hakuna shida
The Swahili phrase for "no problem" is hakuna shida.
Hakuna shida is used to indicate that no apology is necessary. Other informal expressions can also be used to convey similar meanings of "no problem" or "it's okay."
Meaning: no apology is necessary (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of hakuna, which means "there is no" or "there are no" and shida, which means "problem" or "trouble".
Which one should you use?
You might use hakuna matata to specifically mean "no worries" or sawa tu to mean "it's okay".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Tanzania, the informal expression sawa tu is commonly used to mean "it's okay". In Kenya, the phrase hakuna tabu is used to mean "no problem".
How does it change in a sentence?
The word hakuna is a fixed form used for the negation of existence in both the third person singular and plural.
Did you know?
- The phrase hakuna matata has become a global pop-culture phenomenon, but it is less common in everyday conversation among native speakers than hakuna shida.
- The word shida traces its roots back to the Arabic word šidda, which originally referred to 'intensity' or 'hardness'.
- The word shida can be used not just for a 'problem' in a conversation, but also to describe physical hardship or poverty.
Examples in context
- Hakuna shida.No problem.
- Sawa tu, unaweza kuchukua.It's okay, you can take it.
- Hakuna shida, usijali kuhusu jambo hilo.No problem, don't worry about that matter.
- Hakuna shida, nimeelewa vizuri.No problem, I understood well.
Example conversation
Zuwena apologizes to Said for being late to their meeting.
- ZuwenaSamahani Said, nimechelewa sana.I am sorry Said, I am very late.
- SaidHakuna shida, Zuwena.No problem, Zuwena.
- ZuwenaAsante kwa kunisubiri.Thank you for waiting for me.
- SaidKaribu, tuanze kazi sasa.You're welcome, let's start work now.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hakuna, shida, CC BY-SA 4.0.
