1. Possessive Pronoun: "Wa" can be used as a possessive pronoun meaning "their" or "of them." It's similar to the English "their" and often precedes a noun.
* Example: "Nyumba wa watoto" = "The house of the children."
2. Plural Prefix: "Wa" can be used as a prefix for plural nouns, indicating a group of people. It's similar to the English "-s" or "-es" for plural nouns.
* Example: "Mtu" (person) becomes "Watu" (people)
* Example: "Mwalimu" (teacher) becomes "Waalimu" (teachers)
3. Connective: "Wa" can be used as a connective in some phrases, often indicating the recipient or beneficiary of an action.
* Example: "Nimekupa zawadi wa baba yako" = "I have given you a gift for your father."
4. Adverb: "Wa" can also function as an adverb, sometimes meaning "very" or "too." This is less common.
* Example: "Huyo mtu ni wa mzee" = "That person is too old."
It's important to note the context to determine the specific meaning of "wa." For example, the sentence "Waenda shule" could mean "They are going to school" (using "wa" as a plural prefix) or "The schoolgoers" (using "wa" as a possessive pronoun).