Wao wana kazi nyingi leo.

They have a lot of work today.

Breakdown of Wao wana kazi nyingi leo.

• wao: they
• kuwa na: to have
• leo: today
• kazi: the work
• nyingi: a lot

Questions & Answers about Wao wana kazi nyingi leo.

Why is Wao used here, and can it be omitted?

Wao means "they" in Swahili. In everyday conversation, many speakers often drop subject pronouns because the verb form already indicates the subject (for example, Wana kazi nyingi leo is also acceptable). However, including Wao can add clarity or emphasis.

What does wana mean and how is it formed?

Wana is the present tense form of the verb kuwa na meaning "to have," specifically conjugated for the subject "they." It’s formed by combining the subject marker wa- (for "they") and the tense marker -na- (for the present tense), followed by the verb stem "ha" (sometimes written out as: kuwa na → na → wana).

Why is kazi nyingi structured that way?

In Swahili, nouns come first, followed by adjectives. Kazi means "work" or "job," and nyingi is the adjectival form meaning "a lot" or "many." So kazi nyingi literally translates to "jobs many" or "a lot of work."

Can I say kazi nyingi sana to emphasize they have a lot of work?

Yes. Sana means "very" or "a lot," so saying kazi nyingi sana adds extra emphasis, translating roughly to "a whole lot of work."

Does leo only mean "today"?

Yes, leo directly translates to "today." If you want to talk about "tomorrow," you’d use kesho, and for "yesterday," jana. You can also say siku ya leo ("today’s day") for additional clarity, though it’s less common in casual conversation.