mwaka
noun
year.
The plural is miaka, also used when giving someone’s age.
Forms
- miaka
- years
Origins
Mwaka is inherited from Proto-Bantu *mʊ̀jákà, itself from the deeper Proto-Atlantic-Congo root -ják-.
Sources5
Charles Sacleux, Grammaire des dialectes Swahilis (Paris: Procure des PP. du Saint-Esprit, 1909), PDF page 362.
Uses miaka in a dated letter; it illustrates the plural rather than an age question. Historical evidence; not a survey of current Kenyan speech.
A. C. Madan, Swahili-English Dictionary (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1903), PDF page 286.
The retained excerpt reaches the mwaka heading; it is not independent evidence for the full usage note. Historical evidence; not a survey of current Kenyan speech.
Edward Steere, A Handbook of the Swahili Language as Spoken at Zanzibar (London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 1884), PDF page 380.
Lists mwaka with plural miaka. Historical Zanzibar evidence.
University of Kansas Open Language Resource Center, University of Kansas Kiswahili Glossary (University of Kansas Open Language Resource Center), mwaka glossary rows.
Identifies miaka as years.
- mwaka (Wiktionary)
States mwaka is inherited from Proto-Bantu *mʊ̀jákà, from Proto-Atlantic-Congo *-ják-.
Examples
Mwaka huu umekuwa mzuri sana.
This year has been very good.
Tunakutana kila mwaka.
We meet every year.
Miaka mingi imepita.
Many years have passed.
Mwaka mpya unakuja hivi karibuni.
The new year is coming soon.
Alisafiri miaka miwili iliyopita.
She traveled two years ago.
Mwaka jana tulitembelea Zanzibar.
Last year we visited Zanzibar.
Miaka kumi iliyopita, nilikuwa mtoto.
Ten years ago, I was a child.
Kila mwaka, tunasherehekea sikukuu hii.
Every year, we celebrate this holiday.
Nina miaka ishirini na tano.
I’m twenty-five years old.
