kwani
interrogative adverb
why.
As a question word, kwani comes at the start of the question.
Origins
Its earlier history is still under review.
Sources3
Arvi Hurskainen, Translating Questions from Swahili to English (Helsinki: University of Helsinki, 2009), Printed p. 4, section 3.
Illustrates use at the start of a question.
Charles Sacleux, Grammaire des dialectes swahilis (Paris: Procure des Pères du Saint-Esprit, 1909), PDF page 168.
Documents the question word why.
A. C. Madan, Swahili-English Dictionary (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1903), PDF page 199.
Documents the question word why.
Examples
Kwani umechelewa?
What, are you late?
Kwani hakuna basi leo?
What, is there no bus today?
Kwani bei imepanda?
What, has the price gone up?
Kwani huendi Mombasa?
Aren't you going to Mombasa, then?
Kwani ni mbali sana?
Is it really that far?
Kwani sikukuambia?
Didn't I tell you?
Kwani leo ni sikukuu?
Is today a holiday or something?
Kwani hamna maji?
What, is there no water?
Kwani nimekosea?
Have I done something wrong?
