Swahili Grammar Analysis Tool
Swahili Noun Class Identifier
Enter a noun above to see its class and agreement examples.
Brief Overview of Swahili Noun Classes:
M-WA (Class 1/2): People. Singular prefix 'm-', plural 'wa-'. Ex: mtu (person) - watu (people).
M-MI (Class 3/4): Trees, inanimate objects. Singular prefix 'm-', plural 'mi-'. Ex: mti (tree) - miti (trees).
JI-MA (Class 5/6): Augmentatives, some nouns. Singular prefix 'ji-', plural 'ma-'. Ex: jicho (eye) - macho (eyes).
KI-VI (Class 7/8): Things, diminutives, languages. Singular prefix 'ki-', plural 'vi-'. Ex: kitabu (book) - vitabu (books).
N-N (Class 9/10): Animals, some inanimate. Singular and plural typically 'n-' or 'm-' or no prefix. Ex: nyumba (house) - nyumba (houses).
U-N (Class 11/10): Abstract nouns, long thin objects. No common plural class, or N-N. Ex: ufagio (broom) - fagio (brooms).
U- (Class 11 singular): Abstract nouns with no common plural. Ex: uwizi (theft).
KU- (Class 15): Infinitives (verb nouns). Ex: kusoma (to read).
MA- (Class 6): Plural of Ji-, also mass nouns. Ex: maji (water).
PA- (Class 16 Locative): Definite place. Ex: pamoja (at one place).
KU- (Class 17 Locative): Indefinite direction/to. Ex: kule (there/to there).
MU- (Class 18 Locative): Inside/in. Ex: mtoni (in the river).
Swahili Verb Structure Analyzer
Enter a verb above to see its components.
Common Swahili Phrases with Basic Grammar Notes
Habari? - How are you? (Lit: News?)
Grammar: Informal greeting, common response "Nzuri" (Good).
Jina langu ni... - My name is...
Grammar: "Jina" (name - JI-MA class), "langu" (my - agrees with JI-MA), "ni" (is).
Unaongea Kiingereza? - Do you speak English?
Grammar: "U-" (you - singular subject prefix), "-na-" (present tense marker), "-ongea" (speak - verb root), "Kiingereza" (English - KI-VI class language prefix).
Nataka maji. - I want water.
Grammar: "N-" (I - subject prefix), "-a-" (present indefinite/habitual tense marker), "-taka" (want - verb root), "maji" (water - MA- class, mass noun).
Ninaenda sokoni. - I am going to the market.
Grammar: "Ni-" (I - subject prefix), "-na-" (present continuous tense marker), "-enda" (go - verb root), "sokoni" (to the market - locative '-ni' suffix).
Samahani. - Excuse me / Sorry.
Grammar: A common interjection, derived from the verb "kusamehe" (to forgive).
Asante sana. - Thank you very much.
Grammar: "Asante" (thank you), "sana" (very much).