"The name of the Dutch person"

Translation: Jina la Mholanzi

[federklaun]

Why not Jina lake la Mholanzi like in the Kenyan example?

[machieng]

I'm not sure which sentence you're referring to (the stem '-ake' means his/hers/its). That would be in one of 3 ways:

• Jina lake la kiholanzi - his/her Dutch name
• Jina lake ni la Mholanzi - his/her name is that of a Dutch person
• Jina lake ni la kiholanzi - his/her name is Dutch

The prefixes change the meaning of the word. The adjective stem '-holanzi' is used to mean 'Dutch' (adj) or 'of Dutch origin', but doesn't stand alone.

• Mholanzi - Dutch person
• kiholanzi - Dutch (adj), of Dutch origin
• Uholanzi - Holland.

The first and 2nd prefixes apply to all nationalities and references to country-specific origins. The last prefix applies to countries whose translations and pronunciations change from English to Swahili. For probably 98% of African countries, the name doesn't change from English to Swahili, so the prefix 'U-' is not used.

[Ernst557459]

On the subject on country names: last year when I asked my Uber driver in Dar to take me to Ubalozi wa Uswidi, he told me everyone would say Ubalozi wa Sweden. I forgot to ask him what our language would be called: Kiswidi or Kisweden. The latter sounds pretty weird to me :)

[machieng]

it would be Kiswidi. It's very common to conversationally mix English and Swahili

[JohnLeBlan3]

That's a great explanation, thanks!

[luis943605]

Thanks. Much clearer now.

[josedopatrocinio]

Thanks

[PaulNaveau]

Why not: Jina la mtu Mholanzi?

[machieng]

'Mholanzi' means 'Dutch person', so it's redundant

[Ernst557459]

That should also be accepted, but the m- in mholanzi, mtanzania etc., already implies a person.

[evie-lemonade]

i know!that's what google translate said!

[Brian352881]

Where in Duolingo are the course notes for Swahili ??

[machieng]

Unfortunately you cant see them in the Duolingo mobile app, you'd have to view it in the browser. It's the bulb icon

[Irishdancerfly10]

I'm confused about the difference beween Mkenya and Wakenya, Mchina and Wachina, etc. Can anyone expain when to use M and when to use Wa?

[LeonardMwa]

Mkenya is singular while Wakenya is plural.

[Ernst557459]

M- is singular (Kenyan). Wa- is plural (Kenyans). See this thread: https://forum.duolingo.com/comment/32745349

[JohnLeBlan3]

Does 'la' translate as the English preposition 'of'? It doesn't come up in online lists of prepositions but that seems to be its meaning here.

[machieng]

yup

[Ernst557459]

But which form of the -a to use depends on the noun class of the possessor (jina in this case). Check out the 'Tips and Notes' for each noun class (web version only), under the '-a of association'-

[JohnLeBlan3]

thx

[momo12o]

Why isnt there a word for name in this sentence?

[machieng]

that's what 'jina' is

[Iul1]

Why can't you put mtu at the end of the sentence

[machieng]

please see above

[machieng]

also, the word order is always noun - adjective