hamna

There Is None Inside

Level 2

Hamna is a negative word that literally means there is nothing inside. In everyday spoken Swahili, it is also widely used to simply mean no, nothing, or there is none.

How It Works

Understanding hamna requires looking at both its formal grammatical role and its everyday street usage.

1. The Standard Meaning: Nothing Inside
When speaking formally or writing, hamna specifically negates existence within a volume or enclosed space (Class 18).

  • Kabatini hamna vikombe. (There are no cups inside the cupboard.)
  • Hamna maji. (There is no water [inside the tank/pipe].)

2. The Colloquial Meaning: No / Nothing
In casual conversation, the strict 'inside' meaning is often bleached away. Native speakers frequently use hamna interchangeably with hakuna (there is none) or hapana (no).

  • Hamna shida. (No problem.)
  • Umeona kitabu changu? - Hamna. (Have you seen my book? - Nope.)

3. The Possessive Homophone
Be careful! Hamna is also the exact word for 'you (plural) do not have'. This is because the second-person plural negative prefix is also ham-. Context will tell you which one is being used:

  • Hamna pesa. -> 'There is no money inside' OR 'You all do not have money.'

Examples (4)

  1. Kabatini hamna vikombe.

    There are no cups inside the cupboard.

    Word by Word: Cupboard-in there-is-not-inside cups.

    This shows the standard, formal use of hamna referring to an interior space.

  2. Hamna maji.

    There is no water (inside).

    Word by Word: There-is-not-inside water.

    Often used when checking a tank, pipe, or container.

  3. Hamna shida.

    No problem.

    Word by Word: There-is-not problem.

    A very common colloquial expression, functionally identical to hakuna shida.

  4. Utaenda kesho? Hamna.

    Will you go tomorrow? Nope.

    Word by Word: You-will-go tomorrow? No.

    Demonstrates the casual use of hamna as a standalone 'no'.

Common Mistakes

  • Using hamna alone when you mean 'there is no food inside'.

    Different MeaningHamna chakula.
    Chumbani hamna chakula.

    'Hamna chakula' is a good sentence, but on its own it usually means 'you all have no food' (ham-na). To say 'there is no food inside', name the place: 'Chumbani hamna chakula'. Context decides, so a locative word makes the meaning clear.

  • Using hamna, which means 'there is none inside' or 'you all have no', for a general 'there is no'.

    Different MeaningHamna matata.
    Hakuna matata.

    'Hamna matata' is a good sentence, but it means 'inside there are no problems' or 'you all have no problems'. For a general 'there is no problem', use hakuna. The three words hakuna, hapana and hamna look alike but belong to different locative classes.

How It Connects

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

hamnaLevel 2There Is None Inside

Learn This First

To understand 'hamna', a learner must first grasp how Swahili expresses existence using '-na' and how it negates it with the 'ha-' prefix. Crucially, they must understand the locative noun class system, specifically Class 18 (mu-), which provides the 'interior' or 'inside' meaning that distinguishes 'hamna' from the general 'hakuna'.

Words in This Pattern

wa na