"Good evening, Juma!"

Translation: Habari za jioni Juma?

[Andy9703]

How does an exclamatory greeting tuen into an inquisitory greeting?

[AGreatUserName]

Because they're equivalent phrases. Where we would say "Good evening!" as a wish, it's more usual in Swahili to ask, literally, "News of the evening?"

[Babu-G]

"Good evening, Juma!" may also mean "Jioni Njema Juma!"

[ZahidurRah1]

it's not making sense

[bryan.rice]

"Habari za jioni, Juma" is used as "How is the evening, Juma."

[Omary817911]

Exactly so what I am not understanding is the fact that " Habari za jioni, Juma" Means how is the evening but what I am trying to say is. "Good evening Juma". "za" means "is" correct?

[Anjee99]

No. "Habari za jioni" literally means "News of evening". Za is the plural -a of association. In this case, it means "of".

[BenConway6]

Is "Jioni njema, Juma" not correct?