In Swahili grammar, proper nouns (vitenzi halisi) are names used for specific people, places, or organizations. These names are treated differently than common nouns, in that they do not follow the typical Swahili noun class system. Instead, the prefix of verbs agreeing with proper nouns is largely dependent on the logical or natural gender or collective identity of the noun. Now, let’s jump into some exercises to understand proper nouns in Swahili.
Exercise 1: Fill in the missing Proper Nouns in Swahili
1. *John* ni rafiki yangu. (Name)
2. Mimi huishi *Mombasa*. (Place)
3. *Kenya* ni nchi yangu. (Country)
4. *Safari* ni kampuni yangu. (Company)
5. Ninaenda *Nairobi* kesho. (City)
6. *Kilimanjaro* ni mlima mkubwa. (Mountain)
7. *Jumapili* tunakwenda kanisani. (Day)
8. *Agosti* ni mwezi wangu wa kuzaliwa. (Month)
9. *Simba* ni timu yangu. (Team)
10. *Amina* ni dada yangu. (Name)
11. *Swahili* ni lugha yangu. (Language)
12. *Amazon* ni duka nitakaloenda. (Store)
13. *Microsoft* ni kampuni ya teknolojia. (Company)
14. *Kisumu* ni mji katika Kenya. (Town)
15. *Krismasi* ni sikukuu tunayosherehekea. (Holiday)
2. Mimi huishi *Mombasa*. (Place)
3. *Kenya* ni nchi yangu. (Country)
4. *Safari* ni kampuni yangu. (Company)
5. Ninaenda *Nairobi* kesho. (City)
6. *Kilimanjaro* ni mlima mkubwa. (Mountain)
7. *Jumapili* tunakwenda kanisani. (Day)
8. *Agosti* ni mwezi wangu wa kuzaliwa. (Month)
9. *Simba* ni timu yangu. (Team)
10. *Amina* ni dada yangu. (Name)
11. *Swahili* ni lugha yangu. (Language)
12. *Amazon* ni duka nitakaloenda. (Store)
13. *Microsoft* ni kampuni ya teknolojia. (Company)
14. *Kisumu* ni mji katika Kenya. (Town)
15. *Krismasi* ni sikukuu tunayosherehekea. (Holiday)
Exercise 2: Fill in the missing Proper Nouns in Swahili
1. *Samueli* ni ndugu yangu. (Name)
2. Unatoka *Uingereza*? (Country)
3. Jina la mama yangu ni *Mary*. (Name)
4. Ninaenda kurseni *Jumatatu*. (Day)
5. Mimi hufanya kazi katika *Serena Hotel*. (Company)
6. *Tanzania* ina vivutio vingi vya kitalii. (Country)
7. Ninaishi *Zanzibar*. (Place)
8. *Lion King* ni filamu ninayoipenda. (Movie)
9. *Chelsea* ni klabu ninayoishabikia. (Club)
10. *Getembe* ni mahali pa kuzaliwa kwangu. (Village)
11. *April* ni wakati wa Pasaka. (Month)
12. *Nile* ni mto mkuu. (River)
13. *Winne* ni jina la dogo wangu. (Name)
14. Naenda *Dar es Salaam* kesho. (City)
15. *Maji Maji* ni vita katika historia ya Tanzania. (War)
2. Unatoka *Uingereza*? (Country)
3. Jina la mama yangu ni *Mary*. (Name)
4. Ninaenda kurseni *Jumatatu*. (Day)
5. Mimi hufanya kazi katika *Serena Hotel*. (Company)
6. *Tanzania* ina vivutio vingi vya kitalii. (Country)
7. Ninaishi *Zanzibar*. (Place)
8. *Lion King* ni filamu ninayoipenda. (Movie)
9. *Chelsea* ni klabu ninayoishabikia. (Club)
10. *Getembe* ni mahali pa kuzaliwa kwangu. (Village)
11. *April* ni wakati wa Pasaka. (Month)
12. *Nile* ni mto mkuu. (River)
13. *Winne* ni jina la dogo wangu. (Name)
14. Naenda *Dar es Salaam* kesho. (City)
15. *Maji Maji* ni vita katika historia ya Tanzania. (War)
