Lesson 6: Telling Time in Kiswahili: Your Campus Companion (Kutambua saa katika Kiswahili, Furahia maisha chuoni)

Days of the Week and Telling Time — Speak Fluently, Plan Smartly and Live the Language!

(Siku za Wiki na na Kutambua Wakati – Zungumza kwa Ufasaha, Panga kwa vizuri na uishi na Lugha!)

Kiswahili leo Kiswahili kesho.
Geuza wakati kuwa mazungumzo — darasani na chuoni kila siku.
(Turn time into conversation — in class and around campus every day.)

⏰ Understanding Time, the Kiswahili Way

On campus, we talk about days, weeks, and months all the time — for classes, meetings, exams, and holidays.
This lesson will help you master how to mention days, use time words like leo, kesho, juzi, and express your daily schedule naturally in Kiswahili.

🗓️ Siku za Wiki (Days of the Week)

1. Jumamosi – Saturday (first day of the week in Swahili culture)
2. Jumapili – Sunday
3. Jumatatu – Monday
4. Jumanne – Tuesday
5. Jumatano – Wednesday
6. Alhamisi – Thursday
7. Ijumaa – Friday

📘 Mfano:

• Leo ni Jumamosi. (Today is Saturday.)
• Kesho tutakuwa na somo la Kiswahili. (Tomorrow we shall have a Kiswahili class.)

📚 Msamiati wa Wakati (Time Vocabulary You Must Know)

Kiswahili	English Meaning	Mfano (Example Sentence)
Leo	Today	Leo nina somo la Kiswahili. (Today I have a Kiswahili lesson.)
Jana	Yesterday	Jana tulifanya mazoezi ya darasani. (Yesterday we did classroom exercises.)
Juzi	The day before yesterday	Juzi tulikutana na mhadhiri wetu. (The day before yesterday we met our lecturer.)
Kesho	Tomorrow	Kesho tutakuwa na kikao cha wanafunzi. (Tomorrow we shall have a student meeting.)
Kesho kutwa	The day after tomorrow	Kesho kutwa tutasafiri kwenda nyumbani. (The day after tomorrow we’ll travel home.)
Wiki hii	This week	Wiki hii tuna kazi nyingi za kozi. (This week we have many coursework tasks.)
Wiki ijayo	Next week	Wiki ijayo tutaandaa uwasilishaji. (Next week we’ll prepare a presentation.)
Wiki iliyopita	Last week	Wiki iliyopita tulifanya mitihani. (Last week we did exams.)
Mwezi huu	This month	Mwezi huu tunaanza mitihani. (This month we start exams.)
Mwezi ujao	Next month	Mwezi ujao nitajiandaa kwa mitihani. (Next month I’ll prepare for exams.)
Mwaka huu	This year	Mwaka huu nina malengo makubwa. (This year I have big goals.)
Mwaka ujao	Next year	Mwaka ujao nitajiunga na masomo ya juu. (Next year I’ll join higher studies.)
Asubuhi	Morning	Asubuhi tunasoma somo la sarufi. (In the morning, we study grammar.)
Mchana	Afternoon	Mchana nina kazi ya maktaba. (In the afternoon I have library work.)
Jioni	Evening	Jioni tunafanya majadiliano ya kundi. (In the evening, we have group discussions.)
Usiku	Night	Usiku nitasoma ripoti yangu. (At night I’ll read my report.)
Kila siku	Every day	Kila siku najifunza maneno mapya. (Every day I learn new words.)
Baada ya…	After…	Baada ya somo nitaenda maktaba. (After class, I’ll go to the library.)
Kabla ya…	Before…	Kabla ya mtihani tunasoma pamoja. (Before the exam, we study together.)

💬 Mazungumzo (Short Dialogue at the University)

Asha: Habari za asubuhi, Musa?
(Good morning, Musa?)

Musa: Nzuri sana, Asha! Habari yako leo?
(Very good, Asha! How are you today?)

Asha: Ni nzuri. Jana tulikuwa na somo la isimu, sivyo?
(I’m fine. Yesterday we had a linguistics class, right?)

Musa: Ndiyo, na kesho kutwa tutakuwa na mtihani wa Kiswahili.
(Yes, and the day after tomorrow we’ll have a Kiswahili exam.)

Asha: Ahsante kwa kunikumbusha. Mwezi huu unaisha haraka!
(Thanks for reminding me. This month is ending so fast!)

Musa: Kweli kabisa. Mwaka huu unaonekana mfupi kuliko mwaka jana.
(Very true. This year seems shorter than last year.)

Asha: Tufanye mazoezi kesho jioni?
(Shall we do revision tomorrow evening?)

Musa: Ndiyo, tukutane maktaba saa kumi kamili jioni.
(Yes, let’s meet at the library at 4:00 pm.)

Asha: Sawa basi, tutaonana kesho. Kwaheri!
(Alright then, see you tomorrow. Goodbye!)

Musa: Kwaheri ya kuonana, Asha.
(Goodbye, Asha.)

🌍 Kumbuka: Utamaduni wa Wakati kwa Kiswahili (Cultural Note)

Katika utamaduni wa Kiswahili, siku huanza saa moja asubuhi (wakati jua linachomoza), tofauti na mfumo wa Kiingereza unaoanza saa sita.

🕐 Mifano:

• Saa moja asubuhi = 7:00 a.m.
• Saa sita mchana = 12:00 noon
• Saa saba mchana = 1:00 p.m.
• Saa kumi na moja jioni = 5:00 p.m.
• Saa moja usiku = 7:00 p.m.

Mfumo huu unafuata maisha ya kila siku ya Afrika Mashariki, ambapo jua na shughuli za binadamu huenda sambamba.

Lesson 6 (Continued): Muda na Saa (Time and Clock)

Utangulizi

Kujua jinsi ya kueleza muda ni muhimu chuoni. Wanafunzi hutumia muda kupanga ratiba, kuhudhuria masomo na kufanya mitihani kwa wakati. Somo hili litakufundisha kuuliza na kusema saa kwa Kiswahili, pamoja na maneno muhimu ya kuzungumza kuhusu siku na wakati.

Msamiati Muhimu wa Kutambua Saa (Important Vocabulary for Telling Time)

Kiswahili	Kiingereza
Saa	Hour / Time / O’clock
Nusu	Half (e.g., nusu saa mbili = half past one)
Robo	Quarter (e.g., robo saa tatu = quarter past two)
Dakika	Minute
Asubuhi	Morning (AM)
Mchana	Afternoon (PM)
Jioni	Evening (PM)
Usiku	Night (PM)
Kesho	Tomorrow
Leo	Today
Jana	Yesterday
Juzi	The day before yesterday
Kesho kutwa	Day after tomorrow
Mapema	Early
Kuchelewa	Late
Kwa wakati	On time
Ratiba	Timetable / Schedule
Saa ngapi?	What time?

Mifano ya Sentensi (Example Sentences)

1. Saa ngapi sasa? (What time is it now?)
2. Saa moja asubuhi (It’s 7:00 AM)
3. Somo la Kiswahili linaanza saa nne (The Kiswahili lesson starts at 10:00 AM)
4. Ninaenda chuoni saa mbili asubuhi (I go to campus at 8:00 AM)
5. Tunakula chakula cha mchana saa sita (We eat lunch at 12:00 PM)
6. Mkutano utaanza saa kumi na moja jioni (The meeting will start at 5:00 PM)
7. Nilifika mapema saa tatu (I arrived early at 9:00 AM)
8. Umechelewa! Saa ni saa tisa kamili (You’re late! It’s exactly 3:00 PM)
9. Kesho kutwa nina mtihani wa hesabu (The day after tomorrow I have a math exam)
10. Juzi tulikuwa na mazoezi ya Kiswahili (The day before yesterday we had Kiswahili exercises)

Mazungumzo Chuoni (Conversation at the University)

Amina: Habari za asubuhi, Peter? (Good morning, Peter!)

Peter: Nzuri sana, Amina. Saa ngapi somo la isimu linaanza? (Very good, Amina. What time does the linguistics class start?)

Amina: Linaanza saa tatu kamili (It starts exactly at 9:00 AM)

Peter: Basi tuna dakika kumi kabla halijaanza (Then we have ten minutes before it begins)

Amina: Vizuri, twende mapema tusichelewe kama jana (Good, let’s go early so we’re not late like yesterday)

Peter: Sahihi kabisa. Baada ya somo, tukutane saa sita kwa chakula cha mchana (Exactly. After class, let’s meet at 12:00 PM for lunch)

Amina: Sawa, tutaonana kesho kutwa pia kwa mazoezi ya ziada (Okay, see you the day after tomorrow for extra exercises as well)

Peter: Kwaheri kwa sasa, Amina! (Goodbye for now, Amina!)

Amina: Kwaheri, Peter! (Goodbye, Peter!)

Mazoezi (Practice Time)

1. Uliza saa ngapi kwa mwenzako na ujibu (Ask a friend what time it is and answer)
2. Taja maneno ya siku: juzi, jana, leo, kesho, kesho kutwa (Say the words for days: the day before yesterday, yesterday, today, tomorrow, day after tomorrow)
3. Andika ratiba yako ya masomo kwa Kiswahili ukitumia maneno ya muda (Write your class timetable in Kiswahili using time expressions)
4. Taja muda wa chakula, masomo, na mapumziko kwa Kiswahili (Say the time for meals, classes, and breaks in Kiswahili)
5. Taja majina ya siku saba kwa Kiswahili.
6. Andika sentensi tano ukitumia juzi, kesho, leo, mwaka jana, mwaka ujao.
7. Elezea ratiba yako ya kila siku kwa Kiswahili.

Tip of the Day

Kiswahili ni rahisi kueleza muda: tumia saa + nusu / robo / dakika pamoja na asubuhi (AM), mchana (PM), jioni (PM), au usiku (PM). Hakikisha pia unatumia maneno ya siku kama leo, kesho, kesho kutwa, jana, juzi kujenga mazungumzo kamili.

Reflection

Kujua kueleza muda kwa Kiswahili kunarahisisha maisha chuoni. Unaweza kuzungumza kuhusu ratiba, mitihani, chakula, na mapumziko kwa ufasaha. Mazoezi ya kila siku hufanya usome Kiswahili kwa urahisi.

Time words help you plan, speak, and connect easily with others. When you can say leo, kesho, or wiki ijayo confidently — you’re already thinking in Kiswahili!

🕊️ Zungumza Kiswahili, panga maisha kwa Kiswahili, na ishi Kiswahili!

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