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Swahili Noun Classes
Swahili nouns belong to different classes marked by prefixes. Each class has singular/plural pairs:
- Class 1/2: M-/WA- (people) - mtu/watu
- Class 3/4: M-/MI- (trees, objects) - mti/miti
- Class 9/10: N-/ZI- (animals, things) - nyumba/zinyumba
- Class 14: U- (abstract nouns) - uhuru
- Class 16: PA- (location) - pamoja
M-tu (Class 1)
Person (Class 1)
Pronunciation: m-too
Swahili: Mtu mmoja anasoma.
English: One person is reading.
English: One person is reading.
Wa-tu (Class 2)
People (Class 2)
Pronunciation: wa-too
Swahili: Watu wengi wanafika.
English: Many people are arriving.
English: Many people are arriving.
M-ti (Class 3)
Tree (Class 3)
Pronunciation: m-tee
Swahili: Mti mkubwa ulianguka.
English: A big tree fell.
English: A big tree fell.
Mi-ti (Class 4)
Trees (Class 4)
Pronunciation: mee-tee
Swahili: Miti mingi imekatwa.
English: Many trees have been cut.
English: Many trees have been cut.
N-yumba (Class 9)
House (Class 9)
Pronunciation: n-yoom-ba
Swahili: Nyumba kubwa ilijengwa.
English: A big house was built.
English: A big house was built.
Zi-nyumba (Class 10)
Houses (Class 10)
Pronunciation: zee-nyoom-ba
Swahili: Zinyumba nyingi ziliharibiwa.
English: Many houses were destroyed.
English: Many houses were destroyed.
U-huru (Class 14)
Freedom (Class 14)
Pronunciation: oo-hoo-roo
Swahili: Uhuru ni muhimu.
English: Freedom is important.
English: Freedom is important.
Pa-moja (Class 16)
Together (Class 16)
Pronunciation: pa-mo-ja
Swahili: Pamoja tutafanikiwa.
English: Together we will succeed.
English: Together we will succeed.