-enye
possessive stem
having; with.
It introduces what someone or something has, as in nyumba yenye dirisha, ‘a house with a window.’
Forms
- yenye
- as in nyumba yenye dirisha · having; with.
Origins
Enye is inherited from Proto-Sabaki -enye, from Common Bantu -jéné / -jényé, with cognates in Ngazidja Comorian and Giryama.
Sources3
Charles Sacleux, Grammaire des dialectes Swahilis (Paris: Procure des PP. du Saint-Esprit, 1909), PDF page 180.
Shows the following complement in the having construction.
African Studies Institute, University of Georgia, KIKO: Kiswahili kwa kompyuta (University of Georgia), Year 2 Unit 7, -enye; Year 2 Unit 7, -enye examples.
Explains the having construction. Attests yenye with nyumba.
- enye (Wiktionary)
Traces enye to Proto-Sabaki *-enye, from Common Bantu *-jéné ~ *-jényé, with cognates.
Examples
Natafuta nyumba yenye bustani.
I am looking for a house with a garden.
Chagua njia yenye kivuli.
Choose a path with shade.
Hii ni hoteli yenye bwawa.
This is a hotel with a pool.
Ninapenda chai yenye tangawizi.
I like tea with ginger.
Tumeona ndege mwenye rangi nzuri.
We have seen a bird with beautiful colours.
Nataka chumba chenye dirisha.
I want a room with a window.
Ana mfuko wenye vitabu.
She has a bag containing books.
Hii ni kazi yenye maana.
This is meaningful work.
Usichague barabara yenye mashimo.
Do not choose a road with potholes.
