jana
/ˈʄɑ.nɑ/
The Swahili word for yesterday is jana.
jana is used as a noun to mean the day before today, and it also functions as an adverb to mean "on the day before today."
Meaning: day before today (noun)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To specify a particular time of day, such as yesterday morning or yesterday evening, place the time noun directly after jana, as seen in the phrase jana asubuhi.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables, with the stress on the first syllable. In IPA, it is pronounced /ˈʄɑ.nɑ/.
Did you know?
- The word jana is thought to be etymologically linked to the word mwana, which means 'child'.
- While jana means 'yesterday', the word for 'the day before yesterday' in Swahili is juzi, which is a distinct word rather than a compound phrase.
- In some contexts, jana can be used metaphorically to refer to the recent past or a previous era, rather than just the specific previous 24 hours.
Examples in context
- Nani alienda nawe jana?Who went with you yesterday?This sentence is useful for asking who accompanied someone jana.Tatoeba #10886502 by ecorralest101, translation #6352773 by CK
- Jana nilikuwa na mambo mengi ya kufanya.I had a lot of things to do yesterday.This sentence is useful for describing a busy schedule jana.Tatoeba #10889065 by ecorralest101, translation #6660513 by CK
- Ilikuwa jana asubuhi nilimwona Bwana Carter.It was yesterday morning that I saw Mr Carter.This sentence is useful for specifying that an event occurred jana asubuhi.Tatoeba #10813799 by ecorralest101, translation #63839 by sundown
- Nilikutana na rafiki yangu jana.I met my friend yesterday.
- Shughuli yenye uzito ilifanyika jana.An important event happened yesterday.
- Nilinunua vitu vyote jana jioni.I bought everything yesterday evening.
- Tulicheza mchezo mzuri jana jioni.We played a great game yesterday evening.
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Zuwena and Bakari are talking about the weather.
- ZuwenaHali ya hewa ilikuwa nzuri jana?Was the weather good yesterday?
- BakariNdiyo, jana ilikuwa na jua.Yes, yesterday was sunny.
- ZuwenaLeo ina jua pia?Is it sunny today too?
- BakariHapana, leo kuna mawingu.No, today it is cloudy.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “yesterday” translations and entries jana, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries jana, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
