bado
adverb
Still; not yet.
Use bado for a state that continues. With a negative verb, it can mean “not yet”: bado sijamaliza, “I have not finished yet.” It does not change form.
Origins
Bado was recorded in nineteenth-century Swahili for something not yet complete. With a negative verb, it can leave open the expectation that the event will still happen. Its earlier borrowing history remains under review.
Bastian Persohn, When ‘still’ means ‘not yet’ (2024), bado, page 117.
Still; not yet. Bado is invariable and accompanies negative -ja- verbs for not yet. Bado comes from Omani Arabic baʕd-u, “still”.
Edward Steere, A Handbook of the Swahili Language as Spoken at Zanzibar (1884), 175; 282.
Bado is invariable and accompanies negative -ja- verbs for not yet.
Examples
Bado ninasubiri.
I am still waiting.
Bado sijafika.
I have not arrived yet.
Bado tuna muda.
We still have time.
Mtoto bado amelala.
The child is still asleep.
Bado hujala?
Have you not eaten yet?
Chai bado ni moto.
The tea is still hot.
Bado hawajaondoka.
They have not left yet.
Bado unafanya kazi hapa?
Do you still work here?
Bado sijamaliza kusoma.
I have not finished reading yet.
