It is useful to have a quick list of the five types of questions you are likely to use in different situations.

Here's a list covering Who? What? When? Where? How? Examples are given to illustrate the use of these terms.

Some questions start with the "Bushe…." interjection. It's a bit like putting the question mark at the beginning of your sentence.

Depending on the situation, and the intonation used, "Bushe" can also signal exasperation.

As usual, the plural (pl.) form is used as a sign of respect, and so is preferable over the singular (sing.) form.

WHAT?   = Nshi? Cinshi?

What is it?  = "Finshi?" 

What has happened? = "Finshi ficitike?" 

What just happened? = "Finshi fyacitika?"

What happened? = "Finshi fyacitike?"

What is your name? = "Nimwe bani ishina?" (pl.)

What time will you come? =  "Mukesa nshita nshi?" (pl.) / "Ukêsa nshita nshi?" (sing.)

WHO?  = Ani?

"Who is it?" =  "Nibani?" (pl.)  /   = "Nani?" (sing.)

"Who are you?" = "Nimwe bani?" (pl.)  /  = " Ni wani?"(sing.)

"Who is coming?" =  "Nibani baleisa?" (pl.)  /  = "Nani aleisa?" (sing.)

"Whose shoes are those?"  = "Bushe nsapato shilya sha bani?" (pl.)  /  = "Bushe nsapato shilya sha kwani?"

WHERE? = Kwi? / Pi?

"Where is it?" (big) = "Cili kwi?" 

"Where is it?" (small) = "Kali kwi?"

"Where are you?" (singular) = "Muli kwi?" (pl.)  /   = "Uli kwi" (sing.)

"Where are you?" (pl.) = "Muli kwi?"

"Where can I find…." = "Nikwi(sa) ningasanga……"

"Where can I buy……" = "Nikwi(sa) ningashita……"

WHEN? = Lilali? / Mu nshita nshi?

WHY? = Mulandu nshi?

"Do you have……..?"  = "Namukwata ………….?" (pl.)  /  = "Naukwata …………….?" (sing.)

"Can you ………?" = "Kuti mwa……….." (pl.)  /   = "Kuti wa ………………" (sing.)

"Have you got ……..?" = "Namukwata ………" (pl.)  /    = "Naukwata …….." (sing.)

"Will they…………." = "Baka ……………."

"Did you" = "Mwali ………..?" (pl.)  /   = "Wali …………………?" (sing.)

"Is it" = "Cili …………….?" 

"Are they ……"  (people) = "Bali……………….?"

"Are they ……" (big things) = "Fili …………………."

"Are they ……" "Tuli ……………….?" 

"Is she?" (big) = "Ali…….?" (sing.)  /   = "Bali…….?" (pl.)

"Is he?" (big) = "Ali…….?" (sing.) /  = "Bali…….?" (pl.)

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