tena

Again or Anymore with Tena

Level 2

The word tena is a versatile and highly common Swahili adverb. Its meaning changes depending on whether the sentence is positive or negative, and where it is placed in the sentence.

How It Works

Let's look closer at how to use tena correctly:

1. Meaning "Again" (Affirmative)
When you want someone to repeat an action, or when an event happens another time, use tena. When used as an adverb of repetition, it must be placed after the verb or the object. You cannot put it immediately before the verb for this meaning.
Example: Sema tena. (Say it again.)

2. Meaning "Anymore" (Negative)
Swahili does not have a separate word for "anymore." Instead, you use a negative verb followed by tena. Literally, this means "not [verb] again," which translates perfectly to "not anymore" in English.
Example: Sili nyama tena. (I don't eat meat anymore.)

3. Meaning "Moreover" or "And Also" (Conjunction)
When you want to build on a previous point or add emphasis, you can place tena at the beginning of a sentence to mean "Moreover." It can also be used mid-sentence to connect two attributes, meaning "and also."
Examples: Tena, ni ghali sana. (Moreover, it is very expensive.)
Juma ni mrefu tena mnene. (Juma is tall and also big.)

4. Emphatic Interjection and Set Phrases
You can double the word to say tena na tena, which means "again and again" or "repeatedly." Additionally, tena can be used as a standalone interjection to strongly agree with a statement, meaning "Indeed!" or "Absolutely!". You will also frequently hear cultural staples like Karibu tena (Welcome again / Come again) when leaving a shop or home, and Tuonane tena (See you again).

5. With Question Words ("Else" or Exasperation)
When combined with question words like nini (what) or nani (who), tena translates to "else" (e.g., nani tena? - who else?). In conversational Swahili, it can also express mild exasperation, such as Nini tena? meaning "What now?" or "What is it this time?"

Important Distinction:
Do not confuse tena with zaidi (more). While tena is often used for repetition (doing something again), it can also be used with numbers or nouns to mean "another" or "one more" of a physical quantity (e.g., balbu moja tena - one more bulb). Use zaidi for a general increase in quantity or degree (wanting more of something).

Examples (6)

Tafadhali kiseme tena.
Please say it again.
Word by Word: Please it-say again.
Used in an affirmative sentence to mean 'again'. Notice it comes after the verb.
Usifanye tena!
Don't do that anymore! / Stop doing that!
Word by Word: You-should-not-do again!
Used with a negative command to tell someone to stop an ongoing action.
Tena, tuna wageni leo.
Moreover, we have guests today.
Word by Word: Moreover, we-have guests today.
Placed at the beginning of the sentence, it acts as a conjunction meaning 'moreover' or 'furthermore'.
Alisoma kitabu kile tena na tena.
He read that book again and again.
Word by Word: He-read book that again and again.
Doubling the word as 'tena na tena' expresses that an action happens repeatedly.
Karibu tena!
Welcome again! / Come again!
Word by Word: Welcome again!
A very common cultural phrase used by hosts or shopkeepers when you are leaving, inviting you to return.
Nini tena?
What now? / What else?
Word by Word: What again?
When paired with a question word, it can mean 'else' or express mild exasperation, like asking 'what is it this time?'

Common Mistakes

Placing 'tena' before the verb.
Mimi tena ninasoma.
Ninasoma tena.
In English, you can say 'I again read', but in Swahili, tena must always follow the verb or the object when it means 'again' or 'anymore'.
Using a positive verb with tena when you mean 'anymore'.
Different MeaningNinakula nyama tena.
Sili nyama tena.
To mean 'anymore', the verb itself must be conjugated in the negative. If you use a positive verb, it means 'I am eating meat again'.
Using tena (again) when you mean a bigger amount (more).
Different MeaningNataka maji tena.
Nataka maji zaidi.
If you want a larger quantity of water, use zaidi. If you finished your water and want another glass at a later time, you would use tena.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

tenaLevel 2Again or Anymore with Tena

Learn This First

To use 'tena' effectively, you need to understand basic sentence structure and, crucially, how to negate verbs, as 'tena' functions differently in affirmative ('again') versus negative ('anymore') sentences.

Words in This Pattern