katika
The Swahili word for "in" is katika.
katika is a preposition used to indicate location, containment or a specific period of time.
Meaning: contained by (prep)
Which one should you use?
While katika is the standard preposition for general containment, the phrase Mikononi Mwa is used specifically when referring to being in someone's hands or in someone's possession.
How does it change in a sentence?
katika is an invariant preposition, meaning it remains the same regardless of the noun class of the object it precedes.
Did you know?
- The structure of katika reveals its history from the ancient Bantu noun class 12, which has since largely disappeared or changed in modern Swahili.
- While katika is the formal preposition for 'in', in casual spoken Swahili, people often omit it entirely or use the locative suffix -ni attached to the end of a noun instead.
- When saying someone is 'in' a certain mood or state, Swahili may use the word katika but often prefers to describe the state as a location the person has entered.
Examples in context
- Unaishi katika nchi gani?What country do you live in?This sentence is useful for asking about the country someone lives in using katika.Tatoeba #13838784 by ecorralest101, translation #13838769 by ecorralest101
- Kuna visiwa katika bahari.There are islands in the sea.This sentence is useful for describing the location of islands using katika.Tatoeba #3716282 by ecorralest101, translation #3663249 by shekitten
- Ulipanga viti katika safu.You arranged the chairs in a row.This sentence is useful for describing the arrangement of chairs using katika.Tatoeba #10872052 by ecorralest101, translation #4466447 by AlanF_US
- Kitabu kiko katika begi.The book is in the bag.
- Sisi tuko ndani ya gari.We are in the car.
- Kuna watu wengi ndani ya benki.There are many people in the bank.
- Nitakutana nawe kwenye mkahawa.I will meet you in the cafe.
- Kijana amekuwa mikononi mwa polisi.The young man is in the hands of the police.
- Niliiweka simu mikononi mwa rafiki yangu.I left the phone in the hands of my friend.
- 156 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Zuwena and Bakari are looking for some keys.
- ZuwenaJe, funguo zipo katika mkoba wako?Are the keys in your bag?
- BakariHapana, haziko katika mkoba wangu.No, they are not in my bag.
- ZuwenaZiko katika mfuko wa koti lako?Are they in your jacket pocket?
- BakariNdiyo, nilizipata katika mfuko.Yes, I found them in the pocket.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries katika, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
