maana
noun · conjunction
Meaning or sense; also a reason, purpose, or intention.
Use maana ya to ask about the meaning of a word or statement. Maana can also introduce a reason, with the sense “because”.
Also because; introduces a reason. (conjunction)
Use maana ya to ask about the meaning of a word or statement. Maana can also introduce a reason, with the sense “because”.
Origins
Maana comes from Arabic مَعْنًى (maʻnā), “meaning”. Swahili uses it for meaning and sense, and also for a reason, purpose, or intention.
Sources5
Gilles-Maurice de Schryver and Jutta De Nul, Linguistics Terminology and Neologisms in Swahili: Rules vs. Practice (2019), maana, page 9.
Maana comes from Arabic مَعْنًى (maʻnā), “meaning”. Swahili uses it for meaning and sense, and also for a reason, purpose, or intention.
Charles Sacleux, Grammaire des dialectes Swahilis (1909), 290.
Use maana ya to ask about the meaning of a word or statement. Maana can also introduce a reason, with the sense “because”.
A. C. Madan, Swahili-English Dictionary (1903), 226.
Meaning or sense; also a reason, purpose, or intention. Maana comes from Arabic مَعْنًى (maʻnā), “meaning”. Swahili uses it for meaning and sense, and also for a reason, purpose, or intention.
Edward Steere, A Handbook of the Swahili Language as Spoken at Zanzibar (1884), 471.
Use maana ya to ask about the meaning of a word or statement. Maana can also introduce a reason, with the sense “because”.
Open Language Resource Center, University of Kansas, Kiswahili Glossary, Glossary: maana.
Meaning or sense; also a reason, purpose, or intention.
Examples
Neno hili lina maana gani?
What does this word mean?
Sielewi maana yake.
I do not understand its meaning.
Nieleze maana ya sentensi hii.
Explain the meaning of this sentence to me.
Hii ina maana kwamba tutachelewa.
This means that we will be late.
Kila neno lina maana.
Every word has a meaning.
Maana ya ujumbe haiko wazi.
The meaning of the message is not clear.
Ninataka kujua maana ya jina lako.
I want to know the meaning of your name.
Usiondoke, maana mvua inanyesha.
Do not leave, because it is raining.
Maneno haya yana maana tofauti.
These words have different meanings.
