INTERROGATIVE WORDS IN SWAHILI

INTERROGATIVE WORDS

First, here are the basic interrogatives (question words) to know:

Question Word	Meaning
Nani?	Who?
Nini?	What?
Lini?	When?
Wapi?	Where?
Kwa nini?	Why?
Gani?	Which?
Ngapi?	How many?
-je? (attached to end of verb)	How?

Unaitwa nani?  // Who are you called (what is your name?)

Ninaitwa Arthur

 

Unatoka wapi? // Where are you coming from?

Ninatoka Marekani

 

Mlifanya nini jana? // What did you all do yesterday?

Tulilima shamba

 

Mama atanunua nini? // What will Mama buy?

Mama atanunua sukari

 

Wamepika nini? // What have they cooked?

Wamepika maandazi