Maisha ni tamu.

to be

Breakdown of Maisha ni tamu.

• maisha: the life
• tamu: sweet

Questions & Answers about Maisha ni tamu.

What does Maisha mean in this sentence?

Maisha translates to "life". Although it has a plural-looking form, it typically represents an uncountable, general concept of life or living.

What role does the word ni play in the sentence?

Ni functions as the copula, similar to the English verb "is". It connects the subject Maisha to its predicate tamu, forming the equational statement.

What does tamu mean?

Tamu means "sweet". In this context, it describes life metaphorically as pleasant or delightful.

Why does tamu not have any noun class prefix attached to it?

In Swahili, when adjectives are used in a predicate position with the copula ni, they appear in their bare form rather than carrying the noun class prefix. If the adjective were used attributively (directly before a noun), it would include the appropriate prefix to match the noun class.

How is the copula ni used compared to the verb “to be” in English?

Similar to the English verb “to be” in equational sentences, ni links the subject with its complement without showing tense. In Maisha ni tamu, ni simply asserts that life is inherently sweet, indicating a general, timeless truth.

Does the structure of Maisha ni tamu follow a pattern common in Swahili equational statements?

Yes, it does. The typical pattern in Swahili equational sentences is [Subject] ni [Adjective/Noun], which mirrors the English structure "Life is sweet". This format is used to express qualities, identities, and characteristics in a straightforward manner.