kama
conjunction · preposition
if; like; as; approximately.
The same surface word can open a condition, make a comparison, or soften a quantity.
Origins
For the conjunction and preposition, the local comparative record treats kama as a pre-modern Indian Ocean borrowing and records an Arabic kamā comparison. The exact route into Swahili remains unsettled.
M. Haspelmath and U. Tadmor, World Loanword Database · Swahili profile (Max Planck Institute / Lexibank, 2009), Swahili profile; forms.csv.
Pre-modern Indian Ocean borrowing classification.
Edward Steere, A Handbook of the Swahili Language as Spoken at Zanzibar (Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 1884), alphabetical entry: kama.
Historical conjunction and preposition uses.
Examples
Fanya kama nilivyosema.
Do as I said.
Kama una muda, njoo.
If you have time, come.
Anaimba kama mama yake.
She sings like her mother.
Kama mvua itanyesha, tutakaa ndani.
If it rains, we will stay indoors.
Anaonekana kama rafiki yangu.
He looks like my friend.
Nipe kama lita mbili.
Give me about two litres.
Fanya kama kawaida.
Do it as usual.
Kama hutaki, niambie.
If you do not want to, tell me.
Nyumba hii ni kubwa kama shule.
This house is as big as a school.
