Noun Classes: The KI-VI Class

Learn about the different noun classes in Kiswahili.

📚 The KI-VI noun class.

Kiswahili groups nouns into several noun classes either because of their characteristics as a noun, or for vowel harmony. The second noun class (called 'ngeli' in Kiswahili) we're going to look at is the KI-VI noun class. Nouns belonging to this class usually start with 'KI' or 'CH' when in singular and 'VI' or 'VY' in plural. Let's look at some examples.

Kiswahili Noun (Singular)	English Meaning (Singular)	Kiswahili Noun (Plural)	English Meaning (Plural)
Kiti kinaundwa	The chair is being made.	Viti vinaundwa	The chairs are being made
Choo kinanuka	The toilet is stinking	Vyoo vinanuka	The toilets are stinking
Kisu kinakata	The knife is cutting	Visu vinakata	The knives are cutting

Grammar note: See how the nouns start either with 'KI' or 'CH' in singular, and take 'VI' or 'VY' in plural? Note also how in both cases the noun marker attached to the verb is 'KI' in singular and 'VI' in plural? This is where the name of this noun class (ngeli) comes from.

📚 More on The KI-VI noun class.

Let's look at some more nouns in the KI-VI noun class (ngeli ya KI-VI) . For example:

Kiswahili Noun (Singular)	English Meaning (Singular)	Kiswahili Noun (Plural)	English Meaning (Plural)
Kitabu	Book	Vitabu	Books
Kikombe	Cup	Vikombe	Cups
Kitunguu	Onion	Vitunguu	Onions
Kitu	Thing	Vitu	Things
Kichwa	Head	Vichwa	Heads
Chuo	School	Vyuo	Schools
Chakula	Food	Vyakula	Foods
Chumba	Room	Vyumba	Rooms
Cheti	Certificate	Vyeti	Certificates

📚 Adjectives in Example Sentences With KI-VI nouns.

Let's take a look at how to form adjectives with nouns in KI-VI. When forming adjectives, nouns in the 'KI-VI' class take 'KI' as the singular prefix and 'VI' as the plural prefix.

Kiswahili Root Adjective	English Meaning (Root)	Kiswahili Adjective (Singular)	English Meaning (Singular)	Kiswahili Adjective (Plural)	English Meaning (Plural)
-zuri	good	Kisiwa kizuri	A good island	Visiwa vizuri	Good islands
-baya	bad	Chakula kibaya	Bad food	Vyakula vibaya	Bad foods
-kubwa	big	Kifua kikubwa	A big chest (as in the body part)	Vifua vikubwa	Big chests
-dogo	small	Kidole kidogo	A small finger	Vidole vidogo	Small fingers
-refu	tall	Chombo kirefu	A tall container	Vyombo virefu	Tall containers
-embamba	slim	Kiuno chembamba	A slim waist	Viuno vyembamba	Slim waists

Grammar note: See how the adjectives take the prefix 'KI' in singular and 'VI' in plural? Adjectives like '-embamba' that start with vowels are unique. They take 'CH' in singular and 'VY' in plural for ease of pronunciation.

🎯 Practice Exercises

Practice is free — just sign in

Create a free account to unlock the interactive exercises for this lesson and track your progress. The lessons stay free to read, always.

Speak on Echo

Practise conversing in Swahili with other learners and get expert feedback from native speakers on the Echo app.

Practise speaking on Echo

← Chapter 2 Review Numbers →