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In this post we’ll look at lots of action verbs that will come in handy when you’re talking everyday life.

Unaenda wapi? Where are you going?

Let’s start with a bunch of verbs to talking about coming and going: kwenda (kwa miguu, kwa gari) to go (on foot, by car); kutembea to walk; kuja to come, kuondoka to leave; kufika to arrive; kwenda nje to go out; kuingia to enter.

• Mimi huenda kazini kwa gari. Mimi huenda kazini kwa miguu.
  I go to work by car. I go to work on foot. 
• Sisi hutembea kwenye bustani kila Jumapili.
  We walk in the park every Sunday.

• Nani anakuja kwenye sherehe wikendi hii?
  Who’s coming to the party this weekend?
• Kawaida mimi huchelewa kuondoka kazini.
  I usually leave work late.
• Treni hufika saa nne asubuhi.
  The train arrives at 10am. (lit, fourth hour of the morning)
• Ninaenda nje na marafiki zangu.
  I am going out with my friends. 
• Sijawahi kwenda katika bustani usiku.
  I have never gone in the park at night.

Unaamka saa ngapi? What time do you wake up?

Now let’s see some verbs that you can use to talk about your daily routine: kuamka to wake up; kuoga to take a shower; kuoga to take a bath; kuvaa to get dressed; kuvaa shati to put on a shirt; kuvua nguo to get undressed; kuvua suruali to take off pants; kupiga mswaki meno yako to brush your teeth; kunawa mikono yako to wash your hands; kupata kifungua kinywa / chakula cha mchana / chakula cha jioni to have breakfast/lunch/dinner; kwenda kulala to go to bed; kulala to sleep.

• Ninaamka mapema katikati ya wiki, na ninachelewa kuamka wikendi.
  I wake up early during the week, and l wake up late on the weekend.
• Mimi huoga na shawa kila wakati asubuhi. Mimi sijawahi oga katika chakogea.
  I always take a shower in the morning. I never take a bath.
• Mimi huvaa haraka.
  I get dressed quickly.
• Yeye huvaa sweta wakati wa baridi.
  He/She puts on a sweater when it’s cold. 
• Mimi huvua nguo kabla ya kulala.
  I get undressed before bed.
• Yeye huvua viatu ndani ya nyumba.
  He takes off his shoes in the house. 
• Mimi hupiga mswaki baada ya kula.
  I brush my teeth after I eat.
• Mimi hunawa mikono yangu kabla kula.
  I wash my hands before I eat.
• Je, huwa unaenda kulala saa ngapi?
  What time do you usually go to bed?
• Je, huwa unalala masaa ngapi?
  How many hours do you usually sleep?

Anaongea sana.  He talks a lot.

Here are several general verbs that you can use in daily life. kuzungumza to speak; kuongea to talk; kusema to say; kuelewa to understand; kujifunza to learn; kusoma to study; kutoa to give; kutengeneza to make; kuchukua to take; kuuliza to ask; kujibu to answer; kufungua to open; kufunga to close; kutumia to use; kuokota to pick up; kuweka to put.

• Unazungumza lugha ngapi?
  How many languages do you speak?
• Mimi huongea na rafiki zangu kila siku.
  I talk with my friends every day.
• Anasema nini? sielewi.
  What is she/he saying? I don’t understand. 
• Watoto hujifunza mengi shuleni.
  Children learn a lot in school.
• Unasoma nini chuo kikuu?
  What do you study at university?
• Ninampa rafiki yangu zawadi kwenye siku yake ya kuzaliwa.
  I am giving my friend a present on his/her birthday.
• Watoto huwapa wazazi wao zawadi.
  The children give gifts to their parents. 
• Je, unapanda treni au basi asubuhi?
  Do you take the train or the bus in the morning?
• Watoto huuliza maswali mengi.
  Children ask a lot of questions. 
• Mwalimu anajibu maswali.
  The teacher is answering questions.
• Anafungua mlango.
  He/She is opening the door.
• Anafunga mlango.
  He/She is closing the door.
• Unatumia kalamu au penseli?
  Are you using a pen or a pencil?
• Ninachukua mifuko yangu.
  I am picking up my bags.
• Kawaida mimi huweka funguo zangu kwenye droo.
  I usually put my keys in a drawer. 

Unakula nini? What are you eating?

Now let’s look at some verbs that you can use to talk about typical situations at home: kula to eat; kunywa to drink; kupika to cook; kusafisha to clean; kuosha vyombo to do the dishes; kufua nguo to do the laundry; kuweka vyombo to put away the dishes; kutazama TV to watch TV; kusikiliza muziki to listen to music; kusoma to read; kupumzika to relax; kulala to lie down; kukaa chini to sit down; kusimama to stand up.

• Ninakula wali nyingi.
  I am eating a lot of rice.
• Je, unakunywa chai au kahawa asubuhi?
  Do you drink tea or coffee in the morning?
• Wewe hupika vizuri sana!
  You cook very well!
• Mimi husafisha nyumba yangu siku za Jumamosi.
  I clean my apartment on Saturdays.
• Sisi huosha vyombo kila jioni.
  We do dishes every evening.
• Yeye hufua nguo siku za Jumapili.
  He does laundry on Sundays.
• Sisi huweka vyombo vikiwa safi.
  We put the dishes away when they are clean.
• Je, wewe hutazama TV kila jioni?
  Do you watch TV every evening?
• Mimi husikiliza muziki kila siku.
  I listen to music every day.
• Mimi husoma kila usiku kitandani.
  I read every night in bed. 
• Tunapumzika kila wikendi.
  We relax every weekend. 
• Ninalala alasiri.
  I lie down in the afternoon.
• Tunakaa sebuleni.
  We sit down in the living room.
• Anasimama na kuondoka chumbani.
  He stands up and leaves the room. 

Ninanunua chakula. I’m buying food. 

Here are some common verbs related to shopping: kununua to buy; kwenda kufanya manunuzi to go shopping; kutafuta to look for; kupata to find; kulipa to pay; kugharimu to cost; kujaribu to try on; kutumia pesa to spend money; kutoa pesa kutoka kwa ATM/kiotomotela to withdraw money from an ATM; kuokoa pesa to save money.

• Tunanunua chakula kwenye maduka makubwa.
  We buy food at the supermarket.
• Tunaenda kufanya manunuzi kila wikendi.
  We go shopping every weekend. 
• Natafuta jozi mpya ya viatu.
  I’m looking for a new pair of shoes.
• Yeye daima hupata kitu cha kuvutia katika duka hili.
  He always finds something interesting in this store. 
• Je, unalipa kwa pesa taslimu au kadi ya mkopo?
  Do you pay by cash or credit card?
• Hiyo inagharimu kiasi gani?
  How much does that cost?
• Mimi hujaribu nguo kila mara kabla ya kuzinunua.
  I always try on clothes before I buy them.
• Anatumia pesa nyingi kununua vitabu.
  He/She spends a lot of money on books.
• Ninachukua pesa kwenye ATM/kiotomotela.
  I’m taking money out at the ATM.
• Sijawahi kuokoa pesa kwa sababu kila kitu ni ghali sana.
  I never save money because everything is so expensive.

Unafanya kazi wapi? Where do you work?

Now let’s look at some common verbs you can use at work: kufanya kazi to work; kuanza to start; kumaliza to end; kuandika to write; kupiga simu to call (on phone); kutuma barua pepe to send an email; kupata barua pepe to get an email; kuchukua mapumziko to take a break; kuwa na mkutano to have a meeting; kujadili to discuss.

• Ninafanya kazi Jumatatu, Jumanne, Jumatano, Alhamisi na Ijumaa. Sifanyi kazi Jumamosi na Jumapili.
  I work on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. I don’t work on Saturdays and Sundays.
• Mkutano huanza kila Jumatatu saa nne asubuhi.
  The meeting starts every Monday at 10am.
• Mkutano unaisha saa ngapi?
  What time does the meeting end?
• Anaandika ripoti nyingi.
  He writes a lot of reports.
• Ninawapigia simu wateja wangu.
  I am calling my clients on the phone.
• Anatuma barua pepe nyingi.
  He/She sends a lot of emails. 
• Anapokea barua pepe nyingi.
  He/She receives a lot of emails.
• Ninapumzika mchana na kunywa kahawa.
  I take a break in the afternoon and drink some coffee.
• Tuna mikutano mingi.
  We have a lot of meetings.
• Wanajadili nini kwenye mikutano?
  What are they discussing in the meetings? 

Tuna wakati mzuri! We’re having a good time!

Now that we’ve gotten work out the way, let’s see some verbs that you can use for your free time: kuwa na wakati mzuri/kujifurahisha to have a good time/to enjoy yourself; kucheza to dance/to play; kuimba to sing; kutabasamu to smile; kucheka to laugh, kufanya mazoezi to work out; kuogelea to swim; kukimbia to run; kucheza mchezo to play (a sport); kucheza chombo cha muziki to play (a musical instrument); kuruka to jump; kupanda to climb; kutambaa to crawl; kuendesha baiskeli to bike; kuendesha gari to drive a vehicle; kurusha to throw; kukamata/kushika to catch.

• Mimi huwa na wakati mzuri na marafiki zangu.
  I always have a good time with my friends. 
• Tunaenda kwenye vilabu vya usiku na kucheza kila wikendi.  
  We go to nightclubs and dance every weekend. 
• Anaimba vizuri sana!
  She sings really well!
• Yeye hutabasamu kila wakati. Yeye hana huzuni kamwe.
  He/She always smiles. He/She’s never sad. 
• Wanacheka wanapokuwa pamoja.
  They laugh when they’re together. 
• Mimi hufanya kazi kwa siku nne au tano kwa wiki.
  I work out four or five days a week. 
• Je, unaogelea kwenye bwawa au ziwani?
  Do you swim in a pool or in a lake?
• Watoto hukimbia kwenye uwanja wa michezo.
  The children run in the playground/field.
• Tunacheza besiboli/kikapu/soka.
  We are playing baseball/basketball/soccer.
• Mimi hucheza piano/tarumbeta/fidla.
  I play piano/trumpet/violin. 
• Wavulana wanaruka juu ya kitanda.
  The boys are jumping on the bed.
• Wasichana wanapanda miti.
  The girls are climbing trees.
• Mtoto hutambaa kwenye sakafu.
  The baby crawls on the floor.
• Sisi huendesha baiskeli kila wikendi kwenye bustani.
  We bike every weekend in the park. 
• Mimi huendesha gari kwenda kazini kila siku.
  I drive to work every day. 
• Mvulana anatupa mpira.
  The boy is throwing the ball.
• Msichana anashika mpira.
  The girl is catching the ball.

Nasikia harufu. I smell something.

Here are a few verbs related to the senses: kunusa to smell; kusikia to hear; kuona to see; kuonja to taste; kugusa to touch; kuhisi to feel; kuonekana to seem/appear; kufikiria to think; kuamini to believe; kujua to know; kumjua mtu to know a person.

• Tunanusa mkate safi.
  We smell fresh bread.
• Maua haya yana harufu nzuri sana!
  These flowers smells really nice!
• Mtoto hugusa kila kitu anachokiona.
  The child touches everything he sees. 
• Unasikia ndege?
  Do you hear the birds?
• Unamwona mwanamke pale?
  Do you see the woman over there?
• Mimi huonja chakula kila wakati ninapopika.
  I always taste food while I cook.
• Supu hii ina ladha nzuri.
  This soup tastes good. 
• Unajihisi vipi leo?
  How do you feel today?
• Anaonekana kutofurahishwa na jambo fulani.
  She seems unhappy about something. 
• Unafikiria nini?
  What are you thinking about?
• Je, unaamini maelezo yake?
  Do you believe his/her explanation?
• Hiyo ni nini? Sijui.
  What is that? I don’t know.
• Namfahamu dada yake.
  I know his sister. 

Siwezi kukusikia! I can’t hear you!

Now let’s look at a few modals and types of verbs that you can combine with other verbs: kuweza kufanya can do; kujua jinsi ya kufanya know how to do; lazima kufanya must do/have to do; kutaka kufanya want to do; kuhitaji kufanya need to do; kuanza kufanya start doing; kuacha kufanya stop doing; kuendelea kufanya continue/keep doing.

• Je, unaweza kuona televisheni?
  Can you see the television?
• Je, unajua jinsi ya kucheza gitaa?
  Do you know how to play guitar?
• Lazima nifanye kazi kesho.
  I have to work tomorrow. 
• Unataka kufanya nini usiku wa leo?
  What do you want to do tonight?
• Nahitaji kusoma. Nina mtihani kesho.
  I need to study. I have a test tomorrow. 
• Tunaanza kazi mapema asubuhi.
  We start working early in the morning.
• Nitawacha kusoma usiku wa manane na kwenda kulala.
  I will stop reading at midnight and go to bed.
• Wanaendelea kuzungumza wakati wa sinema.
  They keep talking during the movie. 

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