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Questions & Answers about Fundi picha atapiga picha za mwisho kwenye baraza, kisha maharusi wataondoka.
Is fundi picha the same as mpiga picha?
Yes. Both mean “photographer.” Mpiga picha is the most common, standard term; fundi picha is also used (often coastal/older style) and frames the photographer as a craftsperson/technician. Both are understood. Plurals: wapiga picha and mafundi picha.
Why does Swahili use piga picha to mean “take a photo”? Doesn’t piga mean “hit”?
Piga forms many idiomatic light-verb combinations. In piga picha the “hit” sense isn’t felt; it just means “take photos.” Other common collocations:
- piga simu (make a phone call)
- piga kura (vote)
- piga makofi (clap)
- piga mswaki (brush teeth)
- piga kelele (make noise)
What does the a-ta- in atapiga mark?
It’s the subject and future tense: a- (he/she) + -ta- (future) + piga (verb) → atapiga “he/she will take.” In the sentence, the subject is Fundi picha, so “the photographer will take.”
In picha za mwisho, why is it za and not ya?
Because picha belongs to noun class 9/10 (N-class). The connective “of” (-a) agrees with the noun class:
- singular class 9: ya → picha ya mwisho (the last photo)
- plural class 10: za → picha za mwisho (the last photos)
Does picha change form in the plural?
No. Picha is invariable (class 9/10). Number is shown by context, agreement, or numerals:
- picha moja (one photo)
- picha mbili (two photos)
Could I say picha ya mwisho instead? What’s the difference?
Yes. Picha ya mwisho = a single last/final photo. Picha za mwisho = several last/final photos.
Are we saying “the last photos” or just “last photos”? Swahili doesn’t have articles.
Swahili leaves it to context. You can make it definite with demonstratives:
- picha za mwisho hizo/zile (those last photos) You can also intensify with kabisa: picha za mwisho kabisa (absolutely final photos).
What exactly is baraza here?
Commonly on the coast it means a front porch/veranda or built-in bench where people sit. It can also mean a “council” (e.g., baraza la mawaziri “cabinet”). In a wedding photo context it most likely means the veranda/seating area. If you mean a stage/dais, use jukwaa (or meza kuu for the head table).
Why kwenye baraza instead of barazani? Are both correct?
Both are fine.
- kwenye + noun = at/in/on [place]
- noun + -ni (locative) = at/in/on that place So kwenye baraza and barazani both mean “on/at the veranda,” with minimal difference in tone.
Is kisha the same as halafu or baada ya hapo?
All mean “then/after that,” with slight register differences:
- kisha: a bit more formal/literary
- halafu: more conversational
- baada ya hapo: explicit “after that” You can also use ndipo (“that’s when/only then”) for a tighter, more emphatic link.
Why is it maharusi wataondoka with wa- and not yataondoka?
Although maharusi is morphologically class 6 (ma-), it refers to people. Human nouns often take the human/plural agreement wa- in verbs: wataondoka (they will leave). Using ya- (class 6 non-human) would be odd here.
What’s the singular of maharusi? How do I say “bride” and “groom”?
Singular: mharusi (a person being wed). More common specific terms:
- bibi harusi (bride)
- bwana harusi (groom) Note: harusi by itself usually means “wedding.”
Should it be wataondoka, wataenda, or watatoka?
- kuondoka = to leave/depart (best here)
- kuenda (kwenda) = to go (focus on destination)
- kutoka = to come out/exit (from a room/building) So wataondoka fits the idea of departing after the photos.
Can I omit maharusi and just say kisha wataondoka?
Yes, if it’s clear from context who “they” are. The subject is already encoded in wa- (they).
Is there a passive way to express the photo-taking, like “the couple will be photographed one last time”?
Yes: Maharusi watapigwa picha mara ya mwisho barazani/kwenye baraza, kisha wataondoka. Here kupigwa picha means “to be photographed.”