English "what" → Swahili "nini" – Interrogative Pronoun (with gani, "what kind of")
What does "what" mean in Swahili?
English "what" is one word with several jobs. It asks about a thing ("What is it?"), it asks about a kind ("What colour is it?"), it asks about a reason ("What for?"), and it joins clauses ("what I said"). Swahili gives each job its own tool. The word this lesson is built round, nini (pronounced NEE-nee), is the first of them: the question word for a thing, an action or an idea that you do not know. Ni nini?, "What is it?"; Unataka nini?, "What do you want?"
The other tools are close at hand, and this lesson puts them side by side:
- nini = what (a thing): Unafanya nini?, "What are you doing?" - gani = what kind of, placed after a noun: rangi gani?, "what colour?"; Habari gani?, "What news?" - kwa nini = why, literally "for what": Kwa nini umechelewa?, "Why are you late?" - -pi = which one of a known set, agreeing with its noun: kituo kipi?, "which stop?" (Lesson 26) - nani = who, the sister of nini for people: Wewe ni nani?, "Who are you?"
Three points differ from English:
- Nini stays in its ordinary place after the verb. English moves "what" to the front ("What do you want?"); Swahili does not move anything: Unataka nini?, literally "You-want what?" The word order is that of the answer. - Nini never takes an ending and never follows a noun. English says "what colour" and "what kind of phone"; Swahili says rangi gani and simu gani, with gani, not nini, after the noun. - "What" in a reported question changes nothing. Sijui unataka nini, "I don't know what you want": the question is simply placed inside the sentence, with no linking word, and nini keeps its place.
nini is a native Bantu word, and it differs from nani, "who", by a single vowel. Learn the pair together: nini is for things, nani for people.
- nini = what, a thing or action, placed after the verb: Unataka nini?, "What do you want?" - X ni nini? = "What is X?": Hii ni nini?, "What is this?" - noun + gani = what kind of: rangi gani?, kazi gani?, habari gani? - kwa nini = why (written as two words): Kwa nini umechelewa? - nini can also be the subject and open the sentence: Nini kimetokea?, "What has happened?"; and it is the same word inside a reported question: Sijui nifanye nini, "I don't know what to do."
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nini /ˈni.ni/: NEE-nee. Two short syllables, the stress on the first. Both vowels are as in English "machine".
gani /ˈɡa.ni/: GAH-nee. The g is always hard, as in "go", never as in "gem".
Related forms:
- nani /ˈna.ni/: NAH-nee, "who" - kwa nini /kwa ˈni.ni/: kwa NEE-nee, "why"; kwa is one syllable, the w a glide - kimetokea /ki.me.toˈke.a/: ki-me-to-KE-a, "has happened"; the vowels e-a are two syllables - sijui /siˈd͡ʒu.i/: si-JU-i, "I don't know"; the vowels u-i are two syllables - tafadhali /ta.faˈða.li/: ta-fa-DHA-li, "please"; dh is the sound of English "th" in "this" - kitambaa /ki.taˈmba.a/: ki-ta-MBA-a, "cloth"; the mb is pronounced as one sound, and aa is two syllables - nchi /ˈn̩.t͡ʃi/: "country"; the n is a syllable of its own, as in nne in Lesson 26
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27.1a Ni is nini what
27.1b Ni /ni/ COP (it is) nini /ˈni.ni/ what
27.2a Hii this ni is nini what
27.2b Hii /ˈhi.i/ this.CL9.DEM ni /ni/ COP (is) nini /ˈni.ni/ what
27.3a Unataka you-want nini what
27.3b Unataka /u.naˈta.ka/ u-na-tak-a: 2SG-PRES-want-FV nini /ˈni.ni/ what
27.4a Unafanya you-are-doing nini what
27.4b Unafanya /u.naˈfa.ɲa/ u-na-fany-a: 2SG-PRES-do-FV nini /ˈni.ni/ what
27.5a Habari news gani what-kind
27.5b Habari /haˈba.ri/ news.CL9 gani /ˈɡa.ni/ what.kind (invariable)
27.6a Jana yesterday ulinunua you-bought nini what sokoni at-the-market na with dada sister yako your
27.6b Jana /ˈd͡ʒa.na/ yesterday ulinunua /u.li.nuˈnu.a/ u-li-nunu-a: 2SG-PAST-buy-FV nini /ˈni.ni/ what sokoni /soˈko.ni/ soko-ni: market.CL5-LOC na /na/ with dada /ˈda.da/ sister.CL9 yako /ˈja.ko/ your.CL9.POSS
27.7a Kuna there-is nini what ndani inside ya of mfuko bag huu this
27.7b Kuna /ˈku.na/ ku-na: LOC17-have (= there is) nini /ˈni.ni/ what ndani /ˈnda.ni/ inside ya /ja/ of (ndani ya = inside of) mfuko /m̩ˈfu.ko/ bag.CL3 huu /ˈhu.u/ this.CL3.DEM
27.8a Mama mother anapika she-is-cooking nini what jikoni in-the-kitchen leo today
27.8b Mama /ˈma.ma/ mother.CL1 anapika /a.naˈpi.ka/ a-na-pik-a: 3SG-PRES-cook-FV nini /ˈni.ni/ what jikoni /d͡ʒiˈko.ni/ jiko-ni: kitchen.CL5-LOC leo /ˈle.o/ today
27.9a Maana meaning ya of neno word hili this ni is nini what
27.9b Maana /maˈa.na/ meaning.CL9 ya /ja/ of.CL9 neno /ˈne.no/ word.CL5 hili /ˈhi.li/ this.CL5.DEM ni /ni/ COP (is) nini /ˈni.ni/ what
27.10a Kwa for nini what umechelewa you-are-late leo today asubuhi morning
27.10b Kwa /kwa/ for (kwa nini = why) nini /ˈni.ni/ what umechelewa /u.me.t͡ʃeˈle.wa/ u-me-chelew-a: 2SG-PERF-be.late-FV leo /ˈle.o/ today asubuhi /a.suˈbu.hi/ morning.CL9
27.11a Nini what kimetokea has-happened kwa to gari car lako your njiani on-the-way
27.11b Nini /ˈni.ni/ what (as subject) kimetokea /ki.me.toˈke.a/ ki-me-tokea: CL7-PERF-happen kwa /kwa/ to (= happened to) gari /ˈɡa.ri/ car.CL5 lako /ˈla.ko/ your.CL5.POSS njiani /nd͡ʒiˈa.ni/ njia-ni: road.CL9-LOC
27.12a Gari car letu our liliharibika it-broke-down njiani on-the-way hatukujua we-did-not-know tufanye we-should-do nini what
27.12b Gari /ˈɡa.ri/ car.CL5 letu /ˈle.tu/ our.CL5.POSS liliharibika /li.li.ha.riˈbi.ka/ li-li-harib-ik-a: CL5-PAST-spoil-STAT-FV njiani /nd͡ʒiˈa.ni/ njia-ni: road.CL9-LOC hatukujua /ha.tu.kuˈd͡ʒu.a/ ha-tu-ku-jua: NEG-1PL-PAST.NEG-know tufanye /tuˈfa.ɲe/ tu-fany-e: 1PL-do-SBJV nini /ˈni.ni/ what
27.13a Sikusikia I-did-not-hear vizuri well niambie tell-me tena again ulisema you-said nini what
27.13b Sikusikia /si.ku.siˈki.a/ si-ku-sikia: 1SG.NEG-PAST.NEG-hear vizuri /viˈzu.ri/ well niambie /ni.aˈmbi.e/ ni-ambi-e: 1SG.OBJ-tell-SBJV (tell me) tena /ˈte.na/ again ulisema /u.liˈse.ma/ u-li-sem-a: 2SG-PAST-say-FV nini /ˈni.ni/ what
27.14a Mtu person yule that aliyekuja who-came jana yesterday alikuambia he-told-you nini what kuhusu about kazi job hiyo that
27.14b Mtu /ˈm̩.tu/ person.CL1 yule /ˈju.le/ that.CL1.DEM aliyekuja /a.li.jeˈku.d͡ʒa/ a-li-ye-ku-j-a: 3SG-PAST-REL.CL1-(ku)-come-FV jana /ˈd͡ʒa.na/ yesterday alikuambia /a.li.ku.aˈmbi.a/ a-li-ku-ambi-a: 3SG-PAST-2SG.OBJ-tell-FV nini /ˈni.ni/ what kuhusu /kuˈhu.su/ about kazi /ˈka.zi/ work.CL9 hiyo /ˈhi.jo/ that.CL9.REF
27.15a Mgeni guest wetu our anatoka he-or-she-comes-from nchi country gani what-kind na and anafanya he-or-she-does kazi work gani what-kind huko there
27.15b Mgeni /m̩ˈɡe.ni/ guest.CL1 wetu /ˈwe.tu/ our.CL1.POSS anatoka /a.naˈto.ka/ a-na-tok-a: 3SG-PRES-come.from-FV nchi /ˈn̩.t͡ʃi/ country.CL9 gani /ˈɡa.ni/ what.kind (invariable) na /na/ and anafanya /a.naˈfa.ɲa/ a-na-fany-a: 3SG-PRES-do-FV kazi /ˈka.zi/ work.CL9 gani /ˈɡa.ni/ what.kind (invariable) huko /ˈhu.ko/ there.LOC17
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27.1 Ni nini? → "What is it?"
27.2 Hii ni nini? → "What is this?"
27.3 Unataka nini? → "What do you want?"
27.4 Unafanya nini? → "What are you doing?"
27.5 Habari gani? → "How are things?" (literally "What news?")
27.6 Jana ulinunua nini sokoni na dada yako? → "What did you buy at the market yesterday with your sister?"
27.7 Kuna nini ndani ya mfuko huu? → "What is in this bag?"
27.8 Mama anapika nini jikoni leo? → "What is Mother cooking in the kitchen today?"
27.9 Maana ya neno hili ni nini? → "What is the meaning of this word?"
27.10 Kwa nini umechelewa leo asubuhi? → "Why are you late this morning?"
27.11 Nini kimetokea kwa gari lako njiani? → "What happened to your car on the way?"
27.12 Gari letu liliharibika njiani, hatukujua tufanye nini. → "Our car broke down on the way, and we didn't know what to do."
27.13 Sikusikia vizuri, niambie tena ulisema nini. → "I didn't hear well; tell me again what you said."
27.14 Mtu yule aliyekuja jana alikuambia nini kuhusu kazi hiyo? → "What did that person who came yesterday tell you about that job?"
27.15 Mgeni wetu anatoka nchi gani, na anafanya kazi gani huko? → "What country is our guest from, and what work does our guest do there?"
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27.1 Ni nini?
27.2 Hii ni nini?
27.3 Unataka nini?
27.4 Unafanya nini?
27.5 Habari gani?
27.6 Jana ulinunua nini sokoni na dada yako?
27.7 Kuna nini ndani ya mfuko huu?
27.8 Mama anapika nini jikoni leo?
27.9 Maana ya neno hili ni nini?
27.10 Kwa nini umechelewa leo asubuhi?
27.11 Nini kimetokea kwa gari lako njiani?
27.12 Gari letu liliharibika njiani, hatukujua tufanye nini.
27.13 Sikusikia vizuri, niambie tena ulisema nini.
27.14 Mtu yule aliyekuja jana alikuambia nini kuhusu kazi hiyo?
27.15 Mgeni wetu anatoka nchi gani, na anafanya kazi gani huko?
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These are the grammar rules for nini and "what" in Swahili:
1. nini after the verb. To ask "what" about the object of a verb, put nini after the verb, where the answer will stand: unataka nini? (27.3), unafanya nini? (27.4), ulinunua nini sokoni (27.6), anapika nini (27.8). Nothing else changes. The verb takes its ordinary prefixes, there is no question word at the front, and nini has no endings: it is the same whatever the thing is, whether a dish, a gift or an idea. The question is marked by the voice, which rises, and by the question mark.
2. X ni nini? "What is X?" To ask what something is, put the thing first, then ni, then nini: Hii ni nini? (27.2), Maana ya neno hili ni nini? (27.9). The answer keeps the same frame and replaces nini: Hii ni zawadi, "This is a gift." On its own, Ni nini? (27.1) means "What is it?"
3. nini as the subject. When "what" is the subject, nini may come first, and the verb takes the prefix of the thing asked about, usually class 7 ki-: Nini kimetokea?, "What has happened?" (27.11); nini kimebaki ndani ya mfuko?, "what is left in the bag?" (27.30). Kuna nini? (27.7) asks "what is there?" and, said on its own, "what's the matter?"
4. gani: "what kind of". When "what" comes before a noun in English ("what colour", "what work", "what country"), Swahili puts gani after the noun: rangi gani (27.19), kazi gani (27.15), nchi gani (27.15), habari gani (27.5), kitu gani (27.18). Gani is invariable: it never changes for the noun's class. Use it to ask what type or kind. Compare -pi, "which one of a set we both know", which agrees with its noun: kituo kipi?, "which stop?" (Lesson 26). Other common phrases are siku gani? ("what day?"), mtu gani? ("what kind of person?").
5. kwa nini: "why". "For what" is "why": Kwa nini umechelewa leo asubuhi? (27.10); Kwa nini hukuniuliza kwanza?, "Why didn't you ask me first?" (27.20). It is written as two words. The usual answer begins kwa sababu, "because": Kwa sababu gari letu liliharibika, "Because our car broke down."
6. A question inside a sentence. A reported question has the same shape as a direct one, with no word for "that" or "if" and no change of order: sijui anapenda rangi gani, "I don't know what colour she likes" (27.19); hatukujua tufanye nini, "we did not know what to do" (27.12); niambie ... ulisema nini, "tell me what you said" (27.13). "What to do" is the subjunctive: nifanye nini?, "what should I do?"; tufanye nini?, "what should we do?" (27.25).
7. "What" in the sense of "that which". English "what" in "what I said" is not a question word. Swahili does not use nini for it but a relative verb: nilichosema, "what I said" (literally "that-which I said"). Keep nini for questions.
8. Neighbouring question words. Nani is "who" (Wewe ni nani?, "Who are you?"), wapi is "where" (Lesson 26), ngapi is "how many" (Lesson 26), and lini is "when" (Unaondoka lini?, "When are you leaving?"). Common Mistakes
- Using nini after a noun. ✗ Umenunua simu nini? ✓ Umenunua simu gani?, "What (kind of) phone did you buy?" - Using gani on its own for a thing. ✗ Unataka gani? ✓ Unataka nini? Gani needs a noun in front of it: Unataka kitabu gani?, "What (kind of) book do you want?" - English word order. ✗ Nini unataka? ✓ Unataka nini? The ordinary place for nini is after the verb. Do the same in reported questions: ✓ Sijui unataka nini. - Turning the identification round. ✗ Nini ni hii? ✓ Hii ni nini? The thing is named first. - Asking a name with nini. Names are asked with nani, "who": ✓ Unaitwa nani?, "What are you called?"; ✓ Jina lako nani?, "What is your name?" Not Jina lako ni nini? - Joining "why". ✗ kwanini is often seen in print; the standard writing is two words, ✓ kwa nini.
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Habari gani? The question as a greeting. Greeting is a ritual in East Africa, and several of the greetings are built on gani: Habari gani?, "What news?" (27.5). The ordinary answer is a simple adjective: Nzuri, "good", or Njema, "fine". A more elaborate greeting asks after the family, the work and the morning in turn; each is answered with nzuri before the conversation turns to business. Asking Unataka nini?, "What do you want?", as the first thing said to a stranger would be abrupt; a shopkeeper or hotel clerk will usually greet first, and then say Nikusaidie?, "May I help you?", or Karibu, "Welcome."
Softening a question. In ordinary talk among friends or family, nini is entirely natural: Unafanya nini?, "What are you doing?" With elders and in formal situations, begin with a greeting or with Samahani, "excuse me": Samahani, ulisema nini?, "Sorry, what did you say?" Saying tafadhali, "please", and asante, "thank you", costs nothing.
Mambo vipi? Among younger speakers the greeting Mambo vipi?, "How are things?", is answered with the casual Poa, "cool". This is informal and is not the Standard Swahili form: use Habari gani? with anyone you do not know.
Varieties. Standard Swahili (Kiswahili sanifu), the form taught here, is based on the speech of Zanzibar town. Nini, gani and kwa nini are used in the same way across Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda. ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
Source: Maandiko Matakatifu ya Mungu Yaitwayo Biblia (Swahili Union Version, 1952), Luka (Luke) 18:41. Jesus stops and orders a blind man to be brought to him (verse 40). The question Jesus puts to him is the simplest use of nini: Wataka nikufanyie nini?, "What do you want me to do for you?" Text checked against two independent copies (wordproject.org and churchages.net, both SUV); the modern Biblia Habari Njema (bible.com) reads Unataka nikufanyie nini?
F-A: Interlinear Text
F-A.1a Wataka you-want nikufanyie that-I-do-for-you nini what
F-A.1b Wataka /waˈta.ka/ wa-tak-a: 2SG.PRES-want-FV (= modern unataka) nikufanyie /ni.ku.faˈɲi.e/ ni-ku-fany-i-e: 1SG-2SG.OBJ-do-APPL-SBJV nini /ˈni.ni/ what
F-A.2a Akasema and-he-said Bwana Lord nipate that-I-may-get kuona to-see
F-A.2b Akasema /a.kaˈse.ma/ a-ka-sem-a: 3SG-NARR-say-FV Bwana /ˈbwa.na/ Lord, sir.CL9 nipate /niˈpa.te/ ni-pat-e: 1SG-get-SBJV kuona /kuˈo.na/ ku-on-a: INF-see-FV
F-B: Original Text with Translation
F-B.1 Wataka nikufanyie nini? (Luka 18:41) → "What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee?"
F-B.2 Akasema, Bwana, nipate kuona. (Luka 18:41) → "And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight."
F-C: Original Text Only
Wataka nikufanyie nini? Akasema, Bwana, nipate kuona.
F-D: Grammar and Literary Commentary
- nini at the end. The question is wataka nikufanyie nini: "you want that I do-for-you what?" As in 27.3, nini stays where the answer will stand. The man's reply, nipate kuona, "let me see", takes its place and completes the thought. - Wataka and unataka. The Union Version's wataka is the shorter, older form of the present; modern speech and the modern Bible say unataka. The meaning is the same, and the learner should say unataka. - nikufanyie: the subjunctive after "want". When the one who wants and the one who acts are different people, the second verb is subjunctive: unataka nikufanyie = "you want that I do for you". It is the same form as tufanye in 27.12 and nifanye in Section D, rule 6. The -i- inside it (fanya → fanyia) adds "for", so the verb means "do for": ni-ku-fany-i-e, "that I do for you". - The narrative -ka-. Akasema, "and he said", continues a sequence of events, as in the verses of Lessons 25 and 26. - nipate kuona. Kupata is "get"; in the subjunctive, with an infinitive after it, it means "let me get to (see)": the usual way of asking for something to be done.
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A constructed conversation between a brother and a sister, Hamisi and Zawadi, who must decide what to do about a present for their mother. It shows "what" in every position: after the verb, with gani, as a subject, inside another question, and in kwa nini.
Part A: Interlinear Text
27.16a Zawadi Zawadi Karibu welcome Hamisi Hamisi umenunua you-have-bought nini what sokoni at-the-market leo today
27.16b Zawadi /zaˈwa.di/ Zawadi Karibu /kaˈri.bu/ welcome Hamisi /haˈmi.si/ Hamisi umenunua /u.me.nuˈnu.a/ u-me-nunu-a: 2SG-PERF-buy-FV nini /ˈni.ni/ what sokoni /soˈko.ni/ soko-ni: market.CL5-LOC leo /ˈle.o/ today
27.17a Hamisi Hamisi Nimenunua I-have-bought samaki fish na and mboga vegetables na and kuna there-is kitu thing kingine other kwenye in mfuko bag huu this
27.17b Hamisi /haˈmi.si/ Hamisi Nimenunua /ni.me.nuˈnu.a/ ni-me-nunu-a: 1SG-PERF-buy-FV samaki /saˈma.ki/ fish.CL9 na /na/ and mboga /ˈmbo.ɡa/ vegetables.CL9 na /na/ and kuna /ˈku.na/ ku-na: LOC17-have (= there is) kitu /ˈki.tu/ thing.CL7 kingine /kiˈŋɡi.ne/ ki-ingine: CL7-other kwenye /ˈkwe.ɲe/ kw-enye: LOC17-having (= in) mfuko /m̩ˈfu.ko/ bag.CL3 huu /ˈhu.u/ this.CL3.DEM
27.18a Zawadi Zawadi Kitu thing gani what-kind Nionyeshe show-me tafadhali please
27.18b Zawadi /zaˈwa.di/ Zawadi Kitu /ˈki.tu/ thing.CL7 gani /ˈɡa.ni/ what.kind (invariable) Nionyeshe /ni.oˈɲe.ʃe/ ni-onyesh-e: 1SG.OBJ-show-SBJV (show me) tafadhali /ta.faˈða.li/ please
27.19a Hamisi Hamisi Ni it-is kitambaa cloth kwa for ajili sake ya of mama mother Nilichagua I-chose rangi colour ya of kijani green lakini but sijui I-do-not-know anapenda she-likes rangi colour gani what-kind
27.19b Hamisi /haˈmi.si/ Hamisi Ni /ni/ COP (it is) kitambaa /ki.taˈmba.a/ cloth.CL7 kwa /kwa/ for ajili /aˈd͡ʒi.li/ purpose, sake ya /ja/ of (kwa ajili ya = for) mama /ˈma.ma/ mother.CL1 Nilichagua /ni.li.t͡ʃaˈɡu.a/ ni-li-chagu-a: 1SG-PAST-choose-FV rangi /ˈra.ŋɡi/ colour.CL9 ya /ja/ of.CL9 kijani /kiˈd͡ʒa.ni/ green lakini /laˈki.ni/ but sijui /siˈd͡ʒu.i/ si-jui: 1SG.NEG-know.NEG anapenda /a.naˈpe.nda/ a-na-pend-a: 3SG-PRES-like-FV rangi /ˈra.ŋɡi/ colour.CL9 gani /ˈɡa.ni/ what.kind (invariable)
27.20a Zawadi Zawadi Kwa for nini what hukuniuliza you-did-not-ask-me kwanza first
27.20b Zawadi /zaˈwa.di/ Zawadi Kwa /kwa/ for (kwa nini = why) nini /ˈni.ni/ what hukuniuliza /hu.ku.ni.uˈli.za/ hu-ku-ni-uliz-a: 2SG.NEG-PAST.NEG-1SG.OBJ-ask-FV kwanza /ˈkwa.nza/ first
27.21a Hamisi Hamisi Nilitaka I-wanted iwe it-be siri secret Tutamwambia we-will-tell-her mama mother nini what akirudi if-she-returns
27.21b Hamisi /haˈmi.si/ Hamisi Nilitaka /ni.liˈta.ka/ ni-li-tak-a: 1SG-PAST-want-FV iwe /ˈi.we/ i-w-e: CL9-be-SBJV siri /ˈsi.ri/ secret.CL9 Tutamwambia /tu.ta.mwaˈmbi.a/ tu-ta-m-ambi-a: 1PL-FUT-3SG.OBJ-tell-FV mama /ˈma.ma/ mother.CL1 nini /ˈni.ni/ what akirudi /a.kiˈru.di/ a-ki-rudi: 3SG-COND-return
27.22a Zawadi Zawadi Mimi I ninajua I-know Mama mother anapenda she-likes rangi colour nyekundu red si not kijani green
27.22b Zawadi /zaˈwa.di/ Zawadi Mimi /ˈmi.mi/ I (emphatic) ninajua /ni.naˈd͡ʒu.a/ ni-na-jua: 1SG-PRES-know Mama /ˈma.ma/ mother.CL1 anapenda /a.naˈpe.nda/ a-na-pend-a: 3SG-PRES-like-FV rangi /ˈra.ŋɡi/ colour.CL9 nyekundu /ɲeˈku.ndu/ red.CL9 si /si/ COP.NEG (is not) kijani /kiˈd͡ʒa.ni/ green
27.23a Hamisi Hamisi Una you-have uhakika certainty Mama mother alikuambia she-told-you nini what kuhusu about rangi colour
27.23b Hamisi /haˈmi.si/ Hamisi Una /ˈu.na/ u-na: 2SG-have uhakika /u.haˈki.ka/ certainty.CL11 Mama /ˈma.ma/ mother.CL1 alikuambia /a.li.ku.aˈmbi.a/ a-li-ku-ambi-a: 3SG-PAST-2SG.OBJ-tell-FV nini /ˈni.ni/ what kuhusu /kuˈhu.su/ about rangi /ˈra.ŋɡi/ colour.CL9
27.24a Zawadi Zawadi Wiki week iliyopita which-passed aliniambia she-told-me kwamba that anapenda she-likes nguo clothes nyekundu red
27.24b Zawadi /zaˈwa.di/ Zawadi Wiki /ˈwi.ki/ week.CL9 iliyopita /i.li.joˈpi.ta/ i-li-yo-pit-a: CL9-PAST-REL.CL9-pass-FV (= last) aliniambia /a.li.ni.aˈmbi.a/ a-li-ni-ambi-a: 3SG-PAST-1SG.OBJ-tell-FV kwamba /ˈkwa.mba/ that anapenda /a.naˈpe.nda/ a-na-pend-a: 3SG-PRES-like-FV nguo /ˈŋɡu.o/ clothes.CL10 nyekundu /ɲeˈku.ndu/ red.CL10
27.25a Hamisi Hamisi Basi then tufanye we-should-do nini what sasa now
27.25b Hamisi /haˈmi.si/ Hamisi Basi /ˈba.si/ then, so tufanye /tuˈfa.ɲe/ tu-fany-e: 1PL-do-SBJV nini /ˈni.ni/ what sasa /ˈsa.sa/ now
27.26a Zawadi Zawadi Turudi let-us-return sokoni to-the-market kesho tomorrow tubadilishe let-us-exchange kitambaa cloth
27.26b Zawadi /zaˈwa.di/ Zawadi Turudi /tuˈru.di/ tu-rud-i: 1PL-return-SBJV sokoni /soˈko.ni/ soko-ni: market.CL5-LOC kesho /ˈke.ʃo/ tomorrow tubadilishe /tu.ba.diˈli.ʃe/ tu-badil-ish-e: 1PL-change-CAUS-SBJV kitambaa /ki.taˈmba.a/ cloth.CL7
27.27a Hamisi Hamisi Sawa fine Kwa for hiyo that mama mother anapenda she-likes nini what kingine other
27.27b Hamisi /haˈmi.si/ Hamisi Sawa /ˈsa.wa/ equal (= OK) Kwa /kwa/ for (kwa hiyo = therefore) hiyo /ˈhi.jo/ that.CL9.REF mama /ˈma.ma/ mother.CL1 anapenda /a.naˈpe.nda/ a-na-pend-a: 3SG-PRES-like-FV nini /ˈni.ni/ what kingine /kiˈŋɡi.ne/ ki-ingine: CL7-other (= else)
27.28a Zawadi Zawadi Anapenda she-likes chai tea ya of tangawizi ginger na and chapati chapatis Tupike let-us-cook leo today jioni evening
27.28b Zawadi /zaˈwa.di/ Zawadi Anapenda /a.naˈpe.nda/ a-na-pend-a: 3SG-PRES-like-FV chai /ˈt͡ʃa.i/ tea.CL9 ya /ja/ of.CL9 tangawizi /ta.ŋɡaˈwi.zi/ ginger.CL9 na /na/ and chapati /t͡ʃaˈpa.ti/ chapati.CL9 Tupike /tuˈpi.ke/ tu-pik-e: 1PL-cook-SBJV leo /ˈle.o/ today jioni /d͡ʒiˈo.ni/ evening.CL9
27.29a Hamisi Hamisi Wazo idea zuri good Mama mother atafurahi she-will-be-happy sana very
27.29b Hamisi /haˈmi.si/ Hamisi Wazo /ˈwa.zo/ idea.CL5 zuri /ˈzu.ri/ good.CL5 Mama /ˈma.ma/ mother.CL1 atafurahi /a.ta.fuˈra.hi/ a-ta-furahi: 3SG-FUT-be.happy sana /ˈsa.na/ very
27.30a Zawadi Zawadi Basi then nini what kimebaki has-remained ndani inside ya of mfuko bag Tuanze let-us-begin kupika to-cook
27.30b Zawadi /zaˈwa.di/ Zawadi Basi /ˈba.si/ then, so nini /ˈni.ni/ what (as subject) kimebaki /ki.meˈba.ki/ ki-me-baki: CL7-PERF-remain ndani /ˈnda.ni/ inside ya /ja/ of mfuko /m̩ˈfu.ko/ bag.CL3 Tuanze /tuˈa.nze/ tu-anz-e: 1PL-begin-SBJV kupika /kuˈpi.ka/ ku-pik-a: INF-cook-FV
Part B: Natural Sentences
27.16 Zawadi: Karibu Hamisi, umenunua nini sokoni leo? → "Welcome, Hamisi. What have you bought at the market today?"
27.17 Hamisi: Nimenunua samaki na mboga, na kuna kitu kingine kwenye mfuko huu. → "I've bought fish and vegetables, and there's something else in this bag."
27.18 Zawadi: Kitu gani? Nionyeshe tafadhali. → "What sort of thing? Show me, please."
27.19 Hamisi: Ni kitambaa kwa ajili ya mama. Nilichagua rangi ya kijani, lakini sijui anapenda rangi gani. → "It's a cloth for Mother. I chose green, but I don't know what colour she likes."
27.20 Zawadi: Kwa nini hukuniuliza kwanza? → "Why didn't you ask me first?"
27.21 Hamisi: Nilitaka iwe siri. Tutamwambia mama nini akirudi? → "I wanted it to be a secret. What shall we tell Mother if she comes back?"
27.22 Zawadi: Mimi ninajua. Mama anapenda rangi nyekundu, si kijani. → "I know. Mother likes red, not green."
27.23 Hamisi: Una uhakika? Mama alikuambia nini kuhusu rangi? → "Are you sure? What did Mother tell you about colours?"
27.24 Zawadi: Wiki iliyopita aliniambia kwamba anapenda nguo nyekundu. → "Last week she told me that she likes red clothes."
27.25 Hamisi: Basi tufanye nini sasa? → "Then what should we do now?"
27.26 Zawadi: Turudi sokoni kesho tubadilishe kitambaa. → "Let's go back to the market tomorrow and exchange the cloth."
27.27 Hamisi: Sawa. Kwa hiyo mama anapenda nini kingine? → "Fine. So what else does Mother like?"
27.28 Zawadi: Anapenda chai ya tangawizi na chapati. Tupike leo jioni! → "She likes ginger tea and chapatis. Let's cook this evening!"
27.29 Hamisi: Wazo zuri! Mama atafurahi sana. → "A good idea! Mother will be very happy."
27.30 Zawadi: Basi nini kimebaki ndani ya mfuko? Tuanze kupika! → "Then what is left in the bag? Let's start cooking!"
Part C: Target Language Only
27.16 Zawadi: Karibu Hamisi, umenunua nini sokoni leo?
27.17 Hamisi: Nimenunua samaki na mboga, na kuna kitu kingine kwenye mfuko huu.
27.18 Zawadi: Kitu gani? Nionyeshe tafadhali.
27.19 Hamisi: Ni kitambaa kwa ajili ya mama. Nilichagua rangi ya kijani, lakini sijui anapenda rangi gani.
27.20 Zawadi: Kwa nini hukuniuliza kwanza?
27.21 Hamisi: Nilitaka iwe siri. Tutamwambia mama nini akirudi?
27.22 Zawadi: Mimi ninajua. Mama anapenda rangi nyekundu, si kijani.
27.23 Hamisi: Una uhakika? Mama alikuambia nini kuhusu rangi?
27.24 Zawadi: Wiki iliyopita aliniambia kwamba anapenda nguo nyekundu.
27.25 Hamisi: Basi tufanye nini sasa?
27.26 Zawadi: Turudi sokoni kesho tubadilishe kitambaa.
27.27 Hamisi: Sawa. Kwa hiyo mama anapenda nini kingine?
27.28 Zawadi: Anapenda chai ya tangawizi na chapati. Tupike leo jioni!
27.29 Hamisi: Wazo zuri! Mama atafurahi sana.
27.30 Zawadi: Basi nini kimebaki ndani ya mfuko? Tuanze kupika!
Part D: Grammar Notes on the Dialogue
- nini after the verb. umenunua nini sokoni (27.16), "what have you bought at the market?"; tutamwambia mama nini (27.21), "what shall we tell Mother?": the person told comes first and nini follows it; alikuambia nini kuhusu rangi (27.23), "what did she tell you about colours?" - gani after a noun. Kitu gani? (27.18), "what sort of thing?"; anapenda rangi gani (27.19), "what colour she likes". Hamisi's rangi gani is a question placed inside his own statement (sijui, "I don't know"), with no change of order. - kwa nini. Kwa nini hukuniuliza kwanza? (27.20), "why didn't you ask me first?" The negative past hukuniuliza is hu-ku-ni-uliza: the ku- of the negative past, then the object ni, "me". - The subjunctive for "should". Tufanye nini? (27.25), "what should we do?"; Turudi ... tubadilishe (27.26), "let's go back and exchange"; Tupike, Tuanze (27.28, 27.30), "let's cook", "let's begin". The subjunctive ends in -e, or -i when the verb already ends in -i (turudi). - kwa hiyo and nini kingine. Kwa hiyo (27.27) is "therefore", "so". Nini kingine, "what else", has kingine, class 7, because nini is treated as "what thing" (kitu). - nini as the subject. nini kimebaki (27.30), "what has remained?" The class 7 prefix ki- agrees with the thing that is unknown, as in Nini kimetokea? (27.11). - si. Mama anapenda rangi nyekundu, si kijani (27.22): si is "is not", contrasting one thing with another, as in Lesson 26 (si langu). - A relative clause for "last". Wiki iliyopita (27.24) is literally "the week which has passed", that is, "last week". - Colours. Rangi is "colour", class 9. Rangi ya kijani (27.19) is "green", with ya linking the two, and rangi nyekundu (27.22) is "red", with the adjective following rangi directly. Nguo nyekundu (27.24), "red clothes", has the same adjective.
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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). Two vowels side by side are two syllables: hii /ˈhi.i/, huu /ˈhu.u/, kitambaa /ki.taˈmba.a/, sijui /siˈd͡ʒu.i/, ulinunua /u.li.nuˈnu.a/, kimetokea /ki.me.toˈke.a/.
Stress. Always on the next-to-last syllable: NI-ni, GA-ni, u-na-TA-ka, ki-me-to-KE-a. Adding a prefix or an ending moves the stress to keep it there: tufanye tu-FA-nye; nikufanyie ni-ku-fa-NYI-e.
Consonant spellings to know from this lesson:
- g = /ɡ/, always hard: gani, gari, tangawizi - ng = /ŋɡ/: rangi, kingine, nguo, tangawizi - ny = /ɲ/: unafanya, kwenye, nyekundu, onyesha - ch = /t͡ʃ/: chai, chapati, nilichagua - j = /d͡ʒ/: jana, jikoni, jioni, kijani - sh = /ʃ/: kesho, tubadilishe, nionyeshe - dh = /ð/ as in English "this": tafadhali - kw = /kw/: kwa, kwenye, kwanza, kwamba; the w is a glide - m or n before another consonant at the start of a word is its own syllable: mtu /ˈm̩.tu/, mfuko /m̩ˈfu.ko/, mgeni /m̩ˈɡe.ni/, nchi /ˈn̩.t͡ʃi/.
Orthography. Swahili uses the Latin alphabet without accents; q and x are not used. nini is always one word, and kwa nini is two. gani is written separately from its noun: rangi gani, habari gani. Swahili questions with nini or gani need no particle and no change of word order: the question word, the question mark and the rising voice mark the question.
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