Swahili Plural

Welcome to the fourth Swahili lesson about the plural. This time we will learn about the singular form and what it looks like in the plural, followed by grammar rules, finally a list of emergency phrases.

book kitabu

books vitabu

car gari

cars magari

tree mti

trees miti

flower ua

flowers maua

Plural Grammar Rules

The plural is the form which refers to more than one object or person. For example: I speak two languages the plural here is [languages] because it refers to more than one [language]. The examples below use plurals in different ways and places to demonstrate how they look when converted from their singular form.

Grammar + Rules - Swahili
I speak one language [singular form] ninaongea lugha moja tu
we speak three languages [plural noun] tunaongea lugha tatu
he visits many countries [adverb + plural noun] yeye huzuru nchi nyingi
they are happy now [plural pronoun] wamefurahi sasa
she has five red shoes [adjective + plural noun] yeye ana viatu vitano vyekundu
I want a sandwich without onions [preposition + plural noun] nataka sandwich bila vitunguu

The following is a list of examples showing both the singular and plural form. This demonstrates how the plural is used with humans, objects and animals.

woman mwanamke

women wanawake

man mwanamume

men wanaume

house nyumba

houses nyumba

cup kikombe

cups vikombe

cow ng'ombe

cows ng'ombe

horse farasi

horses farasi

Emergency Phrases

Now it's time to practice your Swahili by looking at these phrases which are related to emergencies. Be prepared when traveling abroad, just in case you need help or by offering help to someone else. I recommend writing these expressions down on a notebook before traveling.

English - Swahili
Help msaada
Call the ambulance wito ambulansi
I need a doctor ninahitaji daktari
Where is the closest pharmacy? kuna duka la dawa wapi hapa?
Are you okay? uko sawa?
I am sick mimi ni mgonjwa
Call the police piga simu kwa polisi

Did you enjoy this lesson about the plural in Swahili? I hope so, if you have any problem with this lesson contact me with questions you have homepage. You can now check the next lesson below.