Hi Listeners, let's practice here how to express our gratitude in Swahili!

Jambo Team Swahili 101

Asante kwa kueleza.

Hi Thomas!

Tunafurahi kusikia unafurahia kujifunza Kiswahili! (We are happy to hear you are enjoying learning Swahili!) 😊

The suffix "-vyo" in "Nilivyoskia" is used to form relative clauses in Swahili. In this context, "Nilivyoskia" means "the way I heard" or "as I heard." It connects the action (hearing) with the manner or the way it was done.

Keep up the great work, and if you have any more questions, feel free to ask. Asante sana (Thank you very much) for your question!

Looking forward to seeing you often here.

Team SwahiliPod101.com

Jambo

I enjoy learning Swahili

Can you explain -vyo - in Nilivyoskia.

Asante sana

Thomas

Hi Linda!

Asante kwa swali lako! (Thank you for your question!) 😊

In the word "umejifungua," the "ji" is a reflexive prefix, indicating that the action is being done to oneself. So, "umejifungua" means "you have given birth" (to yourself, in a reflexive sense).

Now, let's look at your sentences:

1. **Shukuru** means "appreciate." ✔️

2. **Ninashukuru** means "I appreciate." ✔️

3. **Nashukuri** - The correct form is "Nashukuru." The "i" at the end is not necessary. "Nashukuru" is a more informal way of saying "I appreciate." 😊

4. **Kushukuri** - The correct infinitive form is "Kushukuru." The "i" at the end is not correct. The infinitive form is used to express "to appreciate."

Regarding nilivyoskia and niliamua here is the breakdown:

nilivyoskia

ni = I

li = Past tense marker

vyo = "The way" or "how" (used to describe manner or way something happens)

skia = Root verb "to hear" (from kusikia)

niliamua

ni = I

li = Past tense marker

A = Verb root prefix (often helps in verb formation)

mua = Root verb "amua," meaning "to decide" (from kuamua)

I hope this helps clarify things for you! Feel free to let us know if you have any more questions.

Asante sana! (Thank you very much!)

Team SwahiliPod101.com

Hi Linda!

Asante kwa kuuliza! (Thank you for asking!) 😊

1. Mimi vs. Ni vs. Nami:

- *Mimi* means "I" and is used when you are emphasizing the subject, as in "Mimi ni Linda" (I am Linda).

- *Ni* is a verb form meaning "is" or "am," used in sentences like "Mimi ni mwanafunzi" (I am a student).

- *Nami* means "with me" and is used to indicate accompaniment, as in "Njoo nami" (Come with me).

2. Kukujua:

- The word "kukujua" means "to know you." In Swahili, "ku-" is a prefix used for the infinitive form of verbs (to know), and "ku-" here is also a prefix that refers to "you." So, "kukujua" can be broken down into "ku- (to) ku- (you) jua (know)."

Your understanding of the singular pronouns is correct, and the "ku-" prefix is a way to refer to "you" within verbs.

Feel free to let us know if you have any questions.

Asante sana! (Thank you very much!)

Team SwahiliPod101.com

Jambo,

Would you break down the words, nilivyoskia and niliamua?

Ni - I

Li - past tense

vyo - ?

Skia - verb meaning listen or kuskia, to listen.

Niliamua

Ni - I

Li- past tense

a - ?

mua - ?

Thanks again for your help.

Linda

Habari,

What does does the "ji" represent in the word umejifungua?

And is the below correct:

Shukuru means appreciate.

Ninashukuru means I appreciate.

Nashukuri means I appreciate, is the "i" on the end correct?

Kushukuri means the infinitive form.

Thanks for you help.

Linda

Hamjambo,

How do you know when to use:

mimi vs. ni vs nami ?

Also, in the word kukujua, "kuku" is used as a singular pronoun to refer to the subject. The only singular pronouns that I know are : mimi - ni.

wewe - u

yeye - a

Where did kuku come from?

Jambo Linds,

Karibu Linds. I am glad you have understood about verb conjugation.

Yes the ya preposition does not apply when white is an adjective. In Kahawa ya maziwa, both words are nouns hence the use of the preposition. The direct translation is kahawa nyeupe, nyeupe being translation for white.

Continue enjoying the Swahili learning experience.

Joshua

Team Swahilipod101.com

Asante sana Joshua.

So conjugating verbs does not change the verb itself, only the prefixes. Now that's resovled.

One more question about prepositions.

Kahawa ya maziwa is coffee with milk.

To say white coffee, where white is an adjective, you would not use ya. ???

Jambo Linda,

Thank you for your question. How to conjugate kuwa.

Nimekuwa - 1st person singular

Amekuwa - 3rd person singular

Umekuwa - 2nd person singular

Tumekuwa - 1st person plural

Mmekuwa - 2nd person plural

Wamekuwa - 3rd person plural

The above is in the past participle. For other tenses, replace as follows:

Past tense - replace the 'me' in the phrase with 'li'.

Future tense - replace the 'me' with 'ta'

Feel free to ask for further clarification. Continue enjoying the Swahili learning experience.

Joshua

Team Swahilipod101.com

Hi team swahili,

Would you please conjugate the word kuwa.

Asante.

Jambo Olivier Hinh,

Thank you for your question. The two words have completely different meanings. Kamwe is a word used to put emphasis on a negating action. It's English equivalent is the phrase -by no means- or -not at all-. On the other hand, nashukuru means -I am grateful- or -I am thankful- or - I appreciate-. Feel free to ask for further clarification and continue enjoying the Swahili learning experience.

Joshua

Team Swahilipod101.com

Jambo teachers!

Is there a difference between kamwe and nashukuru? If there's not, which is more often used?

Asante sana!

Jambo Rita,

Tunashukuru pia for keeping it here. Continue enjoying the Swahili learning experience.

Joshua

Team Swahilipod101.com

Nashukuru sana!

Jambo Edward,

Thank you for your question. "umejifungua" is only used when someone has given birth. To ask if you have opened something you say "umeifungua?". Feel free to ask for further clarification. Continue enjoying the Swahili learning experience.

Joshua

Team Swahilipod101.com

Jambo wenzi wangu,

Is it ok for one to use "umejifungua" to mean you have to opened it or it's only used when someone has given birth

Jambo Nurhidayat,

Your colleague from Kenya is doing you good. He is exposing to variations of greetings. Habari yako, jambo, u hali gani, uko mzima, waendelea aje are all phrases used to ask how one is doing.

His response "siku ni nzuri sana" meaning "it is a good day" can be used as a response to all these phrases. As you interact with him and this pod, you will become an advanced learner. Keep enjoying the Swahili learning experience.

Feel free to ask for further clarifications.

Joshua

Team Swahilipod101.com

Jambo!

Today my colleague from Kenya greet me with: "waedele aje", and he said it means "how are you doing".

Also, he said the response is "siku ni nulis sana" which mean "it is a good day".

Are those different from the standard we learned in this pod?