ADVERBS

Adverbs are descriptive words used to qualify (mostly) verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.

 

1.     Time (when something happens)

Siku hizi [lately/these days]	Siku hizi ninachoka sana [I get tired so much lately]
Wiki ijayo [next week]	Tutaonana wiki ijayo [We’ll see each other next week]
Hivi karibuni [soon]	Wageni watafika hivi karibuni [The guests will arrive soon]
Usiku huu [tonight]	Nitakuona usiku huu [I will see you tonight]
Sasa [now]	Sasa unaenda wapi [Where are you going now?]
Baadaye [later]	Tuonane baadaye [Let’s see each other later]
Jana usiku [last night]	Jana usiku sikulala [I did not sleep last night]
Leo asubuhi [this morning]	Amefika leo asubuhi [He/she arrived this morning]
Tayari [already]	Umemaliza tayari? [Are you done already?]
Zamani [long ago]	Nilimwona zamani sana [I saw him/her a long time ago]

 

 

 

2.   Place (where something happens)

Mahali popote [anywhere]	Siendi mahali popote leo [I’m not going anywhere today]
Kila mahali [everywhere]	Tutatembelea kila mahali [We will visit everywhere]
Hapa [here]	Niko hapa [I’m here]
Hapo [there]	Ondoka hapo [Get out of there]
Pale [over there, remote]	Pale kuna duka [There is a shop over there]
Mbali [far]	Usiende mbali [Don’t go far]
Karibu [near]	Keti karibu na mimi [Sit near me]

 

 

 

3.   Manner (how something happens)

Vibaya [badly]	Alianguka vibaya [He fell badly]
Vizuri [nicely, well]	Jibu vizuri [Answer properly]
Vigumu [difficult, toughly]	Ni vigumu kusahau [It’s difficult to forget]
Kidogo [slightly, a little]	Nitakula chakula kidogo [I’ll eat a little food]
Kwa haraka [quickly]	Tembea kwa haraka [Walk quickly]
Kwa kawaida [usually]	Kwa kawaida, anaongea kwa haraka [Usually, he speaks fast]
Kwa kifupi [briefly]	Eleza kwa kifupi [Briefly explain]
Kwa kweli [truthfully]	Kwa kweli, sijamwona [Truthfully, I have not seen him/her]
Kwa sauti [loudly]	Ita kwa sauti [Call out loudly]
Kwa bahati [fortunately]	Kwa bahati, hajaumia [Fortunately, he/she is not hurt]
Kwa ghafla [suddenly]	Siba alikufa ghafla [The lion died suddenly]

 

 

4.   Frequency (how often something occurs)

Mara chache [rarely]	Chui huonekana mara chache [The leopard is rarely seen]
Mara kwa mara [sometimes]	Wanatembea mara kwa mara [They walk from time to time]
Kamwe [never]	Sitasahau kamwe! [I will never forget!]
Mara moja [once; immediately]	Njoo hapa mara moja [Come here immediately]
Mara ya mwisho [last time]	Ninakwambia mara ya mwisho [I’m telling you for the last time]
Mara nyingi [many times]	Jogoo anawika mara nyingi  [The rooster crows many times]

 

 

5.    Degree  (to show the intensity of something)

Kabisa [completely]	Nimemaliza kabisa [I have finished completely]
Sana [very; a lot]	Nina kiu sana [I’m very thirsty]
Kiasi [a bit]	Nina njaa kiasi [I’m a little hungry]

 

 

 

Exercise 1: Translate into Kiswahili

a)    The week ended very badly.

b)    The examination was a little difficult.

c)     He cleaned this room well.

d)   Fortunately, the lion did not attack us.

e)    The rooster crows so loudly every morning.

f)      May I speak with you briefly?

g)    He fell and was hurt a little.

h)   They were completely shocked.

i)      The coffee was very hot.

j)      This is the last time I give you a chance.

k)    He travelled for the first time by air.

l)      Please, come here.

m) The thieves appeared suddenly.

Exercise 2

Translate the adverb in brackets into Kiswahili: Mama yule anatembea _____________ (slowly)

Kwa haraka

Siku hizi

Polepole

sana

Wanafunzi wazuri wanaandika______________ (well)

Wazuri

Vizuri

Vibaya

Haraka

Wageni walisafiri _____________(by car)

gari

na gari

Kwa gari

garini

Safari itaanza ________________ (the day after tomorrow)

Kesho

jana

siku

Kesho kutwa

Amina alifika darasani _________________(early)

asubuhi

jioni

Mapema

Alifika

Jua huchomoza _____________(in the east)

magharibi

Asubuhi

Mashariki

jioni

Wale huswali ______________ kwa siku. (five times)

mara tano

ya tano

tano

saa tano

Basi limeondoka __________________ (already)

hivi sasa

tayari

baadaye

sawa sawa

Meza hazijaoshwa ____________ (not yet)

bado

leo

tayari

sawa

Mgeni ataenda shuleni ___________ (next year)

Mwaka ujao

mwaka uliopita

mwaka huu

mwaka jana

Tulitembea ___________ (quickly)

polepole

sana

haraka

bado

Maria alinitembelea ________________ (again)

bado

tena

juzi

sana