jenga
verb
To build; to construct.
Use -jenga for building a house or another structure.
Origins
Jenga belongs to an older Bantu layer of Swahili vocabulary. Its recorded construction meaning covers building generally. A securely identified ancestral form still needs confirmation.
Sources4
Kariuki et al., Verbal extensions in Sheng (2024), 6.
Jenga belongs to Swahili’s earlier Bantu vocabulary. Its documented meaning includes construction in general. A separate use meaning “give” is recorded in Sheng, but the route between these meanings needs further research. In Sheng, -jenga is recorded meaning “give”.
Haspelmath and Tadmor / Lexibank, World Loanword Database CLDF (2009), wold-master/cldf/forms.csv row 29786.
Jenga belongs to Swahili’s earlier Bantu vocabulary. Its documented meaning includes construction in general. A separate use meaning “give” is recorded in Sheng, but the route between these meanings needs further research.
A. C. Madan, Swahili-English Dictionary (1903), 141.
To build; to construct. Jenga belongs to Swahili’s earlier Bantu vocabulary. Its documented meaning includes construction in general. A separate use meaning “give” is recorded in Sheng, but the route between these meanings needs further research.
Edward Steere, A Handbook of the Swahili Language as Spoken at Zanzibar (1884), 202.
To build; to construct.
Examples
Wanajenga nyumba mpya.
They are building a new house.
Tutajenga daraja hapa.
We will build a bridge here.
Alijenga ukuta mrefu.
He built a tall wall.
Ninataka kujenga nyumba ndogo.
I want to build a small house.
Wamejenga shule karibu na mto.
They have built a school near the river.
Tunajenga kwa matofali.
We are building with bricks.
Fundi anajenga ngazi.
The builder is constructing stairs.
Msijenge karibu sana na barabara.
Do not build too close to the road.
Walijenga banda la kuku.
They built a chicken shed.
