-ku-

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Chichewa

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Infix

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-ku-

  1. Forms the present tense in verbs.

Usage notes

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This tense is used in a present continuous sense, and contrasts with the habitual of -ma-.

Garo

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Affix

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-ku-

  1. yet, indicates that the action is still happening.

Swahili

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Other scripts
Ajami ـكُـ

Pronunciation

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  • Audio (Kenya):(file)

Etymology 1

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Infix

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-ku-

  1. (with negative subject concord) negative past tense marker
    Antonym: -li-
    Sikukisoma.I did not read it.
Conjugation
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See also
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Swahili TAM markers
Initial
Positive infinitive ku-/kw-1
Negative infinitive kuto-
Habitual hu-1
Telegrammic ka-1
Final
General (positive indicative) -a
Positive subjunctive -e
Negative present -i
Second person plural -ni
Infix position
positive subject concord
Positive past -li-
Positive present -na-
Positive future -ta-
Negative subjunctive -si-1
Positive present conditional -nge-
Negative present conditional -singe-
Positive past conditional -ngali-
Negative past conditional -singali-
Gnomic -a-1
Perfect -me-
"Already" past -lisha-
"Already" present -mesha-/-sha-
"If/When" -ki-1
"If not" -sipo-
Consecutive -ka-1
Infix position
negative subject concord
Negative past -ku-1
Negative future -ta-
"Not yet" -ja-1
Negative present conditional -nge-
Negative past conditional -ngali-
Relative
Past -li-
Present -na-
Future -taka-
Negative -si-
1 Can take stress and therefore does not require -ku-/-kw- in monosyllabic verbs.

Etymology 2

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Infix

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-ku-

  1. you, 2st person singular object concord
    Ninakupenda.I like you.
    • 18th century, Abdallah bin Ali bin Nasir, Al-Inkishafi[1], translation from R. Allen (1946) “Inkishafi—a translation from the Swahili”, in African Studies, volume 5, number 4, →DOI, pages 243–249, stanza 11:
      مُيُ وَاغُ نِنِ هُزُدُكَانِ ، لِكُغُرِيِلُ هِيْلَ نِنْنِ ،
      Moyo wangu nini huzundukani, likughuriyelo hela ni-n'ni?
      Soul, why not awake? Hi! what is it that cheats you?
  2. (with suffix -ni) you, y'all; 2st person plural object concord
    Synonym: -wa-
    Ninakupendeni.I like y'all.

See also

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Etymology 3

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Infix

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-ku-

  1. there, ku class(XVII) object concord
See also
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Etymology 4

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From the infinitive prefix ku-.

Interfix

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-ku-

  1. placed between certain tense/aspect markers and the stem of monosyllabic verbs (-ja, -la, -wa) in the absence of object concord
    nitakuwaI will be