weza

verb

to be able to; can.

Naweza and ninaweza mean I can; unaweza means you can.

Forms

naweza: present · I can
ninaweza: present · I can
unaweza: present · you can

Origins

The word’s earlier history is still under review.

African Language Flagship Initiative, Beginning Swahili Syllabus (Gainesville, FL: University of Florida Center for African Studies, 2023), p. 14.
Present tense conjugation: ninaweza (I can), unaweza (you can).
University of Kansas Open Language Resource Center, University of Kansas Kiswahili Glossary (University of Kansas), -weza vocabulary rows.
Lists the verb -weza with the gloss to be able to.

Examples

Naweza kulipa sasa.
I can pay now.
Naweza kutumia simu.
I can use a phone.
Naweza kununua tiketi.
I can buy a ticket.
Ninaweza kusoma kitabu.
I can read a book.
Ninaweza kuandika jina.
I can write a name.
Ninaweza kupika chai.
I can make tea.
Unaweza kulipa hapa.
You can pay here.
Unaweza kuchagua chupa.
You can choose a bottle.
Unaweza kusubiri hapa.
You can wait here.