Nationality and residency

When stating nationalities in Kiswahili,  we use the prefix M‐ is for singular and WA‐ for plural.

Mkenya-Wakenya [Kenyan person/s]

Mtanzania-Watanzania [Tanzanian person/s]

Mmarekani/ Mwamerika-Wamarekani/Waamerika [American person/s]

Mwiingereza-Waingereza  [English/British person/s]

Mmisri-Wamisri [Egyptian person/s]

Mwitalia/Mwitaliano-Waitalia [Italian person/s]

Mswidi-Waswidi [Swedish person/s]

Mswisi-Waswisi [Swiss person/s]

Mfaransa-Wafaransa [French person/s]

Mhispania-Wahispania [Spanish person/s]

Mrundi-Warundi [Burundian person/s]

Mrwanda-Warwanda [Rwandan person/s]

Mifano katika sentensi

Mimi ni Mwafrika.- I am African.

Mimi ni Mmarekani- I am American

Ninatoka Uingereza – I come from England

Wewe ni Mkenya- You are a Kenyan

Wale ni Wasomali- They are Somalis

Sisi ni Wahindi- We are Indians

Wao ni Wajerumani – They are Germans.

 

Mifano zaidi

1.       Unatoka wapi? – Where do you come from?

2.       Wakenya wanatoka Kenya. - Kenyans come from Kenya.

3.       Mvulana huyu ni Mjapani. - This boy is a Japanese.

4.       Anatoka wapi? - Where does he/she come from?

5.       Waganda wanatoka Uganda. – Ugandans come from Uganda.

6.       Madaktari wameenda Ulaya.- The doctors have gone to Europe.

7.       Warumi watasafiri kuenda Kanada – The Romans will travel to Canada.

When asking someone where they are born

1.       Mmezaliwa wapi? Where were you(plural)  born?

2.        Amezaliwa wapi? Where was she/he born?

3.       Wamezaliwa wapi? Where were they born?

4.       Umezaliwa wapi? Where were you born?

When answering, we say:

1.       Nilizaliwa India – I was born in India

2.       Amezaliwa Uholanzi- She/he was born in Holland.

3.       Mwanamke yule alizaliwa Chicago – That lady was born in Chicago.

4.       Walizaliwa Ujerumani – They were born in Germany.

 

When talking about where you or someone resides/ live in.

Ninaishi – I stay/I live/I reside

Ninaishi Mombasa

Mifano zaidi

1.    Monica alisafiri kuenda Tanzania Jumamosi, anakaa Zanzibari.

[Monica travelled to Tanzania on Saturday, she stays in Zanzibar.]

Mzee yule anaishi Nairobi.

That man resides in Nairobi.

Anaishi karibu na ikulu ya rais.

He lives next to the statehouse.

Mimi ninaishi katika kaunti ya Kitui nchini Kenya.

I live in Kitui county in Kenya.

Mazoezi (Exercise)

1.    Mtanzania           Tanzania

2.       Mkongo               ________

3.       ________           Ulaya

4.       Msomali               ________

5.       Mbelgiji                ________

6.       Mmarekani         ________

Translate the following into Swahili

1.       I come from England.

2.       I live in Congo.

3.       My mother is Kenyan.

4.       I was born in Tanzania.

5.       I come from Europe.

 

 How would you say the following in English?

1.       Nilizaliwa Nakuru.

2.       Alizaliwa wapi?

3.       Wanatoka Ujerumani.

4.       Mimi ni Msomalia.

5.       Baba yangu ni Mkongo, anaishi Ufaransa.

6.       Mwanafunzi yule anasoma nchini Uganda.

7.       Anaishi karibu na dada yake.

Andika maelezo mafupi kuhusu unakotoka, ulikozaliwa, unakosomea na unakoishi.

(Write a brief description about where you come from, where you were born, where you went to school and where you stay.)