Ndoto ya Amerika - Dream of America by Ken Walibora - Swahili words

n class (*sg = pl*) *y /z* possessive prefix *i /zi* object prefix *ya/za* of

ndoto

dream

Ndoto ya Amerika

n class (*sg =pl*) *y/z* possessive prefix *i/zi* object prefix *ya /za* of

sura

chapter

sura ya kwanza (first chapter)

ji/ma class *l /y* possessive prefix *li /ya* object prefix *la /ya* of

jina

name

*Jina langu* ni Isaya Yano. (*My name* is Isaya Yano.) *majina yangu* (my names) *Jina la rafiki* (the friend's name)

ni

is

Jina langu *ni* Isaya Yano.

lakini

but

- lakini rafiki zangu huniita...(But my -friends used to call me...) - Jina langu ni Isaya Yano. *Lakini* rafiki zangu huniita Isa.

n class (sg = pl) y /z possessive prefix but instead of (i /zi object prefix ya/za of) it follows the class m/wa class for humans (a/wa. object prefix wa of sg= pl) e.g. rafiki yangu. my friend rafiki zangu my friends rafiki yangu anapenda kula. (my friend likes to eat) rafiki zangu wanapenda kula. (my friends like to eat.) rafiki wa baba - my father's friend (s)

rafiki

a friend

- rafiki *y*angu (my friend) - rafiki *z*angu (my friend*s*) - rafiki *wa* baba (father*'s* friend) - rafiki *wa* baba (father*'s* friend*s*)

prefix + ngu the prefix changes according to class and number of the object that I possess. e.g. ji/ma class - l + angu for sg (jina *l*angu my name) - z + angu for pl (jina *z*angu my names) n class - y + angu for sg (rafiki *y*angu my friend ) - z + angu for pl (rafiki *z*angu my friends)

-angu

my

- jina langu - rafiki yangu

kuita

to call / name / refer to

nimekuita wewe kwa jina lako (I have called you by your name. - me = perfect tense infix)

hu + verb stem is the habitual tense. There is only one verbform for all persons. huita - I use to call you use to call he /she it uses to call we use to call you use to call they use to call if there is an infix like -ni (me), -ku (you) etc. it goes in between hu and the verbstem -ita e.g. hu*ni*ita (hu+*ni*+ita) You use to call *me* /he uses to call *me*... hu*ku*ita (hu+*ku*+ita) I use to call *you*/ we use to call *you* /he uses to call *you*...

huita

calls / used to call/usually call

Rafiki zangu huniita Isa.(hu-ni (me)-ita)

not to confound with ni = am/are/is. Mimi *ni* rafiki yako. (I *am* your friend.) -ni = in/at/to (suffix) nyumbani (at home) Ninaenda mkutanoni. (I am going to a meeting.)

-ni-

me (infix)

hu*ni*ita (they use to call *me*)

kwa

for /by

kwa jina langu kwa ufupi (in short /by the shortening)

u class *w/z* possessive prefix *u* object prefix *wa/za* of some words of this class have no plural forms as udongo (dirt/soil/clay) or ufupi others have a pl form without u ukuti = a wall > kuti =walls ufunguo = key > funguo = keys still others add ny- to form their pl ufa = crack > *ny*ufa = cracks

ufupi

brevity /shortness

Lakini rafiki zangu huniita kwa ufupi Isa.

kupenda (ku class = infinive) to love/like basic tense markers (infixes) -na- present tense -li- past tense -me- perfect tense -ta- future tense Personal markers (prefixes) Ni - I U - you A- he /she Tu - we Mn - you(pl) Wa - they Ni-na-penda (I - present tense - verb stem (without ku-) I love wamependa (they -perfect-stem) they have loved tulipenda (we -past -stem) we loved

kupenda

to love/like

ninapenda rafiki zangu (I like my friends)

short form of ninapenda

Napenda

I like it

Napenda zaidi waniitavyo rafiki zangu. (I like more what my friends call me.)

zaidi

more

Napenda zaidi...

waita = Gnomic tense 3 pl > a neutral tense used in literature for general statements as 'water is blue' 'mother knows' 'birds fly' can take infix e.g . -ni = me wa - ni - ita they call me (always/every body knows that / as a matter of fact)

waita

they call

Rafiki zangu waniita Isa. (My friends call me Isa.)

waniitavyo wa - ita gnomic tense = they called (always) -ni- me -vyo what >what they (always) called me

-vyo

that /which (suffix)

Napenda zaidi waniita*vyo* rafiki zangu. (I like more *what* my friends call me (all the time).)

kwetu

our(s) / our home / our place

Kwetu ni kijiji cha Sangura. (Our home is the village of Sangura.)

ki /vi class *ch /vy* possessive prefix *ki/vi* object prefix *cha /vya*. of kijiji village> vijiji villages kijiji changu - my village vijiji vyangu - my villages

kijiji

village

Kwetu ni kijiji cha Sangura. (Our home is the village of Sangura.)

katika

in /on /upon /out of /off / among / in the middle of (an action)

kijiji cha Sangura katika tarafa ya Cherangani (the village of Sangura in the district of Cherangani )

-ni

in /at /to (suffix)

- wilaya*ni* (*in* the region) - nyumba*ni* (*at* home) - Ninaenda nyumba*ni*. (I go home.) - Ninaenda mkutano*ni* (I go *to* a meeting.)

wilaya

district/region /area

wilayani Trans-Nzoia (in the Trans-Nzoia region) Kwetu ni kijiji cha Sangura katika tarafa ya Cherangani, Wilayani Trans-Nzoia. (Our home is the village of Sangura in the district of Cherangani in the region of Trans-Nzoia.)

ku class (infinitive) Watch out. Some words with a short stem don't always drop the ku- in conjugation. kuwa is one of them so 'he was' is not aliwa BUT alikuwa !!!

kuwa

to be

Baba alikuwa mgonjwa. (Father was sick.)

mgonjwa

sick /invalid /a sick person

Baba alikuwa mgonjwa.

like kuwa, kufa also doesn't always drop the ku- in conjugation

kufa

to die

alikufa (he died)

consecutive positive the action is happening because of another fact mentioned before. alikuwa mgonjwa na akafa He was sick and so he died.

akafa

(therefore) he died

Baba alikuwa mgonjwa na akafa.

-me- infix =perfect tense marker

nimekuwa

I have been

nimekuwa nikiishi (I have been living)

ku class /infinitive ninaishi - I live niliishi - I lived nimeishi - I have been living nitaishi - I will live nikiishi - when/if time when I am living this form can also be used as a present participle lived /living nimekuwa nikiishi I have been living / I have lived

kuishi

to live

nimekuwa nikiishi na mamangu (I have been living with my mother)

na

and /with

na mamangu (with my mother)

mamangu

my mother (short for mama yangu)

nimekuwa nikiishi na mamangu

tangu +infinive = since doing /since s.o. did tangu baba kufa = since (my) father died

tangu

since

tangu baba kufa (since my father died) Nimekuwa nikiishi na mamangu tangu baba kufa. (I have been living with my mother since my father died )

kukumbuka

to remember /recall

ninakumbuka (I remember)

u class noun sg wakati pl nyakati *w/z* possessive prefix *u* object prefix *wa/za* of

wakati

time / timing/ tense /when

wakati fulani (a certain time / some time). nyakati (times)

fulani

a certain (thing/person)

Ninakumbuka wakati fulani. (I remember a certain time)

sana

very much

kuchukia sana. (to hate very much) dogo sana (very small)

kuchukia

to hate

nilichukia (I hated). Nilichukia kwetu sana. (I hated our home a lot.)

the -po- infix = when is inserted after the tense marker nilichukia (past tense marker -li-) I hated nilipochukia - when I hated

-po-

when - infix

nilipochukia (when I hated). Ninakumbuka wakati fulani nilipochukia kwetu sana. (I recall a certain time when I hated our home very much.)

Mimi - I Wewe - you Yeye - he/she Sisi -we Ninyi - you (pl) Wao - they

sisi

we

Sisi si matajiri. (We are not rich)

Mimi *ni* tajiri. - I *am* rich (=a rich person ) Mimi *si* tajiri. - I *am not* rich.(=a rich person ) Wewe ni tajiri. - You are rich.(=a rich person ) Wewe si tajiri. -You are not rich.(=a rich person ) Yeye ni tajiri. - He is rich.(=a rich person ) Yeye si tajiri. He is not rich.(=a rich person ) Sisi ni matajiri - We are rich people. Sisi si matajiri - We are not rich people. Wewe na mimi ni matajiri. -You and I we are rich people. ....

si

am not/ are not /is not

Sisi si matajiri. (We are not rich )

matajiri

rich

Sisi si matajiri. (We are not rich.)

n class (sg =pl) y/z possessive prefix i/zi object prefix ya /za of

nyumba

house

nyumba yetu (our house)

n class (sg =pl) y/z possessive prefix *i/zi object prefix* ya /za of i is the verb prefix for sg nouns of the n class z for pl nyumba ina (the house has) nyumba zina (the houses have)

ina

has ( for n class subject)

nyumba yetu ina... (our house has...)

u class noun sg ukuta wall pl kuta walls *w/z* possessive prefix *u* object prefix *wa/za* of

kuta

walls

nyumba yetu ina kuta. (our house had walls) kuta za nyumba yetu (the walls of our house)

u class noun no pl w possessive prefix u object prefix wa of kuta za udongo wa nyumba yetu (the clay walls of our house)

udongo

soil / mud /clay

kuta za udongo (clay walls). Nyumba yetu ina kuta za udongo. (Our house has clay walls.)

sg. pl that. those M/wa class. huyo. hao M/Mi class. huo. hiyo ji/ma class hilo. hayo ki/vi class hicho. hivyo N class. hiyo. hizo U class. huo. hizo e.g. rafiki huyo. that friend paka hao those cats (animals follow m/wa class for every prefix) mlango huo. that door milango hiyo. those doors

hizo

those (u class/n class -pl)

kuta hizo (those walls)

kutengeneza

to repair /mend /arrange/edit /correct /build

Ametengeneza kuta za nyumba hiyo. (He has built the walls of that house.)

-w- infix makes a verb passive

kutengenezwa

to be made /built

kuta hizo zimetengenezwa (Those walls have been built)

M/mi -class w/y -possessive prefix u/i - object prefix wa /ya off

mviringo

circle/circular shape /round shape/ sphere (m/mi class)

Kuta hizo zimetengenezwa mviringo. (Those walls have been built in a circular shape.)

kuezeka

to roof (a house)

kuezekwa

to be covered /roofed (passive)

kuezekwa (kwa) nyasi (to be thatched)

ma- class pl. manyasi l/y - possessive prefix li/ya - object prefix la /ya - of

nyasi

grass (ma- class)

Nyumba yetu imeezekwa nyasi juu. (Our house has been thatched (above))

juu

on /above

Nyumba yetu imeezekwa nyasi juu. (Our house was thatched [above])

m/wa class (humans /jobs /animals) w possessive prefix a /wa object prefix wa of mwalimu wangu anaenda mkutanoni. walimu wangu wanaenda mkutanoni. (My teacher is going to a meeting. My teachers are going a meeting.)

mwalimu

teacher

mwalimu wangu wa Kiswahili (My Swahili teacher)

kuambia

to tell

aliambia (he told). aliniambia (he told me). Mwalimu wangu wa Kiswahili aliniambia (My Swahili teacher told me)

n class (sg = pl) y /z possessive prefix i /zi object prefix ya/za of aina hiyo. that type aina hizo. those types

aina

kind /type

aina hiyo (that type)

kuita - to call huita - to (always) call (habitual) kuwa huitwa to be (always) called (habitual passive)

kuwa huitwa

to be called

kuwa nyumba aina hiyo huitwa... (that type of house is usually called...)

nyumba ya msonge

a hut

Mwalimu wangu wa Kiswahili aliniambia kuwa nyumba aino hiyo huitwa nyumba ya msonge. (My Swahili teacher told me that that type of house is usually called a hut.)

from kuwa - to be -ki- if /when time

ukiwa

if you were /when you were

ukiwa ndani ya nyumba yetu (if you were inside of our house)

n class (sg =pl) y/z possessive prefix i/zi object prefix ya /za of

ndani

inside (n class)

ndani ya nyumba (the inside of the house)

kuweza

unaweza

you can/you are able

unaweza kuona

ji/ma class l /y possessive prefix li /ya object prefix la /ya of

wingu

cloud (ji/ma -class)

unaweza kuona mawingu (you can see the clouds)

kukusanya

collect/ gather/accumulate /assemble

yakikusanyika (when they gathered). Unaweza kuona mawingu yakikusanyika (you could see the clouds when they gathered)

*ya-* - ma class (mawingu = clouds is ma class) *-li* past tense *-kusanya* verb stem they gathered

yalikusanya

they collected /gathered (Ji/ma class pl subject)

mawingu yalikusanya (the clouds gathered)

*Stative verbs* *explain the current situation someone is in or enters into* e.g. - *kuelewa* - to understand - * kueleweka* - to be understood > *uNAeleweka* - you are understandable (entering the situation) *uMEeleweka* - you are understood (you are already being in the situation) *don't need an actor/unlike passive verbs* e.g. -*passive*: mlango umefungwa *na mwalimu* (the door has been closed by the teacher) (an action) - *stative*: mlango umefungika (the door is closed) (a situation)

yalikusanyika

they were gathered (stative verb form/ma class)

mawingu yalikusanyika

*Construction of Stative verbs* - Verbs with stem vowel *a, i, o, u > + -ik-* e.g. - kupanda - to climb - kupandika - to become climbable / it can be climbed > ukuta wa mawe uNApandika (the stone wall is climbable) ukuta wa mawe uMEpandika (the stone wall has been climbed) ukuta wa mawe hupandiki (the stone wall is not climbable. /You can't climb the wall) - kula -to eat > kulika edible > chakula kinalika (the food is edible) chakula hakiliki (the food is not edible) chakula kimelika (the food has been eaten and it is gone)

yakikusanyika

when they are gathered (stative verb + ki/if, when)

unaweza kuona mawingu yakikusanyika (you can see the clouds when they are gathered)

angani

in the sky /skyborn

unaweza kuona mawingu yakikusanyika angani (you can see the clouds when they are gathered in the sky)

kupitia

through /by

kupitia mashimo (through the holes)

ji/ma class l /y possessive prefix li /ya object prefix la /ya of

shimo

hole (ji/ma - class)

mashimo yaliyoko paani (the holes that were in the roof)

*ya-* - ji/ma class pl (> mashimo /clouds) *-li-* - past tense *-yo-* relative (ji/ma- pl) which *-ko* locative - there which were there

yaliyoko

which were (ma -class)

kupitia mashimo yaliyoko paani.(through the holes that were in the roof)

ma- class pl. mapaa l/y - possessive prefix li/ya - object prefix la /ya - off

paa

roof

paani. (in the roof) Ukiwa ndani ya nyumba yetu unaweza kuona mawingu yakikusanyika angani kupitia mashimo yaliyoko paani. (When you are inside of our house you can see the clouds when they are gathered in the sky through the holes in the roof.)

kunya

to rain

-esh- infix = augmentative much/hard

kunyesha

to rain hard (augmentative)

-po- infix - at a certain place - when ku - prefix - infinitive - gerund aspect (-ing) (especially when combined with a locative)

kunaponyesha

when it is raining hard

wakati kunaponyesha, maji ya mvua hupitia katika mashimo. (At times when it's raining hard the rain water would pass through the holes.)

ma -class (pl only) for this word y - possessive prefix ya - object prefix ya - off

maji

water (ma class/pl only)

n class (sg =pl) y/z possessive prefix i/zi object prefix ya /za of

mvua

rain (n class)

maji ya mvua (rain water)

kupitia (verb)

to pass by /visit briefly

maji yanapitia katika mashimo (water passes through the holes)

hupitia

would pass through (habitual)

maji ya mvua hupitia katika mashimo (rain water would pass through the holes)

sg. pl m/wa class. huyo. hao m/mi class. huo. hiyo ji/ma class. hilo. hayo ki/vi class. hicho. hivyo n. class. hiyo. hizo u class. huo. hizo pa class. hapo. hapo ku class. huko. huko mu class. humo. humo

hayo

that which we just talked about / the aforementioned. (ma class pl )

mashimo hayo (the said holes /the holes we just talked about)

kuanga

to fly /float

kuanguka

to fall (stative verb)

Applicative Verbs - noting an additional participant in the action who is not the actor - an indirect object / or an object used for the action e.g. Er belädt den Wagen mit Heu. He loads the car with straw. - benefactive /malefactive causes an effect e.g. be-atmen/ to revive s.o. One causes s.o. else to breathe/live through one's action.

kuangukia

to fall on someone / sthg ( applicative verb)

maji kuangukia malazi yetu (water falling on our beds, making them wet)

malazi

bedding/ things to sleep on (ma class/pl only)

malazi yetu. (our bedding) Wakati kunaponyesha, maji ya mvua hupitia katika mashimo na kuangukia malazi yetu. (At times when it is raining hard the rainwater uses to pass through those holes and fall on our bedding.)

kunya - to rain kunyesha -to rain hard (augmentative -esh-) mvua inyesha - it raines hard / the rain falls hard mvua inyeshapo - when it rains hard (-po when/ where)

inyeshapo

when it rains hard (for n class)

mvua inyeshapo (when it rains hard /when the rain falls hard)

usiku

at night

Mvua inyeshapo usiku (when it raines hard at night)

kulazima

to force

hulazimika - hu- habitual tense one verb form for all persons

kulazimika

to have to /to be forced/to be necessary (stative of kulazima)

mimi na mamangu hulazimika... (my mother and I are forced to.. )

kuhamia

to move / imigrate

causative verbs indicate that a subject either causes someone or something else to do or be something or causes a change in state of a non-volitional event. kuhamisha malazi - to evacuate the bedding

kuhamisha

to transfer / evacuate / move / relocate (causative of kuhamia)

Mvua inyeshapo usiku mimi na mamangu hulazimika kuhamisha malazi. (When it rains hard at night my mother and I are forced to evacuate the bedding.)

hii - this noun class. sg. pl M/wa.* huyu. hawa* M/Mi. *huu. hii* ji/ma. *hili. haya* Ki/Vi. *hiki. hivi* N. *hu. hizi* u. *huu. hizi* pa. *hapa. hapa* ku. *huku. huku* mu. *humu. humu*

hapa

here (inflected form of hii = this)

hapa na pale (here and there)

-le - that noun class. sg. pl M/wa. *jule. wale* M/Mi. *ule. ile* ji/ma. *lile. yale* Ki/Vi. *kile. vile* N. *ile. zile* u. *uke. zile* pa. *pale. pale* ku. *kule. kule* mu. *mle. mle*

pale

there (inflected form of -le = that)

Mvua inyeshapo usiku mimi na mamangu hulazimika kuhamisha malazi hapa na pale. (when it is raining hard at night my mother and I have to move the bedding from here to there)

kutafuta

to search / to look for something

kutafuta mahali (to look for a place)

mahali

place (= pahali)

Mimi na mamangu hulazimika kuhamisha malazi hapa na pale nyumbani kutafuta mahali. (My mother and I had to move the bedding from here to there in the house searching for a place)

kuvuja

to leak

pasipovuja pasi - if not po - where -vuja - to leak where it doesn't leak

pasipovuja

without leaking/ where it is not leaking

Mvua inyeshapo usiku mimi na mamangu hulazimika kuhamisha malazi hapa na pale nyumbani kutafuta mahali pasipovuja. (When it rains hard at night mum and I have to move the bedding here and there in the house looking for a spot where it doesn't leak)

ji/ma class Shamba - mashamba l /y possessive prefix li /ya object prefix la /ya of

shamba (ji /ma class)

the farm

Shamba letu (our farm)

dogo

small (ji/ ma class sg)

Shamba letu ni dogo sana. (Our farm is very small.)

kukua

to grow

mazao yalikua (the crops grow)

ji/ma class zao - mazao l /y possessive prefix li /ya object prefix la /ya of

mazao

produce / offspring /crops (ji/ma class(

mazao yetu yalikua (our crops grow)

causative verb kukua - to grow /to bigger + -z- = causative kuku-z-a = to cause sthg to get bigger to grow something hukuza habitual form of kukuza

kukuza

to grow something. (causative verb)

Mama hukuza mazao (Mum grows crops)

kama

like /as

vile

such (inflection of -le that/ ki/vi)

kama vile (such as)

mbalimbali

far off /distant /various/in various ways/differently (= mbali)

mazao mbalimbali (various crops)

ma class y possessive prefix ya object prefix ya of

mahindi

corn (ma class)

mazao kama vile mahindi (crops such as corn)

ma -class (pl only) for this word y - possessive prefix ya - object prefix ya - off

maharage

beans (= maharagwe)(ma class -pl only)

Mamangu hukuza maharage. ((My mom grows beans)

M/mi -class w/y -possessive prefix u/i - object prefix wa /ya off mtama / mitama

mtama

millet (m/mi class)

mtama na mawele (millet and pearl millet)

u class noun sg uwele pl mawele w/z possessive prefix u object prefix wa/za of

mawele

pearl millet (*u class !*)

n class (sg =pl) y/z possessive prefix i/zi object prefix ya /za of

mboga

vegetables ( n class)

Mama hukuza mazao mbalimbali kama vile mahindi, maharage, mtama, mawele na mboga. (Mum grows various crops such as corn, beans, millet and vegetables.)

kisha

then

kuuza

to sell

Applicative Verbs - noting an additional participant in the action who is not the actor - an indirect object / or an object used for the action e.g. Er belädt den Wagen mit Heu. He loads the car with straw. - benefactive /malefactive causes an effect e.g. be-atmen/ to revive s.o. One causes s.o. else to breathe/live through one's action.

kuuzia

to sell to s.o. (applicative)

consecutive positive the action is happening because of another fact mentioned before. alikuwa mgonjwa na akafa He was sick and so he died. Mamangu hukuza mazao na kisha akawauzia. My mother grows crops and then she sells them to s.o. a- 3 Sg - she -ka- consecutive -so -wa- 3pl them -uz- verb to sell -i- applicative - to s.o. -a end of verb. = so she sells them to s o.

akawauzia

so she sells them (consecutive) to s.o. (applicative)

m/wa class (humans /jobs /animals) w possessive prefix a /wa object prefix wa of mtu person watu people

watu

people (M/Wa class)

Kisha akuwauzia watu. (So then she sells them to people.) watu katika soko (the people on the market)

ji/ma class soko - masoko l /y possessive prefix li /ya object prefix la /ya of

soko

market (ji/ma class)

katika soko. (on the market) soko la Sangura. (the market of Sangura) Kisha akawauzia watu katika soko la Sangura. (So then she sells them to s.o. on the market of Sangura.)

n class (sg =pl) y/z possessive prefix i/zi object prefix ya /za of

mara

time (n-class)

mara kwa mara. (from time to time) mara moja (once /immediately/right away)

-ingine -other/another M/wa --- mwingine ----- wengine M/Mi ---- mwingine ----- mingine Ji/Ma --- jingine ---------- mengine Ki/Vi ---- kingine ---------- vingine N --------- nyingine -------- nyingine U --------- mwingine ------- nyingine Pa ------- pengine ---------- pengine Ku ------- kwingine --------- kwingine Mu ------ mwingine -------- mwingine

nyingine

another /other (n -class)

mara nyingine (another time)

akinichapa. ki/if a- 3sg -she -ki- when/if -ni- me -chapa - verb - beat when she beat me *but -ki- is also used in a different way* showing the simultaneity of two action. verb 1 with po -+ usually li (past) nilipokataa -when I refused verb 2 + ki ,preceeded by a non present form of kuwa alikuwa akinichapa she beat me nilipokataa alikuwa akinichapa (when I refused she beat me)

kuchapa

to beat /hit /defeat / print

akinichapa (when she beat me)

the -po- infix = when is inserted after the tense marker nilichukia (past tense marker -li-) I hated nilipochukia - when I hated nilipokataa -when I refused

kukataa

to refuse

nilipokataa (when I refused)

object infixes -ni- me -ku- you -m-. him/her - tu- us -wa- you (pl) -wa- them kunisaidia - to help me kukusaidia - to help you kumsaidia - to help her ...

kusaidia

to help

kumsaidia. (to help her) nilipokataa kumsaidia (when I refused to help her)

ki /vi class ch /vy possessive prefix ki/vi object prefix cha /vya. of kiboko / viboko

kiboko

hippopotamus /whip (made of hippo hide) ki/vi class

Mara nyingine mama alikuwa akinichapa viboko nilipokataa kumsaidia. (Another time mum beat me with whips when I refused to help her.)

kulima

to plough/ to cultivate/ to farm

Mara nyingine mama alikuwa akinichapa viboko nilipokataa kumsaidia kulima shamba. (Another time mum beat me with whips when I refused to help her plough the field.)

ndiposa

consequently/so

consecutive positive the action is happening because of another fact mentioned before. alikuwa mgonjwa na akafa He was sick and so he died. Mama alikuwa akinichapa viboko nikachukia... Mum beat me with whips and so I hated ...

nikachukia

I hated it

ndiposa nikachukia nyumbani (so I hated home)

hata

even

Ndiposa nikachukia nyumbani hata zaidi. (So I hated home even more.)

kadhalika

likewise/also / and so on

kadhalika nilichukia (I also hated)

shule

school

Kadhalika nilichukia shule. (I also hated school .)

kufurahi

to rejoice / to be happy/ to enjoy

nilifurahi (I was happy)

tu

only /just /simply

Nilifurahi tu wakati...(I was only happy when...)

likizo

holiday /vacation

wakati wa likizo (during the holidays) Nilifurahi tu wakati wa likizo (I was only happy during the holidays)

mapumziko

rest / break

likizo, mapumziko (holidays, rest)

mashindano

competition

michezo

sports /games

machindano ya michezo (sport competitions)

au

or

n class (sg = pl) y /z possessive prefix i /zi object prefix ya/za of siku ya kitaifa - national day siku za kitaifa - national days

siku

day

kuu

main

siku kuu

the big day

taifa

the nation

-a kitaifa

national

siku kuu za kitaifa (national [holi]days)

kwa maana

for meaning / because it meant

kuwa - to be tunakuwa -we are tulikuwa - we were hatukuwa - we were not

hatukuwa

we weren't

kuwa na

to have

hatukuwa na (we didn't have)

masomo

lessons

Nilifurahi tu wakati wa likizo, mapumziko, mashindano ya michezo au siku kuu za kitaifa kwa maana hatukuwa na masomo.(I was only happy during holidays, breaks, sports competitions or national holidays because we didn't have lessons.)

rafiki mkubwa

best friend

rafiki yangu mkubwa (my best friend)

Madoa

Stains /spots / personal name ( also name of a hyena in Lion king)

Madoa alikuwa rafiki yangu mkubwa. (Madoa was my best friend.)

kujua

to know

anajua (he knows) alijua (he knew)

Applicative Verbs - noting an additional participant in the action who is not the actor - an indirect object / or an object used for the action e.g. Er belädt den Wagen mit Heu. He loads the car with straw. - benefactive /malefactive causes an effect e.g. be-atmen/ to revive s.o. One causes s.o. else to breathe/live through one's action.

kujulia

to know for (applicative form)

anajulia (he knows for) alijulia (he knew for)

stative verbs describe the state a person is in or entering into applicative verbs show that there is another agent or object indirectly involved in the action

kujulika

to be known for (stative +applicative)

anajulika (he is getting known for) alijulika (he is /was known for)

-na Suffix is for reciprocal 'each other' 'one another ' e.g. kupenda - to love tunapenda -we love tunapendana - we love each other wanapenda - they love wanapendana - they love each other

kujulikana

to be (generally) known as /to be famous for (reciprocal/stative / applicative)

Alijulikana kama Ndiyo Alaa. (He was generally known as Ndiyo Alaa.)

ndiyo

yes

Alaa

I see ! /I understand!

Ndiyo alaa! (Yes, I see! / Yes, I understand!)

sababu

reason / motive / cause

hii

this (n -class sg)

Hii ni sebabu (this is the reason) hii ni kwa sebabu (this is for the reason/ this is because)

kila

each /all

kila wakati

every time

alikuwa akipenda

he was loving / he loved to (habit)

alikuwa akipenda kusema "Ndiyo Alaa!" (He loved to say "Yes, I understand!") Kila wakati alikuwa akipenda kusema "Ndiyo Alaa!" (He loved to say all the time: "Yes, I understand!")

anapenda -she likes hapendi - she doesn't like alipenda - she liked hakupenda - she doesn't like

hakupenda

he /she didn't like it

Mama hakupenda (Mum didn't like)

It was because he liked to say "Yes, I understand!" all the time that Mum didn't like Madoa's behaviour.

tabia

behavior

tabia za Madoa (Madoa's behaviour) Hii ni kwa sababu Mama hakupenda tabia za Madoa. (This is the reason why mother disliked Madoa's behaviour.) Hii ni kwa sababu kila wakati alikuwa kusema "Ndiyo Alaa!" Mama hakupenda tabia za Madoa.

kudhani

to assume / imagine/suppose

ninadhani (I suppose) nadhani (= short for ninadhani)

Ndoto ya Amerika - Dream of America by Ken WaliboraSwahili words