Learn Swahili: Some noun classes

ABDULWAHID MAZRUI

Swahili Institute

M-WA NOUN CLASS

	Demonst rative	Possesive Pronouns	Adjectives	“a” of association	Subject Prefixes	Object Pronuons
Singular	Huyu Yule	w-* (y-)	m- (mw-*)	w-	Ni-  Si- u-    Hu- a-     Ha-	-ni- -ku- -m-
Plural	Hawa Wale	w-* (z-)	Wa- (w-*)	w-	Tu-  Hatu- m-    Ham- wa-  Hawa	-tu- -m- -wa-

M-WA   NOUN  CLASS

Mtu- watu

Mgeni- wageni

Mgonjwa- wagonjwa

Mpishi-wapishi

Mtoto –Watoto

Mzungu-Wazungu

Mfanyakazi – wafanyakazi

Mke-wake

Mtalii-Watalii

Msichana- Wasichana

Mvulana- Wavulana

Mdudu-Wadudu

Mnyama- Wanyama

Mwanafunzi- Wanafunzi

Mwalimu- Walimu

Mwenyeji- wenyeji

Mwizi- wezi

Mwanamke- wanawake

Mwanamume- wanaume

Baba

Mama

Ndugu

Kaka

Dada

Rafiki

Dereva

Daktari

MTOTO HUYU/WATOTO HAWA

MTOTO YULE/WATOTO WALE

POSSESIVES

-angu(my) – wangu

-ake(his/her- wake

-ako( your)- wako

-etu( our) – wetu

- enu(your plural)- wenu

-ao (their) wao

Huyu ni mwalimu wangu

JI- MA (LI-YA) NOUN CLASS

	Demonst rative	Possesive Pronouns	Adjectives	“a” of association	Subject Prefixes	Object Pronuons
Singular	Hili Lile	l-	(ji)-	la	li- (hali)	li
Plural	Haya Yale	y-	ma-	ya	ya- (haya)	ya

JI-MA  (LI-YA)NOUN  CLASS

Jicho- macho

Gari- magari

Jani- majani

Jina- majina

Goti-magoti

Duka- maduka

Tunda- matunda

Chungwa- machungwa

Yai- mayai

Darasa- madarasa

Jiwe- mawe

Maji- maji

Dirisha- madirisha

Jua-

Nanasi- mananasi

Papai-mapapai

Embe-maembe

Gari hili /Magari haya

Gari lile / Magari yale

Ninapenda yai la kuchemsha

Sipendi mayai ya kukaanga

POSSESIVES

-angu(my) – langu/yangu

-ako( your)- lako/yako

-ake(his/her- lake/yake

-etu( our) – letu/yetu

- enu(your plural)- lenu/yenu

-ao (their) lao/yao

Hili ni gari langu moja jipya

Haya ni magari yangu matatu mapya

Adjectives

Ghali

-bovu

-bichi

-bivu

More Adjectives.

-eupe

-ote

-ingine

M-MI NOUN CLASS

	Demonst rative	Possesive Pronouns	Adjectives	“a” of association	Subject Prefixes	Object Pronuons
Singular	Huu Ule	w-	m-	w-	u- (hau)	u
Plural	Hii Ile	y-	mi-	y-	i- (hai)	i

M-MI   NOUN  CLASS

Mti – Miti( tree)

Mchungwa

Mpapai

Mchezo- Michezo(game)

Mfereji- Mifereji(tap –in Zanzibar)(ditch in mainland)

Mfuko- Mifuko( a bag, pocket)

Mguu. Miguu( a leg, foot)

Mji- Miji( a town, city)

Mkate- Mikate

Mlango-Milango

Mlima

Muziki

Msikiti

MKATE HUU/MIKATE HII

MKATE ULE/MIKATE ILE

POSSESIVES

-angu(my) – wangu/yangu

-ako( your)- wako/yako

-ake(his/her- wake/yake

-etu( our) – wetu/yetu

- enu(your plural)- wenu/yenu

-ao (their) wao/yao

Huu ni mkate wangu mmoja mkubwa.

Hii ni makate yangu miwili mikubwa

-OTE(ALL/WHOLE)           mkate wote

                                                mikate yote

-INGI(MANY/A LOT)         milima mingi

-ingine

-enye

Adjectives

-kubwa

-dogo

N- (I-ZI)NOUN CLASS

	Demonst rative	Possesive Pronouns	Adjectives	“a” of association	Subject Prefixes	Object Pronuons
Singular	Hii Ile	y-	n- (ny)	ya	i- (hai)	-i-
Plural	Hizi Zile	z-	n- (ny)	za	zi- (hazi)	-zi-

N-  NOUN  CLASS

Suruali

Saa

Pua

Shingo

Nyumba

Email( barua pepe)

Kompyuta

Barua

Anuani

Sabuni

Meza

Bia

Chai

soda

rafiki

Nyumba hii / Nyumba hizi

Nyumba ile / Nyumba zile

Nyumba ya ghorofa

Nyumba za Marekani.

POSSESSIVES

-angu(my) – yangu/zangu

-ako( your)- yako/zako

-ake(his/her- yake/zake

-etu( our) –yetu/zetu

- enu(your plural)- yenu/zenu

-ao (their) yao/zao

Hii ni nyumba yangu moja kubwa

Hizi ni nyumba zangu tatu kubwa

Adjectives

-chafu

-baridi

KI-VI    NOUN CLASS

	Demonst rative	Possesive Pronouns	Adjectives	“a” of association	Subject Prefixes	Object Pronuons
Singular	Hiki Kile	Ch-	ki- (ch-)	cha	ki- (haki)	ki
Plural	Hivi Vile	Vy-	vi- (vy)	vya	vi- (havi)	vi

KI-VI   NOUN  CLASS

Kitabu

Kijiko

Kisima

Kiatu- viatu

Kiazi-viazi

Kiberiti-viberiti

Kichwa- vichwa

Kidole – Vidole

Kidonge- vidonge

Kijiji- vijiji

Kijiko- vijiko

Kikombe –vikombe

Kiswahili

Chumba

Chakula

Choo

Kioo

Kisu- visu

Kitanda- vitanda

Kitanda hiki ni changu/ Vitanda hivi ni vyetu

Kile ni kiazi kitamu /Vile ni viazi vitamu

Kikombe cha kahawa

Visahani vya chai

POSSESIVES

-angu(my) – changu/vyangu

-ako( your)- chako/vyako

-ake(his/her- chake/vyake

-etu( our) – chetu/vyetu

- enu(your plural)- chenu/vyenu

-ao (their) chao/vyao

Examples of agreement:

Hiki ni kitanda changu kizuri na kikubwa lakini hakina godoro

Viatu vyake ni vichafu na vinanuka