hakuna

There Is No or Are No

Level 2

Hakuna is the standard Swahili word for "there is no" or "there are no." It is a single, self-contained word placed directly before a noun to state that something does not exist or is not present.

How It Works

Hakuna is an extremely frequent, universal word used across all registers of Swahili. It is the direct negative of the affirmative word kuna (there is/are).

Key Rules for Using Hakuna:

  • Standalone Function: It often directly precedes the noun it negates (e.g., Hakuna maji - There is no water), but it can also precede pronouns (e.g., Hakuna yeyote - There is no one) or relative verbs (e.g., Hakuna anayejua - There is no one who knows). It does not attach to other words.
  • Present Tense Only: Hakuna is strictly for the present or timeless statements. Because the -na part means 'with' or 'have', past and future tenses require the verb kuwa (to be) followed by na (literally meaning 'the place was not with'). For the past, you must use hakukuwa na ("there was no"), and for the future, hakutakuwa na ("there will be no").
  • No Agreement Changes: Unlike adjectives or verbs that change based on the noun, hakuna remains exactly the same whether you are talking about one person, many trees, or abstract concepts.
  • Prohibitions with Infinitives: A very common pattern is using hakuna followed by an infinitive verb to express strong prohibitions, such as Hakuna kulala (No sleeping) or Hakuna kuvuta sigara (No smoking).

The Locative Trio: Hapana, Hakuna, and Hamna:
Hakuna is part of a trio of negative locative words based on the Pa-Ku-Mu locative classes:

  • Hapana (Class 16 pa-): There is not (at a specific place). It is also overwhelmingly used as the standard Swahili word for "No."
  • Hakuna (Class 17 ku-): There is not (in a general area or existence).
  • Hamna (Class 18 mu-): There is not (inside a space).

While you shouldn't use hakuna as a generic "No" to action questions, it is the correct and natural way to answer a yes/no question about existence (e.g., "Je, kuna maji?" -> "Hakuna").

The Truth About "Hakuna Matata":
Many believe "Hakuna Matata" is a made-up phrase for movies. It is actually grammatically flawless Swahili meaning "there are no troubles" (matata means troubles or entanglements). However, native speakers in East Africa rarely use it among themselves, vastly preferring Hakuna shida or hamna shida ("no problem").

Examples (5)

  1. Hakuna shida.

    There is no problem. / No problem.

    Word by Word: There is no problem.

    This is the most natural and common way native speakers say 'no problem' or 'no worries.'

  2. Hakuna maji hapa.

    There is no water here.

    Word by Word: There is no water here.

    Hakuna directly precedes the noun 'maji' to state its absence in the general area.

  3. Leo hakuna mtihani darasani.

    There is no exam in class today.

    Word by Word: Today there is no exam in class.

    Hakuna remains the same regardless of the noun class of 'mtihani' (Class 3).

  4. Hakuna mtu.

    There is nobody. / There is no person.

    Word by Word: There is no person.

    Used to express the complete absence of people.

  5. Hakuna matata.

    There are no troubles. / No worries.

    Word by Word: There are no troubles.

    A grammatically correct phrase, though mostly used today in the hospitality industry for tourists rather than in everyday local speech.

Common Mistakes

  • Adding redundant verbs like 'ni' or 'kuna'

    Kuna hakuna maji.
    Hakuna maji.

    Because English uses 'is/are', learners often try to add a 'to be' verb or combine it with the positive 'kuna'. Hakuna is a complete, self-contained phrase that already means 'there is not'.

  • Using hakuna for the past or future tense

    Jana hakuna chakula.
    Jana hakukuwa na chakula.

    On its own, hakuna refers to the present. To say 'there was no', use the past tense form 'hakukuwa na'.

  • Using hakuna by itself to mean 'nothing'

    Ninataka hakuna.
    Sitaki kitu.

    Hakuna must precede a noun to mean 'there is no [noun]'. To say 'nothing', you should use the phrase 'hakuna kitu' (literally 'there is no thing') or negate the verb and use 'kitu'.

How It Connects

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

hakunaLevel 2There Is No or Are No

Learn This First

To understand 'hakuna', you first need to know how to express existence using 'kuna'. Since 'hakuna' is the negative counterpart, you must also understand how Swahili uses the 'ha-' prefix for negation and how locative classes (specifically Class 16) provide the subject markers for 'there is' or 'there is not' constructions.

Words in This Pattern

haku-