Noun Classes [ngeli za Kiswahili] |
| Nouns in Kiswahili are grouped into various noun classes because of two main reasons: 1.their characteristics as a noun 2.Kiswahili’s vowel harmony There are 9 noun classes in Kiswahili. Each noun class has both a singular and a plural form, to make 18 total. |
M ‐ WA [A ‐ WA]
KI ‐ VI [KI ‐ VI]
M ‐ MI [U ‐ I]
JI ‐ MA [LI ‐ YA]
N ‐ N [I ‐ ZI]
U ‐ U[U ‐ ZI]KU ‐ KU [KU ‐ KU]
PA ‐ PA [PA ‐ PA]
MU ‐ MU [MU ‐ MU]
Noun Classes
M ‐ WA
| M ‐ WA KI ‐ VI M ‐ MI JI ‐ MA N ‐ N U ‐ U U ‐ U KU ‐ KU PA ‐ PA MU ‐ MU | [A ‐ WA][KI ‐ VI] [U ‐ I] [LI ‐ YA] [I ‐ ZI] [U ‐ ZI] [U ‐ U] [KU ‐ KU] [PA ‐ PA] [MU ‐ MU] |
This noun class has the following nouns:
A). nouns of people that start with M‐ in singular and WA‐ in plural
B). other nouns of people
C). wanyama [animals]
D). ndege [birds]
E). wadudu [insects]
F). samaki [fish]
| A). Nouns of people that start with M‐ in singular and WA‐ in plural |
| mtoto/watoto [child/children] mgeni/wageni [visitor/visitors] mfaransa/wafaransa [French person/French people] mjomba/wajomba [uncle/uncle] mke/wake [wife/wives] mkulima/wakulima [farmer/farmers] mpishi/wapishi [cook/cooks] msichana/wasichana [girl/girls] mtu/watu [person/people] mume/waume [husband/husbands] mvulana/wavulana [boy/boys] mzee/wazee [elder/elders] mzungu/wazungu [white person /white people] mjerumani/wajerumani [German person/German people] mwanamume/wanaume [man/men] mwanamke/wanawake [woman/women] mwalimu/walimu [teacher/teachers] mwanafunzi/wanafunzi [student/students] mwafrika/waafrika[African person/African people]mpwa / wapwa[niece / nieces / nephew / nephews] |
| B). Other nouns of people |
| baba/baba [father/fathers] babu/babu [grandfather/grandfathers] dada/dada [sister/sisters] kaka/kaka [brother/brothers] mama/mama [mother/mothers] nyanya/nyanya [grandmother/grandmothers] rafiki/rafiki [friend/friends] shangazi/shangazi [aunt/aunts] kipofu/vipofu [blind person/blind people] kiziwi/viziwi[deaf person/deaf people] mwamu / mwamu[uncle / uncles (paternal)] kijana / vijana[youth / youths]amu / amu[sister-in-law/brother-in-law/sister-in-laws/brother-in-laws] |
| C). Wanyama [animals] |
| mbwa/mbwa [dog/dogs] paka/paka [cat/cats] ng’ombe/ng’ombe [cow/cows] simba/simba [lion/lions] ndovu/ndovu[elephant/elephants]kifaru / vifaru [rhinoceros / rhinoceroses]mbewha / mbweha [fox / foxes / jackal / jackals]dubu / dubu [bear / bears]duma / duma [cheetah / cheetahs]chui / chui [leopard / leopards]kondoo / kondoo [sheep / sheep]punda milia / punda milia [zebra / zebras]panya / panya[rat / rats] |
| D). Ndege [birds] |
| kuku/kuku [hen / hens] kasuku/kasuku [parrot / parrots] tai/tai [eagle / eagles] bata mzinga/bata mzinga mwewe / mwewe kunguru / kunguru kipanga / vipanga dudumizi / dudumizi mbuni / mbuni kurumbiza / kurumbiza bata / bata shakwe / shakwe sigi / sigi pugi / pugi njiwa / njiwa kanga / kanga koho / koho korongo / korongo kitaroharo / vitaroharo furukombe / furukombe mnandi / minandi kengewa / kengewa mbayuwayu /mbayuwayu [turkey / turkeys] [kite / kites] [crow / crows] [hawk / hawks] [coucal / coucals] [ostrich / ostriches] [robin / robins] [duck / ducks] [gull / gulls] [small, brown, shortailed bird(s)] [dove / doves] [pigeon / pigeons] [guinea fowl / guinea fowls] [osprey / ospreys] [stork / storks / crane /cranes ] [shikra / shikras] [African fish eagle / African fish eagles] [cormorant / cormorants] [African kite / African kites] [swallow / swallows] |
batabukini / batabukini
batamwitu / batamwitu
[Madagascar turkey / Madagascar turkeys]
[wild turkey / wild turkey]
| E). Wadudu [insects] |
| nyuki/nyuki [bee/bees] mbu/mbu [mosquito/mosquitoes] nzi/nzi nyigu/nyigu duduvule/maduduvule buibui/buibui kunguni/kunguni mbung’o/mbung’o kiroboto/viroboto kupe / kupe vunjajungu/vunjajungu mchwa/mchwa kumbikumbi/kumbikumbi nyenze/nyenze chawa/chawa nzige/nzige kipepeo/vipepeo nondo/nondo sisimizi/sisimizi nge/nge [fly/flies] [wasp/wasps] [carpenter bee / carpenter bees] [spider / spiders] [bedbug / bedbugs] [tsetse fly / tsetse flies] [flea / fleas] [tick / ticks] [praying mantis / praying mantises] [termite / termites] [flying ant / flying ants] [cricket / crickets] [louse / lice] [locust / locusts] [butterfly / butterflies] [moth / moths] [small black ant / small black ants] [scorpion / scorpions] |
| F). Samaki [fish] |
| ngege/ngege [tilapia/tilapia] papa/papa nyangumi/nyangumi dagaa/dagaa ngisi/ngisi mkunga/mikunga kamongo/kamongo pomboo/pomboo pweza / pweza kambare / kambare nguru / nguru changu / changu chuchunge / chuchunge sangara / sangara [shark/sharks] [whale/whales] [sardine/sardines] [cuttlefish/cuttlefish] [eel/eels] [gilled lungfish / gilled lungfish] [dolphin / dolphins] [squid / squids] [catfish / catfish] [kingfish / kingfish] [snapper / snappers] [swordfish / swordfish] [Nile perch / Nile perch] |
pono / pono [parrot fish / parrot fish]
| Zingatia [Note] |
| When using a verb, this noun class uses A- in singular and WA- in plural for sentence formation. |
Sentence Formation |
| Mifano: |
| 1. Mwanafunzi anasoma. [The student is reading.]Wanafunzi wanasoma. [The students are reading.] 2. Mwalimu anaimba. [The teacher is singing.]Walimuwanaimba. [The teachers are singing.] 3. Rafiki alikuja nyumbani. [The friend came home.] Rafiki walikuja nyumbani. [The friends came home.] 4. Mama anapika kuku. [The mother is cooking chicken.] Mama wanapika kuku. [The mothers are cooking chicken.] |
KI ‐ VI
| M ‐ WA M ‐ MI JI ‐ MA N ‐ N U ‐ U U ‐ U KU ‐ KU PA ‐ PA MU ‐ MU | [A ‐ WA] [U ‐ I] [LI ‐ YA] [I ‐ ZI] [U ‐ ZI] [U ‐ U] [KU ‐ KU] [PA ‐ PA] [MU ‐ MU] |
This noun class has the following nouns:
A). nouns that take KI‐ in singular and VI‐ in plural
B). nouns that take CH‐ in singular and VY‐ in plural
C). body parts [sehemu za mwili]
D). names of languages [majina ya lugha]
E). Diminutives [hali ya udogo]
F). words that take KI‐ in both singular and plural
G). words that take VI‐ in both singular and plural
| A). Nouns that take KI‐ in singular and VI‐ in plural |
| kiti/viti [chair/chairs] kitabu/vitabu [book/books] kiatu/viatu [shoe/shoes] kisu/visu [knife/knives] kikombe/vikombe [cup/cups] kilima/vilima [hill/hills] kisiwa/visiwa [island/islands] kiazi/viazi [potato/potatoes] kitunguu/vitunguu [onion/onions] kitu/vitu [thing/things] kitanda/vitanda [bed/beds] kioo/vyoo [mirror/mirrors] kiberiti/viberiti [match/matches] |
| B). Nouns that take CH‐ in singular and VY‐ in plural |
| chuo/vyuo [school/schools; college/colleges] choo/vyoo [restroom/restrooms] chakula/vyakula [food/foods] chumba/vyumba [room/rooms] cheti/vyeti [certificate/certificates] chama/vyama [party/parties; association/associations] chuma/vyuma [iron/irons] chombo/vyombo [container/containers; utensil/utensils] cheo/vyeo [rank/ranks]chama/vyama [society/club/group/association]chengo/vyengo[house / houses] |
| C). Body Parts [sehemu za mwili] |
| kichwa/vichwa [head/heads] kiuno/viuno [waist/waists] kifua/vifua [chest/chests] kidole/vidole[finger/fingers] kisogo / visogo[back part of the head] kitovu /vitovu[navel / navels]kiwiko / viwiko[ankle / ankles; wrist / wrists]] kisigino / visigino[heel / heels] kibofu / vibofu[bladder / bladders] |
| D). Names of Languages [majina ya lugha] |
| Kiarabu [Arabic] Kifaransa [French] Kiingereza [English] Kichina [Chinese] Kijapani[Japanese] Kijerumani[German] Kireno[Portuguese] |
| E). Diminutives [Hali ya udogo] |
| kitoto / vitoto [a little child / little children] kijibwa / vijibwa [a little dog / little dogs] kibuzi / vibuzi [a small goat / small goats] kilima / vilima [hill / hills] kijitanda / vijitanda[a small bed / small beds] kivulana / vivulana[a small boy / small boys] kisichana / visichana[a small girl / small girls] kijiatu/vijiatu[a small shoe/ small shoes] kijitu/vijitu[a small giant/small giant] kisitu/visitu[a small forest/small forests] kijumba/vijumba[a small house/small houses] kiguu/viguu[a small leg/ small legs] |
| Zingatia [Note] |
| When using a verb, this noun class uses KI- in singular and VI- in plural for sentence formation. |
Sentence Formation |
| Mifano: |
| 1. Kichwa kinauma. [The head is hurting.]Vichwa vinauma. [The heads are hurting.] |
2. Kiti kilivunjwa. [The chair was broken.]Viti vilivunjwa. [The chairs were broken.]
3. Chuo kimefungwa. [The school has been closed.]Vyuo vimefungwa. [The schools have been closed.]
4. Chakula kitapikwa. [The food will be cooked.]Vyakula vitapikwa. [The foods will be cooked.]
| F). words that take KI‐ in both singular and plural |
| kiu / kiu [thirst] kiasi / kiasi [moderate / modicum] kimya / kimya [quiet] |
Sentence Formation |
| Mifano: |
| 1. Kimya chake kilinitisha. [His quietness scared me.] 2. Kiu changu kimepungua. [My thirst has waned / reduced.] |
| G). words that take VI‐ in both singular and plural |
| vita / vita [war / wars] vifijo / vifijo [ululation] vitimbi / vitimbi [drama] |
Sentence Formation |
| Mifano: |
| 1. Vita viko katika nchi ya Iraq. [There is war in Iraq] 2. Kuna vifijo katika Kansas Union.There are ululations at the Kansas Union. 3. Juma ana vitimbi vingi maishani. Juma has a lot of drama in his life. |
M ‐ MI
| M ‐ WA KI ‐ VI M ‐ MI JI ‐ MA N ‐ N U ‐ U U ‐ U KU ‐ KU PA ‐ PA MU ‐ MU | [A ‐ WA] [KI ‐ VI][U ‐ I][LI ‐ YA] [I ‐ ZI] [U ‐ ZI] [U ‐ U] [KU ‐ KU] [PA ‐ PA] [MU ‐ MU] |
This noun class has the following nouns:
A). majina ya miti [names of trees]
B). majina ya mimea [names of plants]
C). sehemu za mwili [body parts]
D). nouns that take M‐ in singular and MI‐ in plural
E). radicals that start with a vowel:
i. nouns that take MW‐ in singular and MI‐ in plural
ii. particular cases: singular prefix MU‐
F). nouns that take MI‐ in both singular and plural
| A). Majina ya miti [names of trees] |
| mti/miti [tree/trees] mnazi/minazi [coconut tree/coconut trees] mchungwa/michungwa [orange tree/orange trees] mwembe/miembe [mango tree/mango trees] mtofaa/mitofaa [apple tree/apple trees] mpapai/mipapai [papaya tree/papaya trees] mndimu/mindimu [lime tree/lime trees] mpera/mipera [guava tree/guava trees] mgomba/migomba [banana tree/banana trees] |
| B). Majina ya mimea [names of plants] |
| mmea/mimea [plant/plants] |
| C). Sehemu za mwili [body parts] |
| mdomo/midomo [mouth/mouths] mkono/mikono [hand/hands] mguu/miguu [leg/legs] mfupa/mifupa [bone/bones] mgongo/migongo [back/backs] moyo/mioyo [heart/hearts] mwili/miili mfupa / mifupa [body/bodies] [bone / bones] |
| D). Nouns that take M‐ in singular and MI‐ in plural |
| mfano/mifano [example/examples] mji/miji [city/cities] mkoba/mikoba [bag/bags] mfuko/mifuko [bag/bags] mlango/milango [door/doors] mtihani/mitihani [exam/exams] mjarabu/mijarabu [test/tests] mlima/milima [mountain/mountains] mpira/mipira [ball/balls] mkate/mikate [bread/breads] mto/mito [river/rivers] |
mchezo/michezo [game/games]
moto/mioto [fire/fires]
mskiti/misikiti [mosque/mosques]
msitu/misitu [forest/forests]
mswaki/miswaki [toothbrush/toothbrushes]
mto/mito [river/rivers, pillow/pillows]
E). Radicals that start with a vowel:
i. nouns that take MW- in singular and MI- in pluralmwaka/miaka [year/years]
mwavuli/miavuli [umbrella/umbrellas]
mwezi/miezi [month/months]
mwiba/miiba [thorn/thorns]
mwisho/miisho [end/ ends]
ii. particular cases: singular prefix MUmuhindi/mihindi [corn]
muhogo/mihogo [cassava/cassavas]
muwa/miwa [sugarcane]
| Zingatia [Note] |
| When using a verb, this noun class uses U- in singular and I- in plural for sentence formation. |
Sentence Formation |
| Mifano: |
| 1. Mti ulianguka. [The tree fell.]Miti ilianguka. [The trees fell.] 2. Mkono unauma. [The hand hurts.]Mikono inauma. [The hands hurt.] 3. Mkoba umeoshwa. [The bag has been washed.]Mikoba imeoshwa. [The bags have been washed.] |
| D). Nouns that take MI‐ in singular and plural |
| mizani / mizani [weight / weights] miwani / miwani [glass / glasses; syllable / syllables] miraa / miraa [Khat (a stimulant plant)] |
Sentence Formation |
| Mifano: |
| 1. Miwani imeanguka. [The glass has fallen.]Miwani imeanguka. [The glasses have fallen.] 2. Miraa imefika. [The khat has arrived.]Miraa imefika. [The khat has arrived.] |
JI – MA
| M ‐ WA KI ‐ VI M ‐ MI U ‐ U U ‐ U KU ‐ KU PA ‐ PA MU ‐ MU | [A ‐ WA] [KI ‐ VI] [U ‐ I] [U ‐ ZI] [U ‐ U] [KU ‐ KU] [PA ‐ PA] [MU ‐ MU] |
Nouns in this class can start with any letter in their singular form but their
plural forms must take MA‐.
This noun class has the following nouns:
A). manufactured products, natural or built places, abstract or concrete
concepts
B). sehemu za mwili [parts of the body]
C). matunda na vitu vya kawaida [fruits and natural objects]
D). majina ya vitu ambavyo havihesabiki [These nouns exist only in the plural
form and are things which cannot be counted. They take MA‐ in both singular and plural form]
E). majina ya ukubwa [augmentatives]
F). majina ya vitu visiyobadilika katika umoja na wingi [Nouns that do not
change in plural or singular forms. In sentence formation they take LI‐ in
both singular and plural forms.]
| A). Manufactured products, natural or built places,abstract or concrete concepts |
| Manufactured products:blanketi/mablanketi [blanket/blankets] dirisha/madirisha [window/windows] gari/magari [car/cars] gazeti/magazeti [newspaper/newspapers] godoro/magodoro [mattress/mattresses] sanduku/masanduku [box/boxes] jiko/meko[gas cooker/gas cookers] dawati/madawati[desk/desks]Natural or Built places:baraza/mabaraza [veranda/verandas] daraja/madaraja [bridge/bridges] duka/maduka [shop/shops] shamba/mashamba [farm/farms] soko/masoko [market/markets] ziwa/maziwa [lake/lakes] jimbo/majimbo [state/states] Abstract or Concrete concepts:jina/majina [name/names] kosa/makosa [mistake/mistakes] neno/maneno [word/words] jambo/mambo [issue/issues] jiwe/mawe [stone/stones] somo/masomo [subject/subjects; lesson/lessons] wazo/mawazo [thought/thoughts] jibu/majibu [answer/answers] swali/maswali [question/questions] jukumu/majukumu [responsibility/responsibilities] juma/majuma [week/weeks] |
| B). Sehemu za mwili [parts of the body] |
| jicho/macho [eye/eyes] jino/meno [tooth/teeth] bega/mabega [shoulder/shoulders] goti/magoti [knee/knees] sikio/masikio [ear/ears] tumbo/matumbo [stomach/bowels] paja/mapaja [thigh/thighs] |
| C). Matunda na vitu vya kawaida[fruits and natural objects] |
| Fruits:chungwa/machungwa [orange/oranges] embe/maembe [mango/mangoes] limau/malimau [lemon/lemons] nanasi/mananasi [pineapple/pineapples] papai/mapapai [pawpaw/pawpaws] dafu/madafu [coconut/coconuts (with milk)] tofaa/matofaa tunda / matunda [apple/apples] [fruit / fruits]Natural Objects:jani/majani [leaf/leaves] yai/mayai [egg/eggs] rinda/marinda [dress/dresses] |
| D). Majina ya vitu ambavyo havihesabiki [nouns of things that cannot be counted, which exist only in the plural form] |
| maji/maji [water] mafuta/mafuta [oil] maharagwe/maharagwe [beans] mahindi/mahindi [corn] mali/mali [wealth] |
maafa/maafa [misfortune]
matata/matata
mazingira/mazingira
makala/makala
maskani/maskani
mate/mate
marashi/marashi
mazungumzo/mazungumzo
maadili/maadili
maarifa/maarifa
mamlaka/mamlaka
mahaba/mahaba
malazi/malazi
[problems]
[environment]
[articles]
[residence]
[saliva]
[cologne]
[conversation]
[morality]
[knowledge]
[power/authority]
[love]
[beddings]
| E). majina ya ukubwa [augmentatives] |
| lango/malango [big door/big doors] toto/matoto [big child/ big children] jibwa/majibwa [big dog/ big dogs] gombe/magombe [big cow/ big cows] jitu/majitu [giant/giants] dizi/madizi guu/maguu [big banana/ big bananas] [big leg/ big legs] fupa/mafupa jike/majike nguo/guo nguruwe/guruwe ndovu/dovu ndege/dege ndizi/dizi njia/jia mbuzi/buzi mlima/lima mkoba/koba mkono/kono chumba/jumba uso/juso kichwa/jichwa kisu/jisu kiatu/jiatu kikombe/jikombe kidole/jidole [big bone/ big bones] [big woman/ big women] [big cloth/ big clothes] [big pig/big pigs] [big elephant/ big elephants] [big bird/ big birds] [big banana/ big bananas] [big road/ big roads] [big goat/ big goats] [big mountain/ big mountains] [big bag/ big bags] [big hand/ big hands] [big room/ big rooms] [big face/ big faces] [big head/ big heads] [big knife/ big knives] [big shoe/ big shoes] [big cup/ big cups] [big finger/ big fingers] |
mwana/jana [big child/ big children]
| wingi [Nouns that do not change in plural or singular forms.] F). In sentence formation this class takes LI- in both singular and plural. |
| giza/giza [darkness] jua/jua [sun] joto/joto [heat/warmth] jasho/jasho [sweat] gubu/gubu [commotion] gugumo/gugumo lepe/lepe [body odor] [drowsiness] |
majina ya vitu visiyobadilika katika umoja na
| Zingatia [Note] |
| When using a verb, this noun class uses LI- in singular and YA- in plural for sentence formation. |
Sentence Formation |
| Mifano: |
| 1. Chungwa limenunuliwa. [The orange has been bought.]Machungwa yamenunuliwa. [The oranges have been bought.] 2. Gari limefika. [The car has arrived.]Magari yamefika. [The cars have arrived.] 3. Jicho linauma. [The eye hurts.]Macho yanauma. [The eyes hurt.] 4. Maji yamemwangika. [The water has been poured.]Maji yamemwangika. 5. Mazingira yanapendeza.Mazingira yanapendeza. 6. Mafuta yatanunuliwa kesho.Mafuta yatanunuliwa kesho. [The water has been poured.] [The environment is attractive.] [The environment is attractive.] [Oil will be bought tomorrow.] [Oil will be bought tomorrow.] |
7. Goti langu limeumia.Magoti yangu yameumia.
8. Toto langu linalala.Matoto yangu yanalala.
9. Giza limeingia.
Giza limeingia.
10.Jua limetua.
Jua limetua.
11.Jasho linatoka.
Jasho linatoka.
[My knee has been hurt.]
[My knees have been hurt.]
[My child is sleeping.]
[My children are sleeping.]
[Darkness has set in.]
[Darkness has set in.]
[The sun has set.]
[The sun has set.]
[The sweat is coming out.]
[The sweat is coming out.]
Noun Classes
N ‐ N
| M ‐ WA KI ‐ VI M ‐ MI JI ‐ MA U ‐ U KU ‐ KU PA ‐ PA MU ‐ MU | [A ‐ WA] [KI ‐ VI] [U ‐ I] [LI ‐ YA] [U ‐ U] [KU ‐ KU] [PA ‐ PA] [MU ‐ MU] |
This noun class is the broadest noun class and has the following nouns:
A). Manufactured products, natural or built places, abstract or concrete
concepts
B). Foods, fruits, and vegetables
The N‐N noun class has many noun words borrowed from English. It contains
some nouns which start with the prefix N‐ although several nouns in this class
do not. These nouns are written identically in singular and plural forms.
| A). Manufactured products, natural or built places,abstract or concrete concepts |
| Manufactured objects:barua/barua [letter/letters] chupa/chupa [bottle/bottles] dawa/dawa [drug/drugs; medicine/medicines] kalamu/kalamu [pen/pens] karatasi/karatasi [paper/papers] ngoma/ngoma [drum/drums] sabuni/sabuni [soap/soaps] sahani/sahani [plate/plates] sufuria/sufuria [pan/pans] suruali/suruali [trouser/trousers] chaki/chaki [chalk/chalk] dola/dola [dollar/dollars] kompyuta/kompyuta [computer/computers] nguo/nguo [cloth/cloths] soksi/soksi [sock/socks] shilingi/shilingi [shilling/shillings] meza/meza [table/tables] taa/taa [light/lights] senti/senti [cent/cents] nyumba/nyumba sakafu/sakafu karata/karata shule/shule kofia/kofia redio/redio hospitali/hospitali picha/picha pesa/pesa motokaa/motokaa sufuria/sufuria [house/houses] [floor/floors] [card/cards] [school/schools] [hat/hats] [radio/radios] [hospital/hospitals] [picture/pictures] [money] [car/car] [cooking pot/cooking pots]Nature:ardhi/ardhi [earth; ground] bahari/bahari [sea] baridi/baridi [cold] |
barafu/barafu [ice]
hewa/hewa [air; atmosphere]
nuru/nuru [light]
mvua/mvua [rain]
njia/njia [way]
bandari/bandari [harbor]
barabara/barabara [road]
nchi/nchi
damu/damu
siku/siku
[country]
[blood]
[day/days]Abstract concepts:ajali/ajali [accident/accidents]
bahati/bahati [luck/lucks]
furaha/furaha [joy/joys]
hasara/hasara [loss/losses]
hatari/hatari [danger/dangers]
huzuni/huzuni [sadness]
nguvu/nguvu [strength/strengths]
shida/shida [problem/problems]
thamani/thamani [value/values]
dakika/dakika [minute/minutes]
sifa/sifa [praise/praises; reputation/reputations]
ndoto/ndoto [dream/dreams]
shughuli/shughuli
huruma/huruma
harufu/harufu
[business/businesses]
[mercy/mercies]
[smell/smells]
| B). Foods, fruits, and vegetables |
| chai/chai [tea/teas] chumvi/chumvi [salt/salts] kahawa/kahawa [coffee/coffees] mboga/mboga [vegetable/vegetables] nazi/nazi [coconut/coconuts] ndizi/ndizi [banana/bananas] nyama/nyama [meat/meats] pilipili/pilipili [pepper/peppers] siagi/siagi [butter; margarine] |
sukari/sukari [sugar/sugars]
njugu/njugu [peanut/peanuts]
| Zingatia [Note] |
| When using a verb, this noun class uses I- in singular and ZI- in plural for sentence formation. |
Sentence Formation |
| Mifano: |
| 1. Kalamu imeanguka. [The pen has fallen.] Kalamu zimeanguka. [The pens have fallen.] 2. Njia imefungwa. [The way has been closed.] Njia zimefungwa. [The ways have been closed.] 3. Sahani ilipotea. [The plate got lost.] Sahani zilipotea. [The plates got lost.] |
U ‐ U
| M ‐ WA KI ‐ VI M ‐ MI JI ‐ MA N ‐ N U ‐ U PA ‐ PA MU ‐ MU | [A ‐ WA] [KI ‐ VI] [U ‐ I] [LI ‐ YA] [I ‐ ZI] [U ‐ U] [PA ‐ PA] [MU ‐ MU] |
This noun class has the following nouns:
A). concrete nouns with various plurals
B). uncountable nouns, with no plural form
C). nouns that are mostly formed from adjectives, nominals, or verbal roots
D). names of countries
| A). Concrete nouns with various plurals |
| U - NY:uso/nyuso [face/faces] uzi/nyuzi [thread/threads] ua/nyua [courtyard/courtyards] ufa/nyufa [crack/cracks] uma/nyuma [fork/forks] U - ND:ulimi/ndimi [tongue/tongues] udevu/ndevu [beard/beards] U - MB:ubao/mbao [board/boards] ubavu/mbavu [rib/ribs] ubawa/mbawa [wing/wings] U - Ø:unywele/nywele [one hair/hair] ufunguo/funguo [key/keys] ukuta/kuta [wall/walls] upande/pande [side/sides] uvumbi/vumbi [grain of dust/dust] upanga/panga [machete/machetes] upepo/pepo [wind/winds] W - NY:wakati/nyakati [time/times] wembe/nyembe [razor blade/razor blades] wimbo/nyimbo [song/songs] |
| B). Uncountable nouns, with no plural form |
| Nouns in this category remain the same in both singular and plural sentence formation when using a verb(s). |
| udongo/udongo [soil; ground] ugali/ugali [corn paste] uji/uji [porridge] |
ulimwengu/ulimwengu [world]
umeme/umeme [electricity]
umri/umri [age]
unga/unga [flour]
usingizi/usingizi [sleep]
uwongo/uwongo[a lie]
ubwabwa/ubwabwa[rice gruel porridge]
uyoga/uyoga[mushroom/mushrooms]
ufuta/ufuta[sesame seed/sesame seeds]
ukungu/ukungu[fog/mist/dampness]
ulimbi/ulimbi[glue/glues]ushuru/ushuru[tax/taxes]
UKIMWI/UKIMWI[AIDS]
uboho/uboho[brain/bone marrow]
usaha/usaha[pus]
| C). Nouns that are mostly formed from adjectives,nominals, or verbal roots |
| Nouns in this category remain the same in both singular and plural sentence formation when using a verb(s). |
| Nominal roots: NOUN - NOUNjamaa - ujamaa [group of people - community] kijana - ujana [young person - young age] mzee - uzee [old person - old age] maskini - umaskini [poor person - poverty] mchawi - uchawi [witch - witchcraft] mfalme - ufalme [king - kingdom] mtoto - utoto [child - childhood]Verbal roots: VERB - NOUNkuiba - uwizi [to steal - theft] kukosa - ukosefu [to miss - deficiency] kupenda - upendo [to love - love] kuweza - uwezo [to be able - capacity] kusahau - usahaulifu [to forget - forgetfulness] |
Mifano zaidiulafi [greediness]
uhodari [smartness]
ubaya [badness]
umoja [unity]
uchoyo[meanness]
ubora[goodness]
wizi[theft]
ufundi[expertise]
wema[kindness]
urafiki[friendship]
| D). Names of countries |
| Ufaransa [France] Uganda [Uganda] Uingereza [England] Ujerumani [Germany] Ureno [Portugal] Urusi [Russia] |
| Zingatia [Note] |
| When using a verb, this noun class uses U- in singular and ZI- in plural for sentence formation. However, uncountable nouns and nouns that are formed from adjectival, nominal, or verbal roots only use U-. |
Sentence Formation |
| Mifano: |
| 1. Ulimi unauma. [The tongue hurts.]Ndimi zinauma. [The tongues hurt.] 2. Ufunguo umepotea. [The key has been lost.] Funguo zimepotea. [The keys have been lost.] 3. Ubavu umevunjika. [The rib has broken.]Mbavu zimevunjika. [The ribs have broken.] 4. Ugali umepikwa. [The cornmeal has been cooked.]Ugali umepikwa. [The cornmeal has been cooked.] |
5. Upendo wao umesifika. [Their love has been praised.]Upendo wao umesifika. [Their love has been praised.]
No comments:
Post a Comment