lazima

See also: lažima

Swahili

Etymology

From Arabic لَازِم (lāzim).

Pronunciation

• (prescribed, Arabic) IPA^(key): /ˈlɑ.zi.mɑ/
• (colloquial) IPA^(key): /lɑˈzi.mɑ/

• Audio (Kenya):

  (file)

Noun

lazima class IX (plural lazima class X)

1. necessity, must, obligation

   Synonym: sharti

   Lazima ufanye kazi.

   You must work.

   (literally, “[It is] a necessity that you work.”)

   • 1973, Mohammed S. Abdulla, Duniani kuna watu, page 5:

     Kwa hivyo, ni lazima mimi nione uchungu kuona mali yangu yanachezewa tu, […]

     As such, I can't but feel pained to see my money used for playing, […]

     (literally, “Therefore, it is a necessity that I feel pain […]”)

Related terms

• -lazimu (“to need to”)

Further reading

• Bernander, Rasmus (2024) “Lazima in Swahili and Beyond: Accounting for the Double Transfer of a Strong Necessity Marker in East Africa”, in Swahili Forum‎^[1], volume 31, →ISSN, pages 104-141