalimie rafiki yako.

Give our regards to your friend*

3*
A.

Me-tense: affirmative vs, negative.

kupeleka
Umewapeleka watoto hospitalini?
Bado sijawapeleka.
kufuta
TSaepangusa maji?
(or: Umefuta maji?)

Have you taken the children to the hospital?

I haven't taken them yet*
Have you wiped up the water?

Conversation Starters

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60

BASIC COURSE

1 # A went

UNIT

to see C on Thursday. He tells B what C and the various members of C's household were

doing when he got there#

a# A is debating whether to take his child to the hospital. He seeks advice from B#
READING SELECTION I
Dar as Salaam
Dar as Salaam ni mji Akubwa kuliko yote Achini Tanganyika, pia ni mji Akuu wa serlkali* Kuna
watu wa makabila mbalimbali, lakini vote husema Kisw&hili, Lugha ya Kiawahili inasemwa na kila Atu
hata Wazungu, Wahindi na
Waarabu*
Upande va mashariki ya Dar, kuna bahari. Bahari hii huitya Bahari ya Hindi* Katika sehemu ya
magharibi ya Aji kuna niajumba maarufu ya shughuli mbalimbali, kama vile, shule, bcma, hospital!, na
roengineyo. Bwana Gavana ni Atu Akubva na maarufu sana Ajini. Jumba lake zuri liko karibu na pwani,
Pia ofisi za idara za serikali ziko karibu na pwani*
Wakati va Achana vatu huva vengi katika hotel!* Wengine huenda kula chakula, na wengine
hupenda kunyva kinywaji tu kama soda au maji ya machungwa* Katika hotel! vyakula vingi huuzva*
Katikati ya Aji kuna maduka makubwa na madogo* Maduka haya yanauza vyakula, nguo, vycnbo vya
nyumbani, na vingine vya aina mbali mbali* Vingine vinauzva ghali kuliko vingine, pia vingine vinauzva
rahisi*
Soko liko katikati ya Aji vile vile* Huko kunapatikana samaki va baharini, machungwa ya Utete na
Morogoro, vitunguu, pilipili na muhogo wa Bagamoyo* Unajua vakullma va Bagamoyo hupanda sana
muhogo, kwa hivyo hupenda kuuza mazao yao katika soko hill maarufu*

kuliko
mbalimbali

'than'
'various'

kama vile
gavana (N-pers*)

'for example'
governor'

kila

each'

kama

'as*

bahari (N)

'sea, ocean'

katikati (N)

'in the midst'

hata
jumba (MA)

'even'
'building'

duka (MA)
aina (N)

'shop'
'kind'

maarufu

'famous'

ghali

'expensive'

shughuli (N)

'business'

rahisi

'cheap, easy'

vile vile

'also'

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BASIC COURSE

UNIT

*3

Questions and Answers over Reading Selection Questions

Sample Answers
1

Car es Salaam ni Aji Akubwa?

Hapana, kuna makabila mengi mbalimbali,

Mji Akuu wa serikali ya Tanganyika ni Aji gani?

3, Katika Aji wa Dar es Salaam, kuna kabila

Husema zaidi Kiswahili,

moja tu?
U. Watu vote wa Dar es Salaam husema lugha gani?

Ndlyo, Lugha hli lnasemwa na klla Atu,

5 Kiswahili kinasemwa na watu wengi wa Dar es

Salaam?

Kuna bahari,

6. Kuna nini upande wa masharikl wa Dar?

7 Bah&ri hli huitwaje?

Baharl hli hultva Bahari ya Hindi,

Kuna majumba mbalimbali,

8 Kuna nini katika sehemu ya magharibl ya Aji?

9 Jumba la Bwana Gavana llko wapi?

Llko karibu ya pwani,

io,

Bwana Gavana,

11

tttu ganl ni Akubwa Ajini?

Kuna ma jumba ganl inengine karibu

Kuna ofisi za idara za serikali,

ya pwani?
12

Watu huwa wachache katika hoteli?

13*

Watu vote huenda hoteli kula chakula?

1 U*

Vyakula huuzva katika hoteli?

Ndiyo, ni Akubwa kuliko ndji yote richini,

Hapana, huwa wengi,

Hapana, venglne huenda kunyva kinyvaji tu,

Ndlyo, bwana. Vyakula vingi huuzwa katika hoteli

Ni Dar es Salaam,

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UNIT 264

SWAHILI

15 Kuna maduka makubwa katikati ya

Ndiyo. Kuna wakubva na madogo pia,

Aji?

16 Maduka haya yanauza nlni?

Mengine yanauza nguo na vyombo vya nyumbani,

na mengine yanauza vyakula

17 Vingine vlnauzwa ghali?

18,

Soko liko karibu na pwanil

Ndiyo, lakini pia vingine ni rahisi.

La, liko katikati ya Aji,

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UNIT 265

SWAHILI

2U0
Review Sentences, Units i - 60
1.

Afadhali uondoke sasa usilikose

You'd better leave now so as not to miss the train.

gari la moshi
2.

Although I didn't come yesterdayj I got the news.

Ijapokuwa sikuja jana nilizipata

Do you went to rest now?

habari,
3.
U.

Hew many kinds of clothes do you have?

Una taka kupuntzika sasa?

If you come this evening, we will go visit our

Una nguo za aina ngapi?

5,

Ukija leo jior.i tutakwenda

kuwatazama jamaa zetu#

6,

Unaweza kusoma na kuardika?

7,

Nikipata pesa za kutosha

relatives*
Can you read and write?
If I get enough money, I will visit my brother.
They will be given food by their mother
Don't hurt yourself with that knife*

nitamtembelea ndugu yangu.

8,

Watapewa chakula na mama yao.

9,

Usijiumize kwa kisu hicho. io Juma,

Juma, light the lamp new.

I feel like drinking a little beer.

iwashe taa sasa*

Don't give up, brother, God will help you.

11, Nina tamaa ya kunywa pcmbe

kidogo,

I don't know for sure, but I think he will come this

evening.

12. Ndugu yangu, usikate tamaa,

If they get a chance, will they come tomorrow?

Mungu atakusaidia.

I would be very glad if you would come here*

13* Sijui kwa hakika, lakini nadhani atakuja leo

It would be a very good idea for you to give him his

jioni.

money.

iU Wakipata nafasi, watakuja kesho?

15, Ningefurahi sana karoa ungekuja hapa.

16* Itafaa sana uiftpe pesa zake*

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UNIT 266

SWAHILI

17. Itanilazimu kvenda Dodoma

kumwona rafiki yangu.

I will have to go to Dodoma to see

my friend.

16 Mji wa Nairobi uko kati ya

Moshi na Kisumu.

The city of Nairobi is between Moshi

and Kisumu.

19* Vikombe vyote vimevunjika.

All the cups are broken.

20. Vimevunjva na mtoto.

They were broken by a child.

21 Ameangusha vikombe chini.

He has dropped the cups.

22* Je, sahani pia zimevunjika?

Were the plates broken too?

23. Nipatie vyombo vya kupakulia.

Get me the dishes.

24 Mtoto hataki maziwa hata kidogo.

The child doesn't want any milk at all.

25

After arriving, they read some books.

Baada ya kufika walisoma

vitabu.

26. Nguo zake zilikuwa chafu sana.

His clothes were very dirty.

27. Tafadhali unisalimie Hasani

ukimwona.

Please give ray regards to

Hasani if you see him.

28 Nasikitika kwa sababu ya hayo

yaliyotokea.

I am sorry because of what has

happened.

29. Akirudisha vitabu mpe barua hii.

When he returns the books, give him

this letter.

30.

Nisaidie kwa baiskeli yako,

Please lend me your bicycle.

tafadhali.
31.

Kwa heri, nitarudi baada ya siku

Good bye, I'll be back in a few days.

chache.
32. Miguu yangu yauma aana.

Ify- feet hurt very much.

33. Nitakwenda kumwona bwana daktari.

I'll go see the doctor.

34. Watoto wangu wawili wanakohoakohoa

35. Wapishi hao walikuwa vakila nyama.

. Jfy two children have light coughs.

Those cooks were eating meat.

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UNIT 267

SWAHILI

Maybe they (N plu.) will be returned to the house

36* Pengine zitarudishwa nyumbani kesho,

tomorrow*

37* Leo asubuhi nitatengeneza motakaa yangu*

38*

This morning I will repair my car.

Habari za nyumbani, wots hawajambo?

39* Hawajambo, asante.

Hows everything at home? Is everyone all right?

4o. Mume vangu ameambukizwa ugonjwa va

Theyre fine, thank you.

malaria.

husband has contracted malaria.

to
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UNIT 268

SWAHILI

Unit 61
1 Basic Dialogue* I don't feel too well*
Ahamed
teacher

mwalimu (WA)

Please, teacher, I'm ill*

Tafadhali, irwalimu, naurawa. (or:...,

oimi ni mgonjwa.)

Magese
Wewe mgonjwa? Waumwa nini?

Are you ill? What are you suffering from?

shingo (HA) jino (MAJneck
plu. meno)

tooth

Kichwa, shingo na meno*

[My] head, neck and teeth*

mafua (or: karnasi)

Pengine una mafua?

cold in the head Maybe you

have a cold?
Ahamed

pua (N) sawa

nose
Hapana, kwa sababu
sawa. I'm
like,ninapumua
equal, levelsawa
No, because
breathing all right*

Ahamed

Magese
tabibu (MA-pers)

doctor

(or: daktari, mganga)

Jitayarishe, tutakwenda kwa tabibu* Get yourself readyj we will go to the
doctor#

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UNIT 269

SWAHILI

.
A. WA nouns vs. N-personal nouns.
Many of our children have toothaches.

watoto Watoto wetu wengi waumwa meno.

Many of our teachers have toothaches.

walimu Walimu wetu wengi waumwa meno.

ndugu

Many of our brothers have toothaches.

Ndugu zetu wengi waumwa

Many of our friends have toothaches.

meno.
rafiki

Rafiki zetu wengi waumwa

meno.

3.
A. -a plus infinitive; personal object
watoto

mtoto

Hakura mtu wa kuwafunza

There is no one to teach the children

watoto hesabu.

arithmetic.

Wafunze hesabu.

Teach them arithmetic.

Hakuna mtu wa kumfunza

There is no one to teach the child arithmetic.

mtoto hesabu.

Teach him arithmetic.

Afunze hesabu.
mimi

Hakuna mtu wa

There is no one to teach me arithmetic.

kunifunza

hesabu.

Teach me arithmetic.

Nifunze hesabu.
prefixes.
B. Concord: Noun in first sentence, object prefix in second; adjective
vs. related causative verb.
mmmt

nguo

Nguo si tayari.
Nitazitayarisha

raimea

Mimea si tayari.
Nitaitayarisha.

mayai
Mayai si tayari.
Nitayatayarl sha
The dresses aren't ready.
I will get them ready.

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UNIT 270

SWAHILI

The plants aren't ready.

I will get them ready.
The eggs aren't ready.
I will get them ready.

*k5
uji

Uji si tayari.
Nitautayarisha,

miai

Miad si tayari,
Nitajitayarisha

C. Object prefixes, including the

The porridge isn't ready,

I will get it ready,
I am not ready,
I will get ready,
reflexiye -i-.

watoto

Watoto ni wagonJwa,
Baba hawezi kuwasaidia,

The children are sick.

Father can't help them,

Hamisi

Hamisi ni Agonjwa,

Hamisi is sick.

Baba hawezi kumsaidia,

ng'onbe

Ng'oobe ni Agon jwa.

Baba hawezi ku&saidia,

baba

Baba ni Agonjwa,
Hawezi kujisaidia,

Father can't help him.

The cow is sick.
Father can't help it.
Father is sick.
He can't help himself.

D, Verb phrases with -wa,

ninyi

Mlikuwa AkLumwa shingo?

Hapana, hatukuwa tuklumwa

Did you hare stiff necks?

No, we didn't have stiff necks.

shingo,
Tulikuwa tukiumwa kichwa,
wewe

Ulikuwa ukiumwa shingo?

Hapana, sikuwa nikiumwa shingo,

We had headaches.
Did you have a stiff neck?
No, I didn't have a stiff neck,

Nilikuwa nikiumwa kichwa, rafiki

yako rafiki zako

I had a headache.

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UNIT 271

SWAHILI

2fc6

UNIT 6 z

BASIC COURSE

Unit 6 a
1

Basic Dialogue# You've hurt your fingeri

Sangai
kidole (VI)

finger

damu (N)

blood

Kidole chako chatoka daimil

There is blood coining from your

fingerl ('your finger is comingfrom blood')

Je uliumia?

Are you hurt?

Mutisym

-jeruhi

to bruise, wound

mlango (MI)

door

Ndiyo, bwana, nilijeruhiwa na mlango. Yes, I was bruised by a door#

Sangai Yes, yesterday a little pus came out
Ndiyo, jane kilitoka usaha kidogo.
[of it] ('out of it a little')
swell

-vimba
Hata kimevimba sana#
mshipa (MI)
usaha (U)

Natumaini mlshipa salaraa#

Sangai
Mutisya

It is even swollen quite a bit#

vein, artery (or any thin,
elongated tissue, such as a
pus
nerve or tendon)
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free
on
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blood
livelingua.com

vessels are all right#

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Mutisja
-pona

to recover from illness or injury

Kitapona tu, asante

Oh, it will get better, thanks*

Notes
A* Grammatical subject ys. logical subject*
Kidole chake kilitoka damu. Damu

Some blood came out of his finger*

ilitoka kidoleni mwake*

These two sentences are synonymous* Note that the verb stem remains the same. The subject prefix
agrees with whichever noun precedes it*
2*

A* MI-class with numbers 2 -1 2 *

Jumba hilo lina milango miwili*

That large building has two doors* That large

Jumba hilo lina milango ndtatu*

building has three doors* 1 0

k5
6
7
8
11 Jumba hilo lina milango kumi

That large building has eleven doors*

That large building has twelve doors*

na moja*
12

Jumba hilo lina milango kumi

I am hurt on one finger*

na miwili,

I am hurt on two fingers*

B* Vl-class with numbers 1 - io*

1

Nimejeruhiwa kidole

kimoja.

Nimejeruhiwa vidole

viwili,

Nimejeruhiwa vidole

vinrie.

Nimejeruhiwa vidole

vitano*

Nimejeruhiwa vidole

saba,

I am hurt on four fingers*

I am hurt on five fingers*
I am hurt on seven fingers*

2k8

Nimejeruhiwa vidole tisa,

I am hurt on nine fingers.

10

Nimejeruhiwa vidole kumi.

I am hurt on ten fingers.

C.

Grammatical subject which is

different, from logical subject.

His finger is discharging a little pus.

Kidole chake kinatoka usaha

kidogo.
damu

His finger is bleeding a little.

Kidole chake kinatoka damu

kidogo.

mishipa

Kiship?. yake inatoka damu

His blood vessels are bleeding a little.

kidogo.
mguu

His foot is bleeding a little.

Mguu wake unatoka- damu kidogo.

Pua yake inatoka damu kidogo.

His nose is bleeding a little.

pua
3.
A.
kidole

Interchange of grammatical and

logical subjects with -toka.
Kidole chake kilitoka damu. Damu ilitoka kidoleni mwake.
%

Mguu wake ulitoka damu.

mguu

His finger bled. His

Damu ilitoka mguuni mwake.

finger bled.

Pua yake ilitoka damu.

pua

His foot bled.

Damu ilitoka puani mwake.

His foot bled.

Kichwa chake kilitoka damu.

kichwa

His nose bled. His

Damu ilitoka kichwani mwake.

nose bled.

Shingo lake lilitoka damu.

shingo

His head bled. His

Damu ilitoka shingoni mwake.

head bled.

U. The ly. members of A's family have been having all

He

kinds of misfortunes recent-

His neck bled. His

neck bled.

tells B about them. B inquires about details

and expresses sympathy.
Unit_63

i Basic Dialogue* Late to class*

Ahamed
-chelewa

to be late, delay, be too long

NasikLtika, nimechelewa,

I'm sorry* I'm late*

Magese

neno

word

Si neno* Tumeanza sasa hivi*

No natter* We've Just now begun*

-kaa kitako

to sit

Tafadhali nenda ukakae kitako*

ukurasa (U) (plu.

down

Please go sit down*

in N class)

page

Tazameni ukurasa wa kuni na mbili* Look at page 12*

-ongea

to converse to

-funga kitabu (VI)

close book

Sasa fungeni vitabu vyenu tuongee

Now close your books, and we will

converse*

Notes
A*

Plural imperative*
Zitayarishe sasa hivil
Zitayariahaai sasa hivil

Get then ready right now,

(said to one person)
G3t them ready right now.
(said to more than one person)
Come to the house, (one person) Come to the
house, (more than one)

Njoo nyvunbaniJ NJooni

nyumbanij

The plural imperative in Swahili ends with

The preceding vowel is
-e for those verbs whose singular imperative ends in -a.
B. Sitting down.'
In preparing the original edition of this course, we found that Swahili speakers who worked on or criticized the
manuscript displayed an unusual lack of unanimity with regard to sitting down'. In that edition, we said that *-kaa kitako is
commonly used in Zanzibar and Tanganyika, but kitako is regarded as redundant and somewhat vulgar on the Kenya coast.
Later critics have suggested that 'sit (on a chair)' is -kaa kiti. and that 'sit (on the ground)' is either -kaa kitako or -kaa chini.
C. Other expressions for Si neno.
In place of Si neno, one more frequently hears Si kitu (lit. 'It is nothing.') or haidhuru. from the verb -h]j]i 'to
cause loss or damage'.

A. -chelewa plus infinitive,

darasa
Kwa nini ulichelewa kuja

Why were you late to [come] to class? Why were

darasani?

kanisa

Kwa nini ulichelewa kuja

kanisani? shule chakula
B. Negative imperative,
kurudi
Usichelewe kurudi nyumbani!
kufanya
Usichelewe kufanya kazi yako.
kutayarisha
Usichelewe kutayarisha
chakula.
kuwasha
kuletea

Usichelewe kuwasha taa.

kuamkia

Usichelewe kuwaamkia wazee.

N-class with numbers.

C.
1
2
3
11

Usichelewe kutuletea kahawa.

Kitabu hiki kina ukurasa mmoja tu.

Kitabu hiki kina kurasa mbili. This
book
has two pages.
Kitabu hiki kina kurasa
book

you late to come to church?

Don't delay in returning home.

Don't delay in doing your work.
Don't delay in preparing food.
Don't delay in lignting the lamp. Don't delay in
bringing us coffee. Don't delay in welcoming the
elders.
This book has only one page.

tatu. This

has three pages.

Kitabu hiki kina kurasa kurni This book has

na moja.

eleven pages,

UNIT 63

12 Kitabu
kurasa

hiki
kumi

na mbili.

kina
This book has twelve pages.
i

13 Kitabu
kurasa

hiki
kumi

kina
This book has thirteen pages. This book has twenty-one

na tatu.
21 Kitabu
kurasa

hiki

kina

hiki

kina

hiki

kina

pages. This book has twenty-two pages. Thi.s book has

ishirini na moja.
22 Kitabu
kurasa

twenty-three pages.

ishirini na mbili.
23 Kitabu
kurasa
ishirini na tatu.

imperative.
Haven't you got the children ready yeti
Get them ready right now.

A, Negative -a-- tense vs. plural

kutayarisha Bado hamjawatayarisha watotoi
VJatajiarisheni sasa hivij
kumaliza

Bado hamjamaliza kufanya kazi yenui

Malizeni sasa hivii

kuenda

Bado haiujaenda ryumhanii Nendeni

sasa hivii

kula
hivii
kupa

Finish it ^ight away.

Haven't you gone hone yeti Go right away.
Haven't you come here yeti Come right away.

Bado hamjaja hapai Njooni sasa

Bado hamjawapa watoto vitabui
Waperi sasa hivii

kvar.za

Haven't you finished doing your work yeti

Bado hamjaanza kujifunzai Anzeni sasa

hivii

Haven't you given the children books yeti

Give [them to] them right away.
Haven't you started learning yeti Star! right away.

BASIC COURSE

UNIT 63

Haven't you learned ho** to read yet? Learn right

Kula ndizi hizi. Kuleni ndizi hizi.

away.

kujifunza Bado hamjajifunza kuscana?

Jifirzeni sasa hivil

B. Imperatives: singular vs. plural, Get the lamp. (jrou sing.)

kupata

Get the lamp* (you pi.)

Fata taa.
Pateni taa.

kuleta

Bring seme water.

Bring some water.

Lete maji.
Leteni rnaji.

Make some coffee.

Make some coffee.

kutengeneza Tengeneza kahawa.

Tengenezeni kahawa.

Eat these bananas.

Eat these bananas.

kula

Ner.da shuleni. Nendeni

Go to school.

shuleni.
kuenda

Go to school.

Kunyva chai hii. Kuryveni

Brink this tea.

chai hii.
kunyva

Brink this tea.

Ora far?si.

Look at the horse.

Oneni farasi.
kvor.a

Look at the horse.

Lete vitabu vingine; usivilete

Bring soma of the books. Bon't

vyote.

C.
kuleta

Imieratives: affirmative vs. negative.

Uza vitabu vingire j uaiviuze vyote.
Nunua vitabu vingire ; ueivinunue

kuuza

>

bring them all.

Sell seme books.

vyote.

Bon't sell them all.

Safishe vitabu vingine5

kununua

Buy some books.

usivisaf i she v y c t e .

Soma vitabu vtr.gine j usivisome

kusafisha

Bon't buy them. all.

Clean some of the books.

vyote.

Bor.'t clean them all.

Read some of the books. Bon't

ku son's

read them all.

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Unit_64
i Basic Dialogue* Classroom Routine*

ubao (U)

blackboard

Tafadhali, Bwana Aramian, nenda ubaoni

ukaandike maneno haya.

Mr. Aramian, please go to the blackboard and

write these words.
Magese

Magese
Bwana Butler, tafadhali anza kusoma*

Mr. Butler, please begin to read*

Basil
maana (MA)
Unajua maana ya neno 'alasiri'?

That's enough* meaning

Do you know the meaning of the word 'alasiri'?

Magese
-funua

to open

Sasa tufunue vitabu tusome Somo la Now let's open [our] books and read Tisa. Lessor Nine*
kosa (KA)
Msifanye makosa mkisoma,

a mistake
Don't make mistakes as you readl
( ' d o n ' t make mistakes you-reading')
Notes

A. The prefix -ka- with subjunctives*

Funua kit-abu uscme Soir.o la Nane* Open [your] book and read Lesson
Eight,
Nenda ubaoni ukaandike maneno haya, Go to the board and write these
words#

In a command or request involving two verbs, the second is in the subjunctive. If the first verb involves going
somewhere, the prefix -ka- is used after the subject prefix of the second verb#
nguo

Nenda nyumbani ukalete

Go home and bring all your clothes.

nguo zako zote.

2#

senti

Nenda nyumbani ukalete

Go home and bring all your small
A. Word order with lini; -anza pi ; infinitive#
senti zako zote.
change.
When did
Juma begin reading?
kusoma
Juma alianza lini kusoma?
machungwa Nenda nyumbani ukalete
Go home and bring all your oranges.
When did
Juma begin speaking?
kusema
Juma aljanza lini
kusema? yako yote.
machungwa
When did
Juma begin eating?
kula
Juma alianza
lini kula?
rnasomo
Nenda
nyumbani ukalete
Go home and bring all your lessons.
When did Juma begin working?
kufanya
masomo yako yote.
Juma alianza lini kufanya
watotokazi?

Nenda nyumbani ukawalete

watoto wako wote.

Juma alianza lini kupanda

kupanda

Go home and bring all your children

When did Juma begin raising com?

wagonjwa
Go home and bring all your sick
mahindi?Nenda nyumbani ukawalete
verbs#
wagonjwa wako wote.
persons.
B. Ka-tense with the second of '
Go to the board and write these words#
n
kuandika
Nenda
ukaandike
y* ubaoni
Nendeni sokoni mkatazame
Go to the market and have a look
maneno haya.
Go to the board
read these words.
nazi.
at and
the coconuts.
kutazama
kusoma
Nenda ubaoni ukasome
kununua
Nendeni sokoni mkanunue
maneno haya#
nazi.
Nenda ubaoni ukaeleze maana

kueleza

kuleta ya maneno
Nendeni
haya. sokoni mkalete
Nenda ubaoni nazi.
ukaseme

kusema

Go to the market and buy coconuts.

Go to the board and explair the meaning
of these words.
Go to the market and bring coconuts
Go to the board and speak (pronounce*) these
words#

maneno haya#
kutafuta
Nendeni sokoni mkatafute
nazi.

c.
vitabu

vitu

Nenda nyumbani ukalete

A. Subjunctive without -ka- vs.
vitabu vyako vyote.

Go to the market and look for

coconuts.
C-o home and bring all your books.
subjunctive with -ka- after -anda.
Go hone and bring all your things#

Nenda nyumbani
'lkalete mwalimu.
kusaidia
Njoo umsaidie
vitu vyako vyote#
Nenda ukamsaidie mwalinru.
kuandika

Njoo ubaoni uandike maneno

Come and help the teacher.

Go and help the teacher.
Come to the board and write these

haya.

words.

Nenda ubaoni ukaandike

Go to the board and write these

maneno haya.

words.

>

UNIT 61*

BASIC COURSE

kahawa Njoo jikoni utenger/sae

coffee#

kahawa.
Kenda

jikori

Come into the kitchen and make

ukatergeneze

Go into the kitchen and make

coffee#

kahawa.

Come to the beach and swim#

kuogelea Njoo pwani uogelee.

Nenda pwani ukaogelee#

Go to the beach and swim#

B# Negative -tense vs# subjunctive.

kuoorioka

Hawajaondoka

shuleni#

Sasa wafunge vitabu

them close the books, and leave the

waondoke shuleni.

school.

kusaidia Hawajatusaidia#
Sasa

wafunge

They haven't yet helped us#

vitabu,

watusaidie#
kula

They haven't eaten food yet. Now let

Sasa wafunge vitabu,

wale.

them close the books, and eat#

They haven't gone home yet#

Hawajaenda nyumbani#
Sasa

Now let them close the books, and

help us#

Hawajala chakula.

kuenda

They haven't yet left the school Now let

wafunge

vitabu,

Now let them close the books, and

go#

waende

Conversation Starters i #
Describe a typical class hour#
2#

Fran this point on, all class sessions should be conducted entirely in Swahili. Add to

the content of Units 1 - 64 whatever words and phrases are necessary to make this possible.
Unit_65

1*

Basic Dialogue* A letter from a student abroad*

Asha
wmmu+tm

sister

dada (N-pers)

What work is your sister doing?

Dada yako anafanya kazi gani?

Maina
-shinda Atihani

to be first, win a school

(MI)

examination Europe
Last year she passed the Higher Examination and

Ulaya

went to Europe to study*

>Waka jana allshinda Atihani wa juu

akaenda Ulaya kusoma*

to travel
Asha How did she travel?
-safiri
to fly

Alisafirlje?

bird, airplane ('European bird') She flew by

Maina
-ruka
ndege (N), ndege Ulaya
Aliruka kwa ndege Ulaya*
Ju*i peleka ya kvamba chuo
(VI)

plane*
day before yesterday to send
that school

Juzi alipeleka barua kwa mama akasema Recently she sent a letter to Mother ya
kwamba yuko katika Chuo cha

and said that she is in the

London*

University of London,
Asha

Asante sana. Kwa heri*

Thanks very much. Good bye.

Notes

A. The prefix
with indicatives.
Alituletea barua akasema. . .

He sent vis a letter and said. . .

The prefix -ka- which was discussed in Unit 64 is used also with indicative verb forms.
Ashton states (p. 133) 'The prefix -ka- may occur in the Indicative Mood, also in the
Subjunctive. Wherever it occurs, it expresses an action or state which follows another action.
Therefore its time implication is consecutive to the time expressed in the preceding verb.'
B. tuma and -peleka,
Juma alituma barua.

Juma sent a letter.

-tuma is often used in this way nowadays but is by some speakers considered incorrect.
A more standard word in this context is -geleka. -tuma, strictly speaking, applies only to
persons.
motokaa miguu
A. Kwa plus modes of transportation.
ndege Dada yangu alikwenda Dar es
Salaam kwa ndege.
gari la
moshi

Dada yangu alikwerda Dar es

Salaam kwa gari la moshi.

My sister went to Dar es Salaam by

plane.
Ity sister went to Dar es Salaam by
train.

B* Indirect statements.

She sent us a letter saying that she has many

UNIT 65

SWAHILI

kuva na Alituletea barua akasema ya

books.

kvamba ar.a vitabu vingi.

She sent us a letter saying that she needs

kuhitaji Alituletea barua akasema ya

many books.

kwamba anahitaji vitabu

vingi.
kusotna kununua kupoteza
C. A-tensej -tumaini plus infinitive.
mimi

Natunaini kushinda mtihani

I hope to pass the Higher Examination, and go to

wa juu na kwenda Ulaya.

sisi

Europe.

Twatumaini kushinda

We hope to pass the Higher Examination, and go

mtihani wa juu na kwenda

to Europe.

Ulaya.
Mariamu ndugu yangu

ndugu zangu

E. halafu plus ka-tense*

kwenda Jiwaka jana nilishinda

Last year I passed the Higher

mtihani wa juu, halafu

Examination, then I went to Europe.

nikaenda Ulaya.
kupata Mwaka jana nilishinda

Last year I passed the Higher Examination,

mtihani wa juu, halafu

then I got a job.

nikapata kazi,
kurudi Mwaka jana nilishinda

Last year I passed the Higher

mtihani wa juu, halafu

Examination, then I returned home.

nikarudi nyumbani.
Last year I passed the Higher Examination,

kuerdelea Kwaka jana nilishinda

mtihani wa juu, halafu

then I continued studying.

nik.aendelea kusorna.
ndege

Unapenda kusafiri kwa ndege au

kwa gari la moshi?
Do you like to travel by plane, or by train?

Ninapenda kusafiri kwa ndege

kuliko kwa gari la moshi.

I prefer traveling by plane to traveling by train.

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A. Kuliko
UNIT 65

SWAHILI

michezo
Ninapenda

raasomo

I prefer studying to playing.

kuliko

michezo.
Unapenda ndizi mbichi au mbivu?

ndizi

Ninapenda

mbivu

Do you like green bananas, or ripe ones?

kuliko

I prefer ripe to green ones.

mbichi.
Unapenda michezo au masomo? Do you like playing, or studying?
nazi

Unapenda nazi, au mananasi? Do you like coconuts, or pineapples?

Ninapenda nazi kuliko

I prefer coconuts to pineapples,

mananasi.
B. A-tense: affirmative vs. negative.
kusafiri

Do you travel often?

Wasafiri raara nyingi? Hapana,

No, I do not travel often,

sisafiri mara nyingi, nasafiri

I travel only a little.

mara chache tu.

Waruka kwa ndege mara nyingi?
kuruka kwa
ndege

Hapana, siruki kwa ndege mara Do you fly often?

nyingi, naruka mara chache tu.
No, I do not fly often, I fly only a little.

kusoma Wasoma mara nyingi?

Hapana,

sisoml

Do you read often?

mara

nyingi,

No, I do not read often, I read only a little.

nasoma mara chache tu.

kunu- Warning' unika mara nyingi? ng unika
sinung' uniki

Do you grumble often?

No, I do not grumble often, I grumble

mara nyingi, naming'unika mara

only a little.

chache tu.
Unit_66
ia Basic Dialogue, My parents are going to night school.
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UNIT 65

SWAHILI

Maina
Wazazi wako wanajua kusoma na

Do your parents know how to read and

kuandika?

write?
Juma

Ndiyo, wanajua kusoma kidogo tu.

Yes, they know how to read just a

little,
Maina

Na kuandika je?

And what about writing?

Juma

-hudhuria

to attend

Wameanza kuhudhuria masomo ya jioni. Theyve begun to attend night school,

Maina
Wanafunzwa masomo gani?

What subjects are they being taught?

Juma

-ambia

to tell

Waliniambia wanajifunza hesabu, na They told me they are learning kuandika Kiswahili na Kiingereza,
arithmetic, and to write Swahili
and English,
Maina
aina
Hesabu za aina gani?

kind, sort
What kind of arithmetic?

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UNIT 65

SWAHILI

-jumlisha

to add to take away

-toa

Addition and subtraction

Za kujumlisha na kutoa.
*

Juma
A. Aina.
a

What sort of fruit have you brought?

matunda Mmeleta matunda ya aina gani?

a
vitabu Mmeleta vitabu vya aina gani?

What sort of books have you brought?

vyakula nguo nyama

B. -hudhuria.
masomo

Twapenda

kuhudhuria masomo

We

ya jioni.

like to

attend the evening

classes.

shule

Twapenda

kuhudhuria shuleni.

We

like to

attend the school.

kanisa

Twapenda

kuhudhuria kanisani.

We

like to

attend the church.

ndchezo

Twapenda

kuhudhuria mashindano We like to

attend the horse races,

ya farasi.
3.
A. -ambia plus indirect statement
kuanza Bwana Sangai alianza lini masomo ya jioni? When did Mr. Sangai start the evening classes?
He told me that he began recently.

Aliniambia ya kwamba
alianza juzi,
kuhitimu Bwana Sangai alihitimu lini masomo ya

When did Mr. Sangai complete the evening

jioni?

classes?

Aliniambia ya kwamba alihitimu

He told me that he completed them recently.

juzi.

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kuchelewa Bwana Sangai alichalewa lini masano

ya jioni? Aliniambia ya kwamba
alichalewa Juzi,
4. Extra vocabulary*
matunda

When
At
the did
market
Mr. there
Sangai
arecane
various
late for
fruits
thesuch
evening
as
classes?
oranges, mangoes and so forth*

BASIC COURSE He told me that he came late

UNIT 66
recently*
At the shops there are various kinds of clothing

such as shirts, kanzus, trousers and so forth.

Sokoni kuna matunda

mbalimbali, kama vile machungwa,

At the hotel there are sold various beverages

maembe, na kadhalika*
nguo

such as tea, coffee, beer and so forth*

Madukanl kuna nguo

mbalimbali, kama vile mashati,
kanzu, suruali, na kadhalika*

In Tanganyika there are people of different tribes

such as the Nyamwezi, Bondei, Zaramo and

vinywaji Hotellni kunauzwa vinywaji

mbalimbali, kama vile chai, kahava,

so forth*

pombe, na kadhalika*
a

At the market there are various vegetables

makabila Nchini Tanganyika mna watu va

makabila mbalimbali, kama vile

such as Achicha, cabbages and so forth*

Wanyamwezi, Wabondei,
Wazaramo, na kadhalika*
mboga

Sokoni kuna mboga mbalimbali,

kama vile mchicha, kaoeji, na
kadhalika*

Conversation Starters
i * Describe your cwn high school or college. Where was it located? How did you get to it? What

did you study? Use the dictionaiy to add specialized vocabulary for the names of the various academic
disciplines*
26S
a. Tell about a letter which you have sent or received recently*

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Unit_67
i# Basic Dialogue* What is it like at night school?
-endesha

Hhina
to run, cause to go, drive [a car]

Nani anayeendesha shule hizi za

Who [is it] that is running these

jioni?

night schools?
Juma

msaada (HI)

assistance

-tolewa

to be put forward, be produced,

be taken away
Nafikiri seherau ya msaada hutolewa I think a part of the support is
na Serikali*

supplied by the government*

Maina

-kubali

to accept

Ni watu wa umri gani wanaokubaliva?

What age people are accepted? ('It

is people of what age who are
accepted?*)
Juma

hoja (N)

necessity; what is urgent

Sidhani umr'i ni hoja*

I don't think the age is important*

Maina

-julisha

to make known, inform, cause

to know

Basi, nitawajulisha wengi*

0*K*, I'm going to tell a lot of

people*
867
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('I'm going to cause many people to know.')

Junta

Hata ada yenyewe ni ndogo sana.

And besides, the fees themselves are

very low.
Maina

Kweli? Asantel Kwa heril

Really? Thanks1 Good-byel

kuja

A* Mtu
Relatives,
li-tense*
aliyekuja
Jana ataanza kesho*
%

Mtu
aliyelipa adaJana
Janaataanza
ataanza
kukubaliwa Mtu
aliyekubaliwa
kulipa
kesho*
kesho*
Mtu
aliyetumwa Jana
kutumwa
B.

ataanza kesho*
Relatives, li-tense, monosyllabic stem*
na- and li-tenses.

The person who was accepted yesterday will begin

tomorrow*
The person who came yesterday will begin
The person who was sent yesterday will
tomorrow*
begin tomorrow.
The person who paid fees yesterday will begin

tomorrow*
Wapagazi waliokuja asubuhi
He runs the school.
The porters who came in the morning have gone

kuja

wamekwenda nyumbani,
...who runs the school.
home* he who
runs the school. They are
Wapagazi walioanza asubuhi
accepted.
wamekwenda nyumbani.
kuanza
The porters who began in the morning have gone
...who are accepted.
home*
kukubaliwa Wapagazi waliokubaliwa asubuhi
wamekwenda nyumbani.
kutumwa Wapagazi waliotumwa asubuhi
wamekwenda nyumbani*

The porters who were accepted in the morning

have gone home*

The porters who were sent in the morning have

gone heme.
Notes

C.
vikombe

Vikombe vilivyovunjika viko

mezani.

kikombe

A. Relative counterparts of the Anaendesha shule.

...anayeendesha shule...

Kikombe kilichovunjika kiko

Wanakubaliwa

mezani*

...wanaokubaliwa...
The verbs in the two complete sentences above are
'indicative' forms.

An 'indicative' form is one that can serve as the only verb in a complete statement.
The verbs in the second and fourth examples are 'relative' counterparts of the indicative forms. In general, there is a
relative counterpart for any indicative verb form in Swahili. These are generally translated into English by relative clauses
beginning with who or which.
For the na and li tenses, the relative forms are like the indicative forms except for the presence of a relative affix,
which occupies a slot between the tense prefix and the object prefix.
The relative affixes are identical in form with the set of suffixes found in Unit 18, Note C.
Relatives, li-tense, stative verb stem.
The broken cups are on the table*

The broken cup is on the table.

vitahani

The broken saucers are on the table.

Visahani vilivyovunjika yiko

mazanl.

kisahani

The broken saucer is on the table.

Klsahanl kilichovunjika kiko

mezani,

visu

Visu vilivyovunjika viko mezani.

The broken knives are on the table.

Kisu kilichovunjika kiko mezani.

kisu

Sahani iliyovunjika iko mezani.

Sahani zote zilizovunjika zlko

sahani
(sg.)

The broken plate is on the table.

mezani.
Kalamu iliyovunjika iko mezani.

sahani
zote

The broken knife is on the table.

All the broken plates are on the table.

The broken pen is on the table.

Kalamu zote zilizovunjika ziko

mezani.

kalamu
(sg.)

All the broken pens are on the table.

Relatives, na-tefise.

kalamu
zote

Watu vanaofanya kazi ya upishi

waitwa vapishi.
D. Watu vanaofanya kazi ya ukulima
waitwa wakulima.

upishi

People who do cooking are called cooks.

Watu vanaofanya kazi ya ukarani

ukulima

waitwa makarani.

People who do clerical work are called

Watu vanaofanya kazi ya kufunza

ukarani

waitwa waalimu.

People who do fanning are called farmers.

clerks.
People who do teaching are called teachers.

kufunza

3.

A. Li-tense: indicative vs. relative.

vikceibe Vikombe vipi vilivunjika? Which cups got broken?
Vilivyovunjika viko jikoni. The broken ones are in the kitchen.

BASIC COURSE

kikotnbe Kikcmbe kipi kilivunjika?

Kilichovunjika kiko jikoni.
visu

Visu vipi vilivunjika?

Vilivyovunjika viko jikoni.

kisu

Kisu kipi kilivunjika?

Kilichovunjika kiko jikoni.

eahani Sahani ipi ilivunjika?

(sg.) Iliyovunjika iko jikoni.

UNIT 67

Which cup got broken? The broken one is in the

kitchen.
Which knives got broken? The broken ones are in
the kitchen.
Which knife got broken? The broken one is in the
kitchen.
Which plate got broken? The broken one is in the
kitchen.

871
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BASIC COURSE

sahani
(pi.)

UNIT 67

Which plates got broken? The broken ones are in

Sahani zipi zilivunjika?

Zilizcvunjika ziko jikoni.

the kitchen.

B. Relative, na-tense, in question and answer.

Mtu anayeendesha shule hii anaitwa

The person who runs this school is Mr.

Bw. Hasani.

Hasani.

kufunza Nani anayefunza hesabu shuleni hu.mu?

Who teaches arithmetic in this school?

Mwalimu anayefunza hesabu

shuleni humu anaitwa Bw. Abdallah.
kutenge- Nani anayeweza kutengeneza

neza

The teacher who teaches arithmetic in this school is

called Mr. Abdallah.

kalaimi yangu?
Fundi anayeweza kutengeneza

Who can repair my pen?

kalamu yako anaitwa Bw. Juma.

The repairman who can repair your pen is
called Mr. Juma.

kuendesha Nani anayeendesha shule hii? Who runs this 3chool?

Unit_66
i Basic Dialogue* What about the fees?

871
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BASIC COURSE

UNIT 67

Maina
mwezi (MI)

month

Je, ni kiasi gani kva mwezi?

How much is it a month, by the way?

Juma

shilingi (N)

shilling

Ni kama shilingi tano tu.

It's only about 5 shillings#

Maina

haki (N)

Justice

Haki? (or: Kweli?)

Is that right?
Juma

Ndiyol

Yesl
Maina

Wanahitaji vitabu vipi?

Which books do they need?

Juma

bure

for nothing

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BASIC COURSE

UNIT 67

Ukiisha lipa ada, vitabu utavipata Once you have paid the fee, you get
bure*
the books free*
Maina
hamu (N)
Jamaa. Walio na hamu ya elimu,
sasa wanayo nafasi*

desire, longing
Brotherl Those who have a desire for
education, now [they] have the
opportunity*

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BASIC COURSE

UNIT 67

Jiuna

Right, ('[you can say that] againl')

Tenal
Notes
A.

Relative counterparts of forms Wana

with the stem -na.

They have books, '....who

vitabu.
...walio na vitabu...

have books. 'they who have

books... \ ...who is hungry...
(he who is hungry...

...aliye na njaa...

The present relative affirmative forms corresponding to past alijrekuwa, waliokuwa are formed on
a special stem -li-, to which we may assign the English translation 'be*. The relative affix is placed after
this stem, not before it. Note that this stem is identical in sound with the prefix for the li-tense, but for
practical purposes the two elements should be regarded as distinct.
2

.
A. Relative counterparts of forms with the stem na*

vitabu

Watoto walio na vitabu

The children who have pens should go home.

waende nyumbani.
kalamu

Watoto walio na kalamu

waende nyumbani.

chakula

The children who have books should go home.

The children who have food should go home.

The children who are hungry should go home.

Watoto walio na chakula

waende nyumbani.

r.jaa

Watoto walio na

njaa

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UNIT 67

waende nyumbani.
B. Relative counterparts of indicatives in -wa na (past tense).
vitabu Watoto waliokuwa na vitabu The children who had books went home, walikwenda nyumbani.

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kalamu

Watoto waliokuwa na kalastu

The children who had pens went hone*

walikwenda nyumbani*
chakula
UNIT
68

Watoto waliokuwa na chakulaSWAHILI

The children who had food vent home*
walikwenda nyumbani*

njaa

Watoto waliokuwa na njaa

The children who were hungry went heme*

walikwenda nyumbani*

c.
dawa

Have the patient who has medicine stay in the

%
Mgonjwa aliye na dawa akae

hospital.

hospitali*
homa

Have the patient who has a fever stay in the

hospital*

Mgonjwa aliye na homa akae

hospitali.

Have the patient who has a chest complaint stay in

mafua

the hospital.

Mgonjwa aliye na mafua akae

hospitali.

malaria

Have the patient who has malaria stay in the

hospital.

Mgonjwa aliye na malaria akae

hospitali*

D.
dawa

The patient who had medicine stayed in the

a

hospital.

Mgonjwa aliyekuwa na dawa

alikaa hospitali*

hema

The patient who had a fever stayed in the

hospital*

Mgonjwa aliyekuwa na homa

alikaa hospitali*

mafua

The patient who had a chest complaint stayed in

the hospital.

Mgonjwa aliyekuwa na mafua

The patient who had malaria stayed in the

alikaa hospitali.
malaria

hospital*

Mgonjwa aliyekuwa na malar!

alikaa hospitali*

3*
A. Ha-tense, indicative vs. relative.
kichwa

Wagonjwa wengine wanaumwa Seme patients have headaches*

kichwa*
Wanaourawa kichwa waje humu. Have those who have headaches come in*
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BASIC COURSE

shingo Wagonjwa wengine wanaumwa

U N I T 66

Some patients have stiff necks,

shingo*
Wanaoumwa shingo waje humu. Have those who nave stiff necks
cone in here.
meno

miguu

B. Li-tenses indicative vs. relative.

kichwa Wagonjwa wengine walikuwa wanaumwa

Seme patients had headaches.

kichwa.
Waliokuva wanaumwa kichwa

Those who had headaches got pills*

walipata dawa ya vidonge.

shingo Wagonjwa wengine walikuwa wanaumwa

Some patients had stiff necks.

shingo.
Waliokuwa wanaumwa shingo

Those with stiff necks got pills.

walipata dawa ya vidonge.

meno

Some patients had toothaches.

Wagonjwa wengine walikuwa

wanaumwa meno.
Waliokuwa wanaumwa meno

Those who had toothaches got pills.

walipata dawa ya vidonge.

miguu

Some patients had sore feet.

Wagonjwa wengine walikuwa

wanaumwa miguu.
Waliokuwa wanaumwa miguu

Those who had sore feet got pills.

walipata dawa ya vidonge.

Conversation Starters
i.

Discuss adult education as it is carried on in the part of Africa in which you are most interested.

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UNIT 300

SWAHILI

Unit.69
1, Basic Dialogue* A shortage of professional people*
Magese
haba

few

%
Nchi yetu ina walimu haba sana*
Hata matabibu wachache pia*

Our country has very few teachers*

('Even doctors [are] few like-

wise')
tangu

since

-zidi

to increase

mwanafunzi (WA)

student

Lakini tangu juzi Juzi

But (since) recently students have

wanafunzi wamezidi*

increased [in number]*

Butler
mia

hundred

[Haikuwa] Si mwaka Jana mia tatu

Wasn't it last year that 300 went to

walipokwenda Amerika?

America?
Sangai

zaidi (N)

more, excess

Natumaini mwaka ujao wataruka

I hope next year ['the year which

zaidi ya hao.

comes'] more will fly than that.

Sangai

~gumu

hard, difficult

gharama (N)

expense, outlay

UNIT 69

BASIC COURSE

Kumbuka ni vigumu sana kupata pesa

za kulipa gharama*

Remember it is very hard to get the

money to pay the expenses*
276
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Notes
A. Relative counterparts of the a-tense.
mwaka ujao
miezi ijayo

the year which comes

months which come

mtu aliye na njaa

a person who is hungry

These relative forms (cf Unit 68) are all formed with subject prefix, plus stem (-Ja or -li), plus relative
affix. The first two examples illustrate relative counterparts of the a-tense.
a.
A, Multiples of ten*
10 Wanafunzi kumi walikwenda Ulaya

Ten students went to Europe last year.

mwaka jana*
?.o Wanafunzi ishirini walikwenda

Twenty students went to Europe last

Ulaya mwaka jana.

30

Uo

5o

year.
60

80

70

90

100

B.
12 Mwalimu mkuu wa shule amenunua
vlkombe kumi na viwili.

The head teacher has bought twelve

cups.

22

The head teacher has bought twentytwo cups.

Mwalimu mkuu wa shule amenunua

vlkombe ishirini na viwili.
32

U2

52

62

72

82

C. Relative counterpart of the a-tense.

mwaka Ninataka kusoma vitabu vingi

92

102

I want to read many books next year.

mwaka ujao.
niaka Ninataka kusoma vitabu vingi
miaka ijayo.
mwezi Ninataka kusoma vitabu vingi
mwezi ujao.
I want to read many books in the months

I want to read many books in the years

to come.
Hos
ted
for
free
to come* on
livel
ing
ua.
co
m

277

I want to read many books next month.

Ninataka kusoraa vitabu vingi miezi

BASIC COURSE
ijayo.

miezi

siku

Ninataka kusoma vitabu vingi siku

UNIT 69

I want to read many books in the days to

zijazo*

come*

D.
15

Kila mwanafunzi atapata zaidi

Every student will get more than fifteen

ya vitabu kumi na vitano.

*5

books*

Kila mwanafunzi atapata zaidi ya vitabu

Every student will get more than twenty-five books*

ishirini na vitano*

45

35

55

65

75

85

95

Kila mwanafunzi atapata zaidi Every student will get more than a ya vitabu mia (moja) na

105

hundred and five books*

vitano.
Kila mwanafunzi atapata zaidi Every student will get more than a ya, vitabu mia (moja) na

125

hundred and twenty-five books*

ishirini na vitano*

3.
A.
Leo turnsuza chupa ishirini na tano

chupa

Concord, including the last word in a

numeral phrase*

za soda*

Today we have sold twenty-five

Jana tuliuza zaidi (ya hizo)*

bottles of soda*
Yesterday we sold more than that.

taa

Leo turnsuza taa ishirini na

Today we have sold twenty-five lamps*

tano.
Jana tuliuza zaidi (ya hizo). Yesterday we sold more than that.
mayai

Leo turnsuza mayai ishirini na Today we have sold twenty-five eggs* matano.
Jana tuliuza zaidi (ya hayo). Yesterday we
Leo turnsuza mananasi ishirini na matano. sold moire than that.
Jana tuliuza zaidi (ya hayo).
Today we have sold twenty-five pineapples.
mananasi
Yesterday we sold more than that.
mikate Leo tumeuza mikate ishirini
na mitano*
Jana tuliuza zaidi (ya hiyo).
visu

vitabu

Hos

Leo tumeuza visu ishirini na ted

for
vitano.
free
onwe
Jana
tuliuza
zaidi
(ya
hivyo)*
Yesterday
Leo tumeuza vitabu ishirini
livel
ing
na vitano*
ua.
co
Jana tuliuza zaidi (ya hivyo).
m

B. Li-tense: affirmative vs. negative*

278

Today we have sold twenty-five loaves

of bread*
Yesterday we sold more than that*
Today we have sold twenty-five knives
sold
more
Today
wethan
havethat*
sold twenty-five books*
Yesterday we sold more than that*

BASIC COURSE

kuingia Hasani aliingia nyumbani*

Daudi hakuingia.

Hasani entered the house*

Daudi didn't enter*

kukata Hasani alikata tamaa.

Hasani despaired*

tamaa

Daudi hakukata tamaa*

Daudi didn't despair.

kuamkia Hasani alituamkia.

Daudi hakutuamkia*

Hasani welcomed us.

Daudi didn't welcome us.

kuendeleaHasani aliendelea na masomo*

IlA
Daudi hakuendelea*
masomo

Hasani continued with school.

Daudi didn't continue*

kuhamishwa Hasani alihamishwa na

Hasani was moved by the government

serikali*
Daudi hakuhamishwa*

Daudi wasn't moved.

Hos
ted
for
free
on
livel
ing
ua.
co
m

279

UNIT 69

1# Basic Dialogue# A day off#

Unit 70

Sangai
furaha (N)

rejoicing

Leo ni Jumamosi, siku ya furahal

Today is Saturday, a day of rejoicing#

Abasi
Apango (MI)

plan, manner, method

Tenal Una mipango yo yote?

Rightl Do you have any plans?

Sangai

sineraa (N) (or: senema ( N ) )

cinema

Twende sinena leo jioni#

Abasi

Let's go to the movies this evening#

ngcxna (N)

drum

Haya. Halafu tutakwenda ngomani*

O.K., and then we'll go to watch the

dances#

Sangai
Ndiyo, mimi napenda ngoma sana,

Yes, I like the dances very much*

Abasi

-cheza

to play

dansi (N)

dance

Mimi pia, ijapokuwa siwezi kucheza

vizuri.

Ms too, even though I can't dance

well#

We'll try to visit you next Saturday.

A, Days of the week.

Sat.

We'll try to visit you next Sunday.

Tutajaribu kukutembelea

Wedne sday-Jumatano

Jumamosi ijayo.
Sun.

Tutajaribu kukutembelea
Jumapili ijayo#
Monday-Jumatatu

Hamisi has been here since Friday

Tuesday-Juroanne

Thursday-Alhamisi Friday-Ijumaa
B.
Fri.

Hamisi amekuwa (po) hapa

Hamisi has been here since Saturday.

Wednesday Thursday

tangu Ijumaa.
Sat.

Hamisi amekuwa (po) hapa

tangu Jumamosi.
Sunday Monday Tuesday

3.

A. Ta-tense: affirmative vs. negative, with person change.

UtakwendaAre
sinema
Jumamosi
you going
to the cinema next Saturday?
ijayo?
No. I won't go.
Hapana, sitakwenda.

Utaangusha sahani zotel

Hapana, sitaziangusha
Utamwaga mafutai
Hapana, sitayamwaga.
Mafuta yatamwagikal Hapana,
hayatamwagika
Utaharibu kalamu yangul
Hapana, sitaiharibu.

You will drop all the plates

No. I won't drop them.
You will spill the oil.
No. I won't spill it.
The oil will be spilled.
No. It won't be spilled.
You will spoil my pen.
No. I won't spoil it.

Kalamu itaharibikaj Hapana,

haitaharibika

The pen will be spoiled*

No. It won't be spoiled.

U. A is a student in night school. B is thinking about attending, and asks A about it.
C is the father of three children who are of school age. D has five. They discuss the problems involved in the
elemsntary education of their children.

Reading Selection II
V^akula v^a Afrika ya Mashariki
Katika Afrika ya Mashariki vyakula vitatu hutumiwa eana zaidi ya vingine na wenye^i. Upande wa
Uganda, 'roatoke1 ndicho chakula kikuu. Ndizi huchemshwa halafu hugondwa kwa mwiko mpaka ziwe
kama viazi vilivyopondwa.
Ugali, ni unga wa mahindi au wa ratama unaochanganywa na maji yanayochemka. Huu hufanana na
uji lakini ugali ni mkavu zaidi kuliko uji. Unga hupatikana kutoka katika mahindi

Si

chaku

la

chenyewe kiwe kitamu, ugali

huliwa na kitcweo cha nyama au mboga na mchuzi. Wajaluo ndio walioanza kugika ugali.
Kama vile wenyeji wa bara wanavyosifu ugali, vivyo ndivyo watu wa pwani wanavyosifu wall.
Waarabu wanajulikana sana kwa kula wali. Mchele ukiwa na maganda huitwa mpunga, na bila maganda
kabla haujapikwa, mchele, lakini ukisha kuwa tayari kwa kula ni wali.

mwenyeji (WA)

matoke
(pi. MA)
ndicho

the hinterland -changanya

-sifu the regular possessor;
to praise
inhabitant
-fanana
-julikana
to be known
name of a type
of food
~kavu
that is it, (sg*
VI class)

-saga

walito(U)
mix
maganda (MA )
to resemble
another
kabla
(N)

cooked rice
husks
one
before

dry
to pulverize

ili
in order that
Reading Selection
-chemshaQuestions and Answers
to cause over
to boil
tamu
pleasant
Questions
5. sweet,
Utatumia
nirii kuponda ndizi?
-ponda
to crush by
delicious
pounding
i Vyakula vingapi
hutundwa sana katika Afrika
gani unaotu:.dwa ^cwa kupika ugalil
kitoweo (VI) 6 Ni unga
a relish
mwiko (MI)
a large wooden
ya Mashariki?
na maji
yanayochemka hufanyvaje?
mchuzi (KI) 7 Ungagravy,
soup,
spoon
sauce
2. Vyakula hivyo ni vipi?
P Ugali hufanana na uji?
ugali (U)
stiff porridge
ndio
it is they, (plu
unga (U)
flour, meal
WA class)
3 Nani wanaotumia vyakula hivi zaidi?
9. Unga hupatikana kutoka wapil
retains (Ml)
millet
-pika
to cook
U* Matoke hupatikana wapi?

Vyakula vitatu.

Nitatumia mwiko*
Unga wa mahindi, au wa mtama.

Vyakula hivyo ni matoke, ugali na wali.

Wenyeji hutumia vyakula hivi zaidi*
Unga na maji yanayochemka huchanganywa,
Ndiyo, lakini ugali ni ftkavu zaidi kuliko uji*

Matoke hupatikana katika richi ya Uganda*

Unga hupatikana kutoka katika mahindi*

28U

BASIC COURSE

10.

Namna pani?

11.

Upali ni chakula kitamu':

12.

Ugalf huchanganywa na nini;

13.

Wenyeji wa pwani wanasifu niniV

14.

Ni watu pani wanaoju-ikana sana

UNIT 70

Mahindi husagwa.
Hdiyo, ugali ni chanula kit&inu.
Ugali huciianganywa na kitcueo na mchuzi.
Wanasifu wali,
^aarabu..

kwa kula waliV

15.

?icbeie uxiwa shambani huitwafeV

16.

Wali ni mchele wa namna gani?

Mchele ukiv/a shambani huitvra ihpunga. ,Jali ni

mchele uliopikwa.

285

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Unit_7i
i Basic Dialogue* Let's visit the farm.
Mirambo
shamba (MA.)

farm

Tafadhali twende tukatembee

Please let's go take a walk around

shambani.

the farm*
Hasani

baada (N)

after

.Ndiyo. Tutakvenda baada ya saa moja Pine* We'll go in about an hour* hivi.

Hasanl
to pass

-pita

An hour has passed. Are you ready?

Saa moja imepita. U tayari? (or: Uko tayari?)

Mirambo
Ndiyo, ni tayari. (or: niko tayari.) Yes, I'm ready.
Twende basi*
-tangulia

Well, let's go.

Hasani
to lead path

njia (N)

to follow

-fuata
Tangulia. Nitakufuata. Unaijua njia kuliko
mini*

[You] lead [the way]. I'll follow you. You know the way better than
I do.

Mlrambo
O.K., let's go then.

Haya, twende basi.

Notes
A. Further example of the meaning of -ka-.
Tutembee shambani.

Let's take a walk on the farm

[beginning right where we are now].

Tukatembee shambani.

Let's [go] take a walk on the farm

[beginning from some point away from here].

The above examples provide another instance of the meaning of the prefix -ka-.
B. hivi 'about'
baada ya saa moja

after an hour

baada ya saa moja hivi after about an hour

The word hivi, which in its shape is identical with the proximal demonstrative of the plural of the VI class, is in thjs
sentence a modifier of saa mcja, with the translation 'about'.
2

Sun.

A.

'last'

with days of the

Ulikuwa wapi Jumapili

week.
Where were you last

Sunday?

ninyi

Mlikuwa mkifanya kazi gani

What type of work were you (pi.) doing last

mwaka uliopita?

year?

Bw. Sangai Bw. Sangai alikuwa akifanya kazi gani

mwaka uliopita?
Wanafunzi hawa walikuwa wakifanya

wanafunzi
hawa

kazi gani mwaka uliopita?

What type of work was Mr. Sangai doing

last year?
What type of work were these students
doing last year?

iliyopita?
Mon.

Ulikuwa wapi Jumatatu

Please, show me the way (to go) to the

Where were you

market.

last Monday?

Please, show me the way to the hospital#

iliyopitaj

Please, show me the way to the

Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

Saturday B* Verb phrase with -waj last
year?'
wewe

administrative office#
Please, show me the way to the church #

Ulikuwa ukifanya kazi

gani

Please, show me the way to the hotel.

What type of work were you doing last

mwaka

uliopitaj

Please, show me the way to the house#

year?
C, n^ia jra plus infinitive#
soko

Tafadhali, nionyeshe

njia

ya kwenda sokoni#
hospital! Tafadhali,

nionyeshe

njia

ya kwenda hospitalini#
botna

Tafadhali, nionyeshe

njia

ya kwenda bomani#
kanisa

Tafadhali, nionyeshe

njia

ya kwenda kanisani.
hotel!

Tafadhali, nionyeshe

njia

ya kwenda hotelini,
ryumba

Tafadhali, nionyeshe

njia

ya kwenda nyumbani.
3*

kuja

kuletea

Juma na Hasani waliahidi

Juma and Hasani promised to send

barua mwezi
A# Infinitivekuriletea
vs. past negative#
uliopita, lakini
Juma na Hasani waliahidi
hawakuniletea.
kusalimia kuja mvezi uliopita,
Juma nalakini
Hasani waliahidi

me a letter last month, but they

didn't.
Juma and Hasani promised to come
last month,
but they
didn't. to convey
Juma
and Hasani
promised

hawakuja.
kunisalimia mwalimi; wao
kwenda

Sat.

my best regards to their teacher

Juma na Hasani
mwezi waliahidi
uliopita, lakini

month,
but theyto
didn't.
Juma and last
Hasani
promised
go to the

kwenda hawakunisalimia.
masomo ya jioni

evening classes last month, but they

lakini
B.mwezi
Sim.ple vs.uliopita,
applied stem;
'every'
hawakvenda #
Naandika barua kwa wazazi
wangu kila Jumamosi.
Niliwaandikia barua

didn't.
vs. 'last' Saturday.
I write to my parents every
Saturday.
I wrote them last Saturday.

Jumamosi iliyopita.
Mon.

Naandika barua kwa wazazi

I write to my parents every Monday,

wangu kila Jumatatu.

Niliwaandikia barua
Jumatatu iliyopita. Wednesday Thursday Friday

I wrote them last Monday.

Unit_72
1 Basic Dialogue. The farm needs rain and fertilizer.
Mirambo
-nyesha

to rain

mavuno (KA)

harvest

Mvua ikinyesha nitapata mavuno

If it rains, I'll get a large harvest,

mengi.
Hasani
Umepanda mimea gani shambani ravakol What kind of plants have you planted
on your farm?
Mirambo
riazi ulaya,

Irish potatoes. ('European potatoes') if I were fertilizer

ningalikuwa mbolea

If I had had fertilizer, I would have planted onions.

(N)
-agiza

Kama ningalikuwa na mbolea

to order

Unaweza kuiagiza You

kutoka
canIdara
orderya
it from the jepartment of

ningalipanda vitunguu.

Ukulima.

Agriculture.

Hasani
.Mirambo
robo (N)

1/4

Lisima ulipe robo ya gharama kwanza. It's necessary that you pay a quarter

of the amount at the beginning.

Hasani
Kama huna pesa, utapanda ninil

If you dont have money, what will

you plants
Mirambo
Nitapanda njugu karanga.

I will plant groundnuts#

Notes

A. The MJ, KU and PA locative concords#

shambani mwako on (in') your farm The mw- prefix belongs to the mu- class of locatives (cf.
Unit 29, Note A). A general first-approximation translation equivalent for this class is 'in'.
For the ku- class of locatives, whose first-approximation equivalent is to, the prefix used with possessive stems is kw-, and
for the ga- locatives, it is -.
a-/.

The corresponding subject prefixes used with verbs are m-/mw-, ku-/kw~,
You must use fertilizer for onions#

2#

A. Lizima plus subjunctive#

kutumia

Lizima

uturaie mbolea kwa

vitunguu.
kuagiza

Lizima

uagize mbolea kutoka

You must order fertilizer from the Agriculture

Department.
You must pay a quarter of the expenses at first#
You must finish your work tomorrow#

Idara ya Ukulima,
kulipa

Lizima

ulipe robo ya gharama

The farmers who use fertilizer will get onions#

kwanza.
kumaliza

Lizima

umalize kazi yako

kesho,
B Relative of the na-tense#
kutumia

Wakulima wanaotumia mbolea

watapata vitunguu

kuagiza

Wakulima wanaoagiza mbolea

The farmers who order fertilizer will get it*

wataipata.

The farmers who want fertilizer will pay a quarter of

Wakulima wanaotaka mbolea

kutaka

the expense.

watalipa robo ya gharama.

C. MU locative concord with a possessive stem.
muhogo

shambani mwetu.
mimea

Twapanda mimea mingi

shambani mwetu.

mpunga

Twapanda mpunga mwingi

shambani mwetu.

vitunguu

Twapanda vitunguu vingi

shambani mwetu.

mimea

garden.
We plant a lot of crops in our garden.
We plant a lot of rice in our garden.
We plant a lot of onions in our garden.
KU locative concord with a possessive stem.
They brought a lot of cassava to our garden.
They brought a lot of crops to our garden.

D.
muhogo

We plant a lot of cassava in our

Twapanda muhogo mwingi

Walileta muhogo mwingi

They brought a lot of rice to our garden.

shambani kwetu.

They brought a lot of things to our garden.

Walileta mimea mingi

MU

and

shambani kwetu.
mpunga

Walileta mpunga mwingi

shambani kwetu.

vitu

Walileta vitu vingi shambani

kwetu.
E.

I
soko
visu
sanduku

KU

locative

concords

as

subject

prefixes.
Sandukuni mna chumtvi.

There is

salt

in

the box.
Sokoni kuna chumvi.

There

atthe market.
Sokoni kuna visu.

There are knives

Sandukuni mna visu.

There are knives

at the market.
in the box.

is salt

3.

A. MJ locative concord with possessive stem and subject prefix.

taa Nyumbani mwako mna taa? Ndiyo,

Is there a lamp in your house?

mna mbili.

Yes, there are two*

meza Nyumbani mwako mna meza?

Is there a table in your house?

Ndiyo, mna mbili*

Yes, there are two*

saa Nyumbani mwako mna saa? Ndiyo,

Is there a clock in your house?

Yes, there are two.

mna mbili*

Is there ink in your house?

wino Nyumbani mwako mna wino?

Ndiyo, mna chupa mbili.

Yes, there are two bottles of ink*

B. KU locative concord with possessive stem and subject prefix.

baiskeli Nyumbani kwako kuna baiskeli?
Ndiyo, kuna moja.

Is there a bicycle at your house?

motokaa Nyumbani kwako kuna motakaa? Ndiyo,

kuna moja.
mgonjwa Nyumbani kwako kuna

Yes, there is one.

Is there a car at your house?
Yes, there is one.

mgonjwa?
Ndiyo, kuna mmoja.

Is there a patient at your house? Yes, there is

one*

Conversation Starters
1. A and B are from different parts of Africa (or the United States), A asks B about what things
are like where he is from (kwako).

UNIT 73

SWAHILI

Unit_73
1* Basic Dialogue* Should I get a crop loan?
Hasani
-kopa

to borrow

mahali (PA)

place

Ukitaka, nitakuonyesha mahali pa

If you like, I'll show you a place to

kukopa pesa*

borrow money*
Mirambo

moyo (MI)

heart

Sina moyo wa kukopa pesa*

I've no liking for borrowing money* a custom,

desturi (N)

practice It's a bad practice*

Hii ni desturi mbaya*

Hasani

mwisho (MI)

end
Hivyo ndivyo nilivyofanya, na (or:

That's how I did,

and I will pay it

nami) nitazilipa rawisho wa mwaka,

[back] the end of the year*

Mirambo

Unajuaje kama utapata mavuno mazuri? How do you know whether you will get
good crops?
Hasani
wasiwasi (U)
doubt look at

-angalia jibu

answer, reply

(MA)

Sina wasiwasi. Ukiangalia shambani, I don't

have any doubts. If you look utapata raajibu.

at the farm, you will get the

answer.
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UNIT 73

SWAHILI

Notes
A. Relative affixes in agreement with the objects of verbs.
kiti ulicholeta (or:...ulichokileta) the chair that you brought
karanga tutakazopanda

the groundnuts that we will plant

(or: tutakazozipanda)
The relative affix (-cho- and -zo- in these examples) may stand for the object of a verb, instead of
for its subject. Where it stands for the subject, it must be of the same class as the subject prefix;
(mtu) ali^esikia

a person who heard ...

Where it stands for the object, it is in the class of the object:

(kitu) alichorrunua

(the thing) which he bought...

(motokaa) aliyosikia

(the car) which he heard..

The relative affix may then be followed by the object prefix, though many speakers omit the latter.
B. Ndi- plus relative affix.
Ndicho.

That is the one (e.g. kitu, kiti, kisu)

Ndiyo.

That is the one (e.g. nchi, motokaa, ndizi)

Ndizo.

Those are the ones (e.g. ndizi, nyumba)

Ndivyo.

Those are the ones (e.g. vitunguu, vitu)

A combination of ndi- plus the relative affix is translated approximately as in these examples.
C. Combination of the constructions described in Notes A and B.
Ndiye niliyemwona.

He is the one I saw.

Ndicho ninachotumia.

That is the one (e.g. the thing) that

(or: ...ninachokitumia.) I am using.

The constructions of Notes A and B are combined as shown above.

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UNIT 73

D.

SWAHILI

Concords of VI (plu*) class in expression of manner.

Hivyo ndivyo nilivyofanya. That is how I did.

The concords of the plural VI class are used without antecedent to refer to manner. Compare the use
of these same concords in the 'adverbial1 forms vizuri, v^ema.

A.

MO0 wa plus infinitive.

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