Chai hii imeanza kuisha, turudie kupika nyingine?

This tea is starting to run out, shall we cook some more?

Breakdown of Chai hii imeanza kuisha, turudie kupika nyingine?

• chai: the tea
• kupika: to cook
• je: do
• hii: this
• kuanza: to begin
• kuisha: to run out
• kurudia: to repeat

Questions & Answers about Chai hii imeanza kuisha, turudie kupika nyingine?

What does imeanza mean in this sentence, and how is it formed?

Imeanza comes from the verb kuanza (to begin). The prefix ime- is a perfect marker that indicates the action has already started. This structure (perfect marker + verb stem) is common in Swahili to express that something has begun or is in the process of happening.

Why are the verbs kuisha and kupika preceded by ku-?

In Swahili, the ku- prefix is the standard marker used for the infinitive form of a verb. In the sentence, after imeanza the infinitive kuisha (to run out) completes the idea “has begun to run out.” Similarly, kupika means “to cook/prepare,” and it appears in its infinitive form as part of the suggestion.

What is the role of turudie in the sentence, and what does it imply?

Turudie is derived from the verb rudia (to repeat or do again) and is conjugated in the first-person plural form. This form carries the suggestion or proposal nuance, so turudie kupika nyingine? translates roughly to “Shall we cook another?” Essentially, it invites the listener to consider preparing another batch.

Why is the noun chai modified by hii, and what does that signify?

Hii is a demonstrative adjective meaning “this.” In Swahili, adjectives and demonstratives typically follow the noun. So chai hii literally means “this tea,” clearly specifying which tea is being discussed.

Why isn’t the noun chai repeated in the second part of the sentence after kupika nyingine?

Swahili often avoids redundancy by not repeating a noun when its reference is already clear from the context. Since chai has been mentioned at the beginning, it’s understood that kupika nyingine (“to cook another”) refers to another serving or batch of tea without needing to repeat the noun.