Sisi hutusisimua sana tunapoona onyesho la sarakasi, hasa linapokuja kijijini kwetu.

We get very excited when we see a circus show, especially when it comes to our village.

Breakdown of Sisi hutusisimua sana tunapoona onyesho la sarakasi, hasa linapokuja kijijini kwetu.

• sisi: we
• kuona: to see
• kuja: to come
• sana: a lot
• kijiji: the village
• hasa: especially
• onyesho la sarakasi: the circus show
• kwetu: our

Questions & Answers about Sisi hutusisimua sana tunapoona onyesho la sarakasi, hasa linapokuja kijijini kwetu.

What does “hutusisimua” mean in this sentence?

The word “hutusisimua” means “we become excited” or “we get excited.” It is the first-person plural form of the verb "kusisimua," indicating that the speakers experience excitement.

Why is the subject “Sisi” explicitly mentioned even though the verb already shows the subject?

In Swahili, subject pronouns are often optional because the verb conjugation clearly indicates who is acting. However, including “Sisi” adds emphasis and clarity, ensuring that the speaker’s identity is unmistakable.

How is the term “tunapoona” constructed, and what does it convey?

“Tunapoona” is formed by combining “tuna-,” the present-tense marker for “we see,” with the relative clause marker “-poona,” which means “when we see.” It creates a temporal clause that explains the condition under which the excitement occurs.

What does “onyesho la sarakasi” translate to in English?

“Onyesho la sarakasi” translates to “circus show” or “circus performance.” Here, “onyesho” means “show” and “la sarakasi” is the possessive construction indicating that the show is a circus event.

What role does “hasa” play in the sentence?

“Hasa” means “especially” and is used to emphasize the subsequent detail. In the sentence, it underscores that the excitement is particularly heightened when the circus show comes to the speaker’s village.

Can you break down “linapokuja kijijini kwetu” and explain its components?

Certainly. “Linapokuja kijijini kwetu” consists of: • “lina-”: a prefix referring back to the circus show. • “-pokuja”: meaning “when it comes.” • “kijijini”: indicating “in the village” (formed with the locative suffix). • “kwetu”: meaning “our.” Combined, the phrase translates to “when it comes to our village,” highlighting the moment that is particularly exciting.

How does this Swahili sentence structure compare to that of English?

Although Swahili uses agglutination and affixes that differ from English, the overall sentence structure remains similar. It starts with the subject (“Sisi”), followed by the main verb (“hutusisimua”), and then includes additional clauses—a temporal clause (“tunapoona onyesho la sarakasi”) and an emphatic detail (“hasa linapokuja kijijini kwetu”). This is somewhat analogous to using subordinate clauses or adverbial phrases in English to add context.