kw-
Swahili
editAlternative forms
editEtymology 1
editFrom Proto-Bantu *kʊ̀-.
Prefix
editkw-
- ku class(XV) noun prefix; used before verb stem of -anza, -enda, -isha
- kwenda ― to go
- ku class(XV)/ku class(XVII) adjective agreement prefix before vowels
- mchana kweupe ― in broad daylight
- nyumbani kwangu ― at my home
See also
editSwahili TAM markers | |
---|---|
Initial | |
Positive infinitive | ku-/kw-1 |
Negative infinitive | kuto- |
Habitual | hu-1 |
Telegrammic | ka-1 |
Final | |
General (positive indicative) | -a |
Positive subjunctive | -e |
Negative present | -i |
Second person plural | -ni |
Infix position positive subject concord | |
Positive past | -li- |
Positive present | -na- |
Positive future | -ta- |
Negative subjunctive | -si-1 |
Positive present conditional | -nge- |
Negative present conditional | -singe- |
Positive past conditional | -ngali- |
Negative past conditional | -singali- |
Gnomic | -a-1 |
Perfect | -me- |
"Already" past | -lisha- |
"Already" present | -mesha-/-sha- |
"If/When" | -ki-1 |
"If not" | -sipo- |
Consecutive | -ka-1 |
Infix position negative subject concord | |
Negative past | -ku-1 |
Negative future | -ta- |
"Not yet" | -ja-1 |
Negative present conditional | -nge- |
Negative past conditional | -ngali- |
Relative | |
Past | -li- |
Present | -na- |
Future | -taka- |
Negative | -si- |
1 Can take stress and therefore does not require -ku-/-kw- in monosyllabic verbs. |
Etymology 2
editFrom Proto-Bantu *kʊ́-.
Prefix
editkw-
- it, there; ku class(XV)/ku class(XVII) subject concord used before gnomic marker (-a-); Only used in kwa-
See also
editSwahili verbal concords (third person)
Class | Subject concord | Object concord | Relative | |
---|---|---|---|---|
affirmative | negative | |||
m(I) | a-, yu- | ha-, hayu- | -m-, -mw-, -mu- | -ye |
wa(II) | wa- | hawa- | -wa- | -o |
m(III) | u- | hau- | -u- | -o |
mi(IV) | i- | hai- | -i- | -yo |
ji(V) | li- | hali- | -li- | -lo |
ma(VI) | ya- | haya- | -ya- | -yo |
ki(VII) | ki- | haki- | -ki- | -cho |
vi(VIII) | vi- | havi- | -vi- | -vyo |
n(IX) | i- | hai- | -i- | -yo |
n(X) | zi- | hazi- | -zi- | -zo |
u(XI) | u- | hau- | -u- | -o |
ku(XV/XVII) | ku- | haku- | -ku- | -ko |
pa(XVI) | pa- | hapa- | -pa- | -po |
mu(XVIII) | m-, mw-, mu- | ham-, hamw-, hamu- | -mu- | -mo |
For a full table including first and second person, see Appendix:Swahili personal pronouns. |