kwa
preposition
with; for; by; or to, marking instrument, manner, purpose, or direction.
A small, extremely frequent word whose translation depends on the construction around it.
Origins
Kwa is treated as an inherited Bantu class-15/locative form in the comparative record. Swahili dictionaries document its extended prepositional uses for instrument, purpose, association, and direction.
M. Haspelmath and U. Tadmor, World Loanword Database · Swahili profile (Max Planck Institute / Lexibank, 2009), Swahili profile; forms.csv.
Earlier Bantu classification cross-check.
Edward Steere, A Handbook of the Swahili Language as Spoken at Zanzibar (Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 1884), alphabetical entry: kwa.
Historical prepositional uses.
Examples
Nilisafiri kwa basi.
I travelled by bus.
Hii ni zawadi kwa dada yangu.
This is a gift for my sister.
Kata mkate kwa kisu.
Cut the bread with a knife.
Nenda kwa daktari.
Go to the doctor.
Aliongea kwa sauti ya chini.
They spoke in a low voice.
Tulifika kwa miguu.
We arrived on foot.
Barua hii ni kwa mama yangu.
This letter is for my mother.
Alifungua mlango kwa ufunguo.
They opened the door with a key.
Tunashukuru kwa msaada wako.
We are grateful for your help.
