pasipo

Without There Being

Level 4

Pasipo is a formal or literary way to say "without" in Swahili. It literally means "the place/circumstance where there is not."

How It Works

Pasipo functions as a preposition introducing a negative condition. It is slightly more elevated than bila but is still very common in written Swahili, news, and fixed expressions.

1. Before an Infinitive Verb
When expressing "without doing something," pasipo is followed directly by a ku- infinitive.

  • pasipo kujua (without knowing / unwittingly)
  • pasipo kufikiri (without thinking)

2. Before a Noun or Pronoun
When expressing "without a thing" or "without someone," it is followed by a noun or an independent pronoun. Sometimes, it is paired with na (pasipo na). Because na means "with/having", pasipo na literally translates to "where there is not with / without having."

  • pasipo shaka (without a doubt)
  • pasipo yeye (without him/her)
  • pasipo na vita (without war)

3. Literal Spatial Use
Because it is literally a locative verb, it can also be used to describe physical locations.

  • mahali pasipo maji (a place without water / where there is no water)

Important Note: While pasipo itself is a conjugated negative relative copula, do not follow it with another conjugated verb. When followed by a verb, pasipo strictly requires the infinitive. Alternatively, Swahili speakers frequently bypass pasipo or bila entirely, preferring to use a negative conditional verb (-sipo-) or a negative subjunctive verb (-si-) to express "without doing [verb]". In fact, pasipo is literally the Class 16 (locative) negative relative copula, meaning "where there is not".

Examples (4)

  1. Usimwache adui akukaribie pasipo sababu.

    Do not let the enemy approach you without reason.

    Word by Word: Do not let him enemy he approach you without reason.

    Here, pasipo is followed directly by the noun sababu.

  2. Aliondoka pasipo kusema chochote.

    He left without saying anything.

    Word by Word: He left without to say anything.

    Pasipo is followed by the infinitive verb kusema.

  3. Tena kama mtu mmoja akifanya dhambi pasipo kujua...

    And if one person commits a sin without knowing...

    Word by Word: Again if person one if he does sin without to know...

    Pasipo kujua is a very common fixed expression meaning "unwittingly."

  4. Dunia itakuwa salama pasipo na vita.

    The world will be safe without war.

    Word by Word: World it will be safe without with war.

    When followed by a noun, pasipo can optionally take na to mean "where there is no [noun]."

Common Mistakes

  • Using a conjugated verb after pasipo.

    Aliondoka pasipo anasema chochote.
    Aliondoka pasipo kusema chochote.

    Pasipo is followed by an infinitive verb (starting with ku-) or a noun, not by a conjugated verb with a subject and tense marker.

  • Adding 'na' before an infinitive verb.

    Alifanya hivyo pasipo na kujua.
    Alifanya hivyo pasipo kujua.

    While pasipo na is acceptable before nouns, you should not use na between pasipo and an infinitive verb.

  • Adding 'ya' after pasipo by analogy with 'bila ya'.

    Aliondoka pasipo ya ruhusa.
    Aliondoka pasipo ruhusa.

    While you can say bila ya (without), pasipo never takes ya. It can sometimes take na before nouns, but never ya.

How It Connects

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pasipoLevel 4Without There Being

Learn This First

To understand 'pasipo', a learner needs to recognize it as a combination of the locative subject marker 'pa-', the negative conditional marker '-si-', and the relative form of the verb 'to be' (kuwa). It literally translates to 'where there is not', used to mean 'without there being'.

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pasipo