Breakdown of Mtu fulani alipiga simu jana usiku.
jana usiku
last night
kupiga simu
to call (on the phone)
mtu
the person
fulani
certain
Questions & Answers about Mtu fulani alipiga simu jana usiku.
What does fulani mean here?
Fulani makes the noun indefinite and vague. In mtu fulani, it means something like some person, a certain person, or simply someone.
A few useful points:
- mtu = person
- mtu fulani = some person / a certain person / someone
It often suggests that the speaker either does not know exactly who the person is, does not want to say, or does not think the identity matters.
It comes after the noun, which is normal in Swahili for many modifiers.
Why is fulani after mtu instead of before it?
In Swahili, modifiers usually come after the noun, not before it as in English.
So:
- mtu fulani = some person
- not fulani mtu
This is one of the basic word-order differences between English and Swahili. English often puts words like some before the noun, but Swahili commonly places descriptive or limiting words after it.
What noun class is mtu, and does that matter in this sentence?