yaani
yah-AH-nee
How to say it
Swahiliyaaniyah-AH-nee
Englishthat is, namely, I mean
Frenchc'est-à-dire, à savoir
Meaning
Introduces an explanation or a clearer way of saying what has just been said.
Good to know
Placed between the two parts it links: mji mkuu, yaani Dodoma, the capital, that is, Dodoma. In speech it is also a filler meaning 'I mean' or 'really'. It comes from Arabic.
Examples
- Nitakuja siku ya mapumziko, yaani Jumamosi.I will come on the day off, that is, Saturday.
- Yaani hujui hata jina lake?You mean you don't even know his name?
- Tulikuwa watu wanne, yaani mimi, kaka na dada zangu wawili.There were four of us, namely me, my brother and my two sisters.
The same word in
Not yet checked by a native speaker.