Common Kiswahili Verbs

In Kiswahili, conjugated verbs are formed by combining three elements; Subject Prefix + tense marker + verb stem.

For example, unatoka [you come from] is made up of

u-                          you (singular)

-na-                      present tense

-toka                   come from

 

Acha	Leave/stop
Amini	Believe
Amka	Wake Up/ Get up
Andaa	Prepare
Andalia	Serve
Andika	Write
Angalia	Look At
Anza	Begin
Baki	Remain
Cheka	Laugh
Cheza	Play
Chora	Draw
Chukua	Pick Up/ Take
Elewa	Understand
Eleza	Explain
Endesha	Ride
Fanana	Resemble
Fanya	Make
Fanya Kazi	Work
Fanya Mazoezi	Exercise
Funga	Close
Fungua	Open
Funza	Teach
Futa	Erase/ wipe
Gandisha	Freeze
Heshimu	Respect
Hisi	Feel
Hitaji	Need
Imba	Sing
Ingia	Enter
Ishi	Live (location)
Ita	Call
Jifunza	Learn
Jionea	Sight Seeing
Jua	Know
Kaa	Sit
Kaa	Stay
Kariri	Memorize
Kata	Cut
Kosa	Miss
Kumbatia	Hug
Kumbuka	Remember
Enda	Go
La	Eat
Lala	Sleep
Lia	Cry
Lipa	Pay
Maliza	Finish
Ngoja	Wait
Njoo	Come
Nunua	Buy
Nyesha	Rain
Nywa	Drink
Oga	Bathe
Oga	Shower
Omba	Pray
Ona	See
Ongea	Talk
Ongea, Sema	Speak
Ota	Dream
Penda	Like/Love
Piga Mswaki	Brush
Piga Simu	Call (On The Phone)
Pika	Cook
Poteza	Lose
Pumzika	Rest
Rudi	Return
Rudia	Repeat
Safiri	Travel
Safisha	Clean
Sahau	Forget
Sahihi	Correct
Saidia	Help
Salimia	Greet
Sema	Say
Shika	Hold
Shukuru	Thank
Sikia	Hear
Sikiliza	Listen
Simama	Stand
Soma	Read
Soma	Study
Sukuma	Push
Tafuta	Search
Taka	Want
Tazama	Watch
Tembea	Walk
Tenda	Do
Toa Jasho	Sweat
Toka	Get out, Come from
Tuma	Send
Tumia	Use
Uliza	Ask
Uza	Sell
Vunja	Break
Vuta	Pull
Washa	Turn On
Wasili	Arrive
Wasili	Arrive
Waza	Think
Wepo	Exist
Zima	Turn Off

Exercise 1 (Pronouns)

How do you say 'I' in Kiswahili?

a. Mimi

b. Wewe

c. Yeye

d. Wao

 

How do you say 'that person' in Kiswahili?

a. Mimi

b. Wewe

c. Yeye

d. Nyinyi

 

What participant marker accompanies 'mimi?'

a. ni

b. u

c. a

d. m

 

Which of the following is correct?

a. Mimi tu

b. sisi wa

c. wao ni

d. nyinyi m

 

How do you say 'I am called' in Kiswahili?

a. Sisi tunaitwa

b. Wao wanaitwa

c. Yeye anaitwa

d. Mimi ninaitwa

 

Which statement is incorrect from the following statements?

a. Yeye anaitwa

b. Sisi tunaitwa

c. Wao unaitwa

d. Nyinyi mnaitwa

 

Translate the following: 'You(pl) are studying Kiswahili'

a. Nyinyi mnasoma Kiswahili

b. Wewe unafanya Kiswahili

c. Mimi ninaitwa Kiswahili

d. Wewe unasoma Kiswahili

 

How do you ask someone, 'What are you doing?'

a. Mimi ninafanya nini

b. Wewe unafanya nini

c. Sisi tunaitwa nani

d. Wewe unaitwa nani

 

Exercise 2: Common Kiswahili verbs

1. How do say in Kiswahili 'I can'

a. Mimi siwezi

b. Mimi ninaweza

c. Mimi ninanunua

 

2. What is being said: kununua

a. to buy

b. to sell

c. to sleep

d. to eat

 

3. Translate to Kiswahili: 'He will buy food'

a. Atakula chakula

b. Hatakula chakula

c. Atanunua chakula

d. Nitanunua chakula

 

4. What is being said: kusema

a. to say

b. to eat

c. to buy

d. to read

 

5. Translate to Swahili: 'What are you saying?'

a. Ninasema nini?

b. Anasema nini?

c. Mnasema nini?

d. Unasema nini?

 

6. How do you say 'come' in Kiswahili?

a. kuja

b. sema

c. nunua

d. pika

 

7. Translate to Kiswahili: 'The visitors are coming'

a. Wageni watakuja

b. wageni walikuja

c. wageni wamekuja

d. Wageni wanakuja

 

 

8. What is being said: tutapika nini

a. what are you cooking

b. what will you cook

c. what did you cook

d. what will we cook

 

9. What is being said: kupenda

a. to eat

b. to love

c. to cook

d. to go

 

10. What is being said: kulala

a. to eat

b. to sleep

c. to love

d. to go