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Question Word 'lini' (Asking When)

Always place the invariable question word lini at the end of sentences to ask about general time.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use 'lini' at the end of a sentence to ask 'when' in Swahili.

  • Place 'lini' at the end of the sentence: Unakula lini?
  • It does not change based on the subject: Yeye anakuja lini?
  • It is used for both future and past events: Ulienda lini?
Verb + Subject Prefix + (Object) + Lini?

Overview

Welcome to the world of Swahili questions. Today we tackle the word lini. This tiny word is your best friend for planning.
It simply means when in English. You will use it daily. It helps you schedule meetings and dates.
It helps you catch buses and planes. Think of lini as the relaxed cousin of the question family. It is easy to use and never changes its shape.
Whether you are a beginner or an expert, lini is essential. Let’s dive into how this powerful word works in real life.

How This Grammar Works

Swahili grammar is often like building with blocks. Some blocks change based on the noun. Luckily, lini is an invariable word.
This means it never changes. It does not care about noun classes. It does not care if you are talking about one person or ten.
It stays lini every single time. In Swahili, word order is quite flexible. However, for questions, we usually put the question word at the end.
This keeps the focus on the action first. It is like saying
You are coming when?
instead of
When are you coming?
This might feel backwards at first. Just remember that Swahili likes to lead with the verb.
It is a very logical way to speak.

Formation Pattern

1
Creating a sentence with lini is a simple three-step process.
2
Identify your subject and tense prefix (e.g., u- for you, -ta- for future).
3
Add your main verb root (e.g., kuja for come).
4
Place lini at the very end of the sentence.
5
For example: U (you) + ta (will) + kuja (come) + lini (when)? Together it becomes Utakuja lini?. It is as simple as that. You don't need any special markers or fancy punctuation. Just the verb and the question word. If you want to be formal, the pattern stays exactly the same. The grammar is your steady anchor here.

When To Use It

Use lini for general time inquiries. It is perfect for broad questions about days or months. Use it when the exact minute does not matter yet.
  • Asking about a holiday: Sikukuu ni lini? (When is the holiday?)
  • Planning a trip: Utasafiri lini? (When will you travel?)
  • Job interviews: Nitaanza kazi lini? (When will I start work?)
  • Ordering food: Chakula kitafika lini? (When will the food arrive?)
In a job interview, asking Nitaanza lini? shows you are ready. It sounds natural and confident. When ordering food, it helps you manage your hunger. It is the go-to word for any event on a calendar. If it belongs on a calendar, lini is your tool.

When Not To Use It

Do not use lini if you need the exact time on a clock. Swahili has a specific phrase for that. For clock time, use saa ngapi (what hour). If you ask a bus driver Basi litaondoka lini?, he might say tomorrow. If you ask Basi litaondoka saa ngapi?, he will say «3:00 PM.»
Also, avoid using lini for duration. If you want to know how long something takes, use kwa muda gani. Think of it like a grammar traffic light.
lini is the green light for dates. saa ngapi is the yellow light for specific hours. Using the wrong one won't cause a crash.
However, it might lead to a very long wait at the bus station. Yes, even native speakers might clarify which one they mean sometimes.

Common Mistakes

The biggest mistake is putting lini at the start.
  • ✗ Lini utakuja?
  • ✓ Utakuja lini?
While people will understand you, it sounds a bit like a textbook. Native speakers almost always put it at the end. Another mistake is forgetting the tense prefix. You cannot just say Kuja lini?. You must include the tense, like Utakuja lini?.
Some learners also confuse lini with nini (what). They sound similar if you are rushing. Take your time and enunciate the L. Think of L for Linear time. This will help your brain categorize it correctly. Don't worry if you mix them up once or twice. Your friends will know what you mean by the context.

Contrast With Similar Patterns

Let’s compare lini with its sibling saa ngapi.
  • Lini: Used for days, weeks, or general future. (e.g., Harusi ni lini? - When is the wedding?)
  • Saa ngapi: Used for the specific time today. (e.g., Chakula ni saa ngapi? - What time is dinner?)
It is also different from tangu lini (since when). Adding tangu changes the meaning to a starting point in the past.
  • Upo hapa lini? (When are you here? - Grammatically weak)
  • Upo hapa tangu lini? (Since when have you been here? - Much better)
Understanding these small shifts makes you sound much more fluent. It is the difference between sounding like a tourist and sounding like a local.

Quick FAQ

Q

Does lini change for plural subjects?

No, it remains lini for both wewe (you) and ninyi (you all).

Q

Can I use lini in the past tense?

Absolutely! Ulifika lini? means

When did you arrive?
.

Q

Is lini considered polite?

Yes, it is a standard, neutral word used in all social settings.

Lini in Different Tenses

Tense Example Meaning
Present
Unakuja lini?
When are you coming?
Past
Ulikuja lini?
When did you come?
Future
Utakuja lini?
When will you come?
Habitual
Unakuja lini?
When do you usually come?
Perfect
Umekuja lini?
When have you come?

Meanings

The word 'lini' is the standard interrogative adverb used to inquire about the time or date of an action.

1

Time Inquiry

Asking for a specific point in time.

“Utarudi lini?”

“Wanaondoka lini?”

2

Deadline Inquiry

Asking for a completion date.

“Kazi hii itaisha lini?”

“Mtafika lini?”

Reference Table

Reference table for Question Word 'lini' (Asking When)
Form Structure Example
Question
Verb + Lini
Unakula lini?
Past
Verb (li) + Lini
Ulikula lini?
Future
Verb (ta) + Lini
Utakula lini?
Negative
Negation + Verb + Lini
Huli lini?
Formal
Je + Verb + Lini
Je, unakula lini?
Plural
Verb (pl) + Lini
Mnakula lini?

Formalitätsspektrum

Formell
Je, utakuja lini?

Je, utakuja lini? (General)

Neutral
Unakuja lini?

Unakuja lini? (General)

Informell
Unakuja lini?

Unakuja lini? (General)

Umgangssprache
Unakuja lini?

Unakuja lini? (General)

The Lini Map

Lini

Time

  • Jana Yesterday
  • Leo Today
  • Kesho Tomorrow

Beispiele nach Niveau

1

Utakuja lini?

When will you come?

2

Duka linafungua lini?

When does the shop open?

1

Mkutano utaanza lini?

When will the meeting start?

2

Ulienda nyumbani lini?

When did you go home?

1

Tunaweza kumaliza kazi hii lini?

When can we finish this work?

2

Safari ya ndege inaondoka lini?

When does the flight depart?

1

Je, unadhani tutafika lini Dar es Salaam?

When do you think we will arrive in Dar es Salaam?

2

Mkataba huu utatiwa saini lini?

When will this contract be signed?

1

Inafaa tuamue lini kuhusu mradi huu?

When should we decide regarding this project?

2

Ni lini hasa utaweza kututembelea?

When exactly will you be able to visit us?

1

Ni lini mwafaka zaidi kwa ajili ya mkutano wa bodi?

When is the most appropriate time for the board meeting?

Leicht verwechselbar

Question Word 'lini' (Asking When) vs. Saa ngapi

Learners use 'lini' for clock time.

Question Word 'lini' (Asking When) vs. Wapi

Learners mix up time and place.

Question Word 'lini' (Asking When) vs. Nini

Learners mix up 'what' and 'when'.

Häufige Fehler

✗

Lini wewe unakuja?

✓

Unakuja lini?

Lini must be at the end.
✗

Unakuja kwa lini?

✓

Unakuja lini?

No preposition needed.
✗

Lini ni wewe unakuja?

✓

Unakuja lini?

Do not use 'is' (ni) with lini.
✗

Unakuja lini saa?

✓

Unakuja saa ngapi?

Use saa ngapi for clock time.
✗

Lini utaenda?

✓

Utaenda lini?

Lini at the end.
✗

Unakuja lini ya?

✓

Unakuja lini?

No extra particles.
✗

Lini unadhani tutafika?

✓

Unadhani tutafika lini?

Lini at the end of the main clause.
✗

Unakuja lini wakati?

✓

Unakuja lini?

Redundant time markers.
✗

Lini ni lini?

✓

Ni lini?

Avoid fronting.
✗

Lini ambapo utakuja?

✓

Utakuja lini?

Avoid relative clause structures for simple questions.
✗

Lini unatarajia?

✓

Unatarajia lini?

Standard word order.
✗

Lini ni wakati wa kuondoka?

✓

Ni wakati wa kuondoka lini?

Lini at the end.

Satzmuster

___ unakuja lini?

Mkutano utaanza ___?

___ utaenda lini?

Real World Usage

Texting constant

Unakuja lini?

Work very common

Mkutano utaanza lini?

Travel common

Basi litaondoka lini?

💡

Keep it at the end

Always put 'lini' at the end of the sentence to sound natural.
⚠️

Don't front it

Starting a sentence with 'lini' sounds like a direct translation from English.
🎯

Use with Je

Add 'Je' at the start for a polite, formal question.

Smart Tips

Use 'lini' to keep it simple.

Wakati gani utakuja? → Utakuja lini?

Add 'Je' for politeness.

Utamaliza lini? → Je, utamaliza lini?

Drop the subject if it's clear.

Wewe utakuja lini? → Utakuja lini?

Aussprache

lee-nee

Lini

Pronounced 'lee-nee'. Stress the first syllable.

Question Intonation

Unakuja lini? ↗

Rising pitch at the end indicates a question.

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Lini is like a 'Line'—it draws a line at the end of your sentence.

Visuelle Assoziation

Imagine a clock at the very end of a sentence. Every time you say 'lini', the clock ticks.

Rhyme

Don't put it at the start, put it at the end, 'lini' is your time-telling friend.

Story

Juma is waiting for a bus. He asks the driver, 'Bus inakuja lini?' The driver smiles and points to the end of the sentence. Juma now knows that 'lini' always waits at the end.

Word Web

SaaWakatiTareheLeoKeshoJana

Herausforderung

Ask 5 people today 'Unakula lini?' or 'Unatoka lini?'

Kulturelle Hinweise

In Tanzania, being direct with 'lini' is common, but adding 'Je' makes it more polite.

Similar to Tanzania, but often used with 'sasa' for emphasis.

Lini is a Bantu interrogative root common in many East African languages.

Gesprächseinstiege

“

Unakula chakula cha mchana lini?

“

Utasafiri lini?

“

Duka linafungua lini?

Tagebuch-Impulse

Write about your daily schedule using 'lini'.
Plan a trip with a friend using 'lini'.
Describe when you usually do your hobbies.

Häufige Fehler

Incorrect

Richtig

Incorrect

Richtig

Incorrect

Richtig

Incorrect

Richtig

Test Yourself

Fill in the blank.

Unakuja ___?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: lini
Lini means when.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Lini unakuja?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Unakuja lini?
Lini goes at the end.
Choose the correct question. Multiple Choice

When are you eating?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Unakula lini?
Lini is when.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

Arrange the words in the correct order:

All words placed

Click words above to build the sentence

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Unakuja lini?
Subject + Verb + Lini.

Score: /4

Ubungsaufgaben

4 exercises
Fill in the blank.

Unakuja ___?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: lini
Lini means when.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Lini unakuja?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Unakuja lini?
Lini goes at the end.
Choose the correct question. Multiple Choice

When are you eating?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Unakula lini?
Lini is when.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

lini / unakuja / ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Unakuja lini?
Subject + Verb + Lini.

Score: /4

FAQ (6)

No, it must go at the end.

No, it is invariant.

It is neutral and used everywhere.

Lini is general, saa ngapi is specific.

Yes, it works for all tenses.

Yes, it is standard in both.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

In Other Languages

Spanish partial

¿Cuándo...?

Word order: front vs end.

French partial

Quand...?

Flexibility.

German low

Wann...?

Syntactic structure.

Japanese partial

Itsu...?

Verb position.

Arabic low

Mata...?

Fronting vs final.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Question Word 'wapi' (Asking Where)
Next
The Habitual Tense -hu- (General Truths and Routines)

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