Extended Negative Coordination

Level 5

The conjunction wala is used to link items in a negative sentence, translating to 'neither', 'nor', or 'not even'.

How It Works

The word wala is an invariable conjunction borrowed from Arabic (wa-lā, 'and not'). Because it is invariable, it does not take noun class prefixes or cause any mutations to the words around it.

How to use wala:

  • Single use (nor): Add a negative alternative to an existing negative clause (e.g., [Negative statement], wala Y = '...nor Y'). While the verb can be repeated, it is usually dropped for natural flow (e.g., Hanywi soda, wala kahawa is more natural than Hanywi soda, wala hanywi kahawa).
  • Emphatic use (not even / at all): A single wala can also be used at the beginning of a sentence or clause to add emphasis, meaning 'not even' or 'at all', provided the following verb is negative (e.g., Wala sijali = 'I don't even care' or 'I don't care at all').
  • Paired use (neither... nor): Frame multiple alternatives (e.g., Wala X wala Y + [Negative verb] = 'Neither X nor Y').

What it attaches to:
Wala is highly versatile. It can precede nouns, pronouns, infinitives, prepositional phrases, or full clauses.

Subject Agreement:
When using wala... wala... to connect two subjects, the negative verb must take a plural subject prefix that encompasses both subjects (e.g., hawa- for two people), unlike English which often uses a singular verb. If the subjects involve mixed pronouns, follow the standard hierarchy: 1st Person + Anyone = 1st Person Plural (hatu-), and 2nd Person + 3rd Person = 2nd Person Plural (ham-). For example, Wala mimi wala yeye hatuendi (Neither he nor I are going).

The 'Double Negative' Myth:
English speakers often assume that pairing wala with a negative verb creates a 'bad double negative' that cancels itself out. This is false. In Swahili, negative concord is grammatically mandatory. The negative idea from wala and the negative marker on the verb work together in perfect harmony.

Important Distinctions:
Wala is the direct negative equivalent of And with na when listing items. For example, a positive list (Ninakula kuku na samaki - I eat chicken and fish) becomes negative with wala (Sili kuku wala samaki - I eat neither chicken nor fish). While you can sometimes hear Or with au in negative contexts, it can create ambiguity. Wala is the standard, unambiguous choice for extending the scope of negation over multiple items.

Examples (4)

  1. Sina kalamu wala daftari.

    I have neither a pen nor a notebook. (I don't have a pen or a notebook.)

    Word by Word: I-do-not-have pen nor notebook.

    A single wala adds a negative alternative to the negative verb sina.

  2. Wala chai wala kahawa sipendi.

    I like neither tea nor coffee.

    Word by Word: Neither tea nor coffee I-do-not-like.

    Paired wala frames the alternatives, and the verb sipendi remains negative.

  3. Wala Juma wala Rahma hawataki kukisia.

    Neither Juma nor Rahma wants to guess.

    Word by Word: Neither Juma nor Rahma they-do-not-want to-guess.

    Even with a compound subject framed by wala, the main verb hawataki must be negative and takes a plural subject prefix (hawa-) to encompass both Juma and Rahma.

  4. Sikumwona, wala sitaki kumwona.

    I didn't see him, nor do I want to see him.

    Word by Word: I-did-not-see-him, nor I-do-not-want to-see-him.

    Wala can also coordinate entire negative clauses.

Common Mistakes

  • Using an affirmative verb with wala.

    Wala Juma wala Rahma wanataka kukisia.
    Wala Juma wala Rahma hawataki kukisia.

    Because the English translation 'neither/nor' contains the negation, English speakers frequently make the error of pairing wala with an affirmative verb. In Swahili, negative concord is mandatory: the main verb must remain in its negative conjugated form.

  • Using 'na' where 'wala' ('nor') is clearer.

    Different MeaningSina kalamu na daftari.
    Sina kalamu wala daftari.

    Sina kalamu na daftari is a good sentence ("I don't have a pen and a notebook"). To say you have neither, use wala: sina kalamu wala daftari.

How It Connects

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

Extended Negative CoordinationLevel 5

Learn This First

To understand extended negative concord with 'wala', you must first be comfortable with basic verbal negation in Swahili. This pattern allows you to list multiple items or actions that are also negated without repeating the full negative verb form for each one, using 'wala' as the linking particle.

Words in This Pattern

wala