Learn Hardcore Swahili: Betri ya simu yangu imeisha kabisa. - My phone’s battery is completely dead.

In Swahili imeisha is the perfect form of the verb kuisha (to finish/run out). It consists of:
• i- (class 9 subject prefix for betri)
• -me- (perfect marker)
• -ish- (root of kuisha)
• -a (final vowel)
Together: i + me + ish + a = imeisha (“it has run out”).

Why is i- the subject prefix here?

Verbs in Swahili must agree with the noun class of their subject. Betri (battery) is a borrowed noun treated as class 9, so its perfect subject prefix is i-.

How does the genitive construction betri ya simu yangu work?

Swahili shows “of” by placing:
head noun + connector ya + possessed noun + possessor.
Here:
• Head noun: betri
• Connector: ya
• Possessed noun: simu
• Possessor: yangu
So betri ya simu yangu = battery of my phone.

Can I say betri yangu ya simu instead of betri ya simu yangu?

Both forms are grammatically possible, but betri ya simu yangu is more natural to mean “the battery of my phone.” Betri yangu ya simu sounds like “my battery of the phone” and is less common.

What does kabisa add here and can I use sana instead?

Kabisa means “completely/totally” and intensifies imeisha. You can use sana (very/completely) instead:
betri ya simu yangu imeisha sana, but kabisa often feels stronger.

Are there other common ways to say “the battery is dead” in Swahili?

Yes. You might also hear:
• betri ya simu yangu imekufa (slangy “has died”)
• betri ya simu yangu haiko tena (“it’s not there anymore,” colloquial)
However, betri ya simu yangu imeisha kabisa is the clearest standard expression.

What’s the difference between kabisa and tu after the verb?

• kabisa = completely/totally (emphatic)
• tu = just/only (minimal)
So:

imeisha kabisa = it’s completely run out
imeisha tu = it has just run out/only just finished

How should I pronounce imeisha kabisa?

Break it into syllables:
i-me-i-sha ka-bi-sa
Each vowel is separate (no diphthongs), pronounced like:
ee-meh-ee-shah kah-bee-sah