Lesson 9:
Swahili Noun Classes
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
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]
Lesson 9a:
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]
M - WA [A - WA]
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
mgeni/wageni
mfaransa/wafaransa
mjomba/wajomba
mke/wake
mkulima/wakulima
mpishi/wapishi
msichana/wasichana
mtu/watu
mume/waume
mvulana/wavulana
mzee/wazee
mzungu/wazungu
mjerumani/wajerumani
mwanamume/wanaume
mwanamke/wanawake
mwalimu/walimu
mwanafunzi/wanafunzi
mwafrika/waafrika
[child/children]
[visitor/visitors]
[French person/French people]
[uncle/uncle]
[wife/wives]
[farmer/farmers]
[cook/cooks]
[girl/girls]
[person/people]
[husband/husbands]
[boy/boys]
[elder/elders]
[white man/white men]
[German person/German people]
[man/men]
[woman/women]
[teacher/teachers]
[student/students]
[African person/African people]
B). Other nouns of people
baba/baba
babu/babu
dada/dada
kaka/kaka
mama/mama
nyanya/nyanya
rafiki/rafiki
shangazi/shangazi
kipofu/vipofu
kiziwi/viziwi
[father/fathers]
[grandfather/grandfathers]
[sister/sisters]
[brother/brothers]
[mother/mothers]
[grandmother/grandmothers]
[friend/friends]
[aunt/aunts]
[blind person/blind people]
[deaf person/deaf people]
C). Wanyama [animals]
mbwa/mbwa
paka/paka
ng’ombe/ng’ombe
simba/simba
ndovu/ndovu
[dog/dogs]
[cat/cats]
[cow/cows]
[lion/lions]
[elephant/elephants]
D). Ndege [birds]
kuku/kuku
kasuku/kasuku
tai/tai
bata mzinga/bata mzinga
[hen/hens]
[parrot/parrots]
[eagle/eagles]
turkey/turkeys]
E). Wadudu [insects]
nyuki/nyuki
mbu/mbu
nzi/nzi
[bee/bees]
[mosquito/mosquitoes]
[fly/flies]
F). Samaki [fish]
ngege/ngege
papa/papa
[tilapia/tilapia]
[shark/sharks]
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.
Wanafunzi wanasoma.
2. Mwalimu anaimba.
Walimu wanaimba.
3. Rafiki alikuja nyumbani.
Rafiki walikuja nyumbani.
4. Mama anapika kuku.
[The student is reading.]
[The students are reading.]
[The teacher is singing.]
[The teachers are singing.]
[The friend came home.]
[The friends came home.]
[The mother is cooking chicken.]
Mama wanapika kuku.
[The mothers are cooking chicken.]
Lesson 9b:
Noun Classes
KI - VI
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]
KI - VI [KI - VI]
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]
A). Nouns that take KI- in singular and VI- in plural
kiti/viti
kitabu/vitabu
[chair/chairs]
[book/books]
kiatu/viatu
kisu/visu
kikombe/vikombe
kilima/vilima
kisiwa/visiwa
kiazi/viazi
kitunguu/vitunguu
kitu/vitu
kitanda/vitanda
kioo/vyoo
kiberiti/viberiti
[shoe/shoes]
[knife/knives]
[cup/cups]
[hill/hills]
[island/islands]
[potato/potatoes]
[onion/onions]
[thing/things]
[bed/beds]
[mirror/mirrors]
[match/matches]
B). Nouns that take CH- in singular and VY- in plural
chuo/vyuo
choo/vyoo
chakula/vyakula
chumba/vyumba
cheti/vyeti
chama/vyama
chuma/vyuma
chombo/vyombo
cheo/vyeo
[school/schools; college/colleges]
[restroom/restrooms]
[food/foods]
[room/rooms]
[certificate/certificates]
[party/parties; association/associations]
[iron/irons]
[container/containers; utensil/utensils]
[rank/ranks]
C). Body Parts [sehemu za mwili]
kichwa/vichwa
kiuno/viuno
kifua/vifua
kidole/vidole
[head/heads]
[waist/waists]
[chest/chests]
[finger/fingers]
D). Names of Languages [majina ya lugha]
Kiarabu
Kifaransa
Kiingereza
Kichina
Kijapani
[Arabic]
[French]
[English]
[Chinese]
[Japanese]
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.
Vichwa vinauma.
2. Kiti kilivunjwa.
Viti vilivunjwa.
3. Chuo kimefungwa.
Vyuo vimefungwa.
4. Chakula kitapikwa.
Vyakula vitapikwa.
[The head is hurting.]
[The heads are hurting.]
[The chair was broken.]
[The chairs were broken.]
[The school has been closed.]
[The schools have been closed.]
[The food will be cooked.]
[The foods will be cooked.]
Lesson 9c:
Noun Classes
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]
M – MI [U - I]
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-
A). Majina ya miti [names of trees]
mti/miti
mnazi/minazi
mchungwa/michungwa
mwembe/miembe
mtofaa/mitofaa
mpapai/mipapai
mndimu/mindimu
mpera/mipera
mgomba/migomba
[tree/trees]
[coconut tree/coconut trees]
[orange tree/orange trees]
[mango tree/mango trees]
[apple tree/apple trees]
[papaya tree/papaya trees]
[lime tree/lime trees]
[guava tree/guava trees]
[banana tree/banana trees]
B). Majina ya mimea [names of plants]
mmea/mimea
[plant/plants]
C). Sehemu za mwili [body parts]
mdomo/midomo
mkono/mikono
mguu/miguu
mfupa/mifupa
mgongo/migongo
moyo/mioyo
mwili/miili
[mouth/mouths]
[hand/hands]
[leg/legs]
[bone/bones]
[back/backs]
[heart/hearts]
[body/bodies
D). Nouns that take M- in singular and MI- in plural
mfano/mifano
mji/miji
mkoba/mikoba
mfuko/mifuko
mlango/milango
mtihani/mitihani
mjarabu/mijarabu
mlima/milima
mpira/mipira
mkate/mikate
mto/mito
mungu/miungu
[example/examples]
[city/cities]
[bag/bags]
[bag/bags]
[door/doors]
[exam/exams]
[test/tests]
[mountain/mountains]
[ball/balls]
[bread/breads]
[river/rivers]
[god/gods]
mchezo/michezo
moto/mioto
mskiti/misikiti
msitu/misitu
mswaki/miswaki
mto/mito
[game/games]
[fire/fires]
[mosque/mosques]
[forest/forests]
[toothbrush/toothbrushes]
[river/rivers, pillow/pillows]
E). Radicals that start with a vowel:
i.
nouns that take MW- in singular and MI- in plural
mwaka/miaka
mwavuli/miavuli
mwezi/miezi
mwiba/miiba
mwisho/miisho
ii.
[year/years]
[umbrella/umbrellas]
[month/months]
[thorn/thorns]
[end/ ends]
particular cases: singular prefix MU-
muhindi/mihindi
muhogo/mihogo
muwa/miwa
[corn]
[cassava/cassavas]
[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.
Miti ilianguka.
2. Mkono unauma.
Mikono inauma.
3. Mkoba umeoshwa.
Mikoba imeoshwa.
[The tree fell.]
[The trees fell.]
[The hand hurts.]
[The hands hurt.]
[The bag has been washed.]
[The bags have been washed.]
Lesson 9d:
Noun Classes
JI - MA
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]
JI - MA [LI - YA]
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]
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]
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
bega/mabega
goti/magoti
sikio/masikio
tumbo/matumbo
paja/mapaja
[tooth/teeth]
[shoulder/shoulders]
[knee/knees]
[ear/ears]
[stomach/bowels]
[thigh/thighs]
C). Matunda na vitu vya kawaida
[fruits and natural objects]
Fruits:
chungwa/machungwa
embe/maembe
limau/malimau
nanasi/mananasi
papai/mapapai
dafu/madafu
tofaa/matofaa
[orange/oranges]
[mango/mangoes]
[lemon/lemons]
[pineapple/pineapples]
[pawpaw/pawpaws]
[coconut/coconuts (with milk)]
[apple/apples]
Natural Objects:
jani/majani
yai/mayai
rinda/marinda
[leaf/leaves]
[egg/eggs]
[dress/dresses]
D). Majina ya vitu ambavyo havihesabiki
[nouns of things that cannot be counted, which
exist only in the plural form
maji/maji
mafuta/mafuta
maharagwe/maharagwe
mahindi/mahindi
mali/mali
maafa/maafa
matata/matata
[water]
[oil]
[beans]
[corn]
[wealth]
[misfortune]
[problems]
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.
Machungwa yamenunuliwa.
2. Gari limefika.
Magari yamefika.
3. Jicho linauma.
Macho yanauma.
4. Maji yamemwangika.
Maji yamemwangika.
[The orange has been bought.]
[The oranges have been bought.]
[The car has arrived.]
[The cars have arrived.]
[The eye hurts.]
[The eyes hurt.]
[The water has been poured.]
[The water has been poured.]
Lesson 9e:
Noun Classes
N-N
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]
N - N [I - ZI]
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
[house/houses]
Nature:
ardhi/ardhi
bahari/bahari
baridi/baridi
barafu/barafu
hewa/hewa
nuru/nuru
mvua/mvua
njia/njia
bandari/bandari
barabara/barabara
nchi/nchi
[earth; ground]
[sea]
[cold]
[ice]
[air; atmosphere]
[light]
[rain]
[way]
[harbor]
[road]
[country]
Abstract concepts:
ajali/ajali
bahati/bahati
furaha/furaha
hasara/hasara
hatari/hatari
huzuni/huzuni
nguvu/nguvu
shida/shida
thamani/thamani
dakika/dakika
sifa/sifa
ndoto/ndoto
shughuli/shughuli
[accident/accidents]
[luck/lucks]
[joy/joys]
[loss/losses]
[danger/dangers]
[sadness/sadnesses]
[strength/strengths]
[problem/problems]
[value/values]
[minute/minutes]
[praise/praises; reputation/reputations]
[dream/dreams]
[business/businesses]
B). Foods, fruits, and vegetables
chai/chai
chumvi/chumvi
kahawa/kahawa
mboga/mboga
nazi/nazi
ndizi/ndizi
nyama/nyama
pilipili/pilipili
siagi/siagi
sukari/sukari
njugu/njugu
[tea/teas]
[salt/salts]
[coffee/coffees]
[vegetable/vegetables]
[coconut/coconuts]
[banana/bananas]
[meat/meats]
[pepper/[peppers]
[butter; margarine]
[sugar/sugars]
[groundnut/groundnuts]
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.]
Lesson 9f:
Noun Classes
U-U
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]
U - U [U - ZI]
U - U [U - U]
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
uzi/nyuzi
ua/nyua
ufa/nyufa
uma/nyuma
[face/faces]
[thread/threads]
[courtyard/courtyards]
[crack/cracks]
[fork/forks]
U - ND:
ulimi/ndimi
udevu/ndevu
[tongue/tongues]
[beard/beards]
U - MB:
ubao/mbao
ubavu/mbavu
ubawa/mbawa
[board/boards]
[rib/ribs]
[wing/wings]
U - Ø:
unywele/nywele
ufunguo/funguo
ukuta/kuta
upande/pande
uvumbi/vumbi
upanga/panga
upepo/pepo
[one hair/hair]
[key/keys]
[wall/walls]
[side/sides]
[grain of dust/dust]
[machete/machetes]
[wind/winds]
W - NY:
wakati/nyakati
wembe/nyembe
wimbo/nyimbo
[time/times]
[razor blade/razor blades]
[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
ugali/ugali
uji/uji
[soil; ground]
[corn paste]
[porridge]
ulimwengu/ulimwengu
umeme/umeme
umri/umri
unga/unga
usingizi/usingizi
uwongo/uwongo
[world]
[electricity]
[age]
[flour]
[sleep]
[a lie]
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:
jamaa - ujamaa
kijana - ujana
mzee - uzee
maskini - umaskini
mchawi - uchawi
mfalme - ufalme
mtoto - utoto
NOUN - NOUN
[group of people - community]
[young person - young age]
[old person - old age]
[poor person - poverty]
[witch - witchcraft]
[king - kingdom]
[child - childhood]
Verbal roots:
kuiba - uwizi
kukosa - ukosefu
kupenda - upendo
kuweza - uwezo
kusahau - usahaulifu
VERB - NOUN
[to steal - theft]
[to miss - deficiency]
[to love - love]
[to be able - capacity]
[to forget - forgetfulness]
D). Names of countries
Ufaransa
Uganda
Uingereza
Ujerumani
Ureno
Urusi
[France]
[Uganda]
[England]
[Germany]
[Portugal]
[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.
Ndimi zinauma.
2. Ufunguo umepotea.
Funguo zimepotea.
3. Ubavu umevunjika.
Mbavu zimevunjika.
4. Ugali umepikwa.
Ugali umepikwa.
5. Upendo wao umesifika.
Upendo wao umesifika.
[The tongue hurts.]
[The tongues hurt.]
[The key has been lost.]
[The keys have been lost.]
[The rib has broken.]
[The ribs have broken.]
[The cornmeal has been cooked.]
[The cornmeal has been cooked.]
[Their love has been praised.]
[Their love has been praised.]