Phrasal verb
The term phrasal verb is commonly applied to two or
three distinct but related constructions in English: a verb and a particle and/or a preposition co-occur forming a single semantic
unit. This semantic unit cannot be understood based upon the meanings of the
individual parts in isolation, but rather it must be taken as a whole. In other
words, the meaning is non-compositional and thus unpredictable.[1] Phrasal verbs that include a preposition are known as prepositional
verbs and phrasal verbs that include a particle are also known as particle
verbs. Additional alternative terms for phrasal verb are compound verb, verb-adverb combination, verb-particle
construction, two-part word/verb, and three-part word/verb
(depending on the number of particles), and multi-word
verb.[2]
- Ni fungu la maneno linapotumika
kutoa maana nyingine, badala ya ile ya maneno yaliyotumika. Semi hutumika
kuficha ukali wa maneno au kupamba lugha. Kuna aina mbili za semi:
- Nahau - huwa na vitenzi
- Misemo - haina vitenzi
Today I want to give you a few examples of phrasal verbs or
misemo in Kiswahili. I will encourage us to give more if we have them. I am
hoping that one time I will be able to publish a booklet that contains all
these.
Mastery of language requires one to learn the basic meanings
of words and use them correctly; it further requires proficiency in the
knowledge and use of special figures of speech or mbinu za lugha. I must add
here that we also have other mbinu za lugha or figures of speech such proverbs,
riddles e.t.c.
1.
Ru kuut (Sleep in the mouth)
This means going without food
especially overnight or sleeping without taking supper. Some people have in
recent times used it to refer to situations where you go without food for a
period of time either for religious or other reasons e.g fasting or hunger
strike
2.
Am booryeet (eat war)
This refers to striving or
struggling to achieve something or making effort.
You can encourage your child with
the following sentence
Am booryeet seesir tyemutyeetaab
tabantaab taamut.
3.
Am lōōkōōy (eat news)
This refers to sharing news
4.
Am muumēēk (eat blood or many other things
that are used for oath taking)
This refers to making or taking an
oath
5.
Am nkosur (eat the intestines)
This refers to a situation where one
attacks or harms his own person or family
6.
Rat moo (tie the stomach)
Fully decide or be committed to a
cause or person. It can also mean to accept
an eventuality that can’t be changed. A parent who has lost a child may be
advised to ‘rat moo’ i.e. accept the painful and irreversible reality.
7.
Rat Keey (tie oneself)
Be fully prepared, to equip oneself
before a task
Kirat keey biikaab lukēēt chee bo
Kenya anku be Somaalya booryeet.
8.
Sākyi keey (mislead oneself)
Cause trouble to oneself/ Jeopardise
or endanger yourself
Kiisākyi
keey Kethi Kilonzo Kule kaawut siasa!
9.
Yaam mēt (dry one’s head)
Be stubborn.
/Kiikeemwoochi Keethi le kusatekeey
siasa kooyaam mētit
1.
Chāmē Keey (He/She loves himself/herself)
This has two
meanings; It can be used to indicate that a lady has given birth or that
somebody is fine. When used to indicate that somebody has given birth; the form
changes slightly; one can say
Kacham keey
cheebyosyenyuu ra korron. (My wife delivered today in the morning)
2.
Kērchi Kong’ (fungia kwa macho/lock in the eye)
This means to force
somebody or to compel somebody to do something
Kāākērchi Kong ra
lekweet kuwo sukuul (I forced my child
to go to school today)
3.
Wē kōōto (go to house/ enda kwa nyumba)
Get married (used only for
ladies). In Sabaot, just like most other African communities the men marry
while the ladies are married or get married.
4.
Mii yēē mii :chii (Be where somebody is/ Kuwa mahali mtu ako)
Be in a difficult
situation
5.
Chiito ake (said as Chiitaake)/ Kalaany kēētit
Be expectant or pregnant.
Chiito ake cheebyosyeenyu
anku muuchē kucham keey arawet nyi chōōni
(e).
6.
Maalat :Kooto nto sanka (The
house is mudded/ Nyumba imebomwa)
People would utter this to
get assurance during conversation with many people that there is no stranger
who can leak the information. The ‘nto
sanka’ part has been forgotten and
left over time.
7.
Cheekuuk Kēēlyēk/Kērēēnkōōk (These legs are yours/ miguu hii ni yako)
This would be said in case
you meet somebody along the way whom you were visiting.
8.
(Ku) Cheekuuk ng’aleek (While the words are still yours/ maneno
yakiwa yangali yako)
This is normally used in
conversation to politely interrupt somebody.
9.
Kotich :ng’aleek (Those words stepped on him/ Maneno yalimkanyaga)
This is used in reference
to happenings that may have become overbearing to somebody.
10.
Kaluul :tābōōt (A special place or kind of ‘shelf’ near the roof of a house
where firewood is kept has come down/ or crumbled)
This was used by a mother
to alert her own child who could be playing with others that the food is ready.
11.
Kanam :Kōōrēēt baraak ( The
world has stuck up)
This is used mainly by
farmers when the rains have stopped for a long time
12.
Kawo saang’ (He/She has gone outside
He or she has gone to the
toilet or to relieve himself/herself
13.
Birēē sokoo (Beat he or she with leaves/ Pigia matawi (majani)
Be lenient with him or
her. One may use it to plead for a person who deserves punishment.
14.
Kabiit mētit (Kichwa imemea or the head has grown)
This can have two
meanings; when somebody has a premonition or sense of impending danger or when
one’s hair has outgrown
