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Questions & Answers about Kesho tutapika tambi tamu zilizo na pilipili hoho kidogo jikoni.
What does Kesho mean?
Kesho means tomorrow. It indicates that the cooking will take place on the next day.
How is the future tense formed in tutapika?
tutapika breaks down into three parts:
- tu- (we, subject prefix)
- -ta- (future tense marker)
- pika (verb root “cook”)
Put together, tutapika means we will cook.
What is the role of tambi in this sentence?
tambi is the direct object (noodles/pasta) of the verb tutapika. In Swahili word order, the object follows the verb.
Why does tamu come after tambi?
In Swahili, adjectives follow the nouns they describe. Here, tamu (“tasty” or “sweet”) comes after tambi to form tambi tamu (“tasty noodles”).
What does zilizo na do in this context?
zilizo na is a relative‐clause construction meaning “that have” or “with.”
- zi- is the relative concord matching the noun class of tambi
- -lizo is the relative marker
- na means with/having
Together, tambi tamu zilizo na = “tasty noodles that have…”
Why is na used in zilizo na and what does it mean here?
In this phrase, na means “with” or “having.” It links the noodles to the ingredient that follows (bell pepper).
What exactly is pilipili hoho?
pilipili hoho is the Swahili term for bell pepper.
- pilipili = pepper (general)
- hoho = specifies the bell‐pepper variety
Put together, pilipili hoho means “bell pepper(s).”
What is the function of kidogo and why does it follow pilipili hoho?
kidogo means “a little” or “small amount.” It quantifies the peppers. In Swahili, quantity words like kidogo typically follow the noun or noun phrase they modify: pilipili hoho kidogo = “a little bell pepper.”
Why is jikoni at the end without a preposition like katika?
Many location nouns in Swahili take a built‐in locative form with the -ni suffix. jikoni literally means “in the kitchen”, so there’s no need for a separate preposition.