Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Swahili grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Anga ni safi leo asubuhi.
What does anga mean here?
anga is a noun meaning “sky” or “atmosphere.” In this sentence it refers to the sky being clear.
What role does ni play in this sentence?
ni is the copulative verb (linking verb), equivalent to English “is.” Swahili uses ni to link a subject noun to a predicate adjective or noun. You generally cannot omit it in a simple descriptive sentence.
Why is there no word for “the” before anga?
Swahili does not have definite or indefinite articles (no “the,” “a,” or “an”). Nouns appear without articles, and context tells you whether something is definite or indefinite.
Why is safi placed after anga, and why doesn’t it take a prefix?
Most descriptive words follow the noun in Swahili. safi is actually a stative verb functioning like an adjective, and it remains invariant (it does not take a noun-class prefix like many other adjectives).
Why is the time expression leo asubuhi at the end of the sentence? Can I move it?
Time expressions like leo asubuhi (“this morning”) are flexible in Swahili. You can put them at the beginning or the end for emphasis. Both of these are correct:
• Anga ni safi leo asubuhi.
• Leo asubuhi, anga ni safi.
What’s the difference between leo asubuhi and asubuhi ya leo?
Both mean “this morning.”
• leo asubuhi is an adverbial phrase combining “today” + “morning.”
• asubuhi ya leo uses the possessive connector ya (“of today”) to literally say “the morning of today.”
They’re interchangeable; leo asubuhi feels slightly more conversational.
Could I just say Anga ni safi leo? What would that mean?
Yes. Anga ni safi leo means “The sky is clear today” (not specifying morning). You drop asubuhi when you simply mean “today.”