I Command You! Swahili Imperatives

 

Direct Commands to a Single Person

1. When you give a command to a single person using a monosyllabic verbs, use the verb in its infinitive form.
• Kula!  -  Eat!
• Kunywa  -  Drink!
2. When you give a command to a single person using any other verb, drop the ku- from the infinitive.
• Sema!  -  Say it!
• Kimbia!  - Run!
• Maliza!  - Finish it!
3. Two exceptions to the rule are
• Njoo!  -  Come!  (Don't say "Kuja!")
• Nenda!  - Go!  (Don't say "Enda!")

Direct Commands to Multiple People

1. When you give a command to multiple people using any other verb, drop the ku- from the beginning of the infinitive and...
• If the verb ends in "-a", change the "-a" to "-e" -- otherwise, don't change the end
• Add "-ni" to the end of the verb.
• Kaka na dada, amkeni!  -  Brother and sister, wake up!
• Wanafunzi, someni polepole! Students, read slowly!
• Rudini nyumbani!  -  Come back home!
• Subirini hapa!  -  Wait here!
2. The above rule applies to monosyllabic verbs.
• Kuleni!  -  (You all) eat!
• Kunyweni!  -  (You all) drink!

Resources

• University of Kansas Kiswahili Lessons -- Lesson 43: Imperatives
• 2 Seeds Swahili Curriculum -- Demonstratives and Direct Commands