Remaining Noun Classes (5/6, 11/10, 15, 16-18) in Swahili

Overview

At the CEFR B1 level, completing your knowledge of the noun class system by learning the remaining classes is an important milestone. These classes — Ji-/Ma- (5/6), U- (11/10), Ku- (15), and the locative classes Pa-/Ku-/Mu- (16-18) — cover fruits, augmentatives, abstract concepts, infinitives, and location expressions.

While A1 covered the most frequent classes (1/2, 3/4, 7/8, 9/10), these remaining classes appear constantly in natural Swahili. Class 5/6 (Ji-/Ma-) includes many food items, body parts, and augmentatives. Class 11 (U-) covers thin/long objects and abstract nouns. Class 15 (Ku-) turns verbs into nouns (infinitives). Classes 16-18 are the locative classes essential for expressing location.

Mastering all classes completes the framework needed for full noun class agreement in any context.

How It Works

Class 5/6: Ji-/Ma- (Fruits, Collections, Augmentatives)

Singular (5)	Plural (6)	English
tunda	matunda	fruit(s)
jicho	macho	eye(s)
gari	magari	car(s)
jina	majina	name(s)
ziwa	maziwa	lake(s) / milk
embe	maembe	mango(s)

Agreement: Subject prefix li-/ya-; Possessive la/ya; Demonstrative hili/haya

Class 11/10: U- (Thin/Long Objects, Abstract)

Singular (11)	Plural (10)	English
ukuta	kuta	wall(s)
uso	nyuso	face(s)
ubao	mbao	plank(s)
uzuri	—	beauty (abstract, no plural)
uhuru	—	freedom
utoto	—	childhood

Agreement: Subject prefix u-/zi-; Possessive wa/za

Class 15: Ku- (Infinitives/Verbal Nouns)

Form	Meaning
kusoma	reading/to read
kufanya	doing/to do
kulala	sleeping/to sleep

Agreement: Subject prefix ku-; Possessive kwa; Example: Kusoma ni kuzuri. (Reading is good.)

Classes 16-18: Locative

Class	Prefix	Meaning	Example
16 (pa-)	pa-	specific place	Mahali hapa ni pazuri. (This place is nice.)
17 (ku-)	ku-	general area	Huko ni kuzuri. (There is nice.)
18 (mu-/m-)	m-	inside	Ndani ni muzuri. (Inside is nice.)

Examples in Context

Swahili	English	Note
Tunda hili ni kubwa.	This fruit is big.	Class 5: hili
Matunda haya ni mazuri.	These fruits are good.	Class 6: haya, mazuri
Ukuta huu ni mrefu.	This wall is tall.	Class 11: huu
Kusoma ni kuzuri.	Reading is good.	Class 15: ku- agreement
Mahali hapa ni pazuri.	This place is nice.	Class 16
Gari jipya limefika.	A new car has arrived.	Class 5: jipya, li-
Majina yao ni mazuri.	Their names are nice.	Class 6: yao, mazuri
Ubao umevunjika.	The plank is broken.	Class 11: u- prefix
Uzuri wa nchi hii.	The beauty of this country.	Abstract class 11
Ndani mna watu wengi.	Inside there are many people.	Class 18

Common Mistakes

Confusing class 5 with class 9 (both can lack visible prefix)

• Wrong: Gari yangu (my car — class 9 possessive)
• Right: Gari langu (my car — class 5 possessive)
• Why: "Gari" is class 5 (li-/ya-), not class 9 (i-/zi-). The possessive "langu" confirms class 5.

Treating class 11 abstract nouns as having plurals

• Wrong: Mauzuri (beauties)
• Right: Uzuri has no plural — it is an uncountable abstract noun
• Why: Many class 11 abstract nouns (uzuri, uhuru, upendo) have no plural form.

Forgetting class 15 agreement

• Wrong: Kusoma ni nzuri. (Reading is nice — class 9 adjective)
• Right: Kusoma ni kuzuri. (Reading is good.)
• Why: Class 15 (ku-) verbal nouns take ku- agreement on adjectives.

Usage Notes

Class 5/6 is called the "augmentative" class because some words shift to this class to indicate large size: "mtu" (person, class 1) → "jitu" (giant, class 5). Conversely, class 7/8 can create diminutives.

The locative classes (16-18) are increasingly simplified in modern Swahili. Many speakers use class 17 (ku-) as a default locative, and the locative suffix -ni often replaces explicit class 16-18 marking.

Practice Tips

1. Class 5/6 food vocabulary: Learn fruit and food terms in class 5/6, practicing the ji-/ma- pattern: tunda/matunda, embe/maembe, chungwa/machungwa.
2. Abstract noun derivation: Take five adjective roots and create class 11 abstract nouns: -zuri → uzuri, -baya → ubaya, -kubwa → ukubwa.
3. Infinitive sentences: Write five sentences using ku- infinitives as subjects: "Kusafiri ni kuzuri, kufanya kazi ni muhimu..."

Related Concepts

• Prerequisite: Noun Class 7/8: Ki-/Vi- (Things/Tools) — completing the class system builds on earlier classes
• Next steps: Advanced Noun Derivation (U-/Ma-/Ki- Abstract) — deep dive into creating abstract and derived nouns