Using noun prefixes
We have seen that, whenever they are of Bantu origin, both numbers and adjective stems take the
noun prefix, to match the nouns they qualify.
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If you use both a number and an adjective with a noun, the correct word order is: noun,
adjective, number, e.g. wanaume warefu watatu
Non-living nouns, meanwhile, take the noun prefixes corresponding to their noun class in the same
way, when counting or using adjectives.
KI/VI noun class
Clearly, the noun prefixes associated with the KI/VI class are ki- and vi-:
kitabu – book → vitabu – books
kiti – chair → viti – chairs
kisu – knife → visu – knives
and so these are used on adjectives and numbers as required:
kitabu kizuri kimoja – one good book
viti vikubwa vitatu – three large chairs
visu vikali sita – six sharp knives
vikombe vidogo thelathini na vitano – 35 small cups (kikombe – cup)
vitu vingapi? – how many things? vitu vichache tu – only a few things
However, note that the following nouns also fall into this class:
chumba – room → vyumba – rooms
chakula – food, meal, dish → vyakula – meals, dishes
cheti – certificate → vyeti – certificates
choo – toilet → vyoo – toilets
Just as with the M/WA prefixes, there are modifications when ki- and vi- are attached to stems
beginning with vowels.
So, in front of -a,-e,-o or -u, we get
ki → ch, and vi → vy
However, in front of an -i, these prefixes do not change, although one of the two i's is dropped:
ki + i → ki, and vi + i → vi
As well as helping you recognise that the last set of nouns above are in this class, these rules are
used when using some adjective stems (those beginning with vowels) with KI/VI nouns. (Since the
number stems all begin with consonants, no modification of the prefixes is necessary for counting.)
So,
kitanda chembamba kimoja – one narrow bed (-embamba – narrow, slim, thin)
viatu vyeusi viwili – two black shoes
vikombe vyeupe kumi na tisa – 19 white cups
kitabu kikubwa chekundu – big red book (-ekundu - red)
BUT
vyumba vingi – lots of rooms
chakula kingine – different food/dish
vitabu vingi vingine – lots of other books
As you learn about and recognise other noun classes, you can apply the same reasoning to use
numbers and adjectives with the noun prefixes of the relevant class, although this is not always
totally straightforward.
For example, the varying form of the N class nasal prefixes means that using prefixes on adjectives
for N nouns is complicated. However, speak to me if you would like a sheet explaining how to
match nasal prefixes to stems.
Other adjectives
There is a group of adjectives which are not of Bantu origin and which therefore require no prefix
and simply follow any noun unaltered. (They will always be written without a preceding hyphen.)
mwanafunzi hodari – outstanding student (hodari – outstanding, capable)
visu safi – clean knives
kompyuta ghali – expensive computer
gari kijani – green car (kijani – green)
Please note that using single words following the noun is only one of the ways of forming
adjectives in Swahili. One will often find oneself wanting to describe something and having to
resort to other grammatical means – utilising verbs or nouns – in order to do so.