English "say" → Swahili "kusema" – Verb of Speaking (Reporting Speech)
What does "say" mean in Swahili?
English "say" is the verb that reports words: "She said yes," "What did you say?", "People say it will rain." The Swahili verb is -sema (pronounced SEH-mah), and its dictionary form, the infinitive, is kusema, "to say, to speak." It is one of the commonest verbs in the language, and it does the work of both English "say" and "speak": alisema ndiyo, "she said yes"; sema polepole, "speak slowly."
Like every Swahili verb, -sema is a stem that never stands alone except as a command. Everything else is built onto it as prefixes: who is speaking, when, and whether in the negative. So alisema is a-li-sema, "he/she + past + say," and hakusema is ha-ku-sema, "he/she did not say." Learning -sema is therefore also practice in the whole Swahili verb: this lesson uses it in the present, past, perfect, future, the narrative -ka- tense, the subjunctive and the negative.
Two points differ from English:
- "Say" and "tell" are different verbs. -sema is "say": it takes what is said, not the person spoken to. To "tell someone" you use -ambia, with the person as an object prefix inside the verb: nilimwambia, "I told him/her"; aliniambia, "he/she told me." English speakers often say ✗ nilisema yeye; Swahili says nilimwambia. - Reported speech keeps the tense of the original words. Alisema atakuja is literally "he said he will come," where English shifts to "would come." What follows alisema is introduced by kwamba or kuwa ("that"), or by nothing at all.
-sema is a native Bantu verb, not a loan. From it come the nouns msemaji (spokesperson), msemo (a saying, an expression) and usemi (speech, an utterance), and the derived verbs -semwa (be said), -semea (speak for or about someone) and -semeka (be sayable), whose form inasemekana, "it is said," is the standard way to report a rumour.
- kusema = "to say, to speak"; the stem -sema takes all the verb prefixes: ninasema, alisema, umesema, atasema - To "tell (someone)" is a different verb, -ambia, with an object prefix: nilimwambia, "I told him/her" - What is said is introduced by kwamba ("that") and keeps its original tense: alisema atakuja, "he said he would come" - A reported command uses the subjunctive: alisema tusome, "he said we should read" - inasemekana kwamba... = "it is said that..."; kusema kweli = "to tell the truth, honestly"
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sema /ˈse.ma/: two syllables, SEH-mah. The e is pure, as in "bed," never the "ay" of English "say"; the a is as in "father."
kusema /kuˈse.ma/: ku-SE-ma. Swahili stress falls on the second-to-last syllable, so as prefixes are added the stress stays on se: a-li-SE-ma, ni-na-SE-ma, ha-ku-SE-ma. When a suffix is added, the stress moves: i-na-se-me-KA-na.
Related forms:
- alisema /a.liˈse.ma/: a-li-SE-ma, "he/she said" - akasema /a.kaˈse.ma/: a-ka-SE-ma, "and he/she said" - usiseme /u.siˈse.me/: u-si-SE-me, "don't say" - -ambia /aˈmbi.a/: nilimwambia /ni.li.mwaˈmbi.a/, ni-li-mwa-MBI-a, "I told him/her" - inasemekana /i.na.se.meˈka.na/: "it is said" - msemaji /m̩.seˈma.d͡ʒi/: m-se-MA-ji, "spokesperson"
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25.1a Sema say tena again
25.1b Sema /ˈse.ma/ sem-a: say-FV (IMP.SG) tena /ˈte.na/ again
25.2a Alisema she-said ndiyo yes
25.2b Alisema /a.liˈse.ma/ a-li-sem-a: 3SG-PAST-say-FV ndiyo /ˈndi.jo/ yes
25.3a Ninasema I-am-saying kweli truth
25.3b Ninasema /ni.naˈse.ma/ ni-na-sem-a: 1SG-PRES-say-FV kweli /ˈkwe.li/ truth
25.4a Umesema you-have-said nini what
25.4b Umesema /u.meˈse.ma/ u-me-sem-a: 2SG-PERF-say-FV nini /ˈni.ni/ what
25.5a Hakusema he-did-not-say kitu thing
25.5b Hakusema /ha.kuˈse.ma/ ha-ku-sem-a: NEG.3SG-PAST.NEG-say-FV kitu /ˈki.tu/ thing.CL7
25.6a Watu people wanasema they-say kwamba that mvua rain itanyesha it-will-fall kesho tomorrow
25.6b Watu /ˈwa.tu/ person.CL2.PL wanasema /wa.naˈse.ma/ wa-na-sem-a: 3PL-PRES-say-FV kwamba /ˈkwa.mba/ that mvua /m̩ˈvu.a/ rain.CL9 itanyesha /i.taˈɲe.ʃa/ i-ta-nyesh-a: CL9-FUT-fall(rain)-FV kesho /ˈke.ʃo/ tomorrow
25.7a Mwalimu teacher alisema said tusome we-should-read sura chapter ya of tatu three
25.7b Mwalimu /mwaˈli.mu/ teacher.CL1 alisema /a.liˈse.ma/ a-li-sem-a: 3SG-PAST-say-FV tusome /tuˈso.me/ tu-som-e: 1PL-read-SBJV sura /ˈsu.ra/ chapter.CL9 ya /ja/ of.CL9 tatu /ˈta.tu/ three
25.8a Usiseme do-not-say hivyo so mbele in-front ya of watoto children
25.8b Usiseme /u.siˈse.me/ u-si-sem-e: 2SG-NEG-say-SBJV hivyo /ˈhi.vjo/ thus mbele /ˈmbe.le/ front ya /ja/ of watoto /waˈto.to/ child.CL2.PL
25.9a Tafadhali please sema speak polepole slowly sielewi I-do-not-understand
25.9b Tafadhali /ta.faˈða.li/ please sema /ˈse.ma/ sem-a: say-FV (IMP.SG) polepole /po.leˈpo.le/ slowly sielewi /si.eˈle.wi/ si-elew-i: NEG.1SG-understand-NEG.PRES
25.10a Nilimwambia I-told-him lakini but yeye he alisema said hajui he-does-not-know
25.10b Nilimwambia /ni.li.mwaˈmbi.a/ ni-li-mw-ambi-a: 1SG-PAST-3SG.OBJ-tell-FV lakini /laˈki.ni/ but yeye /ˈje.je/ 3SG.PRON alisema /a.liˈse.ma/ a-li-sem-a: 3SG-PAST-say-FV hajui /haˈd͡ʒu.i/ ha-ju-i: NEG.3SG-know-NEG.PRES
25.11a Inasemekana it-is-said kwamba that bei price ya of sukari sugar itapanda it-will-rise mwezi month ujao coming
25.11b Inasemekana /i.na.se.meˈka.na/ i-na-sem-ek-an-a: CL9-PRES-say-STAT-RECP-FV kwamba /ˈkwa.mba/ that bei /ˈbe.i/ price.CL9 ya /ja/ of.CL9 sukari /suˈka.ri/ sugar.CL9 itapanda /i.taˈpa.nda/ i-ta-pand-a: CL9-FUT-rise-FV mwezi /ˈmwe.zi/ month.CL3 ujao /uˈd͡ʒa.o/ u-ja-o: CL3-come-REL.CL3
25.12a Kusema to-say kweli truth sikupenda I-did-not-like filamu film ile that
25.12b Kusema /kuˈse.ma/ ku-sem-a: INF-say-FV kweli /ˈkwe.li/ truth sikupenda /si.kuˈpe.nda/ si-ku-pend-a: NEG.1SG-PAST.NEG-like-FV filamu /fiˈla.mu/ film.CL9 ile /ˈi.le/ that.CL9
25.13a Mama mother aliniambia she-told-me nisiseme I-should-not-say uongo lie hata even kidogo a-little
25.13b Mama /ˈma.ma/ mother.CL1 aliniambia /a.li.ni.aˈmbi.a/ a-li-ni-ambi-a: 3SG-PAST-1SG.OBJ-tell-FV nisiseme /ni.siˈse.me/ ni-si-sem-e: 1SG-NEG-say-SBJV uongo /uˈo.ŋɡo/ lie.CL14 hata /ˈha.ta/ even kidogo /kiˈdo.ɡo/ little.CL7
25.14a Daktari doctor alisema said kwamba that mgonjwa patient atapona he-will-recover ikiwa if atapumzika he-will-rest kwa for wiki weeks mbili two
25.14b Daktari /dakˈta.ri/ doctor.ANIM alisema /a.liˈse.ma/ a-li-sem-a: 3SG-PAST-say-FV kwamba /ˈkwa.mba/ that mgonjwa /m̩ˈɡo.nd͡ʒwa/ patient.CL1 atapona /a.taˈpo.na/ a-ta-pon-a: 3SG-FUT-recover-FV ikiwa /iˈki.wa/ i-ki-w-a: CL9-COND-be-FV (= if) atapumzika /a.ta.pu.mˈzi.ka/ a-ta-pumzik-a: 3SG-FUT-rest-FV kwa /kwa/ for wiki /ˈwi.ki/ week.CL10 mbili /ˈmbi.li/ two.CL10
25.15a Alipoulizwa when-he-was-asked na by waandishi writers wa of habari news waziri minister alisema said hana he-does-not-have la thing kusema to-say
25.15b Alipoulizwa /a.li.po.uˈli.zwa/ a-li-po-uliz-w-a: 3SG-PAST-WHEN-ask-PASS-FV na /na/ by waandishi /wa.aˈndi.ʃi/ writer.CL2.PL wa /wa/ of.CL2 habari /haˈba.ri/ news.CL10 waziri /waˈzi.ri/ minister.ANIM alisema /a.liˈse.ma/ a-li-sem-a: 3SG-PAST-say-FV hana /ˈha.na/ ha-na: NEG.3SG-have la /la/ of.CL5 (= anything) kusema /kuˈse.ma/ ku-sem-a: INF-say-FV
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25.1 Sema tena. → "Say it again."
25.2 Alisema ndiyo. → "She said yes."
25.3 Ninasema kweli. → "I am telling the truth."
25.4 Umesema nini? → "What did you say?"
25.5 Hakusema kitu. → "He didn't say anything."
25.6 Watu wanasema kwamba mvua itanyesha kesho. → "People say that it will rain tomorrow."
25.7 Mwalimu alisema tusome sura ya tatu. → "The teacher said we should read chapter three."
25.8 Usiseme hivyo mbele ya watoto. → "Don't say that in front of the children."
25.9 Tafadhali, sema polepole; sielewi. → "Please speak slowly; I don't understand."
25.10 Nilimwambia, lakini yeye alisema hajui. → "I told him, but he said he didn't know."
25.11 Inasemekana kwamba bei ya sukari itapanda mwezi ujao. → "It is said that the price of sugar will go up next month."
25.12 Kusema kweli, sikupenda filamu ile. → "To tell the truth, I didn't like that film."
25.13 Mama aliniambia nisiseme uongo hata kidogo. → "Mother told me not to tell even a small lie."
25.14 Daktari alisema kwamba mgonjwa atapona ikiwa atapumzika kwa wiki mbili. → "The doctor said that the patient would recover if he rested for two weeks."
25.15 Alipoulizwa na waandishi wa habari, waziri alisema hana la kusema. → "When asked by journalists, the minister said he had nothing to say."
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25.1 Sema tena.
25.2 Alisema ndiyo.
25.3 Ninasema kweli.
25.4 Umesema nini?
25.5 Hakusema kitu.
25.6 Watu wanasema kwamba mvua itanyesha kesho.
25.7 Mwalimu alisema tusome sura ya tatu.
25.8 Usiseme hivyo mbele ya watoto.
25.9 Tafadhali, sema polepole; sielewi.
25.10 Nilimwambia, lakini yeye alisema hajui.
25.11 Inasemekana kwamba bei ya sukari itapanda mwezi ujao.
25.12 Kusema kweli, sikupenda filamu ile.
25.13 Mama aliniambia nisiseme uongo hata kidogo.
25.14 Daktari alisema kwamba mgonjwa atapona ikiwa atapumzika kwa wiki mbili.
25.15 Alipoulizwa na waandishi wa habari, waziri alisema hana la kusema.
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These are the grammar rules for kusema in Swahili:
1. The stem and the infinitive. The verb is the stem -sema. The infinitive adds ku-: kusema, "to say." The infinitive is also a noun: kusema ni rahisi, "saying (it) is easy."
2. The tenses. Subject prefix + tense marker + stem:
- ni-na-sema: I am saying, I say (present -na-) - a-li-sema: he/she said (past -li-) - u-me-sema: you have said (perfect -me-) - wa-ta-sema: they will say (future -ta-) - a-ka-sema: and he/she said (narrative -ka-, for the next event in a story; see Section F)
The subject prefixes are ni- (I), u- (you), a- (he, she), tu- (we), m- (you, plural), wa- (they): tulisema, "we said"; mlisema, "you (pl.) said."
3. The negative. The negative prefixes are si- (I), hu- (you), ha- (he, she), hatu- (we), ham- (you, pl.), hawa- (they). The tense markers change:
- present: sisemi, "I am not saying" (final -a becomes -i) - past: hakusema, "he/she did not say" (-li- becomes -ku-) (25.5) - perfect: hajasema, "he/she has not (yet) said" (-me- becomes -ja-) - future: hatasema, "he/she will not say"
4. Commands and the subjunctive. The bare stem is the command: sema!, "say! speak!" (25.1, 25.9); to more than one person, semeni! The subjunctive changes the final -a to -e: aseme, "that he/she should say." The negative subjunctive inserts -si-: usiseme, "don't say" (25.8); nisiseme, "that I should not say" (25.13).
5. Reported speech.
- Statements: alisema + kwamba (or kuwa, or nothing) + the words in their original tense. Alisema atakuja = "he said he would come"; Swahili does not shift the tense back as English does (25.10, 25.14). - Commands and requests: alisema + the subjunctive. Mwalimu alisema tusome, "the teacher said we should read / told us to read" (25.7). - Direct speech: alisema, followed by the words as spoken. Older printed texts (like the Bible in Section F) mark it only with a comma and a capital letter; modern texts use quotation marks.
6. "Say" and "tell." -sema takes what is said; it does not take the hearer as its object. To name the person told, use -ambia with an object prefix:
- ni-li-mw-ambia: I told him/her (25.10) - a-li-ni-ambia: he/she told me (25.13) - a-li-wa-ambia: he/she told them (25.29)
To "speak to" someone with -sema, use na: alisema na mimi, "he spoke with me."
7. Derived forms. Swahili builds new verbs with suffixes:
- -semwa (passive): "be said": maneno yaliyosemwa, "the words that were said" - -semea (applicative): "speak for, on behalf of, about": nitakusemea, "I will speak for you" - -semeka (stative): "be sayable"; with -an- it gives inasemekana, "it is said, people say" (25.11, 25.28)
8. Nouns from -sema. msemaji (plural wasemaji), "spokesperson": msemaji wa polisi, "the police spokesperson." msemo (plural misemo), "a saying, expression." usemi, "speech, utterance"; in grammar, usemi halisi is direct speech and usemi wa taarifa is reported speech.
Common Mistakes
- Using sema for "tell." ✗ Nilisema yeye. ✓ Nilimwambia. ("I told him.") - Shifting the tense in reported speech. ✗ Alisema alikuja for "he said he would come." ✓ Alisema atakuja. (Alisema alikuja means "he said he had come.") - Negating with -li-. ✗ halisema ✓ hakusema. - Indicative instead of subjunctive after a command. ✗ Mwalimu alisema tunasoma (= "said that we are reading"). ✓ Mwalimu alisema tusome ("said we should read"). - Pronouncing the e as English "ay". sema is SEH-mah, not "SAY-mah."
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Frequency and register. -sema is used in every register, from the market to Parliament. In the press, alisema is the standard reporting verb, as "said" is in English: almost every news story in Mwananchi or Taifa Leo quotes someone with alisema or akisema ("saying"). Close to it are -ongea and -zungumza, "talk, converse," which describe the activity of talking rather than the words reported.
Sema as a greeting. Among young people in Kenya and Tanzania, Sema! ("Say!") is a casual greeting, roughly "What's up?", answered with something like Poa ("Cool"). It belongs to street speech, not to polite greetings with elders, where Shikamoo and Hujambo are used.
kusema kweli. "To tell the truth" (25.12) opens a frank opinion: kusema kweli, sijui, "honestly, I don't know." The opposite, kusema uongo, is "to tell lies" (25.13).
inasemekana. Rumour, report and hearsay have their own fixed formula, inasemekana kwamba..., "it is said that...": a way of passing on news without vouching for it, common in conversation and in journalism alike.
Proverbs and sayings. The word for a saying is itself from -sema: msemo, plural misemo. Swahili distinguishes misemo (expressions and sayings) from methali (proverbs proper), and both are a large part of good speech: a speaker who can cite the right methali at the right moment is admired.
Varieties. Standard Swahili (Kiswahili sanifu) is used here. -sema is the same throughout East Africa and the Congo.
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Source: Maandiko Matakatifu ya Mungu Yaitwayo Biblia (Swahili Union Version, 1952), Mwanzo (Genesis) 1:3, 1:6 and the opening of 1:26. The creation narrative repeats one formula, Mungu akasema, "And God said," at every stage of the work. Text checked against two independent copies (bible.com, SUV; wordproject.org).
F-A: Interlinear Text
F-A.1a Mungu God akasema and-he-said Iwe let-it-be nuru light ikawa and-it-was nuru light
F-A.1b Mungu /ˈmu.ŋɡu/ God.CL1 akasema /a.kaˈse.ma/ a-ka-sem-a: 3SG-NARR-say-FV Iwe /ˈi.we/ i-w-e: CL9-be-SBJV nuru /ˈnu.ru/ light.CL9 ikawa /iˈka.wa/ i-ka-w-a: CL9-NARR-be-FV nuru /ˈnu.ru/ light.CL9
F-A.2a Mungu God akasema and-he-said Na let liwe it-be anga firmament katikati in-the-middle ya of maji waters likayatenge and-let-it-divide maji waters na and maji waters
F-A.2b Mungu /ˈmu.ŋɡu/ God.CL1 akasema /a.kaˈse.ma/ a-ka-sem-a: 3SG-NARR-say-FV Na /na/ HORT liwe /ˈli.we/ li-w-e: CL5-be-SBJV anga /ˈa.ŋɡa/ firmament.CL5 katikati /ka.tiˈka.ti/ middle ya /ja/ of maji /ˈma.d͡ʒi/ water.CL6 likayatenge /li.ka.jaˈte.ŋɡe/ li-ka-ya-teng-e: CL5-NARR-CL6.OBJ-separate-SBJV maji /ˈma.d͡ʒi/ water.CL6 na /na/ and maji /ˈma.d͡ʒi/ water.CL6
F-A.3a Mungu God akasema and-he-said Na let tumfanye us-make-him mtu man kwa in mfano image wetu our kwa in sura likeness yetu our
F-A.3b Mungu /ˈmu.ŋɡu/ God.CL1 akasema /a.kaˈse.ma/ a-ka-sem-a: 3SG-NARR-say-FV Na /na/ HORT tumfanye /tu.m̩ˈfa.ɲe/ tu-m-fany-e: 1PL-CL1.OBJ-make-SBJV mtu /ˈm̩.tu/ person.CL1 kwa /kwa/ by, in mfano /m̩ˈfa.no/ image.CL3 wetu /ˈwe.tu/ our.CL3.POSS kwa /kwa/ by, in sura /ˈsu.ra/ likeness.CL9 yetu /ˈje.tu/ our.CL9.POSS
F-B: Original Text with Translation
F-B.1 Mungu akasema, Iwe nuru; ikawa nuru. (Mwanzo 1:3) → "And God said, Let there be light: and there was light."
F-B.2 Mungu akasema, Na liwe anga katikati ya maji, likayatenge maji na maji. (Mwanzo 1:6) → "And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters."
F-B.3 Mungu akasema, Na tumfanye mtu kwa mfano wetu, kwa sura yetu; ... (Mwanzo 1:26, opening) → "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; ..."
F-C: Original Text Only
Mungu akasema, Iwe nuru; ikawa nuru. Mungu akasema, Na liwe anga katikati ya maji, likayatenge maji na maji. Mungu akasema, Na tumfanye mtu kwa mfano wetu, kwa sura yetu; ...
F-D: Grammar and Literary Commentary
- akasema = a-ka-sema, "and he said." The marker -ka- is the narrative (consecutive) tense: after a story has been set in the past (v. 1, Hapo mwanzo Mungu aliziumba mbingu na nchi, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth," with past -li-), each following event takes -ka- instead of -li-. It contains "and then" in itself, so Swahili needs no word for "and." - What God says is in the subjunctive. Iwe (i-w-e), "let it be"; liwe, "let it be"; tumfanye, "let us make him." The subjunctive -e is the form of a wish or command, as in the reported commands of Section D, rule 4. The particle na before a subjunctive (vv. 6, 26) is hortative, "let." - Agreement shows what is meant. Iwe and ikawa have the class 9 prefix i- because nuru (light) is class 9. In v. 6 liwe and likayatenge have li- because anga (firmament) is class 5, and the object -ya- refers to maji (water), class 6. - Direct speech without quotation marks. The Union Version marks God's words only with a comma and a capital letter: akasema, Iwe nuru. This is the older printing convention of Section D, rule 5. - The formula. Mungu akasema opens each act of creation, and the fulfilment follows in the same narrative tense: ikawa nuru, "and there was light" (v. 3), or ikawa hivyo, "and it was so" (v. 7). The Swahili keeps the pattern of the Hebrew wayyomer Elohim, which uses the same narrative verb form: speech is the act that creates.
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A short constructed news report from the fictional village of Mwembeni, showing -sema as the reporting verb of journalism.
Part A: Interlinear Text
25.16a Jana yesterday wanakijiji villagers wa of Mwembeni Mwembeni walikutana they-met kujadili to-discuss tatizo problem la of maji water
25.16b Jana /ˈd͡ʒa.na/ yesterday wanakijiji /wa.na.kiˈd͡ʒi.d͡ʒi/ wana-kijiji: people-village.CL2.PL wa /wa/ of.CL2 Mwembeni /mweˈmbe.ni/ mwembe-ni: mango.tree-LOC (place name) walikutana /wa.li.kuˈta.na/ wa-li-kut-an-a: 3PL-PAST-meet-RECP-FV kujadili /ku.d͡ʒaˈdi.li/ ku-jadili: INF-discuss tatizo /taˈti.zo/ problem.CL5 la /la/ of.CL5 maji /ˈma.d͡ʒi/ water.CL6
25.17a Mwenyekiti chairman wa of kijiji village alisema said kwamba that kisima well cha of zamani old-times kimekauka it-has-dried-up
25.17b Mwenyekiti /mwe.ɲeˈki.ti/ chairperson.CL1 wa /wa/ of.CL1 kijiji /kiˈd͡ʒi.d͡ʒi/ village.CL7 alisema /a.liˈse.ma/ a-li-sem-a: 3SG-PAST-say-FV kwamba /ˈkwa.mba/ that kisima /kiˈsi.ma/ well.CL7 cha /t͡ʃa/ of.CL7 zamani /zaˈma.ni/ old.times kimekauka /ki.me.kaˈu.ka/ ki-me-kauk-a: CL7-PERF-dry.up-FV
25.18a Alisema he-said Tunahitaji we-need kisima well kipya new kabla before ya of kiangazi dry-season
25.18b Alisema /a.liˈse.ma/ a-li-sem-a: 3SG-PAST-say-FV Tunahitaji /tu.na.hiˈta.d͡ʒi/ tu-na-hitaji: 1PL-PRES-need kisima /kiˈsi.ma/ well.CL7 kipya /ˈki.pja/ new.CL7 kabla /ˈka.bla/ before ya /ja/ of kiangazi /ki.aˈŋɡa.zi/ dry.season.CL7
25.19a Mama Mrs Halima Halima mkulima farmer alisema said wanawake women hutembea usually-walk kilomita kilometres tano five kila every siku day kuchota to-draw maji water
25.19b Mama /ˈma.ma/ Mrs (title) Halima /haˈli.ma/ Halima mkulima /m̩.kuˈli.ma/ farmer.CL1 alisema /a.liˈse.ma/ a-li-sem-a: 3SG-PAST-say-FV wanawake /wa.naˈwa.ke/ woman.CL2.PL hutembea /hu.teˈmbe.a/ hu-tembe-a: HAB-walk-FV kilomita /ki.loˈmi.ta/ kilometre.CL10 tano /ˈta.no/ five kila /ˈki.la/ every siku /ˈsi.ku/ day.CL9 kuchota /kuˈt͡ʃo.ta/ ku-chot-a: INF-draw(water)-FV maji /ˈma.d͡ʒi/ water.CL6
25.20a Mzee elder mmoja one alisimama stood-up akasema and-said Tumesema we-have-said haya these-things kwa for miaka years mingi many
25.20b Mzee /m̩ˈze.e/ elder.CL1 mmoja /m̩ˈmo.d͡ʒa/ one.CL1 alisimama /a.li.siˈma.ma/ a-li-simam-a: 3SG-PAST-stand-FV akasema /a.kaˈse.ma/ a-ka-sem-a: 3SG-NARR-say-FV Tumesema /tu.meˈse.ma/ tu-me-sem-a: 1PL-PERF-say-FV haya /ˈha.ja/ these.CL6 kwa /kwa/ for miaka /miˈa.ka/ year.CL4.PL mingi /ˈmi.ŋɡi/ many.CL4
25.21a Akaongeza and-he-added Maneno words hayatoshi they-are-not-enough tunataka we-want vitendo deeds
25.21b Akaongeza /a.ka.oˈŋɡe.za/ a-ka-ongez-a: 3SG-NARR-add-FV Maneno /maˈne.no/ word.CL6.PL hayatoshi /ha.jaˈto.ʃi/ ha-ya-tosh-i: NEG-CL6-suffice-NEG.PRES tunataka /tu.naˈta.ka/ tu-na-tak-a: 1PL-PRES-want-FV vitendo /viˈte.ndo/ deed.CL8.PL
25.22a Afisa officer wa of maji water wa of wilaya district alisema said serikali government imetenga has-set-aside fedha money kwa for mradi project huo that
25.22b Afisa /aˈfi.sa/ officer.ANIM wa /wa/ of.CL1 maji /ˈma.d͡ʒi/ water.CL6 wa /wa/ of.CL1 wilaya /wiˈla.ja/ district.CL9 alisema /a.liˈse.ma/ a-li-sem-a: 3SG-PAST-say-FV serikali /se.riˈka.li/ government.CL9 imetenga /i.meˈte.ŋɡa/ i-me-teng-a: CL9-PERF-set.aside-FV fedha /ˈfe.ða/ money.CL9 kwa /kwa/ for mradi /m̩ˈra.di/ project.CL3 huo /ˈhu.o/ that.CL3.REF
25.23a Hata even hivyo so hakusema he-did-not-say kazi work itaanza it-will-begin lini when
25.23b Hata /ˈha.ta/ even hivyo /ˈhi.vjo/ thus hakusema /ha.kuˈse.ma/ ha-ku-sem-a: NEG.3SG-PAST.NEG-say-FV kazi /ˈka.zi/ work.CL9 itaanza /i.taˈa.nza/ i-ta-anz-a: CL9-FUT-begin-FV lini /ˈli.ni/ when
25.24a Wanakijiji villagers walimwomba they-asked-him aseme he-should-say tarehe date kamili exact
25.24b Wanakijiji /wa.na.kiˈd͡ʒi.d͡ʒi/ villager.CL2.PL walimwomba /wa.liˈmwo.mba/ wa-li-mw-omb-a: 3PL-PAST-3SG.OBJ-request-FV aseme /aˈse.me/ a-sem-e: 3SG-say-SBJV tarehe /taˈre.he/ date.CL9 kamili /kaˈmi.li/ exact
25.25a Afisa officer alijibu answered Siwezi I-cannot kusema to-say tarehe date leo today
25.25b Afisa /aˈfi.sa/ officer.ANIM alijibu /a.liˈd͡ʒi.bu/ a-li-jibu: 3SG-PAST-answer Siwezi /siˈwe.zi/ si-wez-i: NEG.1SG-be.able-NEG.PRES kusema /kuˈse.ma/ ku-sem-a: INF-say-FV tarehe /taˈre.he/ date.CL9 leo /ˈle.o/ today
25.26a Lakini but ninawaahidi I-promise-you nitarudi I-will-return na with jibu answer mwezi month ujao coming
25.26b Lakini /laˈki.ni/ but ninawaahidi /ni.na.wa.aˈhi.di/ ni-na-wa-ahidi: 1SG-PRES-2PL.OBJ-promise nitarudi /ni.taˈru.di/ ni-ta-rudi: 1SG-FUT-return na /na/ with jibu /ˈd͡ʒi.bu/ answer.CL5 mwezi /ˈmwe.zi/ month.CL3 ujao /uˈd͡ʒa.o/ u-ja-o: CL3-come-REL.CL3
25.27a Baadhi some ya of vijana young-people walisema they-said kwamba that wamechoka they-are-tired na of ahadi promises
25.27b Baadhi /baˈa.ði/ some ya /ja/ of vijana /viˈd͡ʒa.na/ youth.CL8.PL walisema /wa.liˈse.ma/ wa-li-sem-a: 3PL-PAST-say-FV kwamba /ˈkwa.mba/ that wamechoka /wa.meˈt͡ʃo.ka/ wa-me-chok-a: 3PL-PERF-tire-FV na /na/ with ahadi /aˈha.di/ promise.CL10
25.28a Inasemekana it-is-said kwamba that kijiji village jirani neighbouring kilipata got kisima well baada after ya of miaka years mitatu three ya of kusubiri waiting
25.28b Inasemekana /i.na.se.meˈka.na/ i-na-sem-ek-an-a: CL9-PRES-say-STAT-RECP-FV kwamba /ˈkwa.mba/ that kijiji /kiˈd͡ʒi.d͡ʒi/ village.CL7 jirani /d͡ʒiˈra.ni/ neighbour kilipata /ki.liˈpa.ta/ ki-li-pat-a: CL7-PAST-get-FV kisima /kiˈsi.ma/ well.CL7 baada /baˈa.da/ after ya /ja/ of miaka /miˈa.ka/ year.CL4.PL mitatu /miˈta.tu/ three.CL4 ya /ja/ of.CL4 kusubiri /ku.suˈbi.ri/ ku-subiri: INF-wait
25.29a Mwisho at-the-end mwenyekiti chairman aliwaambia told-them wanakijiji villagers wakutane they-should-meet tena again mwezi month ujao coming
25.29b Mwisho /ˈmwi.ʃo/ end.CL3 mwenyekiti /mwe.ɲeˈki.ti/ chairperson.CL1 aliwaambia /a.li.wa.aˈmbi.a/ a-li-wa-ambi-a: 3SG-PAST-3PL.OBJ-tell-FV wanakijiji /wa.na.kiˈd͡ʒi.d͡ʒi/ villager.CL2.PL wakutane /wa.kuˈta.ne/ wa-kut-an-e: 3PL-meet-RECP-SBJV tena /ˈte.na/ again mwezi /ˈmwe.zi/ month.CL3 ujao /uˈd͡ʒa.o/ u-ja-o: CL3-come-REL.CL3
25.30a Alisema he-said Tukiungana if-we-unite sauti voice yetu our itasikika it-will-be-heard
25.30b Alisema /a.liˈse.ma/ a-li-sem-a: 3SG-PAST-say-FV Tukiungana /tu.ki.uˈŋɡa.na/ tu-ki-ung-an-a: 1PL-COND-join-RECP-FV sauti /saˈu.ti/ voice.CL9 yetu /ˈje.tu/ our.CL9.POSS itasikika /i.ta.siˈki.ka/ i-ta-sik-ik-a: CL9-FUT-hear-STAT-FV
Part B: Natural Sentences
25.16 Jana wanakijiji wa Mwembeni walikutana kujadili tatizo la maji. → "Yesterday the villagers of Mwembeni met to discuss the water problem."
25.17 Mwenyekiti wa kijiji alisema kwamba kisima cha zamani kimekauka. → "The village chairman said that the old well has dried up."
25.18 Alisema, "Tunahitaji kisima kipya kabla ya kiangazi." → "He said, 'We need a new well before the dry season.'"
25.19 Mama Halima, mkulima, alisema wanawake hutembea kilomita tano kila siku kuchota maji. → "Mrs Halima, a farmer, said that the women walk five kilometres every day to fetch water."
25.20 Mzee mmoja alisimama akasema, "Tumesema haya kwa miaka mingi." → "One elder stood up and said, 'We have been saying these things for many years.'"
25.21 Akaongeza, "Maneno hayatoshi; tunataka vitendo." → "He added, 'Words are not enough; we want action.'"
25.22 Afisa wa maji wa wilaya alisema serikali imetenga fedha kwa mradi huo. → "The district water officer said the government has set aside money for the project."
25.23 Hata hivyo, hakusema kazi itaanza lini. → "However, he did not say when the work will begin."
25.24 Wanakijiji walimwomba aseme tarehe kamili. → "The villagers asked him to give an exact date."
25.25 Afisa alijibu, "Siwezi kusema tarehe leo." → "The officer answered, 'I cannot give a date today.'"
25.26 "Lakini ninawaahidi, nitarudi na jibu mwezi ujao." → "'But I promise you, I will come back with an answer next month.'"
25.27 Baadhi ya vijana walisema kwamba wamechoka na ahadi. → "Some of the young people said that they are tired of promises."
25.28 Inasemekana kwamba kijiji jirani kilipata kisima baada ya miaka mitatu ya kusubiri. → "It is said that the neighbouring village got a well after three years of waiting."
25.29 Mwisho, mwenyekiti aliwaambia wanakijiji wakutane tena mwezi ujao. → "Finally, the chairman told the villagers to meet again next month."
25.30 Alisema, "Tukiungana, sauti yetu itasikika." → "He said, 'If we stand together, our voice will be heard.'"
Part C: Target Language Only
25.16 Jana wanakijiji wa Mwembeni walikutana kujadili tatizo la maji.
25.17 Mwenyekiti wa kijiji alisema kwamba kisima cha zamani kimekauka.
25.18 Alisema, "Tunahitaji kisima kipya kabla ya kiangazi."
25.19 Mama Halima, mkulima, alisema wanawake hutembea kilomita tano kila siku kuchota maji.
25.20 Mzee mmoja alisimama akasema, "Tumesema haya kwa miaka mingi."
25.21 Akaongeza, "Maneno hayatoshi; tunataka vitendo."
25.22 Afisa wa maji wa wilaya alisema serikali imetenga fedha kwa mradi huo.
25.23 Hata hivyo, hakusema kazi itaanza lini.
25.24 Wanakijiji walimwomba aseme tarehe kamili.
25.25 Afisa alijibu, "Siwezi kusema tarehe leo."
25.26 "Lakini ninawaahidi, nitarudi na jibu mwezi ujao."
25.27 Baadhi ya vijana walisema kwamba wamechoka na ahadi.
25.28 Inasemekana kwamba kijiji jirani kilipata kisima baada ya miaka mitatu ya kusubiri.
25.29 Mwisho, mwenyekiti aliwaambia wanakijiji wakutane tena mwezi ujao.
25.30 Alisema, "Tukiungana, sauti yetu itasikika."
Part D: Grammar Notes on the News Report
- alisema, the reporting verb. The report quotes five speakers, and a form of -sema introduces almost every quotation: in reported speech with kwamba (25.17, 25.27), in reported speech with no conjunction (25.19, 25.22), and in direct speech in quotation marks (25.18, 25.30). - The narrative -ka-. alisimama akasema (25.20), "stood up and said"; akaongeza (25.21), "and he added." After the first past verb, the next events in the sequence take -ka-, exactly as in Genesis (Section F). - Tense kept in reported speech. hakusema kazi itaanza lini (25.23): "he did not say when the work will begin," future -ta-, where English may write "would." - Reported requests in the subjunctive. walimwomba aseme (25.24), "they asked him to say"; aliwaambia wakutane (25.29), "told them to meet." The verb of asking or telling is followed by the subjunctive in -e. - sema and ambia side by side. 25.29 uses -ambia because the people told are the verb's object (-wa-, "them," the villagers); -sema never takes the hearer as its object, only the words. - Agreement with the noun class. kisima cha zamani kimekauka (25.17): kisima is class 7, so "of" is cha and the verb prefix is ki-. Maneno hayatoshi (25.21): maneno is class 6, so the negative prefix is haya-. mwezi ujao (25.26, 25.29): class 3, relative u-ja-o, "the month which comes." Nouns for people such as afisa, daktari and waziri (glossed ANIM) have the form of class 9 but take the people concord of class 1: afisa wa maji, afisa alijibu (25.22, 25.25). - The habitual hu-. wanawake hutembea (25.19): the habitual hu- says the women walk regularly, every day. - -ka- and -ki-. Do not confuse the narrative -ka- (akasema) with the conditional -ki-: tukiungana (25.30), "if we unite." - na after kuchoka. wamechoka na ahadi (25.27), "tired of promises": kuchoka na is "to be tired of."
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Vowels. Five pure vowels, always the same: a /a/ (father), e /e/ (bed), i /i/ (machine), o /o/ (Spanish no), u /u/ (rule). The e of sema never becomes the English diphthong of "say." Vowels side by side are pronounced separately: ninawaahidi /ni.na.wa.aˈhi.di/, kimekauka /ki.me.kaˈu.ka/, sauti /saˈu.ti/, baadhi /baˈa.ði/.
Stress. Always on the next-to-last syllable, and it moves as the word grows: SE-ma, ku-SE-ma, a-li-SE-ma, i-na-se-me-KA-na.
Consonant spellings to know from this lesson:
- dh = /ð/ (as in "this"): tafadhali, baadhi, fedha - ch = /t͡ʃ/: kuchota, wamechoka, cha - j = /d͡ʒ/: kijiji, jirani, ujao - ny = /ɲ/: itanyesha, mwenyekiti - sh = /ʃ/: itanyesha, waandishi, hayatoshi - ng = /ŋɡ/: Mungu, kiangazi, uongo - m before a consonant at the start of a word is often its own syllable: mtu /ˈm̩.tu/, mzee /m̩ˈze.e/, mgonjwa /m̩ˈɡo.nd͡ʒwa/
r and l. Swahili r is a light tap: tarehe, sukari, daktari. Swahili l is always clear: alisema, polepole, Halima.
Orthography. Swahili uses the Latin alphabet without accents; q and x are not used. Capitals are used as in English for names and the start of sentences. In older printed texts, such as the Union Version Bible, a capital letter after a comma marks the start of direct speech: Mungu akasema, Iwe nuru.
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