-kw-

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Swahili

[edit]

Etymology

[edit]

From the infinitive prefix kw- used before vowels.

Interfix

[edit]

-kw-

  1. placed between certain tense/aspect markers and the stem of some vowel-initial bisyllabic verbs (-anza, -enda, -isha) in the absence of object concord
    nimekwendaI have gone

Usage notes

[edit]

This is often dropped in colloquial speech:

nimeendaI have gone

See also

[edit]
Swahili 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.