Learn Hardcore Swahili: Yeye hana kiu baada ya kunywa maji ya moto. - He/She is not thirsty after drinking hot water.

You can drop yeye. Swahili verbs already mark the subject, so Hana kiu… is a complete sentence. Using yeye adds emphasis or clarity (e.g., contrasting with someone else).

How do I know if yeye means “he” or “she”? How can I specify gender if needed?

Swahili doesn’t mark gender in third person. Yeye can be “he” or “she.” To specify, rely on context or add a clarifier:

Use a name: Asha hana kiu…
Add a noun: Yeye mwanamke hana kiu… / Yeye mwanaume hana kiu…
Use demonstratives with a noun: Msichana huyu hana kiu…

What exactly is hana and how is it formed?

It’s the negative present of “to have”: ha- (3rd-person negative subject) + -na (“have/with”) → hana = “doesn’t have.” Compare with the affirmative ana = “has.” Common present forms of “to have”:

I: nina / sina
You (sg): una / huna
He/She: ana / hana
We: tuna / hatuna
You (pl): mna / hamna
They: wana / hawana

Why does Swahili say hana kiu (“doesn’t have thirst”) instead of “isn’t thirsty”? Are there similar patterns?

States/feelings often use “have + noun”:

Nina kiu (I’m thirsty), Sina kiu (I’m not thirsty)
Ana njaa (hungry), Hana njaa (not hungry)
Ana baridi (feels cold), Ana homa (has a fever), Ana usingizi (sleepy)

Can I say Yeye si na kiu to mean “He/She isn’t thirsty”?

No. The negative of “to have” fuses into one word. Use hana (or sina, huna, hatuna, hamna, hawana), not si na.

How does baada ya work with verbs like kunywa?

Use baada ya + the infinitive (ku- + verb): baada ya kunywa = “after drinking.” The ya is required. Don’t say baada kunywa.

Is the ya in baada ya the same ya as in maji ya moto?

Yes—the particle -a “of” that agrees with the preceding noun. In baada ya, it links the noun baada (“after/aftermath”) to what comes next. In maji ya moto, it links maji (“water”) to moto.

Why is it maji ya moto and not something like maji la moto or maji cha moto?

Because maji belongs to noun class 6, and the “of” particle -a agrees as ya with class 6. Other classes use different forms (e.g., class 7: chakula cha moto “hot food,” class 5: tunda la ndizi “banana fruit”).

Does moto here mean “fire” or “hot”? And can I say maji moto instead of maji ya moto?

Moto can be the noun “fire/heat” or the adjective “hot.” Both maji ya moto (“water of heat” → hot water) and maji moto (“hot water” with the adjective) are natural and widely used. It does not mean “firewater” (that’s typically pombe kali).

Any pronunciation tips for kunywa and kiu?

kunywa: The ny is like the “ny” in “canyon” (a single sound), then glide into w: ku-nywa.
kiu: Two syllables, ki-u (don’t merge into one). Keep vowels short and clear.

Can I start the sentence with the “after…” part?

Yes: Baada ya kunywa maji ya moto, (yeye) hana kiu. Comma after the fronted clause is standard.

How do I say this in the past or future?

Past: Hakuwa na kiu baada ya kunywa maji ya moto. (He/She wasn’t thirsty…)
Future: Hatakuwa na kiu baada ya kunywa maji ya moto. (He/She won’t be thirsty…) Affirmative counterparts: Alikuwa na kiu…, Atakuwa na kiu…