Semantic extension of the verb kula ‘eat’ in Swahili

This paper examines the semantic extension of the verb kula’eat’ in Kiswahili. It surveys the different meanings produced when this verb co-occurs with other words in Kiswahili. It shows how the verb kula ‘eat’ is used metaphorically. The study is guided by Conceptual Metaphor Theory. The study employed secondary data from newspapers and selected books. The findings of the study indicated that the verb kula co-occurs with different complements to produce various meanings, such as getting something valuable, enjoying, acquiring knowledge, memorising, and sexual intercourse, among others. These extended meanings occur in different semantic classifications such as punishments, intensive negative experiences, disasters, destruction, knowledge acquisition, gender and sexuality. The study indicated that the verb kula in Kiswahili is so productive that its co-occurrence with other words can cover many more meanings that different verbs could express. It is concluded that the various interpretations of co-occurrences of kula with other words are triggered by its basic meaning and daily cultural practices among the Swahili community in the daily interaction.