kutana

Kutana is a Swahili verb meaning to meet or encounter. It is used to describe two or more people coming together or coming upon something, whether by arrangement or by chance. The infinitive kutana is used with subject concords and tense markers like other Swahili verbs, and it commonly appears with na to indicate meeting with someone.

Usage of kutana often centers on interactions between people. For example, it can express meetings that are planned or casual, as well as encounters with situations or places. In practical sentences, the verb is combined with different tense forms to indicate time, and with na to specify the other party in the meeting.

Examples of usage include: “Ninakutana na rafiki yangu kila Ijumaa” meaning I meet my friend every Friday; “Tulikutana jana” meaning we met yesterday; “Tutakutana kesho” meaning we will meet tomorrow.

Geographic and linguistic context: Kutana is widely used across Swahili-speaking regions in East Africa, including Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, and parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is a standard verb in the Swahili lexicon and exemplifies how Swahili verbs form meanings of social interaction through fixed infinitives plus affixes for tense and agreement.