Swahili

Swahili, meaning "the coast", is at the 7th rank of the most widely spoken languages in the world, having 45 to 100 million speakers. It is the mother tongue of the peoples living on the East coast of Africa, between south Somalia to north Mozambique, by way of the islands of Pate, Lamu, Pemba, Zanzibar, and Mafia; from east to west, it is spoken from Tanzania and Kenya through the interior of Congo (ex-Zaïre), up to Uganda, Burundi, Zambia and Malawi.

See also: Swahili Rosary Prayers

Origin of Swahili
Swahili belongs to the Bantu family of languages, which are spoken in the southern half of Africa. The primary distinguishing mark is that its vocabulary is from a mixture of Bantu and Arabic origins.

Swahili is the lingua franca of the area, having been formed as a language of contact and communication between those coming from the outside and the populations of the coast and the inside of the continent. It preserved its Bantu grammatical structure, characterized by a system of nominal classes and an agglutinative verbal construction. It managed to acquire a quantity of foreign words into its vocabulary, including English, Persian, Arabic, and some Portuguese and German.

Development of Swahili
Swahili was originally transcribed by Muslim men along the east coast during the XIIth through the XIXth century, using Arabic characters. When English missionaries arrived at the end of the XIXth century, they transcribed it using Latin characters, in order to propagate the teaching of the Christian faith to hundreds of people who each possessed their own tribal tongue. The first works of Swahili standardization were begun in the early XXth century by English missionaries and the governors of Zanzibar.

During the time of the independence of Tanganyika, Swahili was used as a medium of political propaganda and was seen as the language of liberation from the colonial yoke and an instrument of unity between the local populations, as it was nobody's particular language and it was not tainted with tribalism.

In 1974, Tanzania took a further step by making Swahili its official and national language, spoken in the parliament and in the government. Overnight, its leaders imposed the eradication of all the English names from the streets and buildings by renaming them with Swahili names, erasing all written traces of the colonial era from its districts, avenues, schools, businesses, banks, hotels, cooperatives and all other official and private amenities.

In the education system, Tanzanian pupils and students begin their primary schooling in Swahili, being gradually exposed to English, which has the status of first foreign language, just before French.

Modern Development of Swahili
In order to adapt itself to the realities of the modern world, Swahili has to forge new vocables everyday.

For almost two centuries Swahili speakers naturally borrowed their words from Arabic (which was the cultural, religious and commercial language), then later from English (which was the colonial, cultural, educative, scientific and technical language).

For several years now, a Tanzanian committee has been regularly publishing lists of new scientific and technical vocables, built from Bantu, English or Arabic roots (the latter being often deemed as more "authentic").

Nevertheless, the system of nominal classes has been preserved, and all these new words are assimilated into the existing genders.

Learning Swahili
Swahili is one of the easiest African languages to learn, as it does not contain any unpronounceable sounds for westerners, no "tones" as in Lingala, the other lingua franca of Africa. Its grammar, puzzling at first, works like a linguistic "meccano". The vocabulary is the only true difficulty of Swahili, for everything is new and must be memorized by heart, apart from a few words of English origin.

If one dedicates an hour every day to learning the grammar and memorizing the vocabulary, this effort will generally produce its first fruit after only six months' learning.

THE SWAHILI ALPHABET
The basic principle which was retained to establish the Swahili alphabet, is that every distinct sound or phoneme should always be transcribed by the same distinct written form (either a single letter, or a cluster of letters), and conversely.

The Swahili alphabet includes:
 * 23 single letters: a, b, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, k, l, m, n, o, p, r, s, t, u, v, w, y, z.
 * (The letters q and x are not used. The letter c, although present, is never used alone.)
 * 9 digraphs: ch, dh, gh, kh, ng', ny, sh, th, ts.

Vowels
Swahili contains 5 vowels. These are pronounced openly, without diphtongs, like in Spanish or in Italian. They must always be kept short.

Unlike in English, two (or three) written vowels that follow each other never merge together to form a single sound. Each keeps its own sound.

For example: ou is pronounced "o-oo" as in "go", au is pronounced "a-oo" as in "cow", ei is pronounced "e-ee" as in "bay", ai is pronounced "a-ee" as in "tie", etc.

In theory, any vowel can be in succession with any other one. It is not unfrequent to meet two similar vowels in succession, which are pronounced as one long vowel:

Simple Consonants
While most of the consonants are similar to the English ones and do not offer any difficulty, special care must be paid to:


 * f: it has always the sound of the "f" in "fat", never that of the "f" in "of".
 * g: it is always hard like in "got". It should never be pronounced soft like the "g" in "gin".
 * s: it has always the sound of the "s" in "sad", never that of the "s" in "is" or "easy".

Consonant Combinations
Most of the real difficulties of Swahili are concentrated here. It is however important to try and pronounce these sounds correctly:


 * dh and th are both written "th" in English. dh is voiced as in "the", "this", "that", "with" ... While th is unvoiced as in "think", "thin", "both" ...
 * stakabadhi (= a receipt), hadithi (= a story).
 * gh and kh are pronounced at the back of the throat; gh is voiced and close to the French "r" in "rare": ghali (= expensive), shughuli (= affair, activity); kh is unvoiced and corresponds to a scraping of the throat: subalkheri (= good morning).
 * ng' although similar in sound to the English "ng" in "singing" poses a difficulty, for it usually occurs at the initial of words. It is luckily quite rare:  ng'ambo (= foreign), ng'ombe (= a cow).

THE SYLLABIC CONSONANT "M"
The syllable M corresponds to the class prefix MU- (Class 1 and Class 3) whose U has been dropped. However, the "m" does not merge with the consonant which follows, and should be pronounced somewhat like "humm !".

The M syllabic can be accentuated (stressed syllable) in short words such as: mtu (= a person), mti (= a tree), mji (= a town, a city), etc.

SYLLABLE, STRESS AND PRONUNCIATION
The Swahili syllable is said to be open, for it always ends on a vowel sound. For example:

An extra vowel is usually added in loanwords, in order to conform to the open syllable pattern. For example:

The stress in a word usually falls on syllable before the last. There are however a small number of exceptions, on words of Arabic origin. For example: lazima (= it is necessary) /'lazima/. Compare also: barabara (= a road) /bara'bara/, and barabara (= very well) /ba'rabara/.

EXERCISE 1: Read aloud the following words:


 * a.Kaa, taa, saa, jaa, njaa, maana, chai, yai, zaidi, faida, laini, hao, wao, au, bilauri, sauti, dau, mzee, bei, cheo, leo, nyeupe, nyeusi, njia, kiasi, kulia, pia, siagi, raia, zii, hii, kiu, kiumbe, kuoa, kupoa, kuzoea, choo, njoo, jogoo, kioo, ndoo, shikamoo, fua, barua, mvua, adui, kuzuia, huo, uongo, juu, huu, kuu.
 * b.Wewe, wiki, dawa, bwana, kiswahili, ya, yao, hayo, yeye, mayai.
 * c.Baba, bado, bata, barabara, marahaba, dada, debe, duka, baada, kufaa, fisi, afya, hafifu, gunia, kugawa, gari, kujenga, haba, hapa, hodi, sahihi, jembe, jambo, kujua, jibu, juzijuzi, kaka, kukaa, haraka, kidogo, kibaba, la, lakini, kulia, kubali, mama, muwa, mamlaka, na, naam, nanasi, nukta, neno, papa, pana, pole, kupaka, lipa, ruka, robo, starehe, sisi, siri, sababu, asante, tatu, tele, tisa, tafuta, matuta, kuvaa, vema, kavu, viti, uvivu.
 * d.Chui, cheo, chafu, chache, dharau, fedha, dhahabu, ramadhani, ghali, ghafula, shughuli, lugha, subalkheri, ng'ambo, ng'ombe, ng'oa, nyuma, nyota, nyoka, shida, shilingi, shule, safisha, thumni, hadithi.
 * e.Mbu, mbwa, mjinga, mhindi, mfalme, mchezo, mji, mkate, mlima, mnazi, mpaka, msaada, mstari, mswaki, mzungu.
 * f.Tafadhali, magharibi, mashariki, nywele, kuchemsha, mchanganyiko, nyang'anya, masalkheri, thelathini, mgonjwa, maharagwe.

Chapter 2 - Greetings
Swahili people place great importance on the exchange of greetings. Politeness recommends that you dedicate some time to greeting a person and enquiring about his/her health, his/her activities, and possibly about his/her close relations, especially if you have not meet each other for quite a while. It is only after this good humored though formal exchange that you will brooch into the heart of the matter, or that you may take leave of the person, with abundant goodbyes!

COMMON GREETINGS
But this is just for the tourists! Whenever possible, it is preferred to use these more authentic greetings, that will make you pass for a real "mswahili":

THE EXCHANGE OF NEWS
These simple greetings are often followed by more precise questions, on the time of day, health, family, the children, etc... All these questions start with the word HABARI which means "news".

There are two possibilities: either you are expecting a precise answer: in which case you use Habari ya ... ? (What is the news of ... ?), or you are simply asking out of mere politeness, without any precise intention, in that case you use Habari za ... ? (What are the news of ... ?).

Except in case of misfortune (death, serious illness, etc...) you will invariably answer with:

Njema! - or - Nzuri! - or - Salama! = Fine!

Chakubanga
 * Haya! Bwana Chaku habari gani?
 * So! Mr Chaku how are you?


 * Habari nikuulize wewe uliyelundika nguo kichwani ukaacha mapajani je una kichaa?
 * I should return your question, you who piled your skirt on your head, say, are you mad?

OTHER COMMON EXPRESSIONS
When a person feels down or has undergone a bereavement, you tell him/her:

When a person goes on a journey, you can also tell him/her:

The expected answer is naturally always:
 * Asante! (Thank you!)

VISITING SOMEBODY AT HOME
To announce your presence to somebody, you shout in front of the door :
 * Hodi! (Anybody home?)

To which the person answers any one of the following:
 * Karibu! (You're welcome!) or
 * Karibuni! (You're all welcome! [To several people]) or
 * Starehe! (Feel at ease!)

to which you always answer:
 * Asante! (Thank you!) or
 * Asanteni! (Thank you!) (To several people)

GOOD-BYES
The word to say goodbye is Kwa heri! which literally means blessing, happiness, or "Best wishes!"

When taking leave at night, you can wish:
 * Usiku mwema! (Good night!)

At the time of sleeping, you can also wish:
 * Lala salama! (Sweet dreams!)

NOW, LEARN THE SONG "JAMBO"
 * Jambo!
 * Jambo Bwana!
 * Habari gani?
 * Nzuri sana!

EXERCISE 1

Match the questions and the answers:

Answers:

EXERCISE 2

Translate into English:
 * 1. Hodi!
 * 2. Karibu!
 * 3. Starehe!
 * 4. Jambo mama!
 * 5. Jambo bwana!
 * 6. Hamjambo nyumbani?
 * 7. Njema. Habari zako?
 * 8. Nzuri sana. Haya, kwa heri!
 * 9. Asante. Kwa heri ya kuonana!
 * 10. Haya! Tutaonana kesho.

EXERCISE 3

Translate into Swahili:
 * 1. Hello! How are you? - I am fine.
 * 2. How is work? - Fine.
 * 3.- What about home? - Fine.
 * 4.- Sorry! - Thank you very much.
 * 5.- My respects. - Thank you.
 * 6.- Anybody home? - Welcome!
 * 7.- How is your health? - Well.
 * 8.- Hello! - Hello!
 * 9.- Good bye. See you tomorrow. - OK!
 * 10.- Good night, sweet dreams! - Thank you, the same to you.

GENERALITIES
The main characteristic of the Swahili verb is its agglutinative aspect. In order to be functional, to be conjugated and be part of the sentence, we must attach to it a certain number of affixes - prefixes, infixes, and suffixes - according to the situation. All these affixes possess a precise position and function. The general position scheme of these affixes in relation to the verb radical is as follows:

Pre-Prefix + Subject Prefix + Tense marker + Object Infix + RADICAL + Derivation + Suffix + Post-Suffix

It is very rare for a verb to possess all these affixes at one and the same time. These different affixes and their functions will all be explained along the following chapters.

THE INFINITIVE
In English, the infinitive is shown by the word to placed before the verb. In Swahili, the infinitive is marked by the prefix KU- attached to the verb radical: KU + RADICAL.

EXAMPLES:

As seen above, the radical of the Swahili verbs of Bantu origin ends in -A in the infinitive. There are, however, a few exceptions, especially with verbs of Arabic origin, which end in -E, -I or -U.

MONOSYLLABIC VERBS
NOTE: The last two verbs, Kw-isha and Kw-enda, although disyllabic, have been included in this table because they behave like monosyllabic verbs in their conjugation. We also note that the U of KU- weakens into W before the vowel E or I of the radical.

THE NEGATIVE INFINITIVE
Swahili possesses a negative infinitive. It is obtained by inserting the infix -TO- between the infinitive prefix KU- and the radical of the verb. An extra KU-, which is compulsory in the case of monosyllabic verbs, is sometimes added before the radical.

KU + TO (+ KU) + RADICAL

EXAMPLES:

EXERCISES
EXERCISE 1

Translate into Swahili:


 * a. To learn, to catch, to arrive, to try, to wait, to look at, to see, to hear, to think, to answer, to strike, to have, to do, to know, to love, to go, to come, to drink, to eat, to be, to clean, to want, to sit, to come back, to succeed.
 * b. Not to find, not to catch, not to do, not to try, not to know, not to come back, not to stay, not to bring, not to wait, not to say, not to buy, not to sell, not to read, not to hear, not to stop.

EXERCISE 2

Translate into English:


 * a. Kuweka, kubaki, kusafiri, kusamehe, kuanguka, kukaa, kusimama, kuuza, kununua, kupika, kwisha, kusema, kufunga, kufungua, kuleta, kufa, kufaa, kujibu, kujaribu, kufurahi, kubadili, kuweza, kuketi, kufuata, kutafuta.
 * b. Kutokuwa, kutokunywa, kutokula, kutokuja, kutoweka, kutofika, kutofaulu, kutofurahi, kutosafiri, kutofaa, kutokuona, kutokupika, kutotaka, kutokuweza, kutofikiri.

The Direct Imperative
The Direct Imperative is used to give an "abrupt" order, as a boss would give to an employee, or a parent to a child. It is the most simple verbal form, since it is simply made of the verb radical.

For example, if we take the verb KUFANYA for example, we simply remove the infinitive prefix KU-, which gives FANYA! (do!)

The Direct Imperative possesses only 2 persons: the second person singular ("you" singular) and the second person plural ("you" plural). The plural is formed by replacing the ending -A of the radical by the suffix -ENI.

SOME VERBS IN THE DIRECT IMPERATIVE :

PARTICULAR CASES:

Monosyllabic verbs keep the prefix KU- of the infinitive:

Verbs of Arabic origin are treated as verbs of Bantu origin in the second person singular. In the second person plural, -NI is added to the end of the radical, without modifying the final vowel (E, I ou U):

EXCEPTIONS:

The verb KULETA (to bring) makes LETE! (bring!) instead of LETA in the second person singular.

The verb KUJA (to come) makes NJOO! (come!) and NJOONI! (come!).

The verb KWENDA (to go) makes NENDA! (go!) and NENDENI! (go!).

Chakubanga

 * Naona hiyo chai imepoa. Nenda kaipashe moto tena.
 * I can see the tea is cool. Go and warm it again.


 * Chakubanga! Una kunguni tumboni siku hizi?
 * Chakubanga! Have you got bugs in your stomach these days?

THE POLITE IMPERATIVE
In Swahili, as in many other languages, the longer the verbal formula when giving an order, the softer its "abruptness", and the more polite it is.

For instance, compare these in English: Come! / Can you come! / Are you coming? / Would you like to come? / I wish you would come. / etc... A common way of easing the rough edge of an order is to use the subjunctive. (See: Chapter 33 - The Subjunctive.) This is done by removing the prefix KU- of the infinitive and by replacing the ending -A with -E. The second person singular begins with the pronominal prefix U-. While the second person plural begins with the pronominal prefix M-.

SUBJECT PREFIX + VERB RADICAL + E

SOME VERBS IN THE POLITE IMPERATIVE:

VERBS OF ARABIC ORIGIN:

MONOSYLLABIC VERBS:

THE IMPERATIVE OF THE 1st PERSON PLURAL
So far we have studied the imperative of the 2nd person, singular and plural. It is now time to see the imperative of the 1st person plural (we). It is built exactly on the same pattern as the polite imperative, simply replacing the subject prefix U- (you) with TU- (we).

TU + VERB RADICAL + E

SOME EXAMPLES:


 * 1st person plural
 * Tufanye! (let's make!)
 * Tufunge! (let's close!)
 * Tufungue! (let'sopen!)
 * Tulete! (let's bring!)
 * Tupike! (let's cook!)
 * Tusafishe! (let's clean!)

VERBS OF ARABIC ORIGIN:


 * Tujaribu! (let's try!)
 * Tusamehe! (let's forgive!)

MONOSYLLABIC VERBS:


 * Twende! (let's go!)
 * Tule! (let's eat!)
 * Tuwe! (let's be!)

THE NEGATIVE IMPERATIVE
There is only one negative form corresponding both to the direct imperative and to the polite imperative. The negation is formed in the following way:


 * Remove the prefix KU- of the infinitive,
 * add the pronominal prefix U- for the singular and M- for the plural,
 * insert the negative infix -SI- between the pronoun and the radical,
 * replace the verb ending -A with -E in the case of verbs of Bantu origin.

EXAMPLES:

Bantu verb:
 * KU-FANYA
 * -FANYA
 * U-SI-FANY-E

Arabic verb:
 * KU-JIBU
 * -JIBU
 * U-SI-JIBU

Monosyllabic verb:
 * KU-LA
 * -LA
 * U-SI-L-E

SUBJECT PREFIX + SI + VERB RADICAL + E

SOME VERBS IN THE IMPERATIVE:

EXERCISES
EXERCISE 1

Put these verbs in the Direct Imperative:

Kusikia, kurudi, kukamata, kujaribu, kuangalia, kufikiri, kula, kuleta, kutafuta, kusimama, kuja, kwenda, kufunga, kungoja, kwisha.

EXERCISE 2

Put these verbs in the Polite Imperative:

Kubadili, kufika, kufanya, kusoma, kuweka, kubaki, kujaribu, kusamehe, kununua, kupika, kufuata, kufungua, kuja, kwenda, kusema.

EXERCICE 3

Put these verbs in the 1st person plural of the Imperative:

Kubadili, kufika, kufanya, kusoma, kuweka, kubaki, kujaribu, kusamehe, kununua, kupika, kufuata, kufungua, kuja, kwenda, kusema.

EXERCISE 4

Put these verbs in the Negative Imperative:

Kuja, kwenda, kuleta, kupiga, kuuza, kupenda, kusafiri, kujibu, kufikiri, kuangalia, kufika, kukaa, kununua, kujaribu, kubaki.

EXERCISE 5

Translate into English:


 * a. Njoo! Nenda! Fuata! Fanya! Piga! Lete! Rudi! Jaribu!
 * b. Njooni! Fanyeni! Jaribuni! Sameheni! Leteni! Fuateni! Tafuteni! Nendeni!
 * c. Upike! Usafishe! Mfungue! Mjaribu! Ujue! Uweke! Mfaulu! Ule!
 * d. Usijibu! Usisome! Usiende! Usinywe! Usiseme! Usiangalie! Usiwe! Usikae!
 * e.Msifuate! Msibaki! Msirudi! Msifikiri! Msianguke! Msifungue! Msiketi! Msione!

Chapter 5 - The Nominal Classes
In swahili, as in any other Bantu language, substantives are not divided into genders of the masculine / feminine / neutral types, but in nominal classes. Swahili includes 13 nominal classes, plus three extra classes called the locative classes.

In order to rationalize the study of the nominal classes, these can be grouped into 7 "genders" (or categories) that each include 2 classes : one class for the singular and another class for the plural.

The 6th "gender" does not possess any specific plural but borrows its plurals from the other classes. The 7th "gender" is made of substantivated verbs and has no plural. These 7 "genders" loosely correspond to more or less extended semantic categories.

The different nominal classes are recognized and definable by their prefixes, that is to say the first syllable of the noun, which will cause in turn a series of agreements through prefixes and infixes on the adjectives, pronouns, demonstratives, possessives, verbs, etc... in the sentence.

Swahili does not differentiate between definite or indefinite nouns, and neither does it distinguish between masculine or feminine for names of people.

Summarized table of the 13 nominal classes in Swahili, grouped into 7 genders, and the 3 locative classes:

NOTES: The concept of "gender", which remains controversial in the description of Bantu languages, was introduced here for two main reasons:
 * Facilitate the study of the nominal classes by grouping them two by two, each "gender" including, in most cases, a singular and a plural.
 * Avoid the use of the same word of "class" to designate at the same time the whole and its parts. Thus we won't say "M-/WA- Class" but "M-/WA- Gender" or "Classes 1 / 2".

The concept of "gender" far from substituting itself to that of "class", superposes upon it and completes it.

The numbers attributed to the different nominal classes in the above table are conventional class numbers, valid for all the Bantu languages.

The U- gender actually includes 2 distinct classes of nouns in singular: Classes 11 and 14. Only the nouns of class 11 possess a plural which is borrowed from class 10, like all the nouns of the N- gender.

Classes 12 and 13 do not exist in swahili. As for the locative classes, they include 3 classes: Class 16 (prefix PA-), Class 17 (prefix KU-) and Class 18 (prefixM-), but they possess only one noun: MAHALI. Since they can not be put in the traditional categories of singular and plural, it is difficult to consider them as fully-fledged "nominal" genders.

This is why they are not included in the different tables of nominal agreements, but one should study them separately.

DEFINITIONS
All along this work, we shall use the following terminology to define the different word parts:

RADICAL:

The part of the word that remains unchanged during the different word derivations, be it a noun, an adjective or a verb.

Example: SAFARI (a journey, journeys), mSAFIRI (a traveller), waSAFIRI (travellers),uSAFIRI (to travel).

PREFIX: A letter or syllable placed before a noun, a verb or an adjective. The prefix often marks the agreement (class, person, number, etc...)

Example: Mzungu (a European), WAzungu (Europeans). KUsoma (to read), Usome (read!).

INFIX:

A letter or syllable placed in the middle of a word, usually between the prefix and the radical of a verb.

Example: naKUambia (I tell you), aliMpiga (he hit him).

SUFFIX:

A letter, or a syllable, added at the end of a word. Sometimes, only the final vowell of the word changes.

Example: ananunuA (he buys), anunuE (let him buy).

Chapter 6 - The M-/WA- Gender
The M-/WA- gender (Classes 1 / 2) contains nouns of persons exclusively, plus two generic nouns of animals. It is the class prefix, i.e. the first syllable of the noun, that distinguishes the singular from the plural. There is no article in front of the noun, which can either be definite or indefinite:

OTHER NOUNS OF PEOPLE
Although the M-/WA- gender exclusively contains nouns of people, it is not all inclusive. A certain number of nouns refering to people can be found in other genders, mainly in the N- gender (Cl 9 / Cl 10), the KI-/VI- gender (Cl 7 / 8) and the JI-/MA- gender (Cl 5 / 6). However, the verbs, adjectives, etc. that agree with them must take Class 1/2 prefix agreements.

Nouns of the N- GENDER (Cl 9 / Cl 10)

Nouns of the KI-/VI- GENDER (Classes 7/8):

Nouns of the JI-/MA- GENDER (Classes 5/6):

CLASS AGREEMENTS
1.Adjectives: the adjective takes prefixes of class agreements identical to those of the noun: (See Chapter 11.)

2.Possessive adjectives:

EXERCISES
EXERCISE 1

Translate into Swahili:


 * a. Play! Sweep! Work! Come in! Leave! Draw! Cultivate! Jump! Leave (Plur)! Work (Plur)!
 * b. Don't write! Don't play! Don't break! Don't cry! Don't pass! Don't write (Plur)! Don't come in (Plur)! Don't jump (Plur)! Don't play (Plur)! Don't leave (Plur)!
 * c. A guest, a child, a young girl, a husband, a man, a woman, a wife, an English, a white man, a Muslim, a cook, a teacher, a thief, an old man, a French.
 * d. Human beings, Africans, Indians, French people, people, young men, children (sons / daughters), children, Germans, wives, husbands, pupils, farmers, uncles, animals.

EXERCISE 2

Translate into English:


 * a. Mtu, mnyama, mdudu, mwanadamu, mwislamu, mkristo, mzungu, mwafrika, mfaransa, mtoto, mvulana, msichana, baba, kaka, mama, dada, mjomba, shangazi, kipofu, kibarua.
 * b. Wakulima, walimu, wanafunzi, vibarua, wanaume, wanawake, waitalia, watu, wageni, wagonjwa, waarabu, wapishi, wezi, wazee, dada, kaka, rafiki, mabibi, mabwana, vijana.

EXERCISE 3

Put the nouns in the plural:

Mwanafunzi, mwislamu, mwana, mwizi, mzee, mzungu, mhindi, mnyama, mume, mke, mwanamume, mwanamke, mgeni, mwarabu, mwafrika, mjomba, kijana, rafiki, kipofu, kibarua, dada, shangazi, bibi, bwana, dereva.

Chapter 7 - The Subject Pronouns
In Swahili, the subject pronouns have the particularity of being always affixed to the verb as prefixes.

In the 3rd person singular and plural, there is no substitution between the subject noun and the subject prefix, but complementarity: the subject prefix is there, even when the subject noun is already expressed in the sentence.

AFFIRMATIVE SUBJECT PREFIXES
Only the M-/WA- gender (Classes 1/2) comprises subject prefixes for the 1st and 2nd persons singular and the 1st and 2nd persons plural.

In the 3rd person singular (he/she/it) and the 3rd person plural (they), the choice of the subject prefix depends on the nominal class to which the corresponding subject noun belongs.

However, when the subject noun represents a person, whatever the class it belongs to, we will use a subject prefix of Class 1 in the singular and Class 2 in the plural, as for the nouns of the M-/WA- gender.

EXAMPLES:

NEGATIVE SUBJECT PREFIXES
Negative subject prefixes result from the combination of the negative pre-prefix HA- and the subject prefix, except in the 1st person singular (SI-) and the 2nd person singular (HU- instead of HAU-). Thus:

EXAMPLES:

THE AUTONOMOUS PERSONAL PRONOUNS
With ordinary verbs, the autonomous personal pronoun reinforces the suject prefix, without replacing it. Thus:

On the other hand, with the verb KUWA (to be) in the present tense, the personal pronoun is essential to mark the person, since the verb is identical for all the persons:

It will be the same in the negative form, by replacing NI with SI. For example:

A PARTICULAR PRONOUN: "-OTE"
-OTE, which means "all", can be used as an independant pronoun, or may accompany a noun. In either case, it agrees in class of the name to which it refers. Because of its meaning, it is more frequently used in the plural than in the singular.

EXAMPLES:

We can also associate -OTE with personal pronouns or with numbers. For example :

Chapter 8 - The Present Definite Tense
The present definite tense in Swahili is primarily used to describe actions which take place at the time when one speaks. It is anchored in the present moment and has the same value as the PRESENT CONTINUOUS in English.

THE AFFIRMATIVE FORM
The tense marker of the present definite is the infix -NA- which is placed between the affirmative subject prefix and the verb radical. The termination of the verb does not change.

SUBJECT PREFIX + NA + VERB RADICAL

MODEL: KUFANYA (to make, to do)

NOTE:

Monosyllabic verbs keep the infinitive prefix KU-:

THE NEGATIVE FORM
There is no tense marker on the negative present definite. A negative subject prefix is directly followed by the verb radical. In the case of a Bantu verb, its final vowel -A changes into -I. On the other hand, verbs of Arabic origin keep their final vowel without taking -I. As for monosyllabic verbs, they lose the infinitive prefix KU- but take the final vowel -I.

NEGATIVE SUBJECT PREFIX + VERB RADICAL + I

MODEL 1 (Verb of Bantu origin) :   KUFANYA = to make, to do

MODEL 2 (Verb of Arabic origin): KUJIBU (to answer)

MODEL 3 (Monosyllabic verbs) :   KUJA = to come

EXERCISES
EXERCISE 1

Translate into Swahili:


 * a. I love, I'm writing, I'm going out, you are breaking, she is crying, they are drawing, they are leaving, we are working, she is sweeping, you are cultivating (Plur), he is jumping, we are playing, you are cleaning, you are waiting (Plur), you are reading (Plur).
 * b. The child is playing, the little child is crying, the men are eating, the women are cleaning, the teacher is working, the pupils are coming in, the driver is waiting, the youths are coming back, my parents are travelling, my children are reading, the father is working, the friends are coming back, the drunkard is drinking, the masons are working, the fisherman is coming back.
 * c. I'm not playing, he is not drawing, we are not trying, you don't come, he doesn't stay, I don't know, you don't drink, she is not working, we are not going, you don't answer, they are not cooking, I am not travelling, you don't hear, he doesn't sleep, it doesn't fit.

EXERCISE 2

Translate into English:


 * a. Anafika, unakuja, wanapiga, tunafurahi, mnasafiri, inafaa, wanajaribu, anabaki, ninabadili, tunasafisha, mnapika, unakaa, anafuata, tunangoja, ninanunua.
 * b. Sijui, sifikiri, sisemi, hujui, hujibu, husomi, hasikii, harudi, hasafiri, hatuingii, hatufaulu, hamwendi, hawali, hawanyi, hawafanyi.

EXERCISE 3

Translate into English:


 * 1.Wewe ni mtanzania.
 * 2.Unasema kiswahili.
 * 3.Lakini husemi kiingereza.
 * 4.Mtoto anapenda kucheza sana.
 * 5.Baba na mama wanasafiri leo.
 * 6.Mwanafunzi anajaribu kusoma.
 * 7.Vibarua hawafanyi kazi leo.
 * 8.Wazazi wangu wanakaa Zanzibar.
 * 9.Jaribu kusema kiswahili !
 * 10.Mimi ni mwingereza. Sijui kiswahili sana.

Chapter 9 - The M-/MI- Gender
The M-/MI- gender (Classes 3/4) is not as specific as the M-/WA- gender.

It includes primarily nouns of trees, objects, parts of the human body, elements of nature, etc. However, it does not contain any nouns of human beings.

NOTE:

In the singular, nothing distinguishes a noun belonging to the M-/MI- gender from a noun of the M-/WA- gender, therefore the question is to guess whether its plural should either be in WA- or in MI-. The only way to solve the problem is to know that noun: if it represents a person, its plural is in WA-, whereas if it is not a person, its plural is in MI-...

SOME NOUNS OF THE M-/MI- GENDER (Classes 3/4)
However, many nouns refering to natural elements, parts of the human body, and plants, are not included in this gender.

CLASS AGREEMENTS
1. Adjective: The adjective takes prefixes of class agreements identical to those of the noun: (See: Chapter 11 - Concordant Adjectives.)

2. Possessive adjectives:

Abiria chunga MZIGO YAKO.. MARADHI - UMASIKINI - UJINGA - NJAA

Traveller look after YOUR LUGGAGE.. DISEASE - POVERTY - IDIOCY - HUNGER

EXERCISES
EXERCISE 1

Translate into Swahili:


 * a. A river, a mountain, a forest, a tree, a baobab tree, a mango tree, a coconut tree, a thorn-bush, an orange tree, a banana tree, cassava, corn, sugar cane, the smoke, a fire.
 * b. Breads, balls, tooth-brushes, bags, games, months, years, wages, towns, the hands, the doors, hearts, exams, coconut trees, umbrellas.

EXERCISE 2

Translate into English:


 * a. Mikono, miguu, mifereji, mwembe, mnazi, mibuyu, mchungwa, milima, mito, miti, muwa, mifuko, mchele, mchezo, miavuli, midomo, mizigo, msikiti, minara, mtihani.
 * b. Cheza mpira ! Angalia mtoto mdogo ! Faulu mtihani ! Chora moyo ! Lima muhindi ! Funga mlango ! Usifungue mlango ! Angalia miiba ! Nunua mkate ! Usile mkate !

EXERCISE 3

Translate into English:


 * 1. Watoto wanapenda kucheza mpira.
 * 2. Mkulima analima michungwa na migomba.
 * 3. Mtoto mdogo anapenda kula muwa.
 * 4. Baba anafunga mlango.
 * 5. Nenda ununue mkate na mchele.
 * 6. Wanafunzi wanaandika mitihani yao.
 * 7. Watoto wanaangalia moto.
 * 8. Mnalima muhindi au muhogo?
 * 9. Vibarua wanapata mishahara yao leo.
 * 10. Kipofu hawezi kuona mfereji.

Chapter 10 - The Present Indefinite Tense
This tense is used to describe usual or permanent actions, or to state "scientific" truths, that are not necessarily connected to the present time. This tense is equivalent to the SIMPLE PRESENT in English.

THE AFFIRMATIVE FORM
The tense marker of the Present Indefinite is the infix -A- which is inserted between the affirmative subject prefix and the verb radical. Monosyllabic verbs lose the infinitive prefix KU- in the Present Indefinite, unlike in the Present Definite.

SUBJECT PREFIX + A + VERB RADICAL

MODEL 1: KUSOMA (to read)

MODEL 2: KUJA (to come)

NOTE:

The verb KUWA (to be) does not conjugate in the Present Indefinite. It has only one present tense form: NI. (See Chapter 7 and Chapter 17 - The Verb KUWA.)

THE NEGATIVE FORM
The Present Indefinite Tense has no specific negative conjugation: we use the negative form of the Present Definite. (See Chapter 8 - The Present Definite Tense)

EXERCISES
EXERCISE 1

Translate into Swahili, using the Present Indefinite:


 * a. I learn, you sew, she sweeps, she cooks, they wash the linen, they cultivate, he removes, you listen (Plur), they agree, he buys, they sell, they play, she sleeps, we exchange, we are afraid.
 * b. I don't read, I don't take, he doesn't make, he doesn't stop, he doesn't leave, I don't speak, they don't play, they don't ask, you don't sweep, I don't iron, they don't listen, he doesn't agree, they are not afraid, they don't climb, you don't cultivate (Plur).
 * c. The old man doesn't work, the fishermen do not cultivate, he doesn't cultivate cassava, the youths do not agree, the cow eats grass, the women wash the linen, you are afraid of the fire (Plur), the men cut the trees, you cultivate maize (plur), the child doesn't like to wash the linen, mother likes sewing, the blind man begs for bread.

EXERCISE 2

Translate into English:


 * 1. Wafanya kazi gani?
 * 2. Mimi ni mwalimu.
 * 3. Sisi ni wanafunzi watanzania.
 * 4. Ng'ombe wapenda kula majani.
 * 5. Dada afagia kila asubuhi.
 * 6. Vijana wacheza mpira kila jioni.
 * 7. Kibarua apata mshahara wake kila siku.
 * 8. Mtoto mdogo hapendi muhogo.
 * 9. Nanunua mkate kila siku.
 * 10. Wawe waogopa mwalimu wako.

Chapter 11 - Concordant Adjectives
There are relatively few "true" adjectives in Swahili, but there are several ways of making adjectival concept words. Unlike English, Swahili adjectives are always placed after the nouns they qualify.

There are two main categories of adjectives:
 * 1. Those which take a class prefix to agree with the noun they qualify.
 * 2.Those which remain invariable: these are mostly loanwords from Arabic.

This chapter is devoted to the study of the adjectives which agree: the concordant adjectives.

The adjectives are usually introduced without any prefix in the lists of vocabulary. It is therefore advisable to be able to recognize them from their roots.

The agreement prefixes of the adjectives are identical to the class prefixes of the nouns with which they agree.

However, a few modifications of a phonetic nature can be observed, especially with the adjectives whose root starts with a vowel. For more transparency, we will divide our study of the concordant adjectives into two sub-categories: the adjectives whose root starts with a consonant and those whose root starts with a vowel.

ADJECTIVES STARTING WITH A CONSONANT
The prefix agreements for the M-/WA- gender (Classes 1 - 2), the M-/MI- gender (Classes 3 - 4), and the KI-/VI- gender (Classes 7 - 8) are strictly identical to those of the nouns. For the JI-/MA- gender (Classes 5 - 6), only the adjective -PYA takes the prefix JI- in the singular, which makes: JIPYA. The other adjectives do not take any prefix in the singular. They all take the prefix MA- in the plural.

It is only with the N- gender (Classes 9 - 10), that matters get a little more tricky:

1.The adjective takes the prefix N- if the adjectival root starts with D, G or Z:

2.The adjective takes the prefix M- if the adjectival root starts with B, P or V:

3.The adjectives whose roots start with other consonants do not take any prefix, except for -REFU which makes NDEFU (long, high).

SOME EXAMPLES:

ADJECTIVES STARTING WITH A VOWEL
The presence of a vowel at the beginning of the adjectival root leads to modifications of a phonetic nature. Let us examine those changes, gender by gender:

1. The M-/WA- Gender:

SINGULAR (Class 1)

PLURAL (Class 2)

2. The M-/MI- Gender:

SINGULAR (Class 3)

PLURAL (Class 4)

3. The JI-/MA- Gender:

PLURAL (Class 6)

EXCEPTION: JI + INGINE -> LENGINE (another)

4.The KI-/VI- Gender:

PLURAL (Class 8)

5.The N- Gender:

SINGULAR (Class 9)

PLURAL (Class 10)

EXCEPTION: N + EMA -> NJEMA (good)

EXERCISES
EXERCISE 1

Translate into Swahili:
 * a. Big, fat, small, short, heavy, light, dirty, hard, sweet, bitter, new, lazy, red, black, white, malignant, main, raw, bad, good.
 * b. A cunning man, an honest child, a few people, a severe teacher, a lazy young man, a jealous woman, a nice young girl, adult people, a high mountain, sweet sugar cane, beautiful maize, a thin body, dirty hands, a whole month, a black umbrella, long legs, a white smoke, a red fire, a difficult exam, a good heart.

EXERCISE 2

Translate into English:
 * a. Mfupi, nzito, mvivu, kavu, kigumu, kidogo, machafu, mbichi, mkali, jipya, makubwa, nzuri, njema, lengine, mzee, nyekundu, waminifu, mwangavu, chepesi, tupu.
 * b. Mtoto mvivu, mfuko mtupu, watu wazima, wanyama wakali, wamasai wakubwa, nguo mpya, mtu mweusi, mji mkuu, miguu mifupi, wazungu wageni, mikono mipana, mpira mdogo, magari machache, kitu kingine, chakula kitamu, muhindi mbichi, mtoto mbaya, wanafunzi wengi, mwizi mwovu, nguo fupi.

EXERCISE 3

Put the following phrases in the plural:
 * Gari jipya, nguo nyekundu, kiti kidogo, uso mwema, mwanamke mkali, mto mpana, mti mrefu, mtu mzima, mvulana mvivu, mnyama mnono, mji mkubwa, mgonjwa mwingine, mlango mkuu, mshahara mdogo, mkate mwingi, moyo mzito, msitu mweusi, mkono mchafu, gari bovu, chakula kichache.

Chapter 12 - Invariable Adjectives
Most of the invariable adjectives are borrowed from the Arabic. Like the concordant adjectives, they are always placed after the noun. A few of them can be both noun and adjective. For example: maskini (poor, a poor) and tajiri (ma-) (rich, a rich person).

THE COMPARATIVE OF SUPERIORITY
To translate "more than" in Swahili we use the expression KULIKO (where there is), or alternatively KUZIDI (to increase), KUPITA (to overtake), or KUSHINDA (to defeat). All these different expressions are equivalent and interchangeable.

EXAMPLES:

SAYING:

Damu nzito kuliko maji

EXERCISES
EXERCISE 1

Translate into Swahili:
 * A poor child, rich travellers, an expensive car, a useless piece of work, an important job, an open door, forbidden games, a clever pupil, an official journey, a clean river, a weak patient, a ready luggage, an easy job, important matters, forbidden food, cheap bread, plenty of food, better food, complete matters, clean clothes.

EXERCISE 2

Translate into English:
 * Shwari, sawa, laini, kweli, haramu, halali, bora, bure, tayari, tajiri, maskini, ghali, rahisi, imara, hafifu, rasmi, tele, haba, wazi, muhimu, ovyo, manjano, kijani, hai, hodari.

EXERCISE 3

Translate into English:
 * 1. Mizigo yako (ni) tayari.
 * 2. Mwalimu anaanza safari rasmi.
 * 3. Kipofu mzee anaomba mkate.
 * 4. Yeye ni maskini. Hawezi kulipa.
 * 5. Anavaa nguo safi.
 * 6. Usifanye kazi bure!
 * 7. Hamisi ni mwanafunzi hodari.
 * 8. Chakula (ni) tayari. Karibu chakula!
 * 9. Kila siku (ni) sawa.
 * 10. Chakula ni haba. Hakitoshi.
 * 11. Tunahitaji mikate mengine.
 * 12. Amina ni msichana mwema kuliko Fatuma.
 * 13. Nairobi ni mji mkubwa kupita Dar es Salaam.
 * 14. Mkate wako ni bora kuliko wangu.
 * 15. Habari za kazi? - Shwari!

Chapter 13 - The JI-/MA- Gender
The JI-/MA- gender (Classes 5 - 6) includes nouns of persons, nouns of manufactured objects, of parts of the human body, of fruits and natural products, nouns of built or natural places, abstract concepts, etc. They are often loanwords, particularly of Arabic origin.

This gender is very particular, for although it is named "JI-/MA-", only a very small number of nouns take the prefix JI- in the singular. The majority of the nouns of class 5 (singular) do not have a prefix, while some other nouns only exist in class 6 (plural).

OTHER NOUNS GROUPED BY TOPICS
1. MANUFACTURED OBJECTS:

2. FRUITS, NATURAL PRODUCTS:

3. NATURAL OR BUILT PLACES:

4. NOUNS OF PEOPLE:

5. PARTS OF THE HUMAN BODY:

6. ABSTRACT OR CONCRETE CONCEPTS:

THE AUGMENTATIVE PREFIX JI-
The prefix JI- can possess an augmentative value. In that case, we replace the normal noun class prefix with the prefixJI- (or the prefix Ø- in some cases). In the plural, the prefix MA- is placed in front of the augmentative prefix.

CLASS AGREEMENTS
1. Adjective: The adjective takes prefixes of class agreements identical to those of the noun: (See Chapter 11 - Concordant Adjectives.)

1. Possessive Adjectives:

NOTE:

The adjective that qualifies a class 5 - 6 noun of person, must take class 1 - 2 agreements.

VOCABULARY
To translate "in, on, at", use the suffix "-NI"

EXERCISES
EXERCISE 1

Translate into Swahili:
 * a. Corn, oil, water, mangoes, lemons, eggs, oranges, pawpaws, milk, a can, a coarse bag, a hoe, newspapers, an axe, cars, a shop, a market, craftsmen, ministers, clerks.
 * b. I drink water, I eat corn, he takes a pawpaw, he sells oil, buy oranges ! Take blankets ! Don't forget the newspaper ! Drink your milk ! They work on the farm, they play on the veranda, she eats in the kitchen, mind the large snake ! Cook some eggs ! Cut the pineapple ! Tell your name !

EXERCISE 2

Translate into English:
 * a. Rais, shangazi, makarani, magoti, tumbo, masikio, maneno, mawazo, sokoni, shambani, porini, majani, blanketi, dirisha, jembe, jicho, jino, jina, jikoni, makosa.
 * b. Waziri mkuu, maziwa mazuri, godoro jipya, blanketi manjano, daraja refu, jua kali, mazungumzo marefu, mapapai madogo, limau bovu, mayai machache, mahindi tele, matusi ovyo, bibi mkali, fundi hodari, baraza kubwa, shauri lako, jina langu, mawazo yangu, joka mrefu, machungwa mabichi.

EXERCISE 3

Translate into English:
 * 1. Nenda dukani ununue maziwa!
 * 2. Mama anakwenda jikoni kupika chakula.
 * 3. Watoto wapenda kula maembe mabichi.
 * 4. Maseremala wanafanya kazi barazani.
 * 5. Leo sokoni, machungwa ni ghali kuliko maembe.
 * 6. Ninahitaji blanketi safi na godoro jipya.
 * 7. Mama wanauza mayai na mafuta sokoni.
 * 8. "Bibi Majivu" afanya kazi chafu tele.
 * 9. Mkunyweni maji safi tu, msinywe maji machafu!
 * 10. Naogopa joka kali porini!

Chapter 14 - The Past Perfect Tense
We use the PAST PERFECT to speak of specific actions that have already taken place (for example: I have eaten, I have understood, I have been, etc.), or to describe a state (for example: he is sitting, he is dead, he is sleeping, etc.). It is usually translated as a Present Perfect in English.

THE PAST PERFECT - AFFIRMATIVE FORM
The marker of the Past Perfect is the infix -ME- placed between the subject prefix and the verbal root (radical):

SUBJECT PREFIX + ME + VERB RADICAL

MODEL 1: KUFANYA (to do)

NOTE:

The verbs of Arabic origin behave exactly like the verbs of Bantu origin. However, the monosyllabic verbs keep the KU- of the infinitive.

MODEL 2: KWENDA (to go)

REINFORCEMENT:

To insist on the fact that the action already took place, we can insert the verbal root sha (from the verb kwisha [to finish]) between the tense marker of the past perfect and the verb radical.

EXAMPLES:

THE PAST PERFECT - NEGATIVE FORM
The negative form of the Past Perfect describes a situation which has not yet taken place, or a state which has not been carried out yet. The marker of the Present Perfect negative is the infix -JA- placed between the negative subject prefix and the verbal root.

NEGATIVE SUBJECT PREFIX + JA + VERB RADICAL

MODEL 1: KUFANYA (to do)

NOTE:

Contrary to what occurs in the Past Perfect affirmative, the monosyllabic verbs lose the KU- of the infinitive in the negative form.

MODEL 2: KWENDA (to go)

REINFORCEMENT:

To insist on the fact that the action has not taken place yet, we can use the word bado, which will be placed before or after the verb in the Past Perfect negative.

EXAMPLES:

EXERCISES
EXERCISE 1

Translate into Swahili:
 * a. I am cured, he is sitting, he has gone, they have come, you are accustomed, he is lost, she has arrived, you have come back, we have stayed, I am tired, you have fallen, she has cleaned, we have finished, he is dead, he has stopped, you have said, it's finished (Cl 9), he has damaged, you are mistaken, we are late.
 * b. He hasn't arrived yet, I haven't seen yet, he hasn't gone yet, I'm not cured yet, they are not yet ripe (Cl 6), I am not accustomed yet, she hasn't swept yet, they haven't stollen yet, you haven't done yet, you haven't been yet.

EXERCISE 2

Translate into English:
 * 1. Watoto wameamka asubuhi.
 * 2. Dudu ameingia jikoni.
 * 3. Sijanunua mkate leo.
 * 4. Mwizi ameiba mahindi shambani usiku.
 * 5. Bado sijapata mshahara wangu.
 * 6. Mgonjwa amelala, ajapona bado.
 * 7. Wazazi wangu wameketi barazani.
 * 8. Chakula tayari? Wageni hawajala!
 * 9. Mama amekwisha pika chakula asubuhi.
 * 10. Sijui kiswahili sana. Sijaenda Tanzania bado.
 * 11. Mmekwenda Zanzibar? - Ndiyo!
 * 12. Lakini hatujapanda mlima wa Kilimanjaro.

Chapter 15 - The Demonstratives
There is no distinction between demonstrative adjectives and demonstrative pronouns in Swahili. The demonstrative must agree with the noun to which it refers, but it does not take the same prefixes as the noun. Its prefixes (or suffixes) of agreement are of pronominal type.

THREE CATEGORIES OF DEMONSTRATIVES
There are three kinds of demonstratives in Swahili:

1. THE DEMONSTRATIVE OF PROXIMITY:

This corresponds to this/these for the demonstrative adjectives, and to this one/these ones for the demonstrative pronouns.

FORMATION:

It starts with H- and ends in the subject prefix corresponding to the class of the noun with which it agrees. The intermediate vowel is identical to the final vowel.

EXAMPLES:

2.THE DEMONSTRATIVE OF DISTANCE:

This corresponds to that/those for the demonstrative adjectives, or to that one/those ones for the demonstrative pronouns.

FORMATION:

It starts with the subject prefix corresponding to the class of the noun with which it agrees, and ends in -LE.

EXAMPLES:

3. THE DEMONSTRATIVE OF REFERENCE:

This is used to designate the person or the thing which has already been spoken about. It can be translated by using this/that or by this one/that one.

FORMATION:

It borrows its first syllable from the demonstrative of proximity, and ends in the suffix "-O" of reference corresponding to the class of the noun with which it agrees. (See Chapter 31.)

EXAMPLES:

TABLE OF DEMONSTRATIVE ADJECTIVES/PRONOUNS:

PLACE OF THE DEMONSTRATIVE IN THE SENTENCE
a. The Demonstrative of proximity is usually placed at the end of the nominal group, after the noun and its adjectives. But it can also be placed in the immediate vicinity of the noun.

EXAMPLES:

b. The Demonstrative of distance is placed before or after the noun. When there is a possessive adjective, the demonstrative is placed in front of the noun.

EXAMPLES:

c. The Demonstrative of reference is placed close to the noun, preferably in front. When there is a possessive adjective, the demonstrative must be placed after it.

EXAMPLES:

EXERCISES
EXERCISE 1

Translate into Swahili:
 * a. [Demonstrative of proximity] This child, these youths, this young girl, this teacher, this idiot, these workers, this mountain, this town, that luggage, this bag, these trees, this ditch, this door, this flower, these palms, these bricks, this lake, these guavas, these oranges, these pineapples, this corn, these clothes, these chairs, this food, this face.
 * b. [Demonstrative of distance] Those travellers, that drunkard, that man, that uncle, those masais, that grand-mother, that driver, those friends, that clerk, those banana trees, those coconut trees, that river, that year, those sugar canes, those cities, that rice, that window, those cars, that market, those mangoes, that coarse sack, that mattress, those eggs, those fields, those chairs.
 * c. [Demonstrative of reference] This little boy, this rich white man, this old teacher, these intelligent children, this lazy pupil, this important city, this black bag, these large baobab trees, These dirty hands of yours, these unpleasant children of theirs, this beautiful car of yours. Take this little chair! Look at this large poisonous snake! Take these beautiful flowers! Buy this charcoal! Do not take our palms here!

EXERCISE 2

Translate into English:
 * Mlango huu, kiti hiki, mtoto huyu, bawa hili, wanaume hawa, matuta haya, nguo hizi, mama huyu, gari lile, mahindi yale, michungwa ile, mfano ule, miavuli ile, nguo ile, ziwa lilo, matofali yayo, tawi lilo, mawingu yale, mwizi huyo, wadudu hao, mwanadamu huyu, nguo hizo, uso huo, viti hivi, chakula hiki.

EXERCISE 3

Translate into English:
 * 1. Kamata mwizi huyu!
 * 2. Nunua ule mkate mzuri!
 * 3. Uza lile gari lako bovu!
 * 4. Lete mzigo mzito huu!
 * 5. Kula mapera haya mazuri!
 * 6. Wanafunzi hodari hawa wamefaulu mtihani.
 * 7. Duka lile dogo lauza maziwa safi.
 * 8. Usiseme yale maneno ovyo!
 * 9. Bwana amenunua gari lile jipya.
 * 10. Angalia lile joka kubwa!

Chapter 16 - The KI-/VI- Gender
The KI-/VI- gender (Classes 7 - 8) is a gender of things, just like the M-/WA- gender is a gender of people. However, it is not as exclusive, for beside manufactured objects, it also includes nouns of people, parts of the human body, natural products, nouns of places that are built or natural, abstract or concrete concepts, etc.

It is in class 7 (in the singular only) that the names of languages are to be found, and the prefix KI- is also used as a diminutive.

There are, however, some exceptions to his rule: Kiatu (shoe), Kioo (mirror), etc.

NOUNS GROUPED BY TOPICS
1. MANUFACTURED OBJECTS:

2. NATURAL PRODUCTS, FOOD:

3. NATURAL OR BUILT PLACES:

4. NOUNS OF PEOPLE:

5. NOUNS OF ANIMALS:

6. PARTS OF THE HUMAN BODY:

7. ABSTRACT OR CONCRETE CONCEPTS:

8. NAMES OF LANGUAGES (Class 7 only):

THE DIMINUTIVE PREFIX KI-
The prefix KI- can have a diminutive value. To that effect the ordinary class prefix of the noun is replaced by the prefixKI-. In the plural, we simply replace KI- by VI-.

CLASS AGREEMENTS
1.Adjective: The adjective takes prefixes of class agreement that are identical to those of the noun: (See Chapter 11.)

1.Possessive adjectives:

NOTE:

The adjective that qualifies a class 7 - 8 noun of person, must take class 1 - 2 agreements.

EXERCISES
EXERCISE 1

Translate into Swahili:
 * a. A spoon, a cup, a saucer, a knife, a village, a well, a hut, an hippopotamus, a rhinoceros, a head, a certificate, French, Swahili, English, Arabic, a basket, a pill, a pipe, a hill, food.
 * b. Onions, matches, shoes, fabrics, containers, books, things, young people, day laborers, handicapped people, butterflies, potatoes, rooms, beds, baskets, mirrors, islands, huts, deaf persons, fingers.
 * c. This ustensil, these spoons, this chair, this mirror, these beautiful things, this large book, this sharp knife, this beautiful cup, these many hyppopotamuses, this new pipe, this good food, these big potatoes, these intelligent young people, those lazy day laborers, this wild rhinoceros.

EXERCISE 2

Translate into English and give the plural, whenever possible:
 * Kijiko, kikombe, kiswahili, kiboko, kikapu, kiatu, kiarabu, kioo, choo, cheti, chuma, kifarantsa, kipande, kitabu, kitanda, kifua, kiingereza, kisiwa, kisima, cheo.

EXERCISE 3

Translate into English:


 * 1. Watoto hawa wanakula chakula kizuri hiki.
 * 2. Soma kitabu kile kizuri!
 * 3. Kiswahili chako ni kizuri sana.
 * 4. Mama amenunua kikapu kipya sokoni.
 * 5. Usitupe viazi vidogo vile!
 * 6. Kisu hiki ni kikali sana.
 * 7. Usikate kidole chako na kisu hiki!
 * 8. Tunapenda hicho kijiji chetu.
 * 9. Angalia kifaru yule mkubwa!
 * 10. Kitoto hajala chakula chake bado.

Chapter 17 - The Verb KUWA (to Be)
The verb KUWA (= TO BE) is by far the most disconcerting verb in Swahili: it is a polymorphic verb that possesses no less than 3 different principal radicals: -WA-, -Ø- and -LI-.

First of all, it is advisable to distinguish clearly the two distinct uses of the verb "to be" in Swahili, which are often the same in English:

1. "To be" descriptive: this verb allots a statute or a quality to somebody or something: I am English, he is rich, dad is a teacher, I'm not sick, etc.

2. "To be" locative: this verb signifies the presence or the absence of somebody or something in a place: I am in Tanzania, he is at home, she is not there, Mafia is in the south, etc.

"TO BE" DESCRIPTIVE
A. PRESENT:

There are two conjugations of the verb "to be" in the present tense: an old one, which is no longer used in the negative form, but still survives in the affirmative form in some set phrases, and a modern one which has the merit of simplicity, since it possesses only two forms: NI in the affirmative, and SI in the negative, for all persons and all nominal agreements.

AFFIRMATIVE FORM

NEGATIVE FORM

EXAMPLES:

NOTE:

NI is often omitted and merely implied, particularly when there is a demonstrative or a possessive in the sentence.

EXAMPLES:

B. PAST:

C. FUTURE:

D. SUBJUNCTIVE/IMPERATIVE:

EXAMPLES:

E. OTHER TENSES:

PAST PERFECT:
 * Nimekuwa (I have become)
 * Amekuwa (he/she has become)

PAST PERFECT NEGATIVE:
 * Sijawa (I was not yet)
 * Hajawa (he/she was not yet)

-KI- TENSE:
 * Nikiwa (if I were)
 * Akiwa (if he/she were)

PRESENT CONDITIONAL:
 * Ningekuwa (I would be)
 * Angekuwa (he/she would be)

PAST CONDITIONAL:
 * Ningalikuwa (I would have been)
 * Angalikuwa (he / she would have been)

"TO BE" LOCATIVE
When "To be" means "to be somewhere", a locative suffix is added to the conjugation of the verb KUWA.

There are three locative suffixes that correspond to three "areas" that can be delineated on the following pattern:

What is "HERE" or "THERE", that is a precise, definite place. That translates in the suffix -PO (Class 16).

What is "HERE ABOUT" or "OVER THERE", that is a more or less indefinite place. That translates in the suffix -KO (Class 17).

What is "IN" or "INSIDE". That translates in the suffix -MO (Class 18).

Thus, as an example, Yupo means: he/she is here/there, Yuko = he/she is here about/over there, and Yumo = he/she is in.

The negative conjugation is not more difficult: Hayupo means: he/she is not here/there, Hayuko = he/she is not here about/over there Hayumo = he/she is not in/inside.

Let us now see the conjugation of the principal tenses of the locative verb KUWA:

A. PRESENT:

In the affirmative, the appropriate locative suffix is simply added to the "old" conjugation of the verb KUWA. In the negative, the negative pre-prefix is added in front of the subject. (SI replaces NI in the first person singular).

Again taking the above model, we just have to replace the suffix -PO by -KO or -MO to say: "I am here about", "I am inside", etc.

Just like the descriptive verb KUWA, the locative verb KUWA accepts the subject prefixes of all nominal classes:

EXAMPLES:

B. PAST:

Taking again the above model, we just have to replace the suffix -PO by -KO or -MO to say : "I was here about", "I was inside", etc.

C. FUTURE:

Again taking the above model, we just have to replace the suffix -PO by -KO or -MO to say: "I'll be here about", "I'll be inside", etc.

E. OTHER TENSES:

KUWA locative can be conjugated in the same way in all tenses, provided the suitable suffix -PO, -KO or -MO is added at the end of the verb.

PROVERB:

Dawa ya moto ni moto

EXERCISES
EXERCISE 1

Translate into Swahili:
 * a. They are students, they are day laborers, this tree is a mango tree, you are a teacher, it's an island, this basket is empty, this book is expensive, we are foreigners, this examination is difficult, this food is delicious, this animal is not dangerous, I am not English, Hamisi is not a pupil, this knife is not sharp, Arabic is not easy, this luggage is not heavy, these pupils are not bright, Fatuma is not nice, these are not good potatoes, they are not Tanzanian.
 * b. Where are the teachers? Where is the cook? Where are the women? Where is the city? Where are the toilets? Where is the knife? Where are the hippopotamuses? Where is the car? Where are the young people? The old man is at the market, the knife is on the chair, mum is in the kitchen, the onions are in the basket, the luggage is at the door, the animals are in the bush, the robber is in the field, the chairs are on the veranda, the guests are not there, mother is not at home, the luggage is not on the chair, the eggs are not in the basket, he is not in the room, the blanket is on the bed, the car is not downtown.

EXERCISE 2

Translate into English:
 * 1. U hali gani? - Mzima.
 * 2. M tayari? - Sisi si tayari / Hatu tayari.
 * 3. Chakula tayari? - Tayari. Karibu chakula!
 * 4. Mkurugenzi wetu ni mtanzania.
 * 5. Huyo mtumishi ni mwongo.
 * 6. Wageni wako wapi?
 * 7. Wapo Zanzibar. Wamefika asubuhi.
 * 8. Bwana hayupo. Amekwenda safari.
 * 9. Hamisi yuko wapi?
 * 10. Yuko dukani. Ananua mkate na maziwa.
 * 11. Vibarua wako mjini?
 * 12. Hapana, wako shambani. Wanafanya matuta.
 * 13. Mama hayupo? - Nipo!
 * 14. Vijiko na vyombo vimo jikoni.
 * 15. Mlima wa Kilimanjaro haumo Kenya.
 * 16. Umo Tanzania.

Chapter 18 - The Verb KUWA NA = to Have
For want of a genuine verb "to have" in Swahili, we use the expression KUWA NA, which litteraly means "to be with".

In the absence of a verb radical, the particle "NA" is directly coupled to the subject prefix: this is the case in the Present Definite. It will remain separated from the verb in the other tenses and forms, including the infinitive.

CONJUGATION OF THE VERB "KUWA NA"
A. PRESENT:

In the affirmative form, the affirmative subject prefixes are directly followed by the particle "NA", in the absence of any verb radical. (We speak of a Ø radical). The same applies to the negative form, where the negative subject prefixes are directly followed by the particle "NA".

EXAMPLES:

B. PAST:

C. FUTURE:

E. OTHER TENSES:

PAST PERFECT:
 * Nimekuwa na (I have had)
 * Amekuwa na (he/she has had)

PAST PERFECT NEGATIVE:
 * Sijawa na (I haven't had yet)
 * Hajawa na (he/she hasn't had yet)

SUBJUNCTIVE:
 * Niwe na (that I have)
 * Awe na (that he/she have)

-KI- TENSE:
 * Nikiwa na (if I have)
 * Akiwa na (if he/she has)

PRESENT CONDITIONAL:
 * Ningekuwa na (I would have)
 * Angekuwa na (he/she would have)

PAST CONDITIONAL:
 * Ningalikuwa na (I would have had)
 * Angalikuwa na (he/she would have had)

TO TRANSLATE "THERE IS", "THERE ISN'T"
Unlike in English, we use in Swahili the verb "to have" (KUWA NA) to translate the concept of "THERE IS". The ordinary nominal subject prefixes are simply replaced by a series of three locative subject prefixes. The distinction between singular and plural (there is/there are) is not marked in Swahili:

EXAMPLES:

EXERCISES
EXERCISE 1

Translate into Swahili:
 * a. You have, she has, they have, we have, I have, you have (plur), he has, you haven't, he hasn't, they haven't, we haven't, I haven't, you haven't (plur), there is (here), there isn't (here), there is (inside), there isn't (inside), there is (over there), there isn't (over there).
 * b. Have you a book? The child has a big head. This young man has a knife. There is a book. We have many animals. The woman has many children. These children have a good teacher. Do you have pawpaws? Juma has clean shoes. I have a new cup. This village has many villagers. This animal has many insects. You have dirty hands. This mountain has many trees. This bed has a clean sheet. We don't have children. Do you have eggs? The driver has no car. The car has no driver. The farmer has a large field.

EXERCISE 2

Translate into English:
 * 1. Mzungu ana mizigo mizito.
 * 2. Sina (jambo) la kusema.
 * 3. Mkate upo? - Hamna.
 * 4. Miembe ile ina maembe mengi.
 * 5. Mtoto maskini huyu hana chahula kila siku.
 * 6. Mna wenyeji wengi Nairobi.
 * 7. Gari lile lina matatizo mengi.
 * 8. Wanachama wana mkutano leo.
 * 9. Kitanda hiki hakina shuka.
 * 10. Tuna mtihani wa kiswahili leo.

Chapter 19 - Adverbs
REMINDER: An adverb is an invariable word that says how an action proceeds (quickly, slowly, etc.), with which frequency (often, sometimes, never, etc.). It expresses possibility or certainty (maybe, certainly, etc.), or qualifies an adjective (very large, quite small, etc.).

In Swahili, the adverb is placed after the verb, except in some particular cases.

COMMON ADVERBS
ADVERBS FORMED ON THE PREFIXES KI- and VI-

COMPOUND ADVERBS
ADVERBS FORMED WITH KWA

EXERCISES
EXERCISE 1

Translate into Swahili:
 * a. Suddenly, together, maybe, only, more, too much, above all, truly, quickly, in vain, again, very, not at all, alone, one by one, fortunately, voluntarily, in short, then, this way.
 * b. He speaks like an idiot. He leaves suddenly. We work daily. They hit like savages. This luggage is very heavy. This one is too heavy. The rhinoceros is coming again. Hurry up! The master is maybe coming back today. The little child is eating slowly. This pupil studies regularly. I have one child only. I am completely tired. The guests are a little late. Here are the news in brief.

EXERCISE 2

Translate into English:
 * Pole pole, vile vile, mbali mbali, sawa sawa, hivyo, vivyo, pengine, labda, hakika, kamwe, kwa kweli, bure, ovyo, pamoja, peke yake, hasa, kizungu, kinyama, kidogo, kwa kawaida.

EXERCISE 3

Translate into English:
 * 1. Je, chakula tayari? - Bado kidogo, bwana.
 * 2. Usiseme upesi, sema pole pole tu.
 * 3. Hasemi kitu, hata kidogo.
 * 4. Kwa bahati mzuri, nimeona kifaru mmoja porini.
 * 5. Kwa kawaida, mpishi wetu anachelewa kazini.
 * 6. Fagia chumba hiki, na kile vile vile.
 * 7. Usinfunge mlango ghafula, tafadhali.
 * 8. Mtoto ametupa jiwe lile kwa kusudi.
 * 9. Watoto wanasimama kiaskari.
 * 10. Gari lile ni ghali mno.
 * 11. Kwa kweli, chandarua hiki kinafaa kabisa.
 * 12. Nimepotea kitana changu tena.

Chapter 20 - The N- Gender
The N- gender (Classes 9 - 10) is one of the broadest genders: it comprises nouns of people, animals, plants, food, objects used in everyday life, natural elements, abstract nouns, etc.. Many nouns borrowed from English are absorbed in the N- gender.

This gender is very particular in that it contains a large number of nouns which do not start with the prefix N- (we speak of a Ø- prefix). Yet it's the only gender that comprises nouns starting with N-.

For phonetic reasons the prefix N- changes into M- in front of B, P and V.

However the main characteristic of this class is that the noun is identical in the singular and the plural.

Cl 9 Singular : prefix N- NGUO = a / the cloth prefix Ø- KAZI = a / the work Cl 10 Plural : prefix N- NGUO = clothes / the clothes prefix Ø- KAZI = works / the works

In the absence of any distinctive prefixes of class, it is indeed the class agreements inside the sentence (verbal, demonstrative or possessive prefixes, etc..) that make it possible to distinguish between singular and plural. Thus : Singular Plural NGUO ILE = that cloth NGUO ZILE = those clothes NGUO YANGU = my cloth NGUO ZANGU = my clothes

NOUNS OF THE N- GENDER GROUPED BY TOPICS
1. PEOPLE:

2. MANUFACTURED OBJECTS:

3. NATURE:

4. ABSTRACT CONCEPTS:

5. ANIMALS:

6. FOOD, FRUITS, VEGETABLES:

CLASS AGREEMENTS
1. Adjective: The adjective takes the prefix N- and follows the same rules as the noun:
 * It takes N- in front of a radical that starts with D, G or Z.
 * It takes M- in front of a radical that starts with B, P or V.
 * It takes NY- in front of a radical that starts with a vowel.
 * It does not take any prefix in all other cases. (See Chapter 11 - Concordant Adjectives.)

2.Possessive adjectives:

NOTE:

When the noun it refers to is a person, the possessive adjective takes agreements of the N- gender, instead of the usual M-/WA- gender agreements, which makes it possible to distinguish between the singular and the plural.

EXAMPLES:

EXERCISES
EXERCISE 1

Translate into Swahili:
 * a. Salt, pepper, a banana, a coconut, a dog, a cat, a fish, a goat, a danger, a loss, sadness, the value, ice, cold, rain, a way, a bottle, a drug, soap, a plate.
 * b. My grandmother, my grandfather, my friend, my friends, this sister-in-law, these sisters-in-law, my trousers, my clothes, my pen, this large lion, this little cat, this fierce dog, my tea, your coffee, a great sadness, a great danger, bad luck, delicious bananas, rotten coconuts, a long way.

EXERCISE 2

Translate into English:
 * a. Kahawa, chai, siagi, sukari, thamani, mbuzi, mbwa, mbu, nguvu, mvua, nuru, hewa, ardhi, bahari, mboga, nyama, karatasi, ngoma, sahani, ndugu, rafiki, askari, hasara, ruhusa, ndege.
 * b. Rafiki zako, mama yangu, dada yake, kaka yetu, nyanya yako, nguo zangu, suruali yake, chupa zetu, barua yangu, kalamu yako, sahani zake, ruhusa yako, mbwa yangu, kuku zao, furaha yake, shida zetu, ndizi zao, nazi zangu, paka yako, hasara yenu.

EXERCISE 3

Translate into English:
 * 1. Mpishi amepika chai na kahawa.
 * 2. Wanafunzi wana karatasi na kalamu.
 * 3. Unataka nyama au samaki?
 * 4. Mnazi huu una nazi nyingi.
 * 5. Gari lako ni hatari kubwa njiani.
 * 6. Mtoto anakula mkate na chai asubuhi.
 * 7. Kuna nyama leo? - Hakuna.
 * 8. Nimepotea paka yangu mdogo.
 * 9. Pole sana kwa hasara yako.
 * 10. Mimi mgonjwa sana. Sina nguvu hata kidogo.
 * 11. Leo tunakula kuku na supu na mboga mbali mbali.
 * 12. Chai hiyo baridi mno. Tia moto tena!

Chapter 21 - Interrogative Words
When asking a question in Swahili, we do not use any auxiliary verb, or invert the position of the subject and the auxiliary, as is often practiced in English. Since the subject prefix remains attached to the verb root, it is indeed the intonation, and possibly the presence of an interrogative word in the sentence that signal it is a question.

The interrogative word is usually located before or after the verb.

PRINCIPAL INTERROGATIVE WORDS:

1. NANI? (Who?)

2. NINI? (What?)

3. GANI? (What? / What sort? / What kind? / Which?)

4. WAPI? (Where?)

5. -NGAPI? (How much? / How many?)

-ngapi? works like an adjective. It is placed after the name and agrees in class with it.

EXAMPLES:

6. LINI? (When?)

7. JE? or -JE? affixed to the verb (What? / How?)

8. -PI? (Which one? / Which ones?) -pi? works like a pronoun. It can be used by itself or after a noun with which it agrees, taking pronominal prefixes of agreement.

EXAMPLES:

9. KWA NINI? (Why?)

10. KWA SABABU GANI? (For what reason?)

EXERCISES
EXERCISE 1

Translate into Swahili:
 * 1. Who is that man?
 * 2. Whose are these clothes?
 * 3. Who threw this stone?
 * 4. What do you sell?
 * 5. How much do you sell these oranges?
 * 6. What kind of animal is it?
 * 7. What kind of fruit is it?
 * 8. What wages do you want?
 * 9. How many day laborers do you need?
 * 10. How many luggages are there at home?
 * 11. What's your name?
 * 12. What sort of meat is there at the market?
 * 13. How many fruit have you bought?
 * 14. Where do these vegetables come from?
 * 15. How many eggs should I buy?

EXERCISE 2

Translate into English:
 * 1. Mwalimu yuko wapi? - Yuko nyumbani.
 * 2. Watoto wako wapi? - Wako shuleni.
 * 3. Kuna wanyama gani Serengeti?
 * 4. Unafanya nini shambani?
 * 5. Nitawezaje kubeba mzigo huu?
 * 6. Wamefika Nairobi lini?
 * 7. Kisu changu kipya kiko wapi?
 * 8. Kwa nini umepika kuku na mboga tena?
 * 9. Je, umesoma kitabu hiki?
 * 10. Jina lako nani? - Jina langu Idi Kibogoyo.
 * 11. Mkutano unaanza saa ngapi?
 * 12. Watoto wangapi wamekosa kuja shuleni leo?
 * 13. Kwa nini unachelewa kazini kila siku?
 * 14. Unasemaje? - Sina la kusema.
 * 15. Chai iko wapi? - Iko mezani.

NUMBERS FROM 1 TO 20
Numbers in Swahili behave like adjectives, and like all adjectives, they are placed after the noun, but before the demonstrative. One characteristic of the numbers is that some of them are invariable while others are concordant. Thus:
 * Numbers 6, 7, 9, 10, 20 are invariable and do not take class prefixes.
 * Numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 agree with the noun and take a class prefix.

Naturally, number 1 (-moja) takes only class agreements in the singular, whereas numbers 2 (-wili), 3 (-tatu), 4 (-nne), 5 (-tano) and 8 (-nane) take only plural agreements.

In the case of a composite number (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, etc.) only the concordant part of the number takes a prefix of class.

AGREEMENTS OF THE NUMBERS: 2, 3, 4, 5, 8

EXAMPLES:

TENS
When a ten is followed by a unit, the unit is introduced by the word NA (and).

EXAMPLES:

HUNDREDS
When a hundred is followed by tens and units, we use the word NA (= and), but only once, between the last two numbers.

EXAMPLES:

THOUSANDS
In numbers containing thousands, the word NA introduces the tens or the units, but it is never used between the thousands and the hundreds.

EXAMPLES:

TENS OF THOUSANDS
When handling numbers with tens of thousands, some care must be taken to avoid confusions. For example:
 * Number 15,000 should read: Elfu kumi na tano, which can also be interpreted as 1015!

Thus, to avoid any risk of confusion, the word elfu will be placed AFTER the number that quantifies it, and the number will read: 15,000 (Kumi na tano elfu).

This rule must be observed every time the tens of thousands are not followed by any other number.

EXAMPLES:

On the other hand, when the tens of thousands are followed by hundreds, tens, or units, there is no such risk of confusion, and the words retain their normal order.

EXAMPLES:

NOTE:

There is a Swahili word to designate the hundreds of thousands: LAKI (lakh, lac). Thus: Laki mbili (200,000) Laki sita (600,000) etc.

Million is MILIONI.

DECIMALS
The figure "zero" is SIFURI.

The word "point" is NUKTA or POINTI.

Decimal numbers are read in Swahili as in English, i.e. by separating each figure after the point.

EXAMPLES:

EXERCISES
EXERCISE 1

Write these numbers in letters in Swahili:
 * 0; 9; 22; 31; 89; 93; 157; 235; 695; 762; 1049; 2203; 7,000; 10,056; 10,914; 14,000; 14,005; 134,000; 300,000; 752,326

EXERCISE 2

Write these numbers in figures:
 * Kumi na tano; kumi na tisa; ishirini na saba; thelathini na moja; arobaini na nne; hamsini na nane; sabini na tatu; themanini na tano; mia mbili; mia nne; mia saba; mia tatu kumi na sita; elfu tano; elfu kumi; elfu kumi na mbili mia tano sabini na nne; kumi na tano elfu; arobaini na mbili elfu; laki moja; laki saba; milioni mbili.

EXERCICE 3

Translate into Swahili, writing the numbers in letters:
 * 12 cups; 30 trees; 11 chairs; 24 years; 3 children; 2 dogs; 3 cats; 10 cows; 115 islands; 21 people; 4 fruits; 8 oranges; 4 spoons; 12 houses; 3 young people; 14 lessons; 18 animals; 4 bananas; 225 pupils; 22 teachers.

Chapter 23 - Time
Being located close to the equator, Tanzania and Kenya have few variations during the year regarding the hours of sunrise and sunset. The sun rises around six o'clock in the morning and sets around six o'clock in the evening.

Therefore 7 o'clock in the morning is the first hour of the day, and seven o'clock in the evening is the first hour of the night: We may consider that there is a six hour shift between Western time and "Swahili" time.

However, while time is read and even written according to the Swahili system, the clocks are always set Western fashion, so one always has to add or substract mentally 6 hours, to read time correctly.

THE HOUR
In Swahili, the word SAA (hour) precedes the figure. Thus:

EXPRESSION:

Sasa ni saa saba kamili = It is now one o'clock sharp   (now is seven o'clock completely)

Reading the time over a 24 hour period is not common in Swahili. Therefore, to distinguish between the hours of the night and the hours of the day, we must use different expressions marking the moment of the day:

"YA ASUBUHI" (in the morning) "YA MCHANA" (in the afternoon) "YA JIONI" (in the evening) "YA USIKU" (at night)

EXAMPLES:

SOME MINUTES PAST
The word "minute" is DAKIKA. One will mention the additional minutes while counting as follows:

The word for "quarter" is ROBO.

The word for "half" is NUSU.

Note that to add minutes and a quarter, we use the word NA (and), while to add a half we use the word U (from the Arabic "WA" and).

SOME MINUTES TO
Past the half, we count the missing minutes to reach the following hour. We use the expressions KASORO DAKIKA ... (... minutes to) and KASOROBO (quarter to).

EXAMPLES:

DIFFERENT PERIODS OF THE DAY AND OF THE NIGHT
Every 24 hour period can be divided as follows:

PRAYER TIMES
In strongly Islamic places such as Zanzibar and Lamu (an island north of kenya), the five Muslim prayers give its rythm to the day and constitute for the local population temporal reference points, almost like "hours":

EXERCISES
EXERCISE 1

Translate into Swahili:
 * 7 h 15, 6 h 30 in the evening, 2 h 10, noon, half past three, what time have you got ? Twenty-five to four, 17 h, five past one, nine o'clock, eight o'clock at night, three o'clock in the morning, sunset, evening, dawn.

EXERCISE 2

Translate into English:
 * Alfajiri, alasiri, magharibi, asubuhi, mchana, usiku, jioni, saa tisa u nusu, saa tatu na dakika kumi, saa sita kasoro dakika tano, saa kumi na mbili ya usiku, saa saba kasorobo, saa tisa, saa tano na dakika kumi na mbili, saa saba kamili.

DAYS OF THE WEEK
The names of the days of the week in Swahili are a curious mixture of two languages, Arabic and Bantu. Thus, the five first days of the week have Bantu names, from Jumamosi (Saturday), i.e. first day of the week, until Jumatano(Wednesday), i.e. fifth day of the week. The system would be perfect if one went on with "Jumasita" and "Jumasaba", except that instead of those, Swahili borrowed its two last names from the Arabic: Alhamisi (Thursday), i.e. "five" in Arabic (making two "fifth" days in the week) and Ijumaa (Friday) which means the assembly [of faithful] (for the Friday prayer at the mosque).

THE GREGORIAN CALENDAR
There are two ways for naming the months in Swahili: either by giving them an ordinal number: first month, second month, etc... or by giving them their English names, with an adapted spelling.

Mwezi wa ...

HOW TO READ A DATE
1. Today's date:

Jumatatu 5 Oktoba 2009

2. Day:

We use the word Tarehe (= date) followed by the ordinal number of the day in the month.

EXAMPLES:

3. Day and Month:

We can use the word Tarehe followed by the number of the day and the number of the month, or simply use the English name of the month followed by the ordinal number of the day.

EXAMPLES:

4. Day, Month and Year:

EXAMPLES:

Tarehe ishirini na sita, mwezi wa nne / mwezi wa Aprili, mwaka wa elfu mbili na mbili 26th April 2002

THE MUSLIM CALENDAR
Although the Gregorian calendar is used by a majority, the Muslim calendar is still in use for all that relates to religious life and the Muslim feasts. In Swahili, the year is based on Ramadan, the month of fasting, and the following months are counted Mfunguo mosi, Mfunguo pili, Mfunguo tatu, ... (first opening of the fast, second opening, third opening, etc...). Only the two months that precede Ramadan have proper Arabic names known by all.

It is impossible to establish a strict correspondance between the months of the Gregorian calendar and those of the Muslim one since this last follows a lunar calendar, which produces an incremental shift of 10 days, year after year, between the two calendars.

Here are the names of the months in the Muslim calendar corresponding to the Swahili names (there may exist local variants):

HOLIDAYS IN TANZANIA
Holidays were few and far between during the socialist era, when even New Year's was a work day. Holidays in Tanzania, particularly public holidays, have multiplied as the years have gone by:

EXERCISES
EXERCISE 1

Translate into Swahili:
 * 1. Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, January, June, July, October, November, April, May, Good Friday, Easter, Christmas, Zanzibar Revolution Day, Idd-el-Fitr, Idd-el-Kebir.
 * 2. 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 18th, 31st, 1st January, 20th May, 2nd April, 19th August, 9th December, 12th January 2002, 5thFebruary 1997, 25th December 1999, 7th July 1977, 11th September 2001.

EXERCISE 2

Translate into English:
 * 1. Leo, jana, juzi, juzi juzi, kesho, kesho kutwa, zamani, sasa, mapema, kila siku, sikuzote, mara kwa mara, milele, bado kidogo, hatimaye, kabla, baadaye, karne, pengine, mwisho.
 * 2. Jumamosi, jumanne, alhamisi, ijumaa, mwezi wa kwanza, mwezi wa pili, mwezi wa saba, machi, mei, juni, desemba, agosti, rajabu, shaabani, ramadhani, shawali, Pasaka, Krismasi, Siku ya Wakulima, Sikukuu ndogo.

Chapter 25 - The U- Gender
The U- gender is actually composed of 2 distinct classes of nouns, that jointly share the nominal prefix U- in the singular. This gender has no specific plural. These 2 classes are:
 * Class 11, that contains nouns of concrete objects that make their plural in class 10, and more rarely in class 6.
 * Class 14, that countains abstract singular nouns.