What is the LI-YA Noun Class?
In our previous lessons, we looked at the A-WA class (living beings) and the KI-VI class (artifacts). Today, we’re tackling Ngeli ya LI-YA.
This class is unique because the singular forms don’t always have a consistent prefix (some start with JI-, others start with any letter), but the plural forms almost always begin with MA-.
How it Works
The name “LI-YA” comes from the subject prefixes used in verbs.
- LI- is used for singular nouns.
- YA- is used for plural nouns.
| Singular (LI) | English | Plural (YA) | English |
| Jiko limeharibika | The stove is spoiled | Majiko yameharibika | The stoves are spoiled |
| Jembe limepotea | The hoe is lost | Majembe yamepotea | The hoes are lost |
| Chungwa limeoza | The orange is rotten | Machungwa yameoza | The oranges are rotten |
| Jiwa limetupwa | The stone has been thrown | Mawe yametupwa | The stones have been throne. |
Common LI-YA Nouns
The “magic” of this class is the MA- prefix. While the singular form can start with any letter, the plural is almost always signaled by adding MA-.
🏗️ Category A: Manufactured & Built Places
This is the most common group. It covers the things we build and the places we go.
🧠 Category B: Concepts & Time
| Singular | Plural | English |
| Gari | Magari | Car / Cars |
| Duka | Maduka | Shop / Shops |
| Dirisha | Madirisha | Window / Windows |
| Daraja | Madaraja | Bridge/Bridges |
| Soko | Masoko | Market / Markets |
| Sanduku | Masanduku | Box / Boxes |
| Shamba | Mashamba | Farm / Farms |
Abstract ideas also live here. Notice how “Questions” and “Answers” belong together in this class.
- Jina / Majina (Name / Names)
- Wazo / Mawazo (Thought / Thoughts)
- Neno / Maneno (Word / Words)
- Swali / Maswali (Question / Questions)
- Jibu / Majibu (Answer / Answers)
- Pendekezo / Mapendekezo (Proposal / Proposals)
- Juma / Majuma (Week / Weeks)
- Badiliko / Mabadiliko (Change / Changes)
- Jukumu / Majukumu (Responsibility / Responsibilities)
- Taifa / Mataifa (Nation / Nations)
🦷 Category C: Sehemu za Mwili (Body Parts)
Many pairs of body parts fall into this class.
- Jicho / Macho (Eye / Eyes)
- Jino / Meno (Tooth / Teeth)
- Bega / Mabega (Shoulder / Shoulders)
- Goti / Magoti (Knee / Knees)
- Paja / Mapaja (Thigh / Thighs)
- Tumbo / Matumbo (Stomach / Stomachs)
🍋 Category D: Matunda (Fruits & Nature)
Almost all large fruits follow the LI-YA pattern.
- Chungwa / Machungwa (Orange / Oranges)
- Embe / Maembe (Mango / Mangoes)
- Nanasi / Mananasi (Pineapple / Pineapples)
- Yai / Mayai (Egg / Eggs)
- Pera / Mapera (Guava / Guavas)
- Limao / Malimao (Lime / Limes) [This is a loan word from Portugese ~ limão]
- Tunda / Matunda (Fruit / Fruits)
💡 The Grammar Rule: “LI” vs “YA”
Remember, the name of the class tells you how to build the sentence:
- Singular (LI): Gari limefika. (The car has arrived.)
- Plural (YA): Magari yamefika. (The cars have arrived.)
Ready to practice? Head over to the letslearnswahili app and learn more.