Question | Answer |
---|---|
if he is afraid / when he is afraid | akiogopa |
If he hunts a shark, he will eat this shark. | Akiwinda papa, atakula papa huyu. |
which / who (M/Wa- pl) | ambao |
which / who (M/Wa- sg) | ambaye |
trustworthy / honest | aminifu |
he has / she has | ana |
She has problems.* | Ana matata. *btw I only allowed this intruder for the sake of Lion King vocabulary :XD
We didn't study the right word class yet. |
he/she goes | anaenda |
He is going to the harbour. | Anaenda bandarini |
he eats | anakula |
he drinks | anakunywa |
he drinks | anakunywa |
He/she is afraid | Anaogopa |
he is afraid | anaogopa |
He is afraid of crocodiles. | Anaogopa mamba. |
He /she likes | Anapenda |
He loves seagulls. | Anapenda shakwe. |
He likes giraffes. | Anapenda twiga. |
thank you | asante |
thank you very much | asante sana |
morning | asubuhi true N/N noun class |
morning | asubuhi |
Good morning | Asubuhi njema |
he will drink | atakunywa |
The Atlantic is a large ocean. | Atlantiki ni bahari kubwa. |
or | au |
father | baba |
Dad drinks tea in the morning. | Baba anakunywa chai asubuhi. |
our fathers and mothers | baba na mama zetu |
the father of their friend | baba wa rafiki yao |
His father is severe. | Baba yake ni mkali. |
our father | baba yetu |
sea / ocean | bahari true N/N noun class |
harbour | bandari true N/N noun class |
a big harbour / big harbours | bandari kubwa |
the biggest harbour in the country of Mozambique | bandari kubwa zaidi nchini Msumbiji |
the biggest port of the country | bandari kubwa zaidi ya nchi |
the seaport | bandari ya bahari |
a port on the Pacific Ocean / a Pacific Ocean port | bandari ya bahari ya Pasifiki |
road | barabara true N/N noun class |
The streets are not going to the seaport. | Barabara haziendi kwenye bandari ya bahari. |
the street goes | barabara inaenda |
The street goes home. | Barabara inaenda nyumbani. |
a long road / long roads | barabara ndefu |
their road | barabara yao |
country roads | barabara za nchi |
the streets go | barabara zinaenda |
The streets go to the sea | Barabara zinaenda baharini |
The streets are going to the harbour. | Barabara zinaenda bandarini. |
ice | barafu |
a letter | barua |
spider(s) | buibui |
a small spider and a big spider | buibui mdogo na buibui mkubwa |
spiders and cockroaches | buibui na mende |
those spiders | buibui wale |
Those spiders are so small. | Buibui wale ni wadogo sana. |
pufferfish | bunju N/N class noun - Animal
no plural / behaves like M/Wa nouns |
when the pufferfish is afraid | bunju akiogopa |
When the pufferfish is afraid, he drinks (future) a lot of water and becomes bigger. | Bunju akiogopa, atakunywa maji mengi na kuwa mkubwa zaidi. |
The pufferfish is a fish. | Bunju ni samaki. |
tea | chai |
iced tea | chai ya barafu |
chalk | chaki |
chalk or pen | chaki au kalamu |
Your chalk is short | Chaki yako ni fupi. |
oyster | chaza N/N class noun - Animal
no plural / behaves like M/Wa nouns |
under | chini ya |
under the sea | chini ya bahari |
leopard | chui |
Those leopards are big. | Chui wale ni wakubwa. |
salt | chumvi |
a bottle | chupa |
this bottle and these bottles | chupa hii na chupa hizi |
these bottles | chupa hizi |
these bottles and those bottles | chupa hizi na chupa zile |
a big bottle of iced tea | chupa kubwa ya chai ya barafu |
a small bottle of medecine | chupa ndogo ya dawa |
a bottle of iced tea | chupa ya chai ya barafu |
a bottle of juice | chupa ya juisi |
sister | dada |
this sister | dada huyu |
The sister of my mother is beautiful. | Dada wa mama yangu ni mzuri. |
My sister is afraid of tall people. | Dada yangu anaogopa watu warefu. |
her sisters | dada zake |
Her sisters are nice. | Dada zake ni wazuri. = His sisters are nice. |
your sisters | dada zako |
Your (pl) sisters are shorter than she. | Dada zenu ni wafupi zaidi kuliko yeye. |
medecine | dawa |
The medecine is bad. | Dawa ni mbaya. |
horse | farasi |
That horse is bigger than the donkey. | Farasi yule ni mkubwa zaidi kuliko punda. |
news | habari |
How is the morning ? / How are you doing ? / What's up? / (lit. the news (sg) of the morning) | Habari ya asubuhi ? |
How is the morning ? / How are you doing ? / What's up? / (lit. the news (pl) of the morning) | Habari za asubuhi ? |
How is work? | Habari za kazi? |
How is home? ( How is the family? ) | Habari za nyumbani ? |
How is/was the trip? | Habari za safari ? |
How is school? | Habari za shule? |
he /she doesn't go | haendi |
He is not going to school. (never ever) | Haendi shule. |
it doesn't go ( used for N/N sg nouns) | haiendi M/Wa sg : a-na-enda e.g. Mpishi anaenda. - The cook goes M/Wa sg neg. : ha-end-i e.g. Mpishi haendi. - The cook doesn't go N/N sg : i-na-enda e.g. Barabara inaenda. - The road goes N/N sg neg. : ha-i-end-i e.g. Barabara haiendi. - The road doesn't go |
he doesn't eat | hali |
You (pl) don't eat | hamli |
You (pl) don't eat vegetables. | Hamli mboga. |
you (pl) don't have | hamna |
You (pl) don't have birds. | Hamna ndege. |
you ( pl) don't drink | hamnywi |
You (pl) don't drink iced tea in the morning. | Hamnywi chai ya barafu asubuhi. |
You (pl) don't like | Hampendi |
you (pl) don't go | hamwendi * Did you notice the extra 'w'. HamWendi ? |
You (pl) don't go in the morning | Hamwendi asubuhi. |
you (pl) are not afraid* | Hamwogopi * Did you notice the additional 'w'?
This is the only exception.
HamWogopi |
he/she doesn't have | hana |
he doesn't drink | hanywi |
no | hapana |
No, we are not going to our country now. | Hapana, hatuendi kwenye nchi yetu sasa, |
No, I am a teacher. | Hapana, mimi ni mwalimu. |
No, I am not Asha. | Hapana, mimi si Asha. |
No, I don't go to the sea today. | Hapana, siendi baharini leo. |
No, I am not jumping. | Hapana, siruki. |
No, they are not men. | Hapana, wao si wanaume. |
No, they are not cooks, they are nurses. | Hapana, wao si wapishi, wao ni wauguzi. |
he/she doesn't like | hapendi |
She doesn't like mice. | Hapendi panya. |
we don't go | hatuendi |
We don't go home now. | Hatuendi nyumbani sasa. |
we don't eat | hatuli |
We don't eat porc. | Hatuli nyama ya nguruwe. |
we don't have | hatuna |
We don't have problems.* | Hatuna matata. *at least as long as you don' try to use this word on your own. Remember we didn't learn yet the correspondant word class. |
we don't drink | hatunywi |
We don't drink from bottles. | Hatunywi kutoka kwa chupa. |
We are not afraid of dogs. | Hatuogopi mbwa. |
we don't like | hatupendi |
We don't like big spiders | Hatupendi buibui wakubwa. |
We don't like that man. | Hatupendi mwanaume yule. |
these (M/Wa) | hawa |
these (M/Wa) | hawa |
they don't go | hawaendi |
They don't go every morning. | Hawaendi kila asubuhi. |
They don't go to school today. | Hawaendi shuleni leo. |
they don't eat | hawali |
They don't eat snails. | Hawali konokono. |
they don't have | hawana |
They don't have a brother. | Hawana kaka. |
they don't drink | hawanywi |
They don't like | Hawapendi |
They don't like to eat fish. | Hawapendi kula samaki. |
they don't go ( used for N/N pl nouns) | haziendi M/Wa pl : wa-na-enda e.g. Wapishi wanaenda. - The cooks go M/Wa pl neg. : hawa-end-i e.g. Wapishi hawaendi. - The cooks don't go N/N pl : zi-na-enda e.g. Barabara zinaenda. - The roads go N/N pl neg. : ha-zi-end-i e.g. Barabara haziendi. - The roads don't go |
this (N/N) | hii |
these (N/N) | hizi |
May I come in? / Knock knock | Hodi hodi |
May I come inside (the house) ? | Hodi nyumbani ? |
you don't go | huendi |
Hallo | Hujambo |
you don't eat | huli |
You don't eat goat meat. | Huli nyama ya mbuzi. |
You don't have. | huna |
You don't have an engineer. | Huna mhandisi. |
you don't drink | Hunywi |
You don't drink iced coffee. | Hunywi kahawa ya barafu. |
You don't like | hupendi |
You don't like the cook. | Hupendi mpishi. |
this (M/Wa) | huyu |
this (M/Wa) | huyu |
that (N/N) | ile |
it goes (for N/N sg words) | inaenda |
(is ?) (optional question particle to introduce a yes/no question) | je ? |
Is Emilian your best friend? | Je Emilian ni rafiki yako mkubwa? |
Don't you like cockroaches? | Je hampendi mende ? |
You (pl) don't like the giraffe? | Je hampendi twiga? |
Aren't you (pl) afraid of crocodiles? | Je hamwogopi mamba? |
Are you not going to the sea? | Je huendi baharini? |
Do you (pl) have cockroaches? | Je mna mende ? |
Are you (pl) going to your country? | Je mnaenda kwenye nchi yenu? |
Are you (pl) afraid of sharp dogs? | Je mnaogopa mbwa wakali? |
Are you fishermen? | Je ninyi ni wavuvi? |
Is this zebra nicer than the donkey? | Je punda milia huyu ni mzuri zaidi kuliko punda? |
Do you have a dog? | Je una mbwa? |
Do you like tea and coffee? | Je unapenda chai na kahawa ? |
Do you like cats? | Je unapenda paka? |
Are they going to the harbour? | Je wanaenda bandarini? |
Is Asha a good friend of yours? | Je, Asha ni rafiki yako mzuri? |
juice | juisi |
juice with ice | juisi na barafu |
above / on top of | juu ya |
above the sea | juu ya bahari |
over the sea sand | juu ya mchanga wa bahari |
crab | kaa N/N class noun - Animal
no plural / behaves like M/Wa nouns = kururuN/N class noun - Animal no plural / behaves like M/Wa nouns |
The crab walks in the sea sand. | Kaa anatembea kwenye mchanga wa bahari. |
The crab is walking on the rock. | Kaa anatembea kwenye mwamba. |
coffee | kahawa |
coffee or tea? | kahawa au chai? |
iced coffee | kahawa ya barafu |
brother | kaka |
the brother of my mother | kaka wa mama yangu |
my brother and my cat | kaka yangu na paka wangu |
my brothers | kaka zangu |
Brother, are you going now? | Kaka, je unaenda sasa? |
pen / pencil | kalamu |
a pen and paper | kalamu na karatasi |
a long pencil and a short pencil | kalamu ndefu na kalamu fupi |
sharp / fierce (N/N) | kali |
lobster | kambakoche N/N class noun - Animal
no plural / behaves like M/Wa nouns |
The lobster lives under the sea. | Kambakoche anaishi chini ya bahari. |
The lobster walks on the sand. | Kambakoche anatembea juu ya mchanga. |
The lobster is fierce. | Kambakoche ni mkali. |
paper | karatasi |
paper for letters | karatasi kwa barua |
Welcome | Karibu |
in / inside | katika |
work | kazi |
Kenia is our beautiful country. | Kenya ni nchi yetu nzuri. |
(verb infix for when/if clause) | ki |
every | kila |
every morning | kila asubuhi |
everything | kila kitu |
computer | kompyuta |
Your computer is better than mine. | Kompyuta yako ni nzuri zaidi kuliko kompyuta yangu. |
My computer is nice. | Kompyuta yangu ni nzuri. |
sheep | kondoo |
This sheep is so nice. | Kondoo huyu ni mzuri sana. |
snail | konokono N/N class noun - Animal
no plural / behaves like M/Wa nouns |
sea snail | konokono wa baharini N/N class noun - Animal
no plural / behaves like M/Wa nouns |
The sea snail has a house. | Konokono wa baharini ana nyumba. |
The sea snail walks on the the sand at the bottom of the sea. | Konokono wa baharini anatembea juu ya mchanga chini ya bahari. |
Sea snails are snails which live in the sea. | Konokono wa baharini ni konokono ambao wanaishi baharini. |
to live | kuishi |
to live | kuishi |
chicken | kuku |
these chickens and those chickens | kuku hawa na kuku wale |
this chicken and that chicken | kuku huyu na kuku yule |
those chickens | kuku wale |
to eat | kula |
to eat | kula |
than | kuliko |
to drink | kunywa |
to swim | kuogelea |
to swim | kuogelea |
to be afraid of | kuogopa |
to be afraid of | kuogopa |
to love /like | kupenda |
to love | kupenda |
to fly / to jump | kuruka |
to fly / jump | kuruka |
to walk | kutembea |
to walk | kutembea |
to walk over the sea sand | kutembea juu ya mchanga wa bahari |
from / out of | kutoka kwa |
to be | kuwa |
to have | kuwa na |
to hunt | kuwinda |
to hunt | kuwinda |
to (a person) | kwa |
for | kwa |
Bye. | Kwa heri. |
to the engineer | kwa mhandisi |
to your place* | kwako kwa and possessive = to yours - meaning to your place |
to go | kwenda |
to go | kwenda |
to go to school / to attend school * | kwenda shule There is no -ni suffix on the word shule. We are talking of habital going, of being inscribed, of taking classes. If you add -ni (shuleni) it would be like : Are you going to school right now? Are you going to the school (building)? |
to (a place - used for combos e.g. bandari ya bahari) | kwenye |
near / in / at / on | kwenye |
but | lakini |
but | lakini |
today | leo |
special | maalum |
a lot of water | maji mengi |
mother | mama |
Mum likes her kids. | Mama anapenda watoto wake. |
Mum doesn't have a nurse. | Mama hana muuguzi. |
Mum doesn't like my friends. | Mama hapendi rafiki zangu. |
her mother | mama yake |
your mother | mama yako |
my mother | mama yangu |
our mother | mama yetu |
their mothers | mama zao |
Your (pl) mothers are so honest. | Mama zenu ni waaminifu sana. |
our mothers | mama zetu |
crocodile(s) | mamba |
The crocodile is not afraid of the mouse. | Mamba haogopi panya |
The crocodile is more fierce than the fish. | Mamba ni mkali zaidi kuliko samaki. |
Crocodiles are big and bad. | Mamba ni wakubwa na wabaya. |
My crocodiles are bigger than yours.* | Mamba wangu ni wakubwa zaidi kuliko wako. *How do we know that there are crocodileS and not just one for each of us? Wangu and Wake don't tell us anything about the number, but there is Wakubwa in the sentence which is definitely plural. Had we each only one crocodile it should be Mkubwa. |
that crocodile | mamba yule |
bad (M/Wa Class sg) | mbaya |
vegetables | mboga |
goat | mbuzi |
The goat eats salt. | Mbuzi anakula chumvi. |
The goat doesn't eat meat. | Mbuzi hali nyama. |
these goats | mbuzi hawa |
these goats and these coconuts | mbuzi hawa na nazi hizi |
this goat | mbuzi huyu |
seahorse | mbuzi wa bahari N/N class noun - Animal
no plural / behaves like M/Wa nouns = farasi wa bahari N/N class noun - Animal no plural / behaves like M/Wa nouns |
The seahorse is a small animal. | Mbuzi wa bahari ni mnyama mdogo. |
The seahorse is very beautiful. | Mbuzi wa bahari ni mzuri sana. |
that goat | mbuzi yule |
dog(s) | mbwa |
The dog is afraid of the farmer. | Mbwa anaogopa mkulima . |
The dog is not afraid of children. | Mbwa haogopi watoto. |
Dogs don't like cats. | Mbwa hawapendi paka. |
The farmer's dogs are fierce. | Mbwa wa mkulima ni wakali. |
The boy's dog is big. | Mbwa wa mvulana ni mkubwa. |
The boy's dogs are big. | Mbwa wa mvulana ni wakubwa. |
Sharp dogs are not nice. | Mbwa wakali si wazuri. |
your dog(s) | mbwa wako |
Your (pl) dog is big. | Mbwa wenu ni mkubwa. |
Our dog and our cat are friends. | Mbwa wetu na paka wetu ni rafiki. |
sand | mchanga M/Mi class noun
(We will discuss this later but let me give one secret away... in sg it uses 'wa' for of - mchanga wa bahari = sea sand) |
sea sand | mchanga wa bahari |
small (M/Wa Class sg) | mdogo |
smaller than | mdogo zaidi kuliko |
cockroach | mende |
A cockroach is small. | Mende ni mdogo. |
Cockroaches are bad. | Mende ni wabaya. |
His cockroaches are worse than your (pl) spiders. | Mende wake ni wabaya zaidi kuliko buibui wenu. |
table | meza |
a big table | meza kubwa |
The long table is nice. | Meza ndefu ni nzuri. |
short (M/Wa Class sg) | mfupi |
a guest | mgeni |
engineer | mhandisi |
This engineer doesn't have cooks. | Mhandisi huyu hana wapishi. |
an engineer and a farmer | mhandisi na mkulima |
The engineer is a tall man. | Mhandisi ni mwanaume mrefu. |
coral reef | miamba ya matumbawe M/Mi class noun -pl
We will treat that later |
I | mimi |
I am a cat. I am not a dog. | Mimi ni paka. Mimi si mbwa. |
I am Emilian. | Mimi ni Emilian. |
I am a farmer and you are an engineer. | Mimi ni mkulima na wewe ni mhandisi. |
I am a cook. | Mimi ni mpishi. |
I am a girl. | Mimi ni msichana. |
I am a man. | Mimi ni mwanaume. |
I live in a house. | Mimi ninaishi katika nyumba. |
I live at home. | Mimi ninaishi nyumbani. |
I am not short. | Mimi si mfupi. |
I am not a fish. | Mimi si samaki. |
sharp / fierce / severe (M/Wa class sg) | mkali |
big (M/Wa class sg) | mkubwa |
bigger than | mkubwa zaidi kuliko |
a farmer | mkulima |
The farmer is afraid of lions | Mkulima anaogopa simba. |
The farmer likes his dog. | Mkulima anapenda mbwa wake. |
The farmer is taller than the fisherman. | Mkulima ni mrefu zaidi kuliko mvuvi. |
That farmer has a sharp dog. | Mkulima yule ana mbwa mkali. |
you (pl) have | mna |
you (pl) go | mnaenda |
You (pl) go to the seaport. | Mnaenda kwenye bandari ya bahari. |
You (pl) eat | mnakula |
Do you (pl) eat bananas? | Mnakula ndizi ? |
You (pl) drink | mnakunywa |
Do you (pl) drink ice tea? | Mnakunywa chai ya barafu ? |
You (pl) are afraid | Mnaogopa |
Are you (pl) afraid of nurses? | Mnaogopa wauguzi? |
you (pl) love/like | mnapenda |
Do you (pl) like those people? | Mnapenda watu wale? |
animal | mnyama M/Wa noun class |
a sea animal | mnyama wa bahari |
a cook | mpishi |
The cook likes to go to the sea. | Mpishi anapenda kwenda baharini. |
a bad cook | mpishi mbaya |
The cook is a tall person. | Mpishi ni mtu mrefu. |
the cook is a man | mpishi ni mwanaume |
Their cook is better than ours. | Mpishi wao ni mzuri zaidi kuliko wetu. |
gentle | mpole |
tall / long (M/Wa Class sg) | mrefu |
traveler | msafiri |
The traveler has a dog. | Msafiri ana mbwa. |
This traveler is my guest. | Msafiri huyu ni mgeni wangu. |
the traveler and the girl | msafiri na msichana |
The traveler is a guest. | Msafiri ni mgeni. |
The traveler is a teacher. | Msafiri ni mwalimu. |
girl | msichana |
The girl has a bird. | Msichana ana ndege. |
a pretty girl | msichana mzuri |
The girl is small. | Msichana ni mdogo. |
Mozambique | Msumbiji |
child | mtoto |
a big child | mtoto mkubwa |
The child is a student. | Mtoto ni mwanafunzi. |
person | mtu |
this person | mtu huyu |
This person is not a teacher. | Mtu huyu si mwalimu. |
a good person (morally upright/kind) | mtu mwema |
nurse | muuguzi |
The nurse has medicine. | Muuguzi ana dawa. |
The short nurse is African. | Muuguzi mfupi ni mwafrika. |
the nurse and the child | muuguzi na mtoto |
The woman's nurse is beautiful. | Muuguzi wa mwanamke ni mzuri. |
my nurse | muuguzi wangu |
That nurse is honest. | Muuguzi yule ni mwaminifu. |
This boy doesn't have my dog. | Mvulana huyu hana mbwa wangu. |
a fisherman | mvuvi |
The fisherman likes fish. | Mvuvi anapenda samaki. |
The fisherman doesn't drink juice. | Mvuvi hanywi juisi. |
the fisherman and his fish | mvuvi na samaki wake |
That fisherman doesn't have fishes. | Mvuvi yule hana samaki. |
African (person) | mwafrika |
This African is so tall. | Mwafrika huyu ni mrefu sana. |
teacher | mwalimu |
The student's teacher is tall. | Mwalimu wa mwanafunzi ni mrefu. |
our teacher | mwalimu wetu |
rock | mwamba M/Mi class
its plural is 'miamba' = rocks as we have seen in 'miamba ya matumbawe' = rocks of corals = coral reef |
student | mwanafunzi |
woman | mwanamke |
This woman is the girl's mother. | Mwanamke huyu ni mama wa msichana. |
a nice woman | mwanamke mzuri |
man | mwanaume |
a tall man | mwanaume mrefu |
that man | mwanaume yule |
That man is my father. | Mwanaume yule ni baba yangu. |
pleasant / nice (M/Wa) | mwema |
parent | mzazi |
beautiful / nice /good / pretty (M/Wa Class sg) | mzuri |
better than / nicer than | mzuri zaidi kuliko |
and | na |
who | nani |
coconut | nazi |
this coconut and that coconut | nazi hii na nazi ile |
these coconuts | nazi hizi |
Coconuts are not vegetables. | Nazi si mboga. |
those coconuts | nazi zile |
country | nchi true N/N noun class |
The biggest country of Africa is Algeria and the smallest country are the Seychelles. | Nchi kubwa zaidi ya Afrika ni Algeria na nchi ndogo zaidi ni Shelisheli. |
a small country / small countries | nchi ndogo |
my country | nchi yangu |
Our country is a country of farmers. | Nchi yetu ni nchi ya wakulima. |
Our country is beautiful. | Nchi yetu ni nzuri. |
Our countries are countries of farmers. | Nchi zetu ni nchi za wakulima. |
bird(s) / airplanes | ndege |
Birds don't like cats. | Ndege hawapendi paka. |
Birds are beautiful. | Ndege ni wazuri. |
The girl's bird is beautiful. | ndege wa msichana ni mzuri. |
Her bird is very beautiful. | Ndege wake ni mzuri sana. |
Birds like fish. | Ndege wanapenda samaki. |
Birds fly. | Ndege wanaruka. |
My bird and the bird of your sister | Ndege wangu na ndege wa dada yako. |
yes | ndiyo |
Yes, I am Asha. | Ndiyo, mimi ni Asha. |
Yes, I am an African. | Ndiyo, mimi ni mwafrika. |
Yes, they are going to the harbour as well. | Ndiyo, wanaenda bandarini pia. |
banana | ndizi |
this banana | ndizi hii |
that banana and those bananas | ndizi ile na ndizi zile |
cow / ox | ng'ombe |
these cows | ng'ombe hawa |
a nice cow | ng'ombe mzuri |
nice cows | ng'ombe wazuri |
that cow | ng'ombe yule |
that cow and that butter | ng'ombe yule na siagi ile |
squid | ngisi N/N class noun - Animal
no plural / behaves like M/Wa nouns |
The squid is swimming near the coral reef. | Ngisi anaogelea kwenye miamba ya matumbawe. |
clothes | nguo |
big clothes and small clothes | nguo kubwa na nguo ndogo |
nices clothes | nguo nzuri |
pig | nguruwe |
these pigs | nguruwe hawa |
this pig | nguruwe huyu |
this pig and this banana | nguruwe huyu na ndizi hii |
am / is / are | ni |
to (a place) / suffix | ni |
If I eat vegetables, I will get big. | Nikila mboga, nitakuwa mkubwa. |
If I eat fish, I will drink water. | Nikila samaki, nitakunywa maji. |
If I eat I, I will drink, too. | Nikila, nitakunywa pia. |
When I am afraid | nikiogopa |
When I am big... (when I grow up...) | Nikiwa mkubwa |
I have | Nina |
I have a cat. I don't have dogs. | Nina paka. Sina mbwa. |
I have children. | Nina watoto. |
I go | ninaenda |
I go home. | Ninaenda nyumbani. |
I eat | Ninakula |
I eat meat. | Ninakula nyama. |
I drink | ninakunywa |
I drink coffee every morning. | Ninakunywa kahawa kila asubuhi. |
I swim in the sea. | Ninaogelea baharini. |
I am afraid of | Ninaogopa |
I am afraid of spiders. | Ninaogopa buibui. |
I am afraid of this man. | Ninaogopa mwanaume huyu. |
I am afraid of tall women. | Ninaogopa wanawake warefu. |
I love/like | ninapenda |
I like your letter. | Ninapenda barua yako. |
I love coffee. | Ninapenda kahawa. |
I like to swim. | Ninapenda kuogelea. |
I like the hyrax a lot. | Ninapenda pimbi sana. |
I like that donkey. | Ninapenda punda yule. |
I like your trousers. | Ninapenda suruali yako. |
I love children. | Ninapenda watoto. |
I like honest people. | Ninapenda watu waaminifu. |
I love you. | Ninapenda wewe. |
I walk over the sea sand. | Ninatembea juu ya mchanga wa bahari. |
you (pl) | ninyi |
You (pl) are afraid of crocodiles. | Ninyi mnaogopa mamba. |
You (pl) and your dogs and your cats. | Ninyi na mbwa wenu na paka wenu. |
You are girls. | Ninyi ni wasichana. |
I will have a cat. | Nitakuwa na paka. |
I will be a cat. | Nitakuwa paka. |
I will swim | nitaogelea |
pleasant /nice (N/N) | njema |
Come ! * | Njoo ! We didn't have this verb yet. The imperative is irregular. Just learn it like this for now. |
Come to my place ! | Njoo kwangu ! |
meat | nyama |
chicken (meat) | nyama ya kuku |
goat meat | nyama ya mbuzi |
beef | nyama ya ng'ombe |
beef with bell pepper | nyama ya ng'ombe na pilipili hoho. |
porc | nyama ya nguruwe |
whale | nyangumi N/N class noun - Animal
no plural / behaves like M/Wa nouns |
Whales are very big. | Nyangumi ni wakubwa sana. |
Whales are sea animals. | Nyangumi ni wanyama wa bahari. |
The whale is not a fish. | Nyangumi si samaki. |
baboon | nyani |
The baboon eats a banana. | Nyani anakula ndizi. |
A baboon is not a buffalo. | Nyani si nyati. |
buffalo | nyati |
Those buffalos are very fierce. | Nyati wale ni wakali sana. |
house | nyumba true N/N noun class |
The house has light. | Nyumba ina taa. |
a nice house | nyumba nzuri |
your houses | nyumba zako |
(to) home | nyumbani |
Fine / I am fine./ Everything is fine. | Nzuri. |
gazelle / deer | paa |
This little gazelle is very gentle. | Paa mdogo huyu ni mpole sana. |
cat(s) | paka |
The cat is afraid of the dog. | Paka anaogopa mbwa. |
The cat loves mice. | Paka anapenda panya. |
a small cat and a big lion | paka mdogo na simba mkubwa |
cats and dogs | paka na mbwa |
cats and mice | paka na panya |
the cats and their mouse / mice* | paka na panya wao * paka is plural because of wao (their) panya can be either sg or pl |
The cook's cat(s) / the cat(s) of the cook | paka wa mpishi |
her cat(s) | paka wake |
my cat(s) | paka wangu |
My cat is afraid of water. | Paka wangu anaogopa maji. |
My cat doesn't swim. | Paka wangu haogelei. |
My cat doesn't like water. | Paka wangu hapendi maji. |
My cat is my friend. | Paka wangu ni rafiki yangu. |
mouse /mice | panya |
The mouse is afraid of the cat. | Panya anaogopa paka. |
Mice are small. | Panya ni wadogo. |
the mouse /mice of the cat(s) | panya wa paka |
Sharks don't drink coffee. | Papa hawanywi kahawa. |
Sharks eat littie fishes. | Papa wanakula samaki wadogo. |
too / as well | pia |
also / too | pia |
pepper | pilipili |
bell pepper / Paprika | pilipili hoho |
hyrax* | pimbi * You don't know what I am ? Look at the lecture file and you ll see my photo. I am sooooo cute. |
Cool. / Calm. / I am fine. | Poa. |
dolphin | pomboo |
The dolphin jumps out of the water. | Pomboo anaruka nje ya maji. |
Dolphins are very gentle. | Pomboo ni mpole sana. |
Dolphins are not fish. | Pomboo si samaki. |
When the dolphins swim in the sea, they also jump out of the water. | Pomboo wakiogelea baharini, pia wataruka nje ya maji. |
Dolphins live in the sea. | Pomboo wanaishi baharini. |
Dolphins swim in the sea and jump. | Pomboo wanaogelea baharini na wanaruka. |
donkey | punda |
zebra | punda milia |
octopus | pweza N/N class noun - Animal
no plural / behaves like M/Wa nouns |
The octopus lives in the sea. | Pweza anaishi baharini. |
The octopus is swimming under the water. | Pweza anaogelea chini ya maji. Maji is from the Ji/Ma noun class.
Nothing to worry about for now |
The octopus is very big. | Pweza ni mkubwa sana. |
The octopus is a big animal. | Pweza ni mnyama mkubwa. |
friend | rafiki |
The big elephant's best friend is the little mouse. | Rafiki mkubwa wa tembo mkubwa ni panya mdogo. |
The best friend of the elephant is the mouse. | Rafiki mkubwa wa tembo ni panya. |
the friend of their father | rafiki wa baba yao |
the friends of your sister | rafiki wa dada yako |
His friend is more trustworthy than him. | Rafiki yake ni mwaminifu zaidi kuliko yeye. |
my best friend | rafiki yangu mkubwa |
a good friend of mine | rafiki yangu mzuri |
My friend is tall. | Rafiki yangu ni mrefu. |
My friend is nicer than yours. | Rafiki yangu ni mzuri zaidi kuliko yako. |
soap | sabuni |
a special soap | sabuni maalum |
a special soap for children's clothes | sabuni maalum kwa nguo za watoto |
a good soap for clothes | sabuni nzuri kwa nguo |
trip / journey | safari |
clean / pure / I am fine. | Safi. |
plates | sahani |
Peaceful / I am fine. / Everything is peaceful. | Salama. |
sorry | samahani |
Fish | Samaki |
The fish swims in the sea. | Samaki anaogelea baharini. |
Fishes don't like birds. | Samaki hawapendi ndege. |
Fishes are beautiful. | Samaki ni wazuri. |
your fish and his fish | samaki wako na samaki wake |
The fishes swim in the sea. | Samaki wanaogelea baharini. |
very | sana |
now | sasa |
seagull | shakwe N/N class noun - Animal
no plural / behaves like M/Wa nouns |
The seagull flies over the sea. | Shakwe anaruka juu ya bahari. |
The seagull walks over the sand. | Shakwe anatembea juu ya mchanga. |
A seagull is a bird. | Shakwe ni ndege. |
When the seagulls fly over the sea they will hunt for fish and crabs. | Shakwe wakiruka juu ya bahari, watawinda samaki na kaa. |
When the seagulls hunt for crabs, they also hunt for sea snails. | Shakwe wakiwinda kaa, pia watawinda konokono wa baharini. |
the Seychelles | Shelisheli |
school | shule true N/N noun class |
am not / are not / is not | si |
I am not. | Si |
butter | siagi |
that butter | siagi ile |
cow butter | Siagi ya ng’ombe |
I don't go | siendi |
I am not going to school (I will go tomorrow) | Siendi shuleni. |
I don't live in the sea. | Siishi baharini. |
I don't eat | Sili |
I don't eat pepper. | Sili pilipili. |
I don't eat sugar. | Sili sukari. |
lion(s) | simba |
A lion is a big cat. | Simba ni paka mkubwa. |
Lions are big. | Simba ni wakubwa. |
I don't have | sina |
I don't have children. | Sina watoto. |
I don't drink | Sinywi |
I don't drink coffee with sugar. | Sinywi kahawa na sukari. |
I don't like | Sipendi |
I don't like cockroaches. | Sipendi mende. |
I don't like fish. | Sipendi samaki |
I don't like you. | Sipendi wewe. |
we | sisi |
Are we friends again? | Sisi ni rafiki tena? |
We are guests. | Sisi ni wageni. |
We are teachers. | Sisi ni walimu. |
We are men. | Sisi ni wanaume. |
Are we travelers? | Sisi ni wasafiri? |
We are girls. | Sisi ni wasichana. |
We are not fishes. We don't live in the sea. | Sisi si samaki. Sisi hatuishi baharini. |
socks | soksi |
Socks and trousers are clothes. | Soksi na suruali ni nguo. |
pots / pans | sufuria |
big pots | sufuria kubwa |
pots and plates | sufuria na sahani |
sugar | sukari |
sugar and salt | sukari na chumvi |
The trousers are very big. | Suruali ni kubwa sana. |
(verb infix for future tense) | ta |
light | taa |
Tanzania is the land of the farmer. | Tanzania ni nchi ya mkulima. |
elephant | tembo |
elephants | tembo |
The elephant is afraid of the mouse. | Tembo anaogopa panya. |
The elephant is not afraid of crocodiles. | Tembo haogopi mamba. |
The elephant is big. | Tembo ni mkubwa. |
African elephants are not small. | Tembo wa Afrika si wadogo. |
big elephants | tembo wakubwa |
again | tena |
When we go to the sea, we will swim. | Tukienda baharini, tutaogelea. |
when we are afraid | tukiogopa |
we have | tuna |
We have a girl and a boy. | Tuna msichana na mvulana. |
we go | tunaenda |
We go to our country. | Tunaenda kwenye nchi yetu. |
we eat | tunakula |
We eat chicken (meat). | Tunakula nyama ya kuku. |
We eat butter every morning. | Tunakula siagi kila asubuhi. |
we drink | tunakunywa |
We drink a bottle of juice. | Tunakunywa chupa ya juisi. |
We are afraid | Tunaogopa |
We are afraid of big cockroaches. | Tunaogopa mende wakubwa. |
we love/ like | tunapenda |
We love birds | Tunapenda ndege. |
We are walking on the sand. | Tunatembea juu ya mchanga. |
We are also walking on the rocks. | Tunatembea pia juu ya mwamba. |
giraffe(s) | twiga |
The giraffe is taller than the lion. | Twiga ni mrefu zaidi kuliko simba. |
The giraffe is tall. | Twiga ni mrefu. |
The giraffes are tall. | Twiga ni warefu. |
When you go to the sea, you will walk on the sand. | Ukienda baharini, utatembea juu ya mchanga. |
When you swim in the sea, you will be afraid of sharks. | Ukiogelea baharini, utaogopa papa. |
if you are afraid | ukiogopa |
you have | una |
You go | unaenda |
You go to the sea. | Unaenda baharini. |
You eat | Unakula |
You eat beef. | Unakula nyama ya ng'ombe. |
you drink | unakunywa |
Do you drink juice ? | Unakunywa juisi ? |
you are afraid | unaogopa |
You are afraid of lions. | Unaogopa simba. |
You love/like | Unapenda |
Are you jumping? | Unaruka? |
Africans | waafrika |
The Africans are students. | Waafrika ni wanafunzi. |
The tall Africans are engineers. | Waafrika warefu ni wahandisi. |
The guests are Africans. | Wageni ni waafrika. |
The guests of the engineer are African people. | Wageni wa mhandisi ni watu wa Afrika. |
The guests have children. | Wageni wana watoto. |
My guests don't like spiders. | Wageni wangu hawapendi buibui. |
our guests | wageni wetu |
engineers | wahandisi |
If they like lobster, they will eat everything. | Wakipenda kambakoche, watakula kila kitu. |
the farmers and their dog(s) | wakulima na mbwa wao |
farmers and engineers | wakulima na wahandisi |
farmers are not fishermen | wakulima si wavuvi |
Those farmers don't have cats. | Wakulima wale hawana paka. |
those (M/Wa) | wale |
those (M/Wa) | wale |
teachers | walimu |
these teachers and those students | walimu hawa na wanafunzi wale |
The teachers are Africans. | Walimu ni waafrika. |
they have | wana |
they go | wanaenda |
They go to your place. | Wanaenda (nyumbani) kwako. |
They are going to the sea. | Wanaenda baharini. |
They go to the engineer. | Wanaenda kwa mhandisi. |
They go home. | Wanaenda nyumbani. |
students | wanafunzi |
Students are not teachers. | Wanafunzi si walimu. |
the teacher's students / the students of the teacher | wanafunzi wa mwalimu |
their students | wanafunzi wao |
They eat | wanakula |
They eat fish. | Wanakula samaki. |
they drink | wanakunywa |
They drink tea at home. | Wanakunywa chai nyumbani. |
They are afraid | Wanaogopa |
They are afraid of their teacher. | Wanaogopa mwalimu wao. |
They like | Wanapenda |
They love tall women. | Wanapenda wanawake warefu. |
men | wanaume |
men and woman | wanaume na wanawake |
The men are teachers. | Wanaume ni walimu. |
tall men | wanaume warefu |
women | wanawake |
women and children | wanawake na watoto |
Those women have beautiful girls. | Wanawake wale wana wasichana wazuri. |
The women are afraid of mice but I am not . | Wanawake wanaogopa panya lakini mimi siogopi. |
animals | wanyama M/Wa noun class - pl |
sea animals | wanyama wa bahari |
they | wao |
Are they men? | Wao ni wanaume? |
Are they cooks? | Wao ni wapishi? |
They are tall people.. | Wao ni watu warefu. |
These cooks are better than ours. | Wapishi hawa ni wazuri zaidi kuliko wapishi wetu. |
These chiefs are dishonest. | Wapishi hawa si waaminifu. |
the cooks and the guests | wapishi na wageni |
The teacher's cooks are bad. | Wapishi wa mwalimu ni wabaya. |
bad cooks | wapishi wabaya |
The travelers are worse than my guests. | Wasafiri ni wabaya zaidi kuliko wageni wangu. |
The travelers are men. | Wasafiri ni wanaume. |
The short travelers are guests. | Wasafiri wafupi ni wageni. |
The girls are students. | Wasichana ni wanafunzi. |
girls are children | wasichana ni watoto |
they will walk | watatembea |
Children don't drink coffee. | Watoto hawanywi kahawa. |
The children are not afraid of the dog. | Watoto hawaogopi mbwa. |
children are people | watoto ni watu |
The children are nice. | Watoto ni wazuri. |
Children are not big people. | Watoto si watu wakubwa. |
the children of our cook | watoto wa mpishi wetu |
big children | watoto wakubwa |
The children eat coconuts. | Watoto wanakula nazi. |
The children like their mother. | Watoto wanapenda mama yao. |
nice children | watoto wazuri |
people | watu |
these people | watu hawa |
These people are honest, but those people are bad. | Watu hawa ni waaminifu lakini watu wale ni wabaya. |
The people are guests. | Watu ni wageni. |
If people eat lobsters, they also like oysters. | Watu wakikula kambakoche, pia watapenda chaza. |
The people eat sugar, but they don't eat vegetables. | Watu wanakula sukari, lakini hawali mboga. |
The people are afraid and jump. | Watu wanaogopa na wanaruka. |
People like to eat oysters. | Watu wanapenda kula chaza. |
People like to eat lobsters. | Watu wanapenda kula kambakoche. |
People hunt whales. | Watu wanawinda nyangumi. |
good people (morally upright / kind) | watu wema |
the nurses | wauguzi |
The nurses have soap. | Wauguzi wana sabuni. |
The boys are bad. | Wavulana ni wabaya. |
The boys are small. | Wavulana ni wadogo. |
Those fishermen and their fishes. | Wavuvi wale na samaki wao. |
The fishermen have fishes. | Wavuvi wana samaki. |
The fishermen go to the sea every morning. | Wavuvi wanaenda baharini kila asubuhi. |
parents | wazazi |
parents and children | wazazi na watoto |
the child's parents / the parents of the child | wazazi wa mtoto |
His parents are so nice. | Wazazi wake ni wazuri sana. |
you | wewe |
you and your fish(es) | wewe na samaki wako |
Are you Asha? | Wewe ni Asha? |
You are an engineer. | Wewe ni mhandisi. |
Are you an African? | Wewe ni mwafrika? |
Are you a student? | Wewe ni mwanafunzi? |
Who are you? | Wewe ni nani? |
You are my best friend. | Wewe ni rafiki yangu mkubwa. |
You are a good friend of mine. | Wewe ni rafiki yangu mzuri. |
You are a lion. | Wewe ni simba. |
he / she | yeye |
He is a boy. | Yeye ni mvulana. |
He is a fisherman. | Yeye ni mvuvi. |
She is a woman. | Yeye ni mwanamke. |
that (M/Wa) | yule |
that (M/Wa) | yule |
more | zaidi |
those (N/N) | zile |
they go (for N/N pl words) | zinaenda |