na
preposition
with.
Use na to join words or to say with someone or something.
Also and. (conjunction)
Joins words or phrases.
Forms
- nami
- and/with me
- nawe
- and/with you
- naye
- and/with him or her
- nao
- and/with them
Origins
The word’s earlier history is still under review.
Sources4
A. C. Madan, Swahili-English Dictionary (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1903), printed 272–273.
Records na as a very common Swahili particle used as both a conjunction and a preposition, with core connection and association senses.
Edward Steere, A Handbook of the Swahili Language as Spoken at Zanzibar (1884), PDF p. 133.
Na can also mean “with”.; Na joins pronoun forms: nami means “and/with me”, nawe “and/with you”, naye “and/with him or her”, and nao “and/with them”.
University of Georgia, KIKO Unit 1 Glossary, web page.
Na means “and”.
Open Language Resource Center, University of Kansas Kiswahili Glossary (Lawrence, Kansas: Open Language Resource Center, University of Kansas), entry: na.
Lists na as a conjunction meaning “and” or “with.”
Examples
Nina chai na maji.
I have tea and water.
Nahitaji kalamu na karatasi.
I need a pen and paper.
Mama na baba wako hapa.
Mother and father are here.
Ninaenda na rafiki yangu.
I am going with my friend.
Anakuja na mtoto wake.
He or she is coming with their child.
Nitasafiri na familia yangu.
I will travel with my family.
Naweza kulipa na M-Pesa?
Can I pay with M-Pesa?
Njoo nami.
Come with me.
Nitaenda nawe.
I will go with you.
