Mama anasema, “Usisite kumsalimia jirani mpya, kwa sababu hujui unaweza kupata rafiki.”

Mother says, “Do not hesitate to greet the new neighbor, because you don’t know if you might get a friend.”

Breakdown of Mama anasema, “Usisite kumsalimia jirani mpya, kwa sababu hujui unaweza kupata rafiki.”

• rafiki: the friend
• mpya: new
• mama: the mother
• kujua: to know
• kuweza: to be able
• kusema: to say
• kupata: to get
• kwa sababu: because
• jirani: the neighbor
• kusalimia: to greet
• kusisite: to hesitate

Questions & Answers about Mama anasema, “Usisite kumsalimia jirani mpya, kwa sababu hujui unaweza kupata rafiki.”

What does Mama anasema mean, and what is its grammatical role in the sentence?

It means “Mom says” and serves as the introductory clause. The present tense verb anasema indicates that Mom is currently making a statement, setting up the quoted advice that follows.

What does Usisite mean, and how is it constructed grammatically?

Usisite is the negative imperative form meaning “Don’t hesitate” (or “Don’t fail to”). It comes from the verb kusita. In Swahili, the negative command for the second-person is formed by adding the negative prefix usi- to the verb stem, which instructs the listener not to delay in performing the action.

How is the verb kumsalimia structured and what does it signify?

Kumsalimia combines the infinitive marker ku- with the object prefix m- (referring to a person) and the root salimia, which means “to greet”. This construction tells the listener to greet someone—in this context, the new neighbor. Swahili frequently incorporates object pronouns into the verb even in its infinitive form.

What is the meaning and function of the phrase jirani mpya in this sentence?

Jirani mpya translates to “new neighbor.” Here, jirani is the noun for “neighbor” and mpya is the adjective meaning “new.” This phrase specifies who should be greeted, clarifying the target of the action described by kumsalimia.

How does kwa sababu function, and what does it mean?

Kwa sababu means “because” or “for the reason that.” It introduces the explanation for the advice given. In this sentence, Mama explains that the greeting is important because hujui unaweza kupata rafiki—in other words, you never know, you might make a friend.

What does hujui unaweza kupata rafiki imply about the potential outcome?

This clause translates to “you never know, you might make a friend.” The word hujui means “you don’t know” (in the present negative form), and unaweza kupata rafiki implies the possibility of forming a new friendship. Overall, it emphasizes the potential positive result of taking the simple action of greeting the new neighbor.