kupata

Kupata is a Swahili verb meaning to obtain, to get, or to find. It is transitive and takes a direct object, and it is used in many contexts to indicate acquiring something, receiving information, or finding opportunities. Common usages include kupata habari (to get news), kupata kazi (to obtain a job), and kupata maji (to fetch water). It can also express finding something by chance or coming into possession of something after effort.

Conjugation and usage overview: In the present tense the forms are ninapata, unapata, anapata, tunapata, mnapata, wanapata. The perfect forms include nimepata, umepata, ame‑pata, tumepata, mmetapata, wamepata. The future forms are nitapata, utapata, atapata, tutapata, mtapata, watapata. The conditional is ningepata (I would obtain). Negation in the present tense uses the standard Swahili negation system with si-, ha-, hu-, etc., for example sipata (I do not obtain) or hawapati (they do not obtain), depending on the subject.

Usage notes: Kupata is a fundamental verb in Swahili and appears in many idiomatic expressions and compound forms. It is widely used across Swahili-speaking regions such as Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The verb participates in common phrases related to information, opportunities, goods, and services, and it contrasts with related verbs like pata (to hit or to catch in some contexts) in certain fixed expressions.

Etymology and classification: Kupata derives from the Swahili infinitive kupata, itself built from the root pata, a Proto-Bantu root associated with obtaining or finding. In grammar it behaves as a regular Class 11 verb, with standard subject concords and tense markers.