sema
verb
to say; to speak.
The verb can describe speaking generally or at a particular moment.
Origins
The word’s earlier history is still under review.
Sources4
Charles Sacleux, Grammaire des dialectes Swahilis (Paris: Procure des PP. du Saint-Esprit, 1909), PDF page 324.
Contrasts tense constructions using sema for speaking. Historical evidence; not a survey of current Kenyan speech.
A. C. Madan, Swahili-English Dictionary (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1903), PDF page 272.
Explains msema as a person who says or speaks, derived from sema. 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 480.
Uses wasema in a translated sentence about saying something. Historical Zanzibar evidence.
University of Kansas Open Language Resource Center, University of Kansas Kiswahili Glossary (University of Kansas Open Language Resource Center), sema glossary rows.
Gives -sema as “to speak”.
Examples
Anasema Kiswahili vizuri.
He speaks Swahili well.
Tafadhali sema polepole.
Please speak slowly.
Alisema atakuja kesho.
He said he would come tomorrow.
Usiseme uongo.
Don’t tell lies.
Wanasema nini?
What are they saying?
Nilisema ukweli.
I spoke the truth.
Mwalimu alisema wanafunzi wasome.
The teacher said the students should read.
Je, unaweza kusema tena?
Can you say that again?
Sema jina lako.
Say your name.
