The folowing are some examples of singular and plural. Nouns in Kiswahili are put into various classes
according to how those nouns change when expressed in plural form. There are other factors considered in
classifying nouns. Grammertical details about Noun classes is not included here.For A detailed analysis of
Swahili Noun Clases, click here
SINGULAR PLURAL
Chumvi (Salt) Chumvi (Salt)
Simu (Telephone) Simu (telephones)
Embe (Mango) Embe (mangoes)
Sukari (Sugar) Sukari (Sugar)
Maji (water) Maji (water)
Meza (Table) Meza (tables)
Kaptura (Shorts) Kaptura (shorts)
Kalamu (pen) Kalamu (pens)
Samaki (Fish) Samaki (Fish)
N N
Ndizi (banana) Ndizi (bananas)
Nyumba (house) Nyumba (Houses)
M WA
Mwalimu (Teacher) Walimu (Teachers)
Mwanafunzi (Student) Wanafunzi (Students)
Mtu (person) Watu (people)
Mtoto (Child) Watoto (Children)
Msichana (girl) Wasichana (Girls)
Mvulana (boy) Wavulana (boys)
Mke (wife) Wake (wives)
Mme (husband) Waume (husbands)
Mwanamke (Woman) Wanawake (women)
Bibi Mabibi
Bwana (Mister) Mabwana (
M MI
Muhogo (Cassava) Mihogo (Cassava)
Mti (Tree) Miti (Trees)
Mtumbwi (boat) Mitumbwi (boats)
Mto (river/pillow) Mito (rivers/pillows)
Mfuko (bag) Mifuko (bags)
Mkono (Arm/hand) Mikono (arms/hands)
KI VI
Kisu (Knife) Visu (Knives)
Kito (Jewel) Vito (Jewels)
Kitu (thing) Vitu (things)
Kiatu (Shoe) Viatu (Shoes)
Kiazi (Yam/potato) Viazi (Yams/potatoes)
Kikombe (Cup) Vikombe (Cups)
Kitabu (book) Vitabu (books)
Kitana (comb) Vitana (Combs)
Kitanda (Bed) Vitanda (beds)
Kichwa (Head) Vichwa (Heads)
Kidole (finger) Vidole (fingers)
Kijana (youth) Vijana (youths)
Kiti (chair) Viti (Chairs)
? MA
Daftari (note/exercise book) Madaftari (exercise books)
Pipa (barrel) Mapipa (barrels)
Godoro (mattress) Magodoro (barrels)
Sanduku (suitcase/box) Masanduku (Suitcases/boxes)
Shati (shirt) Mashati (shirts)
Kabati (Cupboard) Makabati (Cupboards)
Gari (car) magari (cars)
basi (bus) mabasi (buses)
Sikio (ear) Masikio (ears)
Jicho (eye) Macho (eyes)
Ziwa (lake) Maziwa (lakes)
Ziwa (breast) Maziwa (Breasts)
Titi (Breast) Matiti (breasts)
CH VY
Chakula (food) Vyakula (foods)
Chandarua (Mosquito net) Vyandarua (Mosquito nets)
Chombo (Vessel) Vyombo (Vessels)
Chanuo (comb) Vyanuo (combs)
Chumba (room) Vyumba (rooms)
Choo (latrine/toilet) Vyoo (latrines/toilets)
Chuo (College) Vyuo (Colleges)
Chetu (ours) Vyetu (Ours)
Chao (theirs) Vyao (theirs)
© AbdulGhany Mohammed and Kassim A. Abdullah
Ottawa, Canada.
All Rights Reserved.