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