Swahili Noun Classes Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What noun class contains all people and animals?

M/Wa noun class

What is the general term for the m-(s.) wa-(p.) category?

M/Wa category I

What is the plural of 'mtoto'?

Watoto

What is the plural of 'mtu'?

Watu Signup and view all the answers

What is the plural of 'mwanamke'?

Wanawake Signup and view all the answers

What is the general term for profession-related nouns in the m-(s.) ma-(p.) category?

M/Wa category II Signup and view all the answers

What is the plural of 'polisi'?

Mapolisi Signup and view all the answers

What is the plural of 'daktari'?

Madaktari Signup and view all the answers

What is the plural of 'fundi'?

Mafundi Signup and view all the answers

What noun class is associated with animals?

M/Wa category III Signup and view all the answers

What is the plural of 'simba'?

Simba Signup and view all the answers

What is the plural of 'kuku'?

Kuku Signup and view all the answers

What is the plural of 'paka'?

Paka Signup and view all the answers

What noun class is related to family members?

M/Wa category IV Signup and view all the answers

What is the plural of 'kaka'?

Kaka Signup and view all the answers

What is the plural of 'dada'?

Dada Signup and view all the answers

What is the plural of 'mama'?

Mama Signup and view all the answers

What is the general term for the ki-(s.) vi-(p.) category?

M/Wa category V Signup and view all the answers

What is the plural of 'kipofu'?

Vipofu Signup and view all the answers

What is the plural of 'kijana'?

Vijana Signup and view all the answers

What is the plural of 'kiongozi'?

Viongozi Signup and view all the answers

What is the singular demonstrative for 'this'?

Huyu Signup and view all the answers

What is the plural demonstrative for 'these'?

Hawa Signup and view all the answers

What is the singular demonstrative for 'that'?

Yule Signup and view all the answers

What is the plural demonstrative for 'those'?

Wale Signup and view all the answers

What do the prefixes 'w-w' refer to?

Possessive prefixes (singular-plural) (category I, II, III, V) Signup and view all the answers

What do the prefixes 'y-z' refer to?

Possessive prefixes (singular-plural) (category IV) Signup and view all the answers

What is the M/Wa singular adjective prefix?

M- Signup and view all the answers

What is the M/Wa plural adjective prefix?

Wa- Signup and view all the answers

What are 6-7-9-10 referring to?

Special numbers (without prefixes in adjective form) Signup and view all the answers

What is the M/Wa preposition for 'of' in singular and plural contexts?

Wa Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Ambaye' mean?

M/Wa amba- 'who' singular Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Ambao' mean?

M/Wa amba- 'who' plural Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Wote' mean?

M/Wa -ote 'all' plural Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Yoyote' mean?

M/Wa -o-ote 'any' singular Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Wowote' mean?

M/Wa -o-ote plural Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Mwenye' mean?

M/Wa -enye 'having' singular Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Wenye' mean?

M/Wa -enye 'having' plural Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Mwingine' mean?

M/Wa -ngine 'other' singular Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Wengine' mean?

M/Wa -ngine 'other' plural Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Wengi' mean?

M/Wa -ingi 'a lot' Signup and view all the answers

What is the ki-(s.) vi-(p.) category?

Ki/Vi category I Signup and view all the answers

What is the plural of 'kikombe'?

Vikombe Signup and view all the answers

What is the plural of 'kiazi'?

Viazi Signup and view all the answers

What is the ki/vi category II?

Ch-(s.) vy-(p.) Signup and view all the answers

What is the plural of 'chumba'?

Vyumba Signup and view all the answers

What is the plural of 'cheo'?

Vyeo Signup and view all the answers

What is the Ki/Vi singular demonstrative for 'this'?

Hiki Signup and view all the answers

What is the Ki/Vi plural demonstrative for 'these'?

Hivi Signup and view all the answers

What is the Ki/Vi singular demonstrative for 'that'?

Kile Signup and view all the answers

What is the Ki/Vi plural demonstrative for 'those'?

Vile Signup and view all the answers

What do the prefixes 'ch-vy' refer to?

Ki/Vi possessive prefixes (singular-plural) Signup and view all the answers

What is the Ki/Vi singular adjective prefix?

Ki- Signup and view all the answers

What is the Ki/Vi plural adjective prefix?

Vi- Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Cha' mean?

Ki/Vi preposition 'of' singular Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Vya' mean?

Ki/Vi preposition 'of' plural Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Ambacho' mean?

Ki/Vi amba- 'which' singular Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Ambavyo' mean?

Ki/Vi amba- 'which' plural Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Chote' mean?

Ki/Vi -ote 'all' singular Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Vyote' mean?

Ki/Vi -ote 'all' plural Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Chochote' mean?

Ki/Vi -o-ote 'any' singular Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Vyovyote' mean?

Ki/Vi -o-ote 'any' plural Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Chenye' mean?

Ki/Vi -enye 'having' singular Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Vyenye' mean?

Ki/Vi -enye 'having' plural Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Swahili Noun Classes Overview

M/Wa noun class includes all people and animals, identified as category I.
M/Wa category II represents professions, indicated by the prefix "ma-" for plural nouns.
M/Wa category III encompasses animals and includes plural forms without specific prefixes.

Specific Noun Examples

"mtoto" (child) transitions to "watoto" (children).
"mtu" (person) pluralizes to "watu" (people).
"mwanamke" (woman) becomes "wanawake" (women).
"daktari" (doctor) converts to "madaktari" (doctors).

Demostrative Pronouns

Singular demonstrative "this" is "huyu" and plural is "hawa."
Singular "that" is referred to as "yule," and plural as "wale."

Possessive Prefixes

M/Wa possessive prefixes are used for singular and plural nouns in certain classes.
"w-w" refers to possessive prefixes for categories I, II, III, and V.
"y-z" denotes possessive prefixes for category IV.

Adjective and Preposition Usage

M/Wa singular and plural adjective prefixes are "M-" and "Wa-" respectively.
The preposition "of" is represented by "Wa" for both singular and plural forms.

Additional Pronouns and Adjectives

"Wote" indicates "all" in plural, while "yoyote" means "any" in singular.
The term "mwenye" describes "having" in singular form, "wenye" in plural.
"Mwingine" (other) in singular form, "wengine" in plural.

Ki/Vi Noun Class Information

Ki/Vi category I includes items like "kikombe" (cup) which pluralizes to "vikombe."
Ki/Vi category II includes items like "chumba" (room) turning into "vyumba" (rooms).

Demonstratives in Ki/Vi Class

Ki/Vi singular demonstrative "this" is "hiki," and plural is "hivi."
Singular "that" is "kile," while plural is "vile."

General Patterns

Ki/Vi possessive prefixes take the forms "ch-vy" for singular-plural relations.
Special numbers in adjective form are noted as "6-7-9-10" without prefixes.
M/Wa prepositions and adjectives follow specific patterns corresponding to each class.

Summary of Various Forms

"Wengi" signifies "a lot" within the M/Wa class.
Regular endings and prefixes significantly influence the meaning and association of words within each noun class.

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Description

Test your knowledge of Swahili noun classes with these flashcards. Each card features important nouns, their plural forms, and the corresponding noun class definitions. Perfect for anyone looking to master the structure of Swahili language nouns.