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Questions & Answers about Labda tutakutana leo jioni.
How strong is the uncertainty in Labda? Does it mean maybe or probably?
Labda expresses a neutral maybe/perhaps—possible but not likely or unlikely. It’s less strong than English probably. Other common “maybe” words are pengine (also maybe/perhaps).
Can Labda move around in the sentence?
Yes, but it most naturally comes at the beginning: Labda tutakutana leo jioni. You can also say Tutakutana labda leo jioni, but that can sound a bit less natural. For emphasis, you might front the time: Leo jioni labda tutakutana.
How is tutakutana built morphologically?
- Subject prefix: tu- = we
- Tense marker: -ta- = future
- Verb stem: -kutana = meet (each other)
Altogether: tu-ta-kutana → we-will-meet.
Is the ku in tutakutana the infinitive marker?
No. In the conjugated verb, the ku you see is part of the stem -kutana. The infinitive form is kukutana (“to meet”); when you conjugate, you drop the infinitive ku- and use the stem -kutana, which happens to begin with the same syllable.
What’s the difference between kutana and kuonana?
- kutana = to meet (often implies meeting/encountering, frequently planned)
- kuonana = to see each other (very common as a friendly “see you”)
Both can translate as “meet,” but kutana is the go-to for arranging a meeting; kuonana is more like “we’ll see each other.”
Do I need a preposition for “meet with someone”?
Yes, you use na for “with”:
- Tutakutana na Asha leo jioni. = We will meet with Asha this evening.
Why is there no word for “each other” in the sentence?
The reciprocal meaning is built into the verb via the suffix -ana in the stem -kutana. That’s why you don’t add an object like “each other.”
Could I use the present tense instead: Labda tunakutana leo jioni?
Yes. With a future time expression like leo jioni, the present -na- can express a scheduled/near-future plan: Labda tunakutana leo jioni ≈ “Maybe we’re meeting this evening / maybe we’ll meet.” Using -ta- is the clearest, textbook future.
How do I make it negative: “Maybe we won’t meet this evening”?
Use the negative subject prefix with future:
- Labda hatutakutana leo jioni.
Here hatu- = we (negative) + -ta- (future) + -kutana (meet).
What exactly does leo jioni mean? Is it “this evening” or “today evening”?
Literally “today evening,” and idiomatically “this evening.” Jioni is late afternoon/evening (before late night). For “tonight,” many speakers prefer leo usiku (after dark).
Is a preposition needed for “in the evening”?
No. Time-of-day nouns work adverbially without a preposition: jioni, asubuhi (morning), mchana (afternoon), usiku (night). So leo jioni = “this evening.”
Can I change the word order of the time phrase?
Yes:
- Labda tutakutana leo jioni. (most common)
- Labda tutakutana jioni leo. (possible but less typical)
- Leo jioni labda tutakutana. (fronting the time for emphasis)
How would I suggest “Let’s meet this evening” instead of stating the future?
Use the hortative/subjunctive:
- Tukutane leo jioni. = Let’s meet this evening.
Compare with the original future statement Tutakutana leo jioni. = We will meet this evening.
Pronunciation tips for Labda and tutakutana?
- Labda: two syllables, “lab-da,” pronounce both consonants in the cluster bd clearly.
- tutakutana: four syllables, “tu-ta-ku-ta-na.” Swahili stress is even; each vowel is clear and short.
Do I ever need to add the pronoun sisi (“we”)?
Only for emphasis or contrast, since tu- already encodes “we.” Example: Labda sisi tutakutana leo jioni (emphasizing “we” as opposed to others).