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Questions & Answers about Nitumie ujumbe kesho.
What does nitumie break down into?
Nitumie comes from the verb -tuma = to send.
In nitumie:
- ni- = me
- tum = the verb root from -tuma
- -ie / -e = the ending used here for a request/command form
So nitumie means send me.
This is a very common pattern in Swahili when giving a command that includes an object like me, him/her, us, etc.
Why is it nitumie and not tuma?
Tuma is the basic imperative: Send!
But when you add an object marker like ni- (me), Swahili normally uses the subjunctive-style ending -e in commands:
- Tuma = send!
- Nitumie = send me!
So the -e ending is expected here because the command includes me.
Where is the word for you in this sentence?