Swahili Grammar

Classes 1 to 10

	Class
	m(w)- wa-		m(w)- mi-		(ji-) ma-		ki(ch)- vi(vy)-		n
	sing.	plural	sing.	plural	sing.	plural	sing.	plural	sing.	plural
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
example word	mtu	watu	mti	miti	duka	maduka	kitu	vitu	nyumba	nyumba
verb subject prefix duka linafungua the shop opens	ni- u- a-	tu- m(w) wa-	u-	i-	li-	ya-	ki-	vi-	i-	zi-
verb subject prefix (negative) the shop doesn’t open duka halifungui	si- hu- ha-	hatu- ham(w)- hawa-	hau-	hai-	hali-	haya-	haki-	havi-	hai-	hazi-
verb object infix I hit the chair ninakipiga kiti	-ni- -ku- -m(w)-	-tu- -wa- -wa-	-u-	-i-	-li-	-ya-	-ki-	-vi-	-i-	-zi-
He is here / It is here	nipo upo yupo	tupo mpo wapo	upo	ipo	lipo	yapo	kipo	vipo	ipo	zipo
this/these	huyu	hawa	huu	hii	hili	haya	hiki	hivi	hii	hizi
that/those	yule	wale	ule	ile	lile	yale	kile	vile	ile	zile
Class	m(w)- wa-		m(w)- mi-		(ji-) ma-		ki(ch)- vi(vy)-		n
adjective prefix -zuri uso mzuri a beautiful face	mzuri	wazuri	mzuri	mizuri	zuri	mazuri	kizuri	vizuri	nzuri	nzuri
adjective prefix -eupe jino jeupe a white tooth	mweupe	weupe	mweupe	myeupe	jeupe	meupe	cheupe	vyeupe	nyeupe	nyeupe
-enye (having/possessing) mtu mwenye kofia the man with the hat	mwenye	wenye	wenye	yenye	lenye	yenye	chenye	vyenye	yenye	zenye
-ote (all) kula chakula chote eat all the food	yote	wote	wote	yote	lote	yote	chote	vyote	yote	zote
-ingine (another) mtu mwingine someone else	mwingine	wengine	mwingine	mingine	lingine	mengine	kingine	vingine	nyingine	nyingine
possessive (mine) mtoto wangu my child	wangu	wangu	wangu	yangu	langu	yangu	changu	vyangu	yangu	zangu
of jina la Baba (name of father)	wa	wa	wa	ya	la	ya	cha	vya	ya	za
relative infix kitu kinachobaki (the thing which remains)	-ye-	-o-	-o-	-yo-	-lo-	-yo-	-cho-	-vyo-	-yo-	-zo-
numbers one two	mmoja	wawili	mmoja	miwili	moja	mawili	kimoja	viwili	moja	mbili

Classes 10 to 18

	Class
	u		ku	locative
	sing.	plural	infinitive
	11 /14	(as class 10)	15	16	17	18
example word	uso uzuri	nyuso	kusoma	mahali	nchini	moyoni
verb subject prefix nchini kuna milima there is a mountain in the country	u-	zi-	ku-	pa-	ku-	m(w)-
verb subject prefix (negative) hakuna sukari dukani there isn't any sugar in the shop	hau-	hazi-	haku- (kuto-)	hapa-	haku-	ham-
verb object infix I love the place ninapapenda	-u-	-zi-	-ku-	-pa-	-ku-	-m(w)-
He is here / It is here	upo	zipo	kupo	papo	kuko	mumo
this/these	huu	hizi	huku	hapa	huku	humu
that/those	ule	zile	kule	pale	kule	mle
Class	11 /14	(as class 10)	15	16	17	18
adjective prefix -zuri uso mzuri a beautiful face	mzuri	nuzuri	kuzuri	pazuri	kuzuri	mzuri
adjective prefix -eupe uso mweupe a white face	mweupe	nyeupe	kweupe	peupe	kweupe	mweupe
-enye (having/possessing) *mahali penye* miti mirefu the place with the tall trees**	wenye	zenye	kwenye	penye	kwenye	mwenye
-ote (all) mahili pote all places	wote	zote	kote	pote	kote	mwote
-ingine (another) sehemu pengine somewhere else	mwingine	nyingine	kwingine	pengine	kwingine	mwingine
possessive (mine) nyumbani kwangu (in) my home	wangu	zangu	kwangu	pangu	kwangu	mwangu
of uzuri wa Baba (the goodness of father)	wa	za	kwa	pa	kwa	mwa
relative infix uzuri unaobaki *(the goodness which* remains)**	-o-	-zo-	-ko-	-po-	-ko-	-mo-
numbers one two	mmoja	mbili

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