- A -

A represents generally the broad sound of a in * father. It also includes (chiefly in non-accented syllables) the lighter sound of a in *man.

A is far the commonest vowel sound in Swahili, and with the consonants k and m gives a distinct phonetic colour to the spoken language as a whole. Though comparatively rare as an initial sound of Bantu roots, it is the regular terminal sound of most Swahili verb-forms, appears in many of the formative prefixes of the verb, in the plural prefixes of two declensions, and in most of the common conjunctions and prepositions.

Aa is used to represent a long a sound, which usually indicates in the case of Bantu words, a really double syllable with an i or r sound slurred or elided between the as.

A as a simple uncombined sound is used :

(1) As an interjection, whose meaning depends on the mode of utterance and intonation. Thus :

(a) A! or Ah! or Ahh! expresses simply wonder, pleasure, pain, grief, &c.

(b) A-aa or A-haa (also A-hee and E'hee) — the sounds distinct, with rising intonation, and stress on the last, yes, just so, exactly, I understand, i. e. assent, affirmation.

(c) Aa-a or A-a-a — the sounds distinct, with falling intonation, and stress on the first, *no, oh no, not so, *by no means, i.e. dissent and negation.

(2) As a preposition, but only occasionally as a slurred or shortened form of the full prepositional wa yay &c., after a vowel preceding.

(3) Not (like the other personal prefixes, ni, w, tu, as a verb form * (he, she) is its place being taken sometimes hy yu, otherwise by the general verb-form nt, e.g. mfalme yu (or ni) mwema, the king is good.