tazama
To look in Swahili is to say tazama.
The verb tazama means to try to see.
Meaning: to try to see (verb)
Which one should you use?
While tazama is used to mean look or observe, the word angalia is the most common everyday verb used for the act of looking at something or watching something. Additionally, angalia can also refer to a physical appearance.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
tazama can be used as a standalone imperative command to tell someone to 'look!'
Did you know?
- In Swahili, the word angalia, which often overlaps with tazama, is also used to mean 'be careful' or 'watch out'. This turns a visual action into a warning for safety.
- While tazama is for looking, the related word tazamo refers to a 'perspective' or 'viewpoint'. It transforms the act of seeing into a mental way of interpreting the world.
- In many East African contexts, a direct imperative tazama! can be seen as very strong. To be more polite, speakers often add a softener or use a different phrase to avoid sounding like a command.
Examples in context
- Tazama mawingu yale meusi.Look at those black clouds.This sentence is useful for practicing the imperative use of tazama to direct attention toward something.Tatoeba #10814084 by ecorralest101, translation #68380 by CK
- Angalia picha hii.Look at this picture.
- Tafadhali, angalia hii ripoti.Please, look at this report.
- Tazama video hii.Look at this video.
- Tazama simba anavyocheza.Look at how the lion is playing.
- Tazama mazingira haya.Look at these surroundings.
- Tazama hapa!Look here!
- Tazama picha hii mpya.Look at this new picture.
- Tazama mbele, safari inaanza.Look ahead, the journey is starting.
Example conversation
Juma and Zuwena are walking in a garden.
- JumaTazama maua haya ya rangi nyekundu.Look at these red flowers.
- ZuwenaNi mazuri sana, Juma.They are very beautiful, Juma.
- JumaKuna ndege pia hapo juu.There is a bird up there too.
- ZuwenaKweli, naona ndege huyo sasa.True, I see that bird now.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
