simama

Swahili

Etymology

Originally a static extension, ultimately from Proto-Bantu *-jɪ́ma.

Pronunciation

• Audio (Kenya)

  (file)

Verb

-simama (infinitive kusimama)

1. to stand
2. to be steady, be still
3. to stop

Conjugation

Conjugation of -simama
Positive present -nasimama Subjunctive -simame Negative -simami Imperative singular simama
Infinitives
Positive kusimama Negative kutosimama
Imperatives
Singular simama Plural simameni
Tensed forms
Habitual husimama Positive past positive subject concord + -lisimama Negative past negative subject concord + -kusimama
Positive present (positive subject concord + -nasimama) Singular Plural 1st person ninasimama/nasimama tunasimama 2nd person unasimama mnasimama 3rd person m-wa(I/II) anasimama wanasimama other classes positive subject concord + -nasimama
Negative present (negative subject concord + -simami) Singular Plural 1st person sisimami hatusimami 2nd person husimami hamsimami 3rd person m-wa(I/II) hasimami hawasimami other classes negative subject concord + -simami
Positive future positive subject concord + -tasimama Negative future negative subject concord + -tasimama
Positive subjunctive (positive subject concord + -simame) Singular Plural 1st person nisimame tusimame 2nd person usimame msimame 3rd person m-wa(I/II) asimame wasimame other classes positive subject concord + -simame
Negative subjunctive positive subject concord + -sisimame Positive present conditional positive subject concord + -ngesimama Negative present conditional positive subject concord + -singesimama Positive past conditional positive subject concord + -ngalisimama Negative past conditional positive subject concord + -singalisimama
Gnomic (positive subject concord + -asimama) Singular Plural 1st person nasimama twasimama 2nd person wasimama mwasimama 3rd person m-wa(I/II) asimama wasimama m-mi(III/IV) wasimama yasimama ji-ma(V/VI) lasimama yasimama ki-vi(VII/VIII) chasimama vyasimama n(IX/X) yasimama zasimama u(XI) wasimama see n(X) or ma(VI) class ku(XV/XVII) kwasimama pa(XVI) pasimama mu(XVIII) mwasimama
Perfect positive subject concord + -mesimama "Already" positive subject concord + -meshasimama "Not yet" negative subject concord + -jasimama "If/When" positive subject concord + -kisimama "If not" positive subject concord + -siposimama Consecutive kasimama / positive subject concord + -kasimama Consecutive subjunctive positive subject concord + -kasimame
Object concord (indicative positive) Singular Plural 1st person -nisimama -tusimama 2nd person -kusimama -wasimama/-kusimameni/-wasimameni 3rd person m-wa(I/II) -msimama -wasimama m-mi(III/IV) -usimama -isimama ji-ma(V/VI) -lisimama -yasimama ki-vi(VII/VIII) -kisimama -visimama n(IX/X) -isimama -zisimama u(XI) -usimama see n(X) or ma(VI) class ku(XV/XVII) -kusimama pa(XVI) -pasimama mu(XVIII) -musimama Reflexive -jisimama
Relative forms General positive (positive subject concord + (object concord) + -simama- + relative marker) Singular Plural m-wa(I/II) -simamaye -simamao m-mi(III/IV) -simamao -simamayo ji-ma(V/VI) -simamalo -simamayo ki-vi(VII/VIII) -simamacho -simamavyo n(IX/X) -simamayo -simamazo u(XI) -simamao see n(X) or ma(VI) class ku(XV/XVII) -simamako pa(XVI) -simamapo mu(XVIII) -simamamo Other forms (subject concord + tense marker + relative marker + (object concord) + -simama) Singular Plural m-wa(I/II) -yesimama -osimama m-mi(III/IV) -osimama -yosimama ji-ma(V/VI) -losimama -yosimama ki-vi(VII/VIII) -chosimama -vyosimama n(IX/X) -yosimama -zosimama u(XI) -osimama see n(X) or ma(VI) class ku(XV/XVII) -kosimama pa(XVI) -posimama mu(XVIII) -mosimama
Some forms not commonly seen in modern Standard Swahili are absent from the table. See Appendix:Swahili verbs for more information.

Derived terms

• Verbal derivations:
  • Applicative: -simamia
  • Causative: -simamisha
  • Stative: -simamika

• Nominal derivations:
  • msimamo (“stand, position”)