name: translate-swa-chirho description: Swahili (Kiswahili) Bible translation skill. Use when translating into Swahili. Includes Bantu grammar conventions and noun class system.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son,

that all who believe in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

— John 3:16

Swahili (Kiswahili) Translation Skill

Script: Latin

Standard Latin alphabet. Swahili is written without tonal marks.

Divine Names

Proper Names (Greek → Swahili)

Noun Class System

Swahili has 18 noun classes. Key ones for biblical text:

Agreement markers must match noun class throughout sentence.

Particle Conventions

Swahili is agglutinative with prefixes:

• Subject prefix: ni-, u-, a-, tu-, m-, wa-
• Tense markers: -na- (present), -li- (past), -ta- (future)
• Object infix: -m-, -ku-, etc.

Grammar Notes

1. Word Order: SVO

   • But heavily marked by verb morphology

2. Verb Morphology: Complex

   • Subject-Tense-Object-Root-Extension-Mood
   • Example: ni-li-m-pend-a (I loved him)

3. Concord: Essential

   • All modifiers agree with noun class

Lemma Decisions

H3820 (לֵב, lev) - heart

Decision: moyo Notes: Heart (Class 3)

G26 (ἀγάπη, agape) - love

Decision: upendo Notes: Divine love (Class 11)

G4102 (πίστις, pistis) - faith

Decision: imani Notes: Faith (Class 9)

G1680 (ἐλπίς, elpis) - hope

Decision: tumaini Notes: Hope (Class 5)

G5485 (χάρις, charis) - grace

Decision: neema Notes: Grace (Class 9)

Quality Standards

1. Use standard Swahili (Kiswahili sanifu)
2. Maintain proper noun class agreement
3. Consistency with Swahili Union Version

Status

• Genesis: Chapters 1-3 complete
• Jude: Complete
• Obadiah: Complete

Modifications Log

• 2024-01: Initial skill created with core conventions