Maneno huundwa kwa kuweka silabi tofauti ama zinazofanana pamoja. Kuna baadhi ya maneno katika lugha ya Kiswahili ambayo huundwa kwa kuweka konsonanti kwa silabi ama silabi kwa irabu ama irabu pekee. (Words are formed by joining different /same syllables together.There are some words in Kiswahili language that are formed by joining consonsonats with syllables, syllables with vowel or vowels only)

Kwa mfano:

M+tu = mtu (person). /M/ is a consonant joined with syllable tu.

M+ku+li+ma = mkulima (a farmer) /M/ is a consonant joined with syllables ku, li, ma to make the word mkulima.

M+ti = mti (a tree). M is a consonant added to syllable ti to form the word mti.

On the other hand, we have words formed from joining a syllable with a vowel sound. E.g.

Vua (fish out / get a fish from the water) is formed from syllable vu and vowel /a/.

Pu+a = pua (nose) is also formed from syllable pu and vowel /a/.

Kuna baadhi ya maneno ambayo huundwa kwa kuweka irabu pamoja. (There are some words that are formed by putting vowels together).E.g.

U+a = ua (a flower/ compound/ kill)

O+a = oa (marry)

A+o = ao (their/theirs).

Kuna maneno ambayo hundwa kwa kuweka silabi tofauti pamoja. (There are words that are formed by joining different syllables). E.g.

Ba+ba = baba (father).

Be+ ba= beba   (carry)

Ba+ ka = baka (rape)

Ba+ bu = babu (grandfather)

Kwa hivyo unaweza kuunda misamiati kama ufuatao kutoka silabi mbalimbali. (Your are able to form the following vocabularies from different syllables.)

SALAMU (Greetings)

Salamu ni njia ya kujulia mtu hali kwa mfano ikiwa ni mgonjwa ama mzima. (Its away of finding out ones wellbeing forexample whether he is sick or fine).

Kuna anina mbalimbali za salamu kama vile:

(a). Salamu za asubuhi

Hizi ni salamu ambazo hutumiwa wakati wa kuamkua mtu asubuhi.

Kwa mfano:

Salamu (greeting)                                            Jibu (response)

Habari ya asubu (good morning)                        Ni nzuri/ si nzuri (is good/is not good)

Sabalkheri (Good morning)                                Sabalkheri (good morning)

Ulilalaje?  (How did you sleep)                           Nililala vizuri/ nili lala salama

(I slept well/peacefully)

Usiku wako ulikuwaje (how was your night)      Usiku wangu ulikuwa mzuri/mwema

(My night was good)

Nakutakia asubuhi njema                                     Asante, na wewe pia

Uwe na siku njema (Have a good day)               Asante na wewe pia (Thanks, you too)

Chewa (good morning)                                        Chewa (good morning)

Kumekucha (Goodmoring)                                 Kumekucha (good moring)

(b)                                 Salamu za mchana (Afternoon greetings)

Hizi ni salamu ambazo hutumiwa wakati wa mchana. Kwa mfano:

Salamu                                               Jibu (response)

Habari za mchana?                              Ni nzuri/ ni njema

Nakutakia mchana mwema                 Asante, wewe pia

Nakutakia mchana mwema                 Asante, wewe pia

Uwe na mchana mwema                     Asante, wewe pia

(ch)                                    Salamu za jioni (Evening greetings)

Hizi ni salamu ambazo hutumiwa kuamkua mtu wakati wa jioni. Kwa mfano

Habari za jioni                                     Ni nzuri/ Ni njema

Masalkheri (good evening)                 Masalkheri (good evening)

Siku yako imekuwaje?                        Siku yangu imekuwa nzuri/ imekuwa mbaya.

Nakutakia jioni njema                         Asante, wewe pia

Uwe na jioni njema                             Asante na wewe pia

(d)                                       Salamu za usiku (Night greetings)

Hizi ni salamu ambazo hutumiwa kuamkua mtu wakati wa jioni.

Kwa mfano.

Salamu                                       jibu

Siku yako ilikuaje?                                Siku yangu ilikuwa nzuri/njema

Nakutakia usiku mwema                       Asante, wewe pia

Uwe na usiku mwema (good night)       Asante, wewe pia

Nakutakia usiku mwema                        Asante, wewe pia

Alamsiki (Good night)                           Binuru/ asnte, wewe pia

Lala salama (sleep tight/well)                Asante, wewe pia

Salamu za kawaida (Normal greeting)

Hizi ni salamu ambazo husemwa wakati wowote wa kutwa. (These greetings are said anytime of the day)

Kwa mfano

Habari?                                                   Ni nzuri/ni njema

Unaendeleaje? (How are you doing?)   Ninaendelea vizuri/salama/safi (I am doing well)

Mambo?                                                 Poa/sawa/sawasawa/salama

Niaje?                                                     Poa/sawa/sawasawa/safi

Salama? (Peace)                                     Salama (peace)

Vipi?                                                      Sawaw/sawasawa/safi/poa

Hujambo? (Said to one person)             Sijambo

Hamjambo? (Said to many people)        Hatujambo

U haligani?                                             Niko mzima/niko salama/niko sawasawa/niko         shwari

Salaam aleikum? (Peace be upon you)   Waleikum salaam (peace be upon you)

Mambo vipi?                                           Mambo sawa/safi/sawasawa

Namna gani?                                           Salama/sawa/sawasawa/poa/safi

Habari gani?                                            Ni nzuri/njema

Shikamoo (I hold your feet)                    Marahaba (my honour)

Uko mzima? (Are you fine?)              Ndiyo niko mzima/hapana siko mzima (yes, I am fine/no I am not fine)

NOTE

Some of the above greetings can mean any of the following

How are you?

How do you do?

Whats up?

How is life?

How is it?

Any news?

Makiwa is said to someone who has lost his/her beloved one. Its response is Tunayo/yamepita

Shikamoo is used to greet any person above you in age, rank, status, profession to show respect) Eg Shikamoo baba?             Marahaba mwanangu

Shikamoo mwalimu?                    Marahaba mwalimu

KUAGANA

(Saying good-bye to each other)

There are different ways of saying goodbye to each other in different time as bellow.