Phrase in 30 Seconds
Lini is the essential Swahili word for 'When?', used to ask about the timing of any event or action.
- Means: 'When?' in a general sense for days, dates, or times.
- Used in: Scheduling meetings, asking about arrivals, or planning future events.
- Don't confuse: With 'Saa ngapi?', which specifically asks for the clock time.
Explication à ton niveau :
Signification
Asking about the time of an event.
Contexte culturel
In coastal culture, 'Lini' is often answered with 'Inshallah' (God willing). It is considered slightly arrogant to state a future time with absolute certainty without acknowledging divine will. In Nairobi, 'Lini' is frequently used in Sheng. You might hear 'Lini utashow up?' (When will you show up?), blending English and Swahili. Tanzanians often use 'Lini' followed by 'tena' (again) to show warmth and a desire to repeat a pleasant encounter. In rural areas, 'Lini' might be answered in relation to agricultural cycles or prayer times rather than calendar dates.
The End Rule
Always try to put 'Lini' at the end of your sentence. It will make you sound much more like a native speaker.
Not for 'When I...'
Never use 'Lini' to mean 'When I was a child'. Use 'Wakati' or the '-po-' tense marker instead.
The End Rule
Always try to put 'Lini' at the end of your sentence. It will make you sound much more like a native speaker.
Not for 'When I...'
Never use 'Lini' to mean 'When I was a child'. Use 'Wakati' or the '-po-' tense marker instead.
Expect 'Inshallah'
If you ask 'Lini?' and get 'Inshallah' as an answer, don't be frustrated. It's a cultural norm, not an evasion.
Lini vs Saa Ngapi
If the answer is a day (Monday), use Lini. If the answer is a time (3 PM), use Saa Ngapi.
Teste-toi
Fill in the blank with the correct word to ask 'When is the party?'
Sherehe ni ___?
'Lini' is the word for 'when'. 'Nini' is what, 'Gani' is which, and 'Wapi' is where.
Which sentence correctly asks 'When did you arrive?'
Choose the correct translation:
'Ulifika lini?' uses the past tense marker -li- and places 'lini' at the end.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Safari yetu ni kesho. B: ___?
Since Person A already said 'Kesho' (tomorrow), Person B is likely asking for the specific clock time, which is 'Saa ngapi?'.
Match the phrase to the situation.
You want to know since when your friend has been waiting.
'Tangu lini' means 'Since when'.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Lini vs. Saa Ngapi
Banque d exercices
5 exercicesSherehe ni ___?
'Lini' is the word for 'when'. 'Nini' is what, 'Gani' is which, and 'Wapi' is where.
Choose the correct translation:
'Ulifika lini?' uses the past tense marker -li- and places 'lini' at the end.
A: Safari yetu ni kesho. B: ___?
Since Person A already said 'Kesho' (tomorrow), Person B is likely asking for the specific clock time, which is 'Saa ngapi?'.
You want to know since when your friend has been waiting.
'Tangu lini' means 'Since when'.
🎉 Score : /5
Questions fréquentes
12 questionsIt is neutral and appropriate for all settings, from the street to the parliament.
No, for duration use 'Muda gani?'. 'Lini' is only for a point in time.
It means 'When again?' and is used to ask for a repeat of an event or to clarify a forgotten date.
No, 'Lini' is an adverb and remains the same regardless of the noun it refers to.
'Lini' is more common and direct. 'Wakati gani' is slightly more formal and literally means 'At what time/period'.
Yes, for emphasis, but the end of the sentence is more natural in Swahili.
Use 'Tangu lini?'. It can also be used to express surprise.
Use 'Hadi lini?' or 'Mpaka lini?'.
Yes, it is used frequently, often mixed with English verbs like 'Utakam lini?' (When will you come?).
Common answers include 'Leo' (Today), 'Kesho' (Tomorrow), or 'Baadae' (Later).
Yes, e.g., 'Ulikuja lini?' (When did you come?).
It can be seen as impatient. Adding 'tafadhali' (please) or 'hasa' (exactly) can soften or clarify the tone.
Expressions liées
Saa ngapi?
similarWhat time (on the clock)?
Muda gani?
similarWhat period/How long?
Tangu lini?
builds onSince when?
Hadi lini?
builds onUntil when?
Wakati gani?
synonymAt what time?
Où l'utiliser
At the Airport
Abiria (Passenger): Ndege ya kwenda Nairobi ni lini?
Mhudumu (Attendant): Ni kesho asubuhi.
Texting a Friend
Juma: Mambo! Tutonana lini?
Asha: Labda wiki ijayo.
Job Interview
Mwombaji (Applicant): Matokeo ya usaili yatatoka lini?
Mwajiri (Employer): Tutakupigia simu baada ya siku tatu.
At a Restaurant
Mteja (Customer): Chakula kitakuwa tayari lini?
Mhudumu (Waiter): Baada ya dakika kumi tu.
Dating
Mvulana: Lini nitakuona tena?
Msichana: Nipigie simu kesho, tutapanga.
Buying Tickets
Mteja: Mechi ya Simba na Yanga ni lini?
Muuzaji: Ni Jumamosi hii, saa kumi jioni.
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Think of 'Lean in' — you 'Lean in' to hear the time when someone says 'Lini'.
Association visuelle
Imagine a large wall calendar with a giant question mark drawn over the month of July. The word 'LINI' is written in bold at the bottom.
Rhyme
Lini? Siku gani? (When? Which day?)
Story
A traveler arrives at a dusty train station in Tabora. He looks at the empty tracks and asks the station master, 'Lini?'. The master points to the rising sun and says, 'Kesho' (Tomorrow). The traveler writes 'Lini = When' in his notebook.
In Other Languages
Similar to 'Lini' in other Bantu languages like Zulu (Nini) or Luganda (Ddi). It shares the same 'ni' interrogative suffix found across sub-Saharan Africa.
Word Web
Défi
Try to ask three different people 'Lini?' today regarding future plans (e.g., lunch, a meeting, or a phone call).
Review 'Lini' alongside 'Saa ngapi' to ensure you don't mix up general time with clock time.
Prononciation
Like the 'lee' in 'sleep'.
Like the 'nee' in 'knee'.
Spectre de formalité
Je, ni lini utakapowasili? (Arrival inquiry)
Utakuja lini? (Arrival inquiry)
Utafika lini? (Arrival inquiry)
Unakam lini? (Arrival inquiry)
Lini is a primary Bantu interrogative. It stems from the Proto-Bantu root *-ni, which is the basis for most question words in the Niger-Congo language family.
Le savais-tu ?
While Swahili borrowed words for 'Time' (Wakati) and 'Hour' (Saa) from Arabic, it kept its own native word for 'When' (Lini).
Notes culturelles
In coastal culture, 'Lini' is often answered with 'Inshallah' (God willing). It is considered slightly arrogant to state a future time with absolute certainty without acknowledging divine will.
“A: Utakuja lini? B: Inshallah, nitakuja kesho.”
In Nairobi, 'Lini' is frequently used in Sheng. You might hear 'Lini utashow up?' (When will you show up?), blending English and Swahili.
“Lini utashow up kwa bash?”
Tanzanians often use 'Lini' followed by 'tena' (again) to show warmth and a desire to repeat a pleasant encounter.
“Tutaonana lini tena, rafiki yangu?”
In rural areas, 'Lini' might be answered in relation to agricultural cycles or prayer times rather than calendar dates.
“Mavuno ni lini? (When is the harvest?)”
Amorces de conversation
Unataka kusafiri kwenda wapi, na ni lini?
Siku yako ya kuzaliwa ni lini?
Lini ulianza kujifunza Kiswahili?
Ni lini unadhani utamaliza masomo yako?
Erreurs courantes
Saa ngapi ni harusi?
Harusi ni lini?
L1 Interference
Lini unakuja?
Utakuja lini?
L1 Interference
Ninakumbuka lini tulikutana.
Ninakumbuka tulipokutana.
L1 Interference
Lini ni muda wa filamu?
Filamu inachukua muda gani?
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
¿Cuándo?
Swahili 'lini' is almost always at the end of the sentence.
Quand ?
French uses 'quand' for both questions and statements; Swahili does not.
Wann?
German has three words for 'when' depending on context; Swahili uses 'Lini' only for questions.
いつ (Itsu)?
Japanese requires a question particle 'ka' at the end; Swahili relies on the word 'Lini' itself or intonation.
متى (Matā)?
Sentence position is the primary difference.
什么时候 (Shénme shíhou)?
Chinese is a compound phrase; Swahili is a single word.
언제 (Eonje)?
Korean 'Eonje' has indefinite uses (sometime) that 'Lini' lacks.
Quando?
Swahili 'Lini' cannot be used to link two clauses like 'Quando'.
Spotted in the Real World
“Lini utarudi kwangu mpenzi?”
A famous Bongo Flava song about a man asking his lover when she will return.
“Lini tutaacha kulalamika na kuanza kufanya kazi?”
Common rhetorical question in political and social discourse.
“Lini nitakuwa mfalme?”
Simba asking Mufasa when he will become king.
Facile à confondre
Learners often mix up 'Lini' (When) and 'Nini' (What) because they sound similar.
Remember: 'L' for 'Lini' and 'Later' (time). 'N' for 'Nini' and 'Noun' (thing).
Both are question words ending in 'ni'.
Gani means 'Which'. Lini means 'When'.
Questions fréquentes (12)
It is neutral and appropriate for all settings, from the street to the parliament.
usage contextsNo, for duration use 'Muda gani?'. 'Lini' is only for a point in time.
grammar mechanicsIt means 'When again?' and is used to ask for a repeat of an event or to clarify a forgotten date.
practical tipsNo, 'Lini' is an adverb and remains the same regardless of the noun it refers to.
grammar mechanics'Lini' is more common and direct. 'Wakati gani' is slightly more formal and literally means 'At what time/period'.
comparisonsYes, for emphasis, but the end of the sentence is more natural in Swahili.
grammar mechanicsUse 'Tangu lini?'. It can also be used to express surprise.
practical tipsUse 'Hadi lini?' or 'Mpaka lini?'.
practical tipsYes, it is used frequently, often mixed with English verbs like 'Utakam lini?' (When will you come?).
cultural usageCommon answers include 'Leo' (Today), 'Kesho' (Tomorrow), or 'Baadae' (Later).
basic understandingYes, e.g., 'Ulikuja lini?' (When did you come?).
grammar mechanicsIt can be seen as impatient. Adding 'tafadhali' (please) or 'hasa' (exactly) can soften or clarify the tone.
cultural usage
