Thursday, May 22, 2014

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
book Audio
kitabu
books
books Audio
vitabu
car
car Audio
gari
cars
cars Audio
magari
tree
tree Audio
mti
trees
trees Audio
miti
flower
flower Audio
ua
flowers
flowers Audio
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 + RulesSwahili
I speak one language
[singular form]
ninaongea lugha moja tu Audio
we speak three languages
[plural noun]
tunaongea lugha tatu Audio
he visits many countries
[adverb + plural noun]
yeye huzuru nchi nyingi Audio
they are happy now
[plural pronoun]
wamefurahi sasa Audio
she has five red shoes
[adjective + plural noun]
yeye ana viatu vitano vyekundu Audio
I want a sandwich without onions
[preposition + plural noun]
nataka sandwich bila vitunguu Audio
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
woman Audio
mwanamke
women
women Audio
wanawake
man
man Audio
mwanamume
men
men Audio
wanaume
house
house Audio
nyumba
houses
houses Audio
nyumba
cup
country Audio
kikombe
cups
countries Audio
vikombe
cow
cow Audio
ng'ombe
cows
cows Audio
ng'ombe
horse
horse Audio
farasi
horses
horses Audio
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.
EnglishSwahili
Helpmsaada Audio
Call the ambulancewito ambulansi Audio
I need a doctorninahitaji daktari Audio
Where is the closest pharmacy?kuna duka la dawa wapi hapa? Audio
Are you okay?uko sawa? Audio
I am sickmimi ni mgonjwa Audio
Call the policepiga simu kwa polisi Audio
Source: www.learn101.org

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