kweli

Swahili

Etymology

Compare Umbundu tyiri.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkwɛ.li/

• Audio (Kenya):

  (file)

Noun

kweli (n class, plural kweli)

1. truth; truthfulness

Derived terms

• ukweli

Adjective

-a kweli (invariable)

1. true
2. real (not fake)

Adverb

kweli

1. really; truly

References

• Almasi, Oswald, Fallon, Michael David, Nazish, Pardhan Wared (2014) Swahili Grammar for Introductory and Intermediate Levels, Lanham • New York • Oxford: University Press of America, →ISBN, page 372: “Kweli! – When used with an exclamation point, it’s an expression of affirmation similar to the English expression “Truly!” However, when Kweli? is used with a question mark, it expresses disbelief, similar to the English expression “Really?””