-sha-

Already -sha-

Level 3

The infix -sha- means "already." It is most commonly combined with the perfect tense -me- to form -mesha-, showing that an action has already been fully completed.

How It Works

Where it attaches: -sha- is an infix. It usually follows the perfect tense -me-, but it can also follow the past tense -li- (alishafika - he had already arrived) or the conditional -ki- (ukishafika - once you have already arrived).

Monosyllabic Verbs: When used with short verbs like kula (to eat) or kuja (to come), the infinitive ku- marker is retained. For example: nimeshakula (I have already eaten).

Register and Variations:

  • -mesha- (e.g., ameshafika): The standard, universally accepted form used in everyday spoken and written Swahili.
  • -kwisha- (e.g., amekwisha fika): A formal, slightly older literary form.
  • -sha- alone (e.g., ashafika): A highly colloquial form where the tense marker is dropped entirely, very common in casual coastal speech.

Using with tayari: You will often hear -sha- used alongside the free-standing adverb tayari (already) for extra emphasis: Nimeshafika tayari. This is perfectly natural.

Examples (5)

  1. Wageni wameshafika.

    The guests have already arrived.

    Word by Word: Guests they-have-already-arrived.

    This is the standard and most common use of -sha-, attached directly after the -me- perfect tense marker.

  2. Asante, nimeshakula.

    Thank you, I have already eaten.

    Word by Word: Thank you, I-have-already-eaten.

    Notice that the monosyllabic verb 'la' (eat) retains its 'ku-' infinitive prefix when used with -sha-.

  3. Ukishaosha sahani, panguza meza.

    Once you have already washed the dishes, wipe the table.

    Word by Word: You-if-already-wash dishes, wipe table.

    Here, -sha- attaches to the -ki- conditional marker to mean 'once an action is already completed'.

  4. Asha alikuwa ameshakamilisha kazi kabla sijafika.

    Asha had already completed the work before I arrived.

    Word by Word: Asha she-was she-has-already-completed work before I-have-not-yet-arrived.

    Used in a past perfect compound sentence to emphasize that the action was fully finished before another past event.

  5. Tumeshaiona filamu hiyo tayari.

    We have already seen that movie.

    Word by Word: We-have-already-it-seen movie that already.

    It is very common to use -sha- together with the adverb 'tayari' (already) for added emphasis. Notice how -sha- comes before the object marker '-i-'.

Common Mistakes

  • Trying to negate a verb containing -sha- directly.

    Hameshafika.
    Hajafika.

    You cannot negate the -mesha- form directly by adding a negative prefix. To say someone has "not yet" done something, you must use the negative perfect tense -ja-.

  • Dropping the ku- prefix on monosyllabic verbs.

    Ameshala.
    Ameshakula.

    When attaching -sha- to monosyllabic verbs like kula (to eat) or kunywa (to drink), you must retain the infinitive ku- prefix.

How It Connects

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

-sha-Level 3Already -sha-

Learn This First

To use the '-sha-' marker, you first need to understand the basic Swahili verb template and how subject markers are attached. Since '-sha-' is an emphatic version of the perfect aspect, familiarity with the standard '-me-' perfect tense is essential for understanding its meaning and usage.

Words in This Pattern

-mesha-