kazi nzuri
In Swahili, the phrase for "good job" is kazi nzuri.
kazi nzuri is used to refer to a physical occupation or a specific task completed.
Meaning: a phrase used to praise for a good job or efforts (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase kazi nzuri is composed of kazi, meaning "work" or "job" and nzuri, meaning "good".
Which one should you use?
While kazi nzuri literally means "a good job", it is more commonly used to refer to a physical occupation or a specific task completed, whereas a verbal exclamation of praise like Hongera! is more natural for a job well done.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Kenya, you might use Vizuri sana! instead of Nzuri sana! to convey "very good".
How does it change in a sentence?
Because kazi is in the noun class 9/10, the adjective nzuri does not change its form to indicate plurality. kazi nzuri can mean both "a good job" and "good jobs".
Did you know?
- In some East African contexts, praising a person's kazi too directly can be seen as inviting the 'evil eye' or jealousy. People may temper the praise with a religious reference to God.
- The word kazi shares an ancient lineage with many other languages in the Bantu family, originating from the Proto-Bantu root *cad-, which has been used to describe labor for thousands of years.
- The word nzuri is used for 'good' or 'beautiful'. Depending on the context, calling someone's kazi nzuri can imply that the work is aesthetically pleasing as well as functional.
Examples in context
- Marafiki zangu wanaoishi Uingereza watakuja Brazil wiki ijayo na watakaa kwa miezi mitano wakitegemea kupata kazi nzuri hapa.My friend who lives in England will come to Brazil next week and will stay five months expecting to get a good job here.This sentence shows how to use kazi nzuri when discussing the expectation of finding employment.Tatoeba #10842440 by ecorralest101, translation #1629156 by cruzedu73
- Hongera sana, dada!Congratulations, sister!
- Hongera kwa kazi nzuri uliyofanya.Congratulations on the good job you did.
Example conversation
Aisha is praising Bakari for completing a difficult task at work.
- AishaBakari, umeifanya kazi nzuri.Bakari, you did a good job.
- BakariAsante sana, Aisha.Thank you very much, Aisha.
- AishaMkuu wako atafurahi sana.Your boss will be very happy.
- BakariNategemea kufanya vizuri zaidi kesho.I hope to do even better tomorrow.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries kazi, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
