Verbs are the engine room of Swahili. Once a learner knows the noun-class system and the basic word order, fluency comes from the verbs: how many a speaker recognizes, how comfortably they can conjugate them, and how naturally they can string them into sentences. The good news is that Swahili verb morphology is exceptionally regular: a single template, with subject markers, tense markers, optional object markers, the verb stem, and an ending vowel, generates the entire conjugation system. The bad news, if it is bad news at all, is that the template's positions are non-negotiable, and a missing tense marker or a misplaced object marker breaks comprehension.
This reference page lists the top 100 most common verbs of modern Swahili, covering daily speech, food and cooking, travel, work, school, body and health, emotion, and abstract thought. Each verb appears with its infinitive form (the ku- prefix plus the stem), its core English meaning, and a short note on irregularity or usage. After the list, the page presents the basic conjugation template and worked examples for the eight most important verbs (kuwa, kuwa na, kwenda, kuja, kula, kufanya, kusema, kupenda) across the present, past, future, and negative.
The list is organized by frequency band and topic area, and the conjugation examples by tense. The deeper grammar of Swahili verb morphology, including the relative, conditional, subjunctive, and habitual forms, is covered in a separate reference; the present page focuses on what a learner needs in the first six months of practical use. Every verb in this list appears in the daily speech of Mombasa, Dar es Salaam, Nairobi, Zanzibar Town, and any other Swahili-speaking population center.
How Swahili Verbs Work: A Quick Recap
A Swahili verb has up to five slots:
| Slot | Function | Example for ninakusoma |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Subject prefix | ni- (I) |
| 2 | Tense / aspect marker | -na- (present) |
| 3 | Object prefix (optional) | -ku- (you, object) |
| 4 | Verb stem | -som- (read) |
| 5 | Final vowel | -a |
Result: ninakusoma (I am reading you, in the figurative sense, or I am studying you). For most simple sentences only slots 1, 2, 4, and 5 are used: ninasoma (I am reading).
The infinitive form, used in dictionaries and headings, places ku- before the stem: kusoma (to read). The ku- is not always dropped; some monosyllabic verbs retain it (kula, kuja, kunywa, kuwa, kufa, kupa) and others drop it.
| Subject | Prefix |
|---|---|
| Mimi (I) | ni- |
| Wewe (you sg) | u- |
| Yeye (he/she) | a- |
| Sisi (we) | tu- |
| Nyinyi (you pl) | m- |
| Wao (they) | wa- |
| Tense | Marker |
|---|---|
| Present | -na- |
| Past | -li- |
| Perfect | -me- |
| Future | -ta- |
| Habitual | hu- (no subject prefix) |
The Top 25 (Daily Core)
These are the verbs that appear in almost every Swahili sentence.
| Verb | English | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Kuwa | to be | Irregular |
| Kuwa na | to have | Lit. to be with |
| Kwenda | to go | Irregular, retains kw- |
| Kuja | to come | Irregular |
| Kula | to eat | Monosyllabic, retains ku- |
| Kunywa | to drink | Monosyllabic |
| Kufanya | to do, to make | Universal |
| Kupenda | to like, to love | |
| Kusema | to say, to speak | |
| Kutaka | to want | |
| Kuona | to see | |
| Kusikia | to hear, to feel | |
| Kupata | to get, to obtain | |
| Kutoa | to give, to remove | |
| Kujua | to know | |
| Kufikiri | to think | |
| Kuelewa | to understand | |
| Kulala | to sleep | |
| Kuamka | to wake up | |
| Kuondoka | to leave, to depart | |
| Kufika | to arrive | |
| Kuanza | to begin | |
| Kumaliza | to finish | |
| Kuangalia | to look, to watch | |
| Kuandika | to write |
Verbs of Movement and Position
| Verb | English |
|---|---|
| Kwenda | to go |
| Kuja | to come |
| Kuondoka | to leave |
| Kufika | to arrive |
| Kurudi | to return |
| Kuingia | to enter |
| Kutoka | to come from, exit |
| Kupita | to pass |
| Kupanda | to climb, to ride |
| Kushuka | to descend, to alight |
| Kukimbia | to run |
| Kutembea | to walk |
| Kusafiri | to travel |
| Kusimama | to stand, to stop |
| Kukaa | to sit, to live, to stay |
| Kuruka | to jump, to fly |
| Kuogelea | to swim |
Verbs of Communication
| Verb | English |
|---|---|
| Kusema | to say, to speak |
| Kuongea | to talk |
| Kuzungumza | to converse |
| Kueleza | to explain |
| Kujibu | to answer |
| Kuuliza | to ask |
| Kusoma | to read, to study |
| Kuandika | to write |
| Kufundisha | to teach |
| Kujifunza | to learn |
| Kuita | to call |
| Kuomba | to request, to pray |
| Kushukuru | to thank |
| Kusalimu | to greet |
| Kusikia | to hear |
| Kusikiliza | to listen |
Verbs of Eating and Drinking
| Verb | English |
|---|---|
| Kula | to eat |
| Kunywa | to drink |
| Kupika | to cook |
| Kukaanga | to fry |
| Kuchemsha | to boil |
| Kuoka | to bake |
| Kuchoma | to grill, to roast, to burn |
| Kuonja | to taste |
| Kunusa | to smell |
| Kumimina | to pour |
| Kukatakata | to chop |
| Kuosha | to wash (dishes) |
Verbs of Work, Daily Life, and Buying
| Verb | English |
|---|---|
| Kufanya | to do |
| Kufanya kazi | to work |
| Kupumzika | to rest |
| Kulala | to sleep |
| Kuamka | to wake up |
| Kuoga | to bathe, shower |
| Kunawa | to wash hands or face |
| Kuvaa | to wear, dress |
| Kuvua | to undress |
| Kununua | to buy |
| Kuuza | to sell |
| Kulipa | to pay |
| Kupata | to get |
| Kutumia | to use |
| Kupoteza | to lose |
| Kupatikana | to be available |
| Kufunga | to close, to fast |
| Kufungua | to open |
Verbs of Emotion and State
| Verb | English |
|---|---|
| Kupenda | to love, to like |
| Kuchukia | to hate |
| Kufurahi | to be happy |
| Kuhuzunika | to be sad |
| Kuogopa | to be afraid |
| Kushangaa | to be surprised |
| Kuchoka | to be tired |
| Kuhisi | to feel |
| Kuumwa | to be sick, to hurt |
| Kupona | to recover, heal |
| Kuamini | to believe |
| Kutumaini | to hope |
| Kushukuru | to be grateful |
| Kukasirika | to be angry |
Verbs of Thinking and Knowledge
| Verb | English |
|---|---|
| Kufikiri | to think |
| Kujua | to know |
| Kuelewa | to understand |
| Kukumbuka | to remember |
| Kusahau | to forget |
| Kujifunza | to learn |
| Kufundisha | to teach |
| Kuamua | to decide |
| Kuhisabu | to count, calculate |
| Kuandika | to write |
| Kusoma | to read |
Conjugation Patterns: Six Worked Examples
1. Kusoma (to read), regular
| Form | Swahili | English |
|---|---|---|
| Present | ninasoma | I am reading |
| Past | nilisoma | I read (past) |
| Perfect | nimesoma | I have read |
| Future | nitasoma | I will read |
| Negative present | sisomi | I am not reading |
| Negative past | sikusoma | I did not read |
| Habitual | husoma | I read (habitually) |
2. Kuwa (to be), irregular
| Form | Swahili | English |
|---|---|---|
| Present | ni / mimi ni | I am |
| Past | nilikuwa | I was |
| Perfect | nimekuwa | I have been |
| Future | nitakuwa | I will be |
| Negative present | si / mimi si | I am not |
3. Kuwa na (to have)
| Form | Swahili | English |
|---|---|---|
| Present | nina | I have |
| Past | nilikuwa na | I had |
| Perfect | nimekuwa na | I have had |
| Future | nitakuwa na | I will have |
| Negative present | sina | I do not have |
4. Kwenda (to go), irregular
| Form | Swahili | English |
|---|---|---|
| Present | ninakwenda | I am going |
| Past | nilikwenda | I went |
| Perfect | nimekwenda | I have gone |
| Future | nitakwenda | I will go |
| Negative present | siendi | I am not going |
5. Kula (to eat), monosyllabic
| Form | Swahili | English |
|---|---|---|
| Present | ninakula | I am eating |
| Past | nilikula | I ate |
| Perfect | nimekula | I have eaten |
| Future | nitakula | I will eat |
| Negative present | sili | I am not eating |
6. Kupenda (to like, to love), regular
| Form | Swahili | English |
|---|---|---|
| Present | ninapenda | I like |
| Past | nilipenda | I liked |
| Perfect | nimependa | I have liked |
| Future | nitapenda | I will like |
| Negative present | sipendi | I do not like |
Negative tense pattern: Negation in Swahili changes both the subject prefix and the tense marker. Si- replaces ni- in the negative; the present-tense ending changes from -a to -i. The negative habitual is identical to the negative present in everyday speech.
Subjunctive and Polite Imperative
The subjunctive is formed by replacing the final -a with -e and using the bare subject prefix:
| Swahili | English |
|---|---|
| Niende | Let me go |
| Uende | Go (subjunctive, polite imperative) |
| Aje | Let him come |
| Tula | Let us eat |
| Mle | Let you all eat |
The plain imperative (commands directly addressed to you) drops both the subject prefix and the ku-: Soma! (Read!), Kula! (Eat!), Njoo! (Come!), Lala! (Sleep!).
Sample Sentences with Common Verbs
| Swahili | English |
|---|---|
| Ninakwenda sokoni. | I am going to the market. |
| Anakula chakula chake. | He/she is eating his/her food. |
| Tutakuja kesho. | We will come tomorrow. |
| Ulisema nini? | What did you say? |
| Mtoto analala. | The child is sleeping. |
| Sina pesa leo. | I do not have money today. |
| Nimekuona mara mbili. | I have seen you twice. |
| Tunafanya kazi pamoja. | We work together. |
| Walipenda kuona simba. | They liked seeing the lion. |
| Anataka kunywa maji. | He/she wants to drink water. |
Common Mistakes
- Forgetting the ku- on monosyllabic verbs in conjugation. Anakula (correct) versus anala (wrong). Kula keeps its ku- in tensed forms.
- Mixing up the present (-na-) and perfect (-me-). Ninakula means I am eating; nimekula means I have eaten.
- Using kuwa where it is not needed in the present. Mimi mwalimu and Mimi ni mwalimu both work, but Mimi ninakuwa mwalimu is wrong.
- Negating with hapana before the verb. Hapana is no as an answer, not a negation prefix. Use the si- pattern.
- Treating kwenda and kuja as interchangeable. Kwenda is to go (away from speaker), kuja is to come (toward speaker). They are not symmetric.
Quick Reference
- Verbs are listed in dictionaries with the infinitive ku- prefix.
- Conjugation template: subject + tense + (object) + stem + final vowel.
- Subject prefixes: ni- (I), u- (you sg), a- (he/she), tu- (we), m- (you pl), wa- (they).
- Tense markers: -na- (present), -li- (past), -me- (perfect), -ta- (future), hu- (habitual).
- Negative: si- replaces ni-; final -a becomes -i in present.
- Monosyllabic verbs (kula, kuja, kunywa, kuwa, kufa) keep ku- in conjugation.
- Top 8 verbs to master first: kuwa, kuwa na, kwenda, kuja, kula, kufanya, kusema, kupenda.
- Subjunctive: -a becomes -e, no tense marker.
- Plain imperative: drop subject prefix and ku- (Soma!, Kula!, Njoo!).
See Also
- Swahili Verb Conjugation and Tense Markers
- Swahili Pronouns: Subject, Object, Possessive
- Swahili Noun Classes Complete System
- Swahili Common Phrases and Daily Conversation
- Swahili Greetings and Daily Conversation
- Swahili Numbers, Counting 1 to 1000
- Swahili Adjectives and Noun-Class Agreement
- Language Difficulty for English Speakers
Author: Kalenux Team
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do all Swahili verbs start with ku-?
Ku- is the infinitive prefix, equivalent to English to in to eat or to go. Kula means to eat, kwenda means to go, kuja means to come. The ku- is dropped when the verb is conjugated and replaced by subject and tense markers. Ninakula (I am eating) drops the ku- and adds ni- (I) and -na- (present).
What are the most important Swahili verbs to learn first?
Kuwa (to be), kuwa na (to have), kwenda (to go), kuja (to come), kula (to eat), kunywa (to drink), kufanya (to do), kupenda (to like), kusema (to say), kutaka (to want), kuona (to see), kusikia (to hear), kupata (to get), kutoa (to give), kujua (to know). These fifteen verbs cover most basic communication.
Why is kuwa so irregular in Swahili?
Kuwa (to be) is highly irregular because it serves multiple functions: copula (I am), existence (there is), and locative (am at). The present tense uses ni for affirmative (mimi ni mwanafunzi, I am a student) and si for negative. The past, future, and conditional follow more regular patterns: nilikuwa, nitakuwa, ningekuwa.
How does kuwa na differ from kuwa?
Kuwa na means to have (literally to be with). Nina mtoto means I have a child (lit. I am with a child). Kuwa is just to be: Mimi ni mwalimu (I am a teacher). The two-verb distinction parallels English to be and to have but Swahili builds the second from the first.
Are there irregular verbs in Swahili besides kuwa?
Yes. Kwenda (to go) and kuja (to come) are irregular: they keep the k or kw in conjugation (anakwenda, he is going; anakuja, he is coming). Kula (to eat) and kunywa (to drink) are also irregular and shorten differently. Most other Swahili verbs follow the standard regular pattern.
What is the ku- prefix's grammatical role beyond infinitives?
Ku- is also retained in some monosyllabic verbs (kula, kuja, kunywa, kupa, kuwa, kufa) when they would otherwise be too short to bear stress. Anakula (he is eating) keeps the ku- because nakula alone would not have enough syllables. The longer verbs drop ku-: anasoma (he is reading), not anakusoma.
How do I form a question with a Swahili verb?
Add the question particle je at the beginning or end, or use intonation alone. Je, unataka chai? (Do you want tea?) or Unataka chai? (with rising intonation). Question words like nini (what), nani (who), wapi (where), lini (when) replace the relevant noun: Unataka nini? (What do you want?)
