Mmarekani
In Swahili, the word for American is Mmarekani.
Mmarekani refers to anything or anyone pertaining to the United States, its people or its culture. It can function as a noun to mean 'an American' or as an adjective.
Meaning: of or pertaining to the U.S., its people or its culture (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The prefix M- in Mmarekani is used to denote a person or a human being.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word for the country itself is Marekani, which is the root from which the person-noun Mmarekani is derived. When you need to speak about multiple people, the plural form of Mmarekani is Wamarekani.
When do people say it?
Informally, the term Mzungu is sometimes used to refer to Americans, though it is a general term used for any white person.
Did you know?
- The word Marekani is a loanword that traces back to the English name 'America', which itself comes from the Italian 'Amerigo'.
- In Swahili, changing the first letter of Mmarekani to W- transforms the word from a single person to a collective group of people.
- Because Swahili is a lingua franca across East Africa, Mmarekani is recognized in many countries where English is not the primary language.
Examples in context
- Mimi ni Mmarekani.I am an American.This sentence shows how to state your nationality using Mmarekani.Tatoeba #3175754 by ecorralest101, translation #253017 by CN
- Rais wa zamani wa Amerika ndiye Mmarekani pekee anayemjua rais wa kila nchi.The former president of the United States is the only American who knows the president of every country.This sentence uses Mmarekani to describe a person from the United States.Tatoeba #10842662 by ecorralest101, translation #1686058 by gleki
- Mwalimu wetu ni Mmarekani. Ana ufahamu mkubwa kuhusu lugha yetu na tamaduni za Kiafrika.Our teacher is American. He/she has great knowledge about our language and African cultures.
Example conversation
Zuwena and Juma are discussing a new neighbor.
- ZuwenaJe, jirani mpya ni Mmarekani?Is the new neighbor an American?
- JumaNdiyo, ni Mmarekani.Yes, he is an American.
- ZuwenaAnajua kusema Kiswahili kidogo?Does he know how to speak a little Swahili?
- JumaHapana, lakini anajaribu.No, but he is trying.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Mmarekani, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
