Swahili, also known as Kiswahili, is a Bantu language widely spoken in East Africa. With over 16 million native speakers and around 80 million speakers overall, it serves as a lingua franca in countries such as Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Swahili’s grammar is particularly fascinating due to its unique characteristics and the influences it has absorbed from Arabic, Portuguese, German, and English over centuries. This article delves into the special aspects of Swahili grammar, exploring its structure, rules, and idiosyncrasies.
Noun Classes and Agreement
One of the most distinctive features of Swahili grammar is its noun class system. Unlike languages that use gendered nouns, Swahili employs a system where nouns are categorized into various classes. Each class comes with its own prefixes and influences the agreement of adjectives, verbs, and other parts of speech.
Noun Classes:
Swahili has 18 noun classes, but commonly, only 15 are actively used. These classes are identified by specific prefixes. For example:
– **Class 1/2 (M-Wa):** This class typically includes people. E.g., *mtu* (person) and *watu* (people).
– **Class 3/4 (M-Mi):** Often includes trees and natural phenomena. E.g., *mti* (tree) and *miti* (trees).
– **Class 5/6 (Ji-Ma):** Generally encompasses inanimate objects and augmentatives. E.g., *jicho* (eye) and *macho* (eyes).
– **Class 7/8 (Ki-Vi):** Includes tools and diminutives. E.g., *kiti* (chair) and *viti* (chairs).
– **Class 9/10 (N-N):** Covers animals, among other things. E.g., *ndege* (bird/birds).
Agreement:
Swahili nouns dictate the form of other words in a sentence:
– **Adjectives:** Must agree with the noun class. E.g., *mtu mzuri* (a good person) vs. *kitabu kizuri* (a good book).
– **Verbs:** Verbs also take prefixes that agree with the noun class. E.g., *mtu anakula* (the person is eating) vs. *kitabu kinakula* (the book is eating, hypothetical).
Verb Structure
The verb structure in Swahili is another unique aspect of its grammar. Verbs are constructed with prefixes and suffixes that indicate tense, subject, and object, making them highly inflected and informative.
Basic Verb Form:
A Swahili verb consists of:
– **Subject Prefix:** Indicates the doer of the action. E.g., *ni-* (I), *u-* (you), *a-* (he/she).
– **Tense Marker:** Indicates when the action takes place. E.g., *li-* (past), *na-* (present), *ta-* (future).
– **Verb Root:** The main action. E.g., *-kula* (eat), *-soma* (read).
– **Object Marker (optional):** Indicates the receiver of the action. E.g., *-ni-* (me), *-ku-* (you).
Examples:
– **Present Tense:** *Ninakula* (I am eating).
– **Past Tense:** *Nilisoma* (I read).
– **Future Tense:** *Nitalala* (I will sleep).
Tense and Aspect
Swahili verbs are marked for both tense and aspect, providing detailed information about the timing and nature of the action.
Tense:
– **Present:** Expressed with the marker *na-*. E.g., *ninakimbia* (I am running).
– **Past:** Indicated by *li-*. E.g., *nilipika* (I cooked).
– **Future:** Marked by *ta-*. E.g., *nitakwenda* (I will go).
Aspect:
– **Perfective:** Uses the marker *me-*. E.g., *nimefanya* (I have done).
– **Habitual:** Expressed with *hu-*. E.g., *hukimbia* (he/she usually runs).
Negation
Negation in Swahili involves modifying the verb form to indicate a negative action.
Present Tense Negation:
– The subject prefix changes: *ni-* becomes *si-*.
– The tense marker *na-* is dropped.
– The verb root remains the same.
– E.g., *Sikula* (I am not eating).
Past Tense Negation:
– The subject prefix changes: *ni-* becomes *si-*.
– The tense marker *li-* becomes *ku-*.
– E.g., *Sikupika* (I did not cook).
Future Tense Negation:
– The subject prefix changes: *ni-* becomes *si-*.
– The tense marker *ta-* becomes *ta-kuwa*.
– E.g., *Sitakuwa* (I will not be).
Pronouns and Possessives
Swahili pronouns and possessive forms are relatively straightforward but must agree with the noun class they refer to.
Subject Pronouns:
– **I:** *mimi*
– **You (singular):** *wewe*
– **He/She:** *yeye*
– **We:** *sisi*
– **You (plural):** *nyinyi*
– **They:** *wao*
Object Pronouns:
– **Me:** *mimi*
– **You (singular):** *wewe*
– **Him/Her:** *yeye*
– **Us:** *sisi*
– **You (plural):** *nyinyi*
– **Them:** *wao*
Possessive Pronouns:
– **My:** *-angu*
– **Your (singular):** *-ako*
– **His/Her:** *-ake*
– **Our:** *-etu*
– **Your (plural):** *-enu*
– **Their:** *-ao*
Examples:
– **My book:** *kitabu changu*
– **Your chair:** *kiti chako*
– **Their house:** *nyumba yao*
Adjectives and Adverbs
Adjectives and adverbs in Swahili must agree with the noun they describe, adhering to the noun class system.
Adjective Agreement:
– Adjectives take prefixes that match the noun class. E.g., *mtoto mzuri* (a good child), *kitabu kizuri* (a good book).
Common Adjectives:
– **Big:** *kubwa*
– **Small:** *ndogo*
– **Good:** *zuri*
– **Bad:** *baya*
Adverbs:
– Adverbs do not change according to the noun class. E.g., *haraka* (quickly), *polepole* (slowly).
Prepositions
Swahili prepositions are used to indicate relationships between different elements within a sentence.
Common Prepositions:
– **In:** *katika*
– **On:** *juu ya*
– **Under:** *chini ya*
– **With:** *na*
– **Without:** *bila*
Examples:
– **In the house:** *katika nyumba*
– **On the table:** *juu ya meza*
– **With you:** *na wewe*
Questions and Interrogatives
Forming questions in Swahili involves using specific question words and altering the sentence structure.
Question Words:
– **What:** *nini*
– **Who:** *nani*
– **Where:** *wapi*
– **When:** *lini*
– **Why:** *kwa nini*
– **How:** *vipi*
Examples:
– **What is this?:** *Hii ni nini?*
– **Who are you?:** *Wewe ni nani?*
– **Where is the book?:** *Kitabu kiko wapi?*
Conjunctions
Swahili uses conjunctions to link clauses and sentences.
Common Conjunctions:
– **And:** *na*
– **But:** *lakini*
– **Because:** *kwa sababu*
– **Or:** *au*
Examples:
– **I am eating and drinking:** *Ninakula na kunywa.*
– **He is here, but she is not:** *Yeye yuko hapa, lakini yeye hayuko.*
Reduplication
Reduplication in Swahili is used to emphasize or alter the meaning of words, often to indicate intensity or repetition.
Examples:
– **Slowly:** *polepole* (from *pole* – slow)
– **Very small:** *ndogondogo* (from *ndogo* – small)
Loanwords and Influences
Swahili has borrowed extensively from other languages, enriching its vocabulary and making it unique.
Arabic Influence:
Due to historical trade relations, many Swahili words are of Arabic origin. E.g., *kitabu* (book) from Arabic *kitāb*.
Portuguese Influence:
Words from Portuguese entered Swahili during colonial times. E.g., *meza* (table) from Portuguese *mesa*.
English Influence:
Modern Swahili includes many English loanwords, especially in technology and education. E.g., *kompyuta* (computer).
Idiomatic Expressions
Swahili is rich in idiomatic expressions that convey cultural and contextual meanings beyond the literal interpretation of the words.
Examples:
– **Kupiga mbizi:** Literally “to hit a dive,” meaning “to go for a swim.”
– **Kula matunda ya kazi yako:** Literally “to eat the fruits of your work,” meaning “to enjoy the benefits of your labor.”
Conclusion
Swahili grammar is a fascinating and intricate system that reflects the language’s rich history and cultural influences. Its noun class system, verb structure, and agreement rules set it apart from many other languages, making it both a challenging and rewarding language to learn. Whether you are a linguist, a language enthusiast, or someone interested in East African culture, understanding the intricacies of Swahili grammar opens up new horizons for communication and cultural appreciation.
Download talkpal app 
