Verb Stems and Other Forms Flashcards
-acha
cease to, leave behind, let go
-aga -agana (rec.)
- take leave of, say goodbye - say goodbye to each other
-adhimisha (caus.)
celebrate, honor
-adhimisha (caus.)
celebrate, honor
-ambia
tell, relate
-amini
trust, believe
-amkia -amkiana (rec.)
- to greet - greet each other
-amua
decide, arbitrate, judge
-andika -andikia (prep.) -andikwa (pass.)
- write, chronicle, inscribe - write for - be written
-angaza (caus.)
enlighten, shine, shed light upon
-anguka
fall down
-anza
start, begin
-arifu
to inform
-badili -badilika (stat.) -badilisha (caus.)
- change -be changed -make changes, change, alter
-baki
remain
-balehe
reach the age of puberty
-bana -banwa (pass.)
squeeze, press, pinch, bind be pressed, be squeezed, be bound
-bariki -barikiwa (pass)
- bless - be blessed
-batiza -batizwa (pass.)
baptize be baptized
-beba
carry
-bidi
be obliged
-boresha (caus.)
make good, improve
-chagua
choose, select
-chafua
make dirty, soil
-changa
contribute, collect (money), share in meeting expenses
-cheka
laugh
-chelewa
be late
-chemsha (caus.)
cause to boil, boil
-cheza
play, dance
-chimba
to dig
-chinja
-slaughter
-choka
be tired
-chota
scoop, draw (water)
-choka
be tired
-chota
scoop, draw (water)
-chovya
dip, plunge into, put into (as in dipping ugali into juice)
-chukua -chukulia (prep.)
- carry, take - accommodate, consider it as
-chumbia -chumbisha
- to court a girl (LOL!) - to get engaged
-chunga
look after, care for
-chungulia (prep.)
look through / into more deeply
-dai
claim legally, demand as a right, be owed
-danganya
cheat, defraud, deceive
-dhani
guess, imagine, think
-dharau
despise, treat with contempt, insult
-elekea (prep.)
- go directly to, move towards
-elewa -elewana (rec.)
- understand, comprehend - understand one another
-elewa -jieleza (refl.)
understand, comprehend express oneself, explain oneself
-elimisha (caus.)
impart knowledge, educate
-enda -endea (prep.)
- go - go for (by, in), approach someone
-endelea -endeleza (caus.)
- move forward, continue - develop, make to progress, continue
-enea -eneza
spread cover the whole extent of
-fa
die
-faa
be of use, useful
-fafanua
explain, elaborate upon, reveal
-fagia
sweep (with broom, brush)
-fahamu
know, be familiar with
-faidi -faidika (stat.)
- enjoy, benefit, profit - enjoy, be benefited
-fanana
- be similar, resemble correspond
-fanya
do, make
-fanya -fanikiwa (pass.)
-do, make -to prosper, succeed
-fariki
die, pass away (for people, not animals and things)
-faulu
succeed, obtain one’s wish
-fika -fikia
arrive arrive at, reach
-fia
die for a cause
-fiwa (pass.)
be bereaved by, be left behind by the deceased
-fua
wash clothes
-fuata -fuatana na (rec.) -fuatilia (prep.)
- follow - follow, come next - follow-up, pursue
-fundisha
teach, instruct
-funga
- close
-funga ndoa (idiom)
be married, marry (lit. close the marriage)
-fupisha (caus.)
make short, reduce, shorten
-furahia -furahisha (caus.)
- rejoice, feel extremely happy - make happy
-fungua -jifungua (refl.)
- open - give birth, bear
-fyeka
mow, cut grass or bush, destroy
-ganga
treat
-gawa
distribute, divide
-geuza (caus.)
turn inside out, change
-goma -gomea (prep.)
boycott, strike boycott, strike
-gongana (rec.)
beat one another, be in conflict with
-gundua
realize, discover, come to know
-gusa -gusia (prep.)
- touch - mention, touch upon
-halalisha (caus.) -halalishwa (pass.)
- make (it) legal, make official - be legal
-hama -hamia (prep.) -hamisha
- move, emigrate - move to - cause to move
-hangaika
be confused, troubled, worried
-hangaika
be confused, troubled, worried
-hani
mourn (with), pay a visit of condolence (to)
-harakisha (caus.)
- cause to hurry, hasten
-haribu -haribika (stat.)
- damage, ruin, impair, destroy, spoil - be spoiled, broken
-heshimu -heshimiana (rec.)
- to respect - respect each other
-hifadhi
preserve, conserve
-hitaji
need
-hubiri
preach, proclaim
-hudumia (prep.)
- serve at, attend to
-hukumu -hukumia (prep.)
- judge, pass sentence - judge for
-husu
be closely concerned with, related to
-imba
sing, chant; twitter
-ingia -jiingiza (refl.)
- go in, enter - intrude, enter oneself into
-ishia (prep.)
end (somewhere)
-itwa (pass.)
be called
-iva
ripen, be ripe, mature
-ja -ijia (prep.)
- come - come for
-jadili -jadiliana (rec.)
- discuss, argue, debate - discuss with one another
-jali
mind, care about, be concerned with
-jaribu
try, do one’s best, attempt
-jenga -jijengea (refl.)
- build, construct - construct for oneself
-jibu -jibia (prep)
- answer - answer for
-jikunyata (refl.)
gather oneself together (hug oneself - a position of mourning)
-kaa
sit, stay, remain, live
-kabidhiwa (prep. pass.)
be given to / for
-kabili
face towards
-kamilisha (caus.) -jikamilisha (refl.) -kamilishana (rec.)
- complete, make whole - make oneself complete - complement each other, give mutual support
-kanda
knead, massage
-karibisha
invite, welcome
-kariri
repeat, recite, reiterate, rehearse, memorize
-kata -katalia (prep.) -kataza (caus.)
- refuse, decline, disagree, disavow, reject, deny, renounce - refuse, turn down -prohibit
-kasirika (stat.)
- be annoyed, become angry
-kata
cut
-kawiza (caus.)
delay
-kaza
fasten, tighten, grip tightly
-keketwa (pass.)
be gnawed, bitten (also used for girl circumcision)
-kemea
reprimand, warn
-kimbia -kimbilia (prep.)
- run, run away, escape - run for
-koma -komesha (caus.)
- cease, come to an end - stop, end
-kopesha (caus.) -kopeshwa (pass.)
- lend, loan - be lent, loaned
-kosa -kosana (rec.)
- make a mistake, do wrong, err - wrong one another, offend one another
-kubali
accept, agree
-kua
grow, develop, mature
-kumbuka
remember
-kubali -kukubaliana (rec.)
- accept, agree - to agree with eachother
-kumbuka -kumbusha (caus.)
- remember - remind, cause to remember
-la
eat
-laani
condemn, curse
-lala -laza (caus.) -lazwa (pass.)
- sleep - put to bed, to lay down - be admitted
-lainisha (caus.)
- make smooth, soften
-lalamika
complain
-laumia (prep.)
blame for
-lazimu
need to / have to
-lazimu -lazimisha (caus.) -lazimishwa (pass.)
-need to, have to - force, compel - be forced, be bound, be compelled
-lea
care for somebody, raise a child
-leta -letea (prep.)
- to bring - bring for/to, fetch, supply
-lewa (pass.)
be drunk
-lia -lilia (prep.) -jililia (refl.)
- cry - cry to (for, at) - bewail oneself, cry for oneself
-lima
cultivate, farm, work the fields
-linda
defend, protect, watch
-linganisha (caus.)
- compare
-lipa
pay, compensate
-maliza
finish, complete
-meza
swallow
-mezea mate (idiom)
desire, wish (lit. swallow spit)
-miliki
possess, be owner, rule
-mwagika
be scattered, pour out, be spilled
-mwagilia
irrigate, water a plant
-nawa
wash (parts of the body - esp. hands, face)
-ngoja
wait
-nunua -jinunulia (prep. refl.)
- buy, purchase - buy for oneself
-nusa
smell (smell something)
-nya
excrete, defecate
-nyanyasa
annoy
-nyonya
suck, breast-feed, exploit
-nyunyiza
sprinkle
-nywa
drink
-oa -olewa (pass.)
- marry (for a man) - be married (for a woman)
-oga
bathe, take a bath / shower
-ogopa -ogofya (caus.)
- afraid - scare, frighten
-okoa -jiokoa (refl.) -okolewa (pass.)
- save, rescue, deliver - save oneself, rescue oneself - be saved, recued, delivered
-omba
- apply, request, beg
-omba
apply, request, beg
-ona -onekana (stat.) -onyesha (caus.)
- see - seem, appear, be apparent, be seen - show, point out, make clear
-ondoa
- remove, take away
-ondolea (prep.)
- remove for
-onea huruma (vb. idiom)
sympathize with someone
-ongea
talk, speak
-ongoza -ongozwa (pass.)
direct, lead be directed, be led
-onja
taste, sample
-osha
was (things, body parts)
-pa -pewa (pass.) -peana (rec.)
- give - be given, be entrusted with - give to one another, exchange
-palilia
weed
-panda
plant, sow, set in the ground; climb
-panga
arrange, plan
-panga nyumba (vb. phrase)
rent a house
-pasa
be obliged
-pata -patia (prep.) -patikana (rec.)
- get, obtain, receive - get for, get up to, attain (to) - be available, be obtainable
-pata elimu (vb. phrase)
to get education
-patanisha (caus.)
reconcile, cause to be reconciled
-paza (caus.)
- rise up
-peleka
send, transmit, convey, carry
-penda -pendelea (prep.) -pendeza (caus.)
- like, love - prefer -please, make happy
-piga
hit, beat
-piga kelele
make noise
-piga mswaki
brush teeth
-pika -pikia (prep.)
- to cook - cook for
-pima
examine, survey, measure, test (as in medical testing)
-pinga
object, disagree
-pita
pass, go on, surpass, exceed
-pokea -pokelea (prep.)
- receive, meet/welcome somebody - receive for
-pona
get well (from sickness)
-posa
- ask in marriage, propose a marriage
-potea
be lost, disappear
-pumzika
rest
-rahisisha (caus.)
make easy; facilitate; simplify
-refusha (caus.)
make long, extend, lengthen
-rekebisha (caus.)
adjust, improve, correct, alter
-ridrnhika (stat.)
-be satisfied
-rithi
inherit
-rudi
return
-rudia (prep.)
return for
-rudisha (caus.)
give back, send back, return
-ruhusiwa (pass.)
be permitted, allowed
-ruhusu
give permission, allow
-ruhusu
give permission, allow
-ruka
fly, jump, hop
-rukia (prep.)
fly over, jump over
-sababisha (caus.)
cause, make happen
-safari
travel, go on a safari, journey
-safari
travel, go on a safari, journey
-safisha (caus.)
to make clean
-sahau
forget
-sahau
forget
-saidia
help, assist, support
-saidia -jisaidia (refl.)
- help, assist, support - go to the toilet (lit. help oneself)
-saidiwa (pass.)
be assisted, be helped
-sali
pray, worship
-salimu
to greet
-salimu
to greet
-samehe
forgive, pardon
-samehea (prep.)
forgive in/at/for(?) i.e. Nimemsamehe adui yangu. I have forgiven my enemy. Nimemsamehea kanisani makosa. I have forgiven his sins in church.
-sawazisha (caus.)
make level, smooth, make equal
-sema
speak, say
-shangaa -shangalia (prep.)
- be astonished, be surprised - shout with joy, congratulate
-shauri
advise, counsel
-shawishi
seduce, bewitch
-shiba
satisfied, be full
-shinda
win, succeed, spend a whole day (?)
-shindwa (pass.)
fail
-shtaki
accuse, charge
-shukuru
be grateful, thankful
-shunghulikia (prep.)
be busy with
-sihi
beg humbly, beseech, entreat, supplicate
-sikia -jisikia (refl.)
- hear - feel, sense
-sikia
hear
-sikiliza
listen, pay attention, hear
-sikiliza
listen pay attention, hear
-sikitika
to grieve, feel sorrow
-sikitisha (caus.)
make sorry, cause grief, feel regret (?)
-simama
- stand, rise up
-simama
stand, rise up
-simulia
narrate, report, tell a story
-sindikiza
escort
-sisitiza
insist, emphasize
-somea (prep.)
read for
-somesha (caus.)
teach
-someshea (caus./prep.)
to provide for teaching
-starehe
rest, enjoy
-stahili
merit, deserve, be proper
-starehea (prep.)
be comfortable with
-subiri
wait
-subiri
to wait
-suluhisha
to reconcile
-sumbua
disturb, annoy
-sumbuliwa (pass.)
be annoyed, troubled
-taabika
be in distress, be in a crisis, struggle
-tafuta
look for
-tafuta
look for
-tahiri
circumcise
-tahiri
circumcise
-taja
name
-taja
name
-taka -takiwa (pass.)
- to want - to be wanted, be required
-tamani
desire, wish
-tambua -tambulika (stat.) -jitambua (refl.) -jitambulisha (refl. caus.)
- recall, recognize, realize - to be known - recognize, understand oneself -identify, introduce oneself
-tambulisha (caus.)
introduce, make known
-tangulia
go before, go first, precede
-tatua
solve
-tawala
govern, administer, rule
-tayarisha (caus.)
prepare
-tegemea -tegemeana (rec.) -jitegemea (refl.)
- depend on, depend upon - depend on each other, rely on one another - be self supporting, be independent
-tekeleza
hold spell bound
-tembelea
visit, walk with
-tenda -tendewa (pass.)
- act, do, practice - be given treatment
-tenga
separate, isolate
-tengana (rec.)
separate from
-tesa (caus.)
cause trouble, afflict
-teseka (stat.)
suffer, be harassed, be troubled
-teswa (pass.)
be troubled, afflicted, tortured
-tibiwa (pass.)
be treated, be attended medically
-timia
be complete, perfect, accomplished
-timiza (caus.)
make complete, fulfill
-tisha
frighten, terrify, threaten
-toa -jitolea (refl.)
-offer - offer oneself too, volunteer oneself.
-toa
give, offer
-toa chai (idiom)
pay a bribe
-tofautiana (rec.)
vary, differ (from one another)
-toka -jitoa (refl.) -jitokeza (caus. refl.)
- come from, leave - remove oneself - appear, come about, happen
-tokana
result from
-toroka
escape, run away
-tosha
enough, sufficient
-tosheleza (caus.)
satisfy, cause to be sufficient
-tubia (prep.)
repent
-tubu
repent, be penitent, confess
-tuma
send, dispatch
-tumaini
hope
-tumia
spend, use
-tumika (stat.)
be used
-tunza
treat with care, protect, take care
-tumikia (prep.)
serve, wait-upon, (also “be used for”?)
-twaa
take, pick up
-twalia (prep.)
take up for
-ua
to kill
-uawa (pass.)
be killed
-ugua
become sick, be ailing, wail, groan
-uliza -jiuliza (refl.)
ask ask oneself
-uliza -jiuliza (refl.)
- ask, question, interrogate - ask oneself
-uliza
ask, question, interrogate
-uma
bite
-umba
create, make
-umbwa (pass.)
be created
-umia
be hurt, be injured
-umwa
be sick
-unga -jiunga (refl.)
join join oneself with, unite with
-unga mkono (idiom)
support, lend support to
-unganisha (caus.)
join, merge, link
-uza
sell
-vaa
put on, dress-up
-vua
to fish
-vuna
gather
-vunja
break
-vunjika moyo (idiom)
to despair
-vuta
pull, drag, influence, attract; smoke (a cigar)
-vuta
pull, drag, influence, attract; smoke
-wahi
be on time, or before time
-washa
light, ignite, start fire
-weka
put, place
-wekea (prep.)
put for, put on behalf of
-weza
be able, have strength, be capable
-wezesha (caus.)
enable, empower
-zaa -zaliwa (pass.) -zalisha (caus.)
- procreate, give birth (used for both men and women - “jifungua” used only for women) - be born -cause to produce, deliver
-ziba
fill up a hole, opening of any sort
-zika
bury
-zingatia
include
-zini
commit adultery, fornicate
-zoa
pick up something, gather up something
-zoea
become used to, familiar
-zuia
stop, restrain, prevent, obstruct
-zungumza
converse, talk, speak, discourse
-zungumzwa (pass.)
be spoken about
-zungusha (caus.)
cause to go around, encircle
chukua tahadhari (idiom)
be aware
chungulia kaburi (idiom)
preparing to die
kata tamaa (idiom)
give up, become discouraged
kaza kamba (idiom)
push oneself
kuna (irregular verb)
there is… / there are….
kutia maanani (vb. phrase)
put into consideration
ni (irregular verb)
is / are
kutokana na (vb. phrase)
result from, be caused by
pa pole (vb. phrase)
give condolences, express sympathy
paa
rise, ascend
pata hasara (vb. phrase)
experience loss
pata mimba (vb. phrase)
to get pregnant
piga kambi (idiom)
pitch a tent
piga pasi (expression)
iron clothes
piga uvivu (idiom)
remain jobless (lit. make laziness)
si (irreg. verb)
not
tia moyo (vb. idiom)
encourage
wasiliana (rec.)
communicate with each other
- zeeka
- become old, age
