Log inSign up

Dirisha lilivunjika jana usiku.

Dirisha lilivunjika jana usiku.
The window broke last night.
FromLesson 23inHardcore Swahili
……

Breakdown of Dirisha lilivunjika jana usiku.

jana
yesterday
dirisha
the window
usiku
at night
kuvunjika
to break

Questions & Answers about Dirisha lilivunjika jana usiku.

What does dirisha mean and what noun class is it in?
Dirisha means “window.” It belongs to noun class 5 in Swahili (the ji-/ma- class), which you can also spot by its plural madirisha.
Why does lilivunjika begin with li- and why is it written lilivunjika rather than just livunjika?

There are actually two li- components in lilivunjika:

  1. The first li- is the class 5 subject concord agreeing with dirisha.
  2. The second -li- is the past tense marker (simple past).
    Putting them together gives li + li, which you see spelled out as lilivunjika.
How do you break down lilivunjika into its parts?

lilivunjika =
• li- (class 5 subject concord)
• ‑li- (past tense marker)
• vunj- (verb root “break”)
• ‑ika (intransitive/middle extension + final vowel)

What tense and aspect does lilivunjika express?
It’s the simple past (“broke”). The presence of -li- marks past time. There’s no additional aspect marker, so it’s just a plain past statement: “it broke.”
Why is there no object or agent mentioned in “Dirisha lilivunjika jana usiku”?
Because vunjika is an intransitive verb meaning “to break (by itself).” The window is the subject experiencing the action; there’s no external agent required.
What’s the difference between vunja, vunjika, and vunjwa?

• vunja
– Causative/active: “to break (something).”
– Example: Alivunja dirisha = “He broke the window.”
• vunjika
– Intransitive: “to break (by itself).”
– Example: Dirisha lilivunjika = “The window broke.”
• vunjwa
– Passive: “to be broken (by someone).”
– Example: Dirisha lilivunjwa na watoto = “The window was broken by the children.”

What does jana usiku mean? Could you switch the order?
jana = “yesterday,” usiku = “night,” so jana usiku = “last night.” You can also say usiku jana with the same meaning. The order can be flipped with only a slight shift in emphasis.
How would you say “the windows broke last night” (plural)?

Use the plural noun madirisha (class 6) and its subject concord ya-:
“Madirisha yalivunjika jana usiku.”
Here ya- is the class 6 past concord (instead of the class 5 li-).

How do you say “the window was broken by the kids last night”?

Switch to the passive vunjwa and introduce the agent with na:
“Dirisha lilivunjwa jana usiku na watoto.”
This literally reads “The window was broken last night by the children.”

More from this lesson

kichwaKichwa changu kinauma kidogo leo asubuhi.dalilimaumivutumboTumbo langu lina maumivu asubuhi.Dalili ya kwanza ya homa ilikuwa maumivu ya kichwa na tumbo.nyingine
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“What's the best way to learn Swahili grammar?”
Swahili grammar becomes intuitive with practice. Focus on understanding the core patterns first — how sentences are structured, how verbs change form, and how words relate to each other. Our course breaks these concepts into small lessons so you can build understanding step by step.

Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor

Start learning Swahili

Master Swahili — from Dirisha lilivunjika jana usiku to fluency

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.

  • ✓ Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
  • ✓ Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
  • ✓ Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
  • ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions
Start learning Swahili freeBrowse the full course