……
Usages of si
Nia yake ilikuwa kujifunza, si kuonyesha hadhi; hiyo ni nafasi adimu.
Her intention was to learn, not to show status; that is a rare opportunity.
Si rahisi kusoma usiku.
It is not easy to study at night.
Zulia hili linahitaji kufuliwa mara kwa mara, si mara chache.
This carpet needs to be washed often, not rarely.
Hili ndilo begi nililopoteza jana, si rula yangu.
This is the bag that I lost yesterday, not my ruler.
Si soda, bali maji ya uvuguvugu kabla ya chakula.
Not soda, but lukewarm water before the meal.
Pete yake si kubwa, bali ndogo inayokaa vizuri kidoleni.
Her ring is not big, but small and fits well on the finger.
Pilau si tamu pekee, bali pia hutoa harufu nzuri ukipika taratibu.
Pilau is not only delicious, but also gives a nice aroma when cooked slowly.
Meza kuu ipo ukingoni mwa ukumbi, si katikati, bali upande wa jukwaa.
The high table is at the edge of the hall, not in the middle, but on the stage side.
Kukataliwa si rahisi.
Being rejected is not easy.
Afadhali tuanze mkutano saa tatu, si saa mbili.
It’s better that we start the meeting at nine, not eight.
Ndiyo maana nilihifadhi noti zangu ndani ya pochi, si mfukoni.
That’s why I stored my notes in a purse, not in the pocket.
Asha anaweka noti zake zote ndani ya pochi ndogo, si mfukoni.
Asha puts all her notes in a small purse, not in her pocket.
Leo jioni tutakula chakula cha jioni katika chumba cha kulia chakula, si sebuleni.
This evening we will eat dinner in the dining room, not in the living room.
Siyo tu wanafunzi wa darasa letu, bali pia walimu wanapenda kusoma vitabu vizuri.
Not only the students of our class, but also the teachers like to read good books.
Test yourself: What does si mean?
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 SwahiliMaster Swahili — from si 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