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Questions & Answers about Je, njia hii ni salama usiku?
What does Je mean, and do I need it?
Je is a question particle that marks a question (especially yes/no). It’s optional in everyday speech. Both are correct:
- Je, njia hii ni salama usiku?
- Njia hii ni salama usiku? (rely on intonation and the question mark)
Is the comma after Je required?
It’s stylistic. You’ll see both Je, ...? and Je ...?. Use a space after Je and end with a question mark either way.
How do I answer this yes/no question naturally?
- Yes: Ndiyo/Ndio. Example: Ndiyo, ni salama usiku.
- No: Hapana. More natural: Hapana, si salama usiku. Note: the negative of ni is si (often also written sio/siyo in some regions).
Why is it ni and not iko/ipo or ina?
- ni = copula (“is/are” linking to a description): Njia hii ni salama.
- iko/ipo = is located/exists: Njia hii iko wapi? (Where is this route?)
- ina = “has”: Njia hii ina taa? (Does this route have lights?)
Can I drop ni?
In headlines or very casual speech you might hear Njia hii salama usiku?, but standard, clear Swahili keeps ni: Njia hii ni salama usiku?
What is usiku doing here, and why no word for “at”?
Usiku is a time word used adverbially, so you don’t need a preposition. Variations:
- asubuhi (in the morning)
- jioni (in the evening)
- usiku wa manane (late at night)
- usiku wa leo (tonight)
What noun class is njia, and how do I make it plural?
Njia is class 9/10. Its singular and plural look the same; the demonstrative shows number:
- Singular: njia hii (this route)
- Plural: njia hizi (these routes)
- Plural “those (over there)”: njia zile
Why njia hii and not hii njia?
The neutral pattern is noun + demonstrative: njia hii. You can prepose for emphasis or pointing at something very near: hii njia (this very route).
How do I say “that route” vs “that route over there”?
- njia hiyo = that route (near the listener/just mentioned)
- njia ile = that route over there (far/visibly distant)
Does salama change to agree with njia?
No. Salama is invariable (same for all noun classes and numbers): njia hizi ni salama. You can intensify: salama sana, salama kabisa.
Is salama also used in greetings?
Yes. As a response meaning “fine/okay/safe”: Hujambo? — Salama. In the sentence here it means “safe.”
How do I pronounce the tricky parts?
- Je: “jeh.”
- njia: two syllables, “NJEE-ah” [ndʒi.a].
- salama: sa-LA-ma (stress penultimate).
- usiku: u-SI-ku (stress penultimate). Swahili stress is normally on the second-to-last syllable.
What’s the difference between njia, barabara, and mtaa?
- njia: path/route/way (can be footpath or a route choice).
- barabara: road (for vehicles).
- mtaa: street/neighborhood block (urban).
Other natural ways to ask the same thing?
- Ni salama kupita njia hii usiku? (Is it safe to go through this route at night?)
- Je, ni salama kutembea hapa usiku? (Is it safe to walk here at night?)
- Je, ni salama usiku kwenye njia hii? (Is it safe at night on this route?)
- Hapa ni salama usiku? (Is it safe here at night?)
How do I say “Isn’t this route safe at night?” or add a tag like “right?”?
- Negative question: Je, njia hii si salama usiku?
- Tag-like confirmation: Njia hii ni salama usiku, sivyo? / ..., siyo? (regional variation of the negative tag)