ninakukosa
The Swahili phrase for 'I miss you' is ninakukosa.
This phrase is used to express that you miss someone's presence or feel a sense of loss because they are not with you.
Meaning: I miss you (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
In the form ninakukosa, the prefix ni- indicates the first-person singular subject 'I' and the infix -ku- indicates the second-person singular object 'you'.
Which one should you use?
While ninakukosa implies a sense of missing someone's presence, ninakukumbuka is often used to mean 'I am thinking of you' or 'I remember you'. Additionally, to say 'I miss you all' (plural), the object infix -ku- is replaced with -wa- to create ninawakosa.
How does it change in a sentence?
The grammatical structure relies on subject and object infixes. To switch from a singular object ('you') to a plural object ('you all'), change the infix -ku- to -wa-, resulting in ninawakosa.
Did you know?
- The word kosa is the root for both 'missing' someone and 'making a mistake'. In a literal sense, saying ninakukosa can imply that you have failed to find the person or have missed your mark.
- While ninakukumbuka translates to 'I remember you', it is often used as a softer, more poetic way to say 'I miss you' in romantic contexts to avoid the heavy connotation of loss found in kosa.
- Because kosa can mean 'to lack' or 'to be without', the phrase ninakukosa can technically describe a physical deficiency or a lack of something essential in a non-romantic context.
Examples in context
- Ninakukosa sana, rafiki yangu.I miss you a lot, my friend.
- Nakosa uwepo wako kazini.I miss your presence at work.
- Nakumiss sana, mpenzi wangu.I miss you so much, my love.
- Naku-miss sana, baba.I miss you so much, dad.
Example conversation
Juma and Zuwena are talking on the phone.
- JumaHabari, Zuwena! Ninakukosa sana.Hello, Zuwena! I miss you very much.
- ZuwenaAsante Juma, nami ninakukosa pia.Thank you Juma, I miss you too.
- JumaUtarudi lini hapa nyumbani?When will you return here home?
- ZuwenaNitarudi wiki ijayo.I will return next week.
