Jana usiku, tuliandika barua.

we

Breakdown of Jana usiku, tuliandika barua.

• kuandika: to write
• jana usiku: last night
• barua: the letter

Questions & Answers about Jana usiku, tuliandika barua.

What do the words jana and usiku mean individually?

The word jana means yesterday, and the word usiku means night. When combined as jana usiku, they specify last night.

Why does the verb have tuliandika instead of just kuandika?

In Swahili, verbs usually begin with subject and tense markers. The subject marker here is tu- (we), and -li- is the simple past tense marker. So tuliandika means we wrote, formed from the infinitive kuandika (to write).

What is the purpose of including barua without an article?

Swahili does not use definite (the) or indefinite (a/an) articles like English does. Nouns like barua (letter) are understood by context, so you simply say barua without any article.

Could we place jana usiku at the end of the sentence?

Yes. You can say Tuliandika barua jana usiku with the same meaning. In Swahili, the word order can often be moved around for emphasis or style, but the meaning usually stays the same.

Is there any difference between jana usiku and usiku wa jana?

Not really. Both can mean last night. However, jana usiku is a more direct way of saying last night, while usiku wa jana literally translates to the night of yesterday. They are interchangeable in most contexts.