| M-WA class | Mainly people. Singular nouns often begin with m- or mw-, while plurals begin with wa-. |
| Agreement | Singular subject prefix: a-. Plural subject prefix: wa-. |
| mtoto / watoto | child / children |
| mtu / watu | person / people |
| mwalimu / walimu | teacher / teachers |
| mkulima / wakulima | farmer / farmers |
| mtu | person |
| watu | people |
| mtoto | child |
| watoto | children |
| mwana | child |
| wana | children |
| mzee | elder |
| wazee | elders |
| mwanamume | man |
| wanaume | men |
| mwanamke | woman |
| wanawake | women |
| mgeni | visitor |
| wageni | visitors |
| mwalimu | teacher |
| walimu | teachers |
| mwanafunzi | student |
| wanafunzi | students |
| mgonjwa | patient |
| wagonjwa | patients |
| mfanyakazi | worker |
| wafanyakazi | workers |
| mkulima | farmer |
| wakulima | farmers |
| mpishi | cook |
| wapishi | cooks |
| mwendeshaji | driver |
| waendeshaji | drivers |
| mwandishi | writer |
| waandishi | writers |
| msanii | artist |
| wasanii | artists |
| mwimbaji | singer |
| waimbaji | singers |
| mchezaji | player |
| wachezaji | players |
| mjenzi | builder |
| wajenzi | builders |
| mfanyabiashara | trader |
| wafanyabiashara | traders |
| mvuvi | fisher |
| wavuvi | fishers |
| mwanajeshi | soldier |
| wanajeshi | soldiers |
| mfalme | king |
| wafalme | kings |
| mkuu | chief |
| wakuu | chiefs |
| msaidizi | assistant |
| wasaidizi | assistants |
| mshauri | advisor |
| washauri | advisors |
| mtafiti | researcher |
| watafiti | researchers |
| mwanaanga | astronaut |
| wanaanga | astronauts |
| mlinzi | guard |
| walinzi | guards |
| mwenyeji | host |
| wenyeji | hosts |
| mpinzani | opponent |
| wapinzani | opponents |
| mshindi | winner |
| washindi | winners |
| mhudumu | attendant |
| wahudumu | attendants |
| mchungaji | shepherd |
| wachungaji | shepherds |
| mwanasiasa | politician |
| wanasiasa | politicians |
| mwanasheria | lawyer |
| wanasheria | lawyers |
| mwanariadha | athlete |
| wanariadha | athletes |
| mkongwe | veteran |
| wakongwe | veterans |
| mhamiaji | immigrant |
| wahamiaji | immigrants |
| mkimbizi | refugee |
| wakimbizi | refugees |
| mke | wife |
| wake | wives |
| mume | husband |
| waume | husbands |
| mjomba | uncle |
| wajomba | uncles |
| mjukuu | grandchild |
| wajukuu | grandchildren |
| mlezi | guardian |
| walezi | guardians |
| mhubiri | preacher |
| wahubiri | preachers |
| mhasibu | accountant |
| wahasibu | accountants |
| mhariri | editor |
| wahariri | editors |
| msafiri | traveler |
| wasafiri | travelers |
| mshiriki | participant |
| washiriki | participants |
| M-MI class | Often trees, plants, natural objects and long objects. Singular m-/mw-, plural mi-. |
| Agreement | Singular subject prefix: u-. Plural subject prefix: i-. |
| mti | tree |
| miti | trees |
| mwembe | mango tree |
| miembe | mango trees |
| mkuyu | fig tree |
| mikuyu | fig trees |
| mpapai | papaya tree |
| mipapai | papaya trees |
| mnazi | coconut palm |
| minazi | coconut palms |
| mgomba | banana plant |
| migomba | banana plants |
| mpera | guava tree |
| mipera | guava trees |
| mchungwa | orange tree |
| michungwa | orange trees |
| mchikichi | oil palm |
| michikichi | oil palms |
| mvinje | casuarina |
| mivinje | casuarinas |
| msonobari | pine tree |
| misonobari | pine trees |
| mwarobaini | neem tree |
| miwarobaini | neem trees |
| msitu | forest |
| misitu | forests |
| mto | river |
| mito | rivers |
| mlima | mountain |
| milima | mountains |
| mwezi | moon |
| miezi | months |
| mwaka | year |
| miaka | years |
| mguu | leg |
| miguu | legs |
| moyo | heart |
| mioyo | hearts |
| mkono | arm |
| mikono | arms |
| mdomo | mouth |
| midomo | mouths |
| mji | town |
| miji | towns |
| mfupa | bone |
| mifupa | bones |
| mwili | body |
| miili | bodies |
| mlango | door |
| milango | doors |
| msumari | nail |
| misumari | nails |
| mshipa | vein |
| mishipa | veins |
| mstari | line |
| mistari | lines |
| msingi | foundation |
| misingi | foundations |
| mkondo | current |
| mikondo | currents |
| mteremko | slope |
| miteremko | slopes |
| mwanzi | bamboo |
| mianzi | bamboos |
| mwaloni | oak tree |
| mialoni | oak trees |
| mmea | plant |
| mimea | plants |
| mche | seedling |
| miche | seedlings |
| mkate | bread |
| mikate | loaves |
| mzigo | load |
| mizigo | loads |
| mtungi | jar |
| mitungi | jars |
| mshale | arrow |
| mishale | arrows |
| mkuki | spear |
| mikuki | spears |
| mshumaa | candle |
| mishumaa | candles |
| mpira | ball |
| mipira | balls |
| mfuko | bag |
| mifuko | bags |
| mkeka | mat |
| mikeka | mats |
| mnyororo | chain |
| minyororo | chains |
| mwiko | ladle |
| miiko | ladles |
| mswaki | toothbrush |
| miswaki | toothbrushes |
| mtumbwi | canoe |
| mitumbwi | canoes |
| mnara | tower |
| minara | towers |
| mradi | project |
| miradi | projects |
| JI-MA class | Includes fruits, body parts and many other nouns. Singular nouns often have no visible prefix or ji-, while plurals use ma-. |
| Agreement | Singular subject prefix: li-. Plural subject prefix: ya-. |
| jicho | eye |
| macho | eyes |
| jino | tooth |
| meno | teeth |
| jiwe | stone |
| mawe | stones |
| jina | name |
| majina | names |
| jibu | answer |
| majibu | answers |
| jani | leaf |
| majani | leaves |
| jambo | matter |
| mambo | matters |
| jiko | stove |
| majiko | stoves |
| jitu | giant |
| majitu | giants |
| jimbo | region |
| majimbo | regions |
| jengo | building |
| majengo | buildings |
| gari | car |
| magari | cars |
| duka | shop |
| maduka | shops |
| tunda | fruit |
| matunda | fruits |
| yai | egg |
| mayai | eggs |
| shamba | farm |
| mashamba | farms |
| soko | market |
| masoko | markets |
| goli | goal |
| magoli | goals |
| paja | thigh |
| mapaja | thighs |
| goti | knee |
| magoti | knees |
| kasha | box |
| makasha | boxes |
| kosa | mistake |
| makosa | mistakes |
| kundi | group |
| makundi | groups |
| kombe | cup |
| makombe | cups |
| kaburi | grave |
| makaburi | graves |
| bakuli | bowl |
| mabakuli | bowls |
| dirisha | window |
| madirisha | windows |
| jumba | mansion |
| majumba | mansions |
| shimo | hole |
| mashimo | holes |
| neno | word |
| maneno | words |
| sikio | ear |
| masikio | ears |
| bega | shoulder |
| mabega | shoulders |
| jembe | hoe |
| majembe | hoes |
| tawi | branch |
| matawi | branches |
| ziwa | lake |
| maziwa | lakes |
| bara | continent |
| mabara | continents |
| taifa | nation |
| mataifa | nations |
| pazia | curtain |
| mapazia | curtains |
| embe | mango |
| maembe | mangoes |
| chungwa | orange |
| machungwa | oranges |
| papai | papaya |
| mapapai | papayas |
| pera | guava |
| mapera | guavas |
| tufaha | apple |
| matufaha | apples |
| nanasi | pineapple |
| mananasi | pineapples |
| tikiti | melon |
| matikiti | melons |
| ua | flower |
| maua | flowers |
| bawa | wing |
| mabawa | wings |
| ganda | shell |
| maganda | shells |
| pipa | barrel |
| mapipa | barrels |
| janga | disaster |
| majanga | disasters |
| kitabu | book |
| vitabu | books |
| kiti | chair |
| viti | chairs |
| kikombe | cup |
| vikombe | cups |
| kijiko | spoon |
| vijiko | spoons |
| kisu | knife |
| visu | knives |
| kifaa | tool |
| vifaa | tools |
| kifuniko | lid |
| vifuniko | lids |
| kikapu | basket |
| vikapu | baskets |
| kiatu | shoe |
| viatu | shoes |
| kioo | mirror |
| vioo | mirrors |
| kibao | board |
| vibao | boards |
| kifagio | small broom |
| vifagio | small brooms |
| kibuyu | gourd |
| vibuyu | gourds |
| kibanda | stall |
| vibanda | stalls |
| kijiji | village |
| vijiji | villages |
| kisiwa | island |
| visiwa | islands |
| kisima | well |
| visima | wells |
| kigari | small car |
| vigari | small cars |
| kiberiti | matchbox |
| viberiti | matchboxes |
| kifurushi | package |
| vifurushi | packages |
| kiungo | ingredient |
| viungo | ingredients |
| kiuno | waist |
| viuno | waists |
| kidole | finger |
| vidole | fingers |
| kichwa | head |
| vichwa | heads |
| kiwiko | elbow |
| viwiko | elbows |
| kifua | chest |
| vifua | chests |
| kitambaa | cloth |
| vitambaa | cloths |
| kiganja | palm |
| viganja | palms |
| kifungo | button |
| vifungo | buttons |
| kipepeo | butterfly |
| vipepeo | butterflies |
| kijiti | stick |
| vijiti | sticks |
| kiboko | hippopotamus |
| viboko | hippopotamuses |
| kiota | nest |
| viota | nests |
| kigoda | stool |
| vigoda | stools |
| kiwavi | caterpillar |
| viwavi | caterpillars |
| kifundo | knot |
| vifundo | knots |
| kidonda | wound |
| vidonda | wounds |
| kipande | piece |
| vipande | pieces |
| kikundi | group |
| vikundi | groups |
| kiongozi | leader |
| viongozi | leaders |
| kijana | youth |
| vijana | youths |
| kiumbe | creature |
| viumbe | creatures |
| kitanda | bed |
| vitanda | beds |
| chumba | room |
| vyumba | rooms |
| chakula | food |
| vyakula | foods |
| chombo | vessel |
| vyombo | vessels |
| cheti | certificate |
| vyeti | certificates |
| choo | toilet |
| vyoo | toilets |
| kifungu | clause |
| vifungu | clauses |
| kisa | story |
| visa | stories |
| kuandika | to write |
| kusoma | to read |
| kuongea | to speak |
| kusikiliza | to listen |
| kuona | to see |
| kuangalia | to look |
| kula | to eat |
| kunywa | to drink |
| kulala | to sleep |
| kuamka | to wake |
| kwenda | to go |
| kuja | to come |
| kukaa | to sit |
| kusimama | to stand |
| kutembea | to walk |
| kukimbia | to run |
| kucheza | to play |
| kuimba | to sing |
| kupika | to cook |
| kufanya | to do |
| kujifunza | to learn |
| kufundisha | to teach |
| kufungua | to open |
| kufunga | to close |
| kununua | to buy |
| kuuza | to sell |
| kulipa | to pay |
| kupata | to get |
| kutoa | to give |
| kuchukua | to take |
| kuleta | to bring |
| kutuma | to send |
| kupokea | to receive |
| kuuliza | to ask |
| kujibu | to answer |
| kusaidia | to help |
| kupenda | to love |
| kufikiri | to think |
| kuelewa | to understand |
| kuondoka | to leave |
| kurudi | to return |
| kuingia | to enter |
| kutoka | to exit |
| kupanda | to climb |
| kushuka | to descend |
| kuruka | to jump |
| kuogelea | to swim |
| kusafiri | to travel |
| kuendesha | to drive |
| kubeba | to carry |
| kuosha | to wash |
| kufua | to launder |
| kuoga | to bathe |
| kusafisha | to clean |
| kufagia | to sweep |
| kushona | to sew |
| kuvaa | to wear |
| kuvua | to undress |
| kukata | to cut |
| kuvunja | to break |
| kujenga | to build |
| kutengeneza | to make |
| kurekebisha | to repair |
| kuchimba | to dig |
| kulima | to farm |
| kuvuna | to harvest |
| kumwagilia | to irrigate |
| kupima | to measure |
| kuhesabu | to count |
| kuchora | to draw |
| kukumbuka | to remember |
| kusahau | to forget |
| kujua | to know |
| kuamini | to believe |
| kuamua | to decide |
| kuchagua | to choose |
| kujaribu | to try |
| kuanza | to begin |
| kumaliza | to finish |
| kuendelea | to continue |
| kucheka | to laugh |
| kulia | to cry |
| kutabasamu | to smile |
| kuogopa | to fear |
| kufurahi | to rejoice |
| kuchoka | to tire |
| kupumzika | to rest |
| kuishi | to live |
| kuzaliwa | to be born |
| kukua | to grow |
| kungoja | to wait |
| kutafuta | to search |
| kukutana | to meet |
| kusalimia | to greet |
| kushukuru | to thank |
| kuomba | to request |
| kusamehe | to forgive |
| kukubali | to accept |
| kukataa | to refuse |
| kushiriki | to participate |
| N-N class | Includes many animals, objects and borrowed words. Singular and plural forms are often identical. |
| Agreement | Singular subject prefix: i-. Plural subject prefix: zi-. |
| nyumba | house |
| ndizi | banana |
| nyama | meat |
| ngoma | drum |
| ndege | bird |
| nguo | clothes |
| simba | lion |
| mbwa | dog |
| paka | cat |
| samaki | fish |
| chupa | bottle |
| sahani | plate |
| meza | table |
| kalamu | pen |
| barua | letter |
| habari | news |
| njia | road |
| ngazi | stairs |
| pesa | money |
| saa | clock |
| mamba | crocodile |
| nyuki | bee |
| nyoka | snake |
| mbegu | seed |
| ngano | wheat |
| kahawa | coffee |
| chai | tea |
| karanga | peanut |
| chumvi | salt |
| sukari | sugar |
| pamba | cotton |
| sabuni | soap |
| simu | phone |
| kompyuta | computer |
| motokaa | car |
| baiskeli | bicycle |
| ng'ombe | cow |
| picha | picture |
| nyota | star |
| nguvu | strength |
| mbuzi | goat |
| kondoo | sheep |
| nguruwe | pig |
| farasi | horse |
| punda | donkey |
| tembo | elephant |
| chui | leopard |
| fisi | hyena |
| nyati | buffalo |
| twiga | giraffe |
| kuku | chicken |
| bata | duck |
| njiwa | pigeon |
| tai | eagle |
| kunguru | crow |
| mbu | mosquito |
| nzi | fly |
| siafu | driver ant |
| panzi | grasshopper |
| buibui | spider |
| ardhi | land |
| mbingu | sky |
| bahari | sea |
| hewa | air |
| hali | condition |
| nchi | country |
| dunia | world |
| mvua | rain |
| radi | thunder |
| barafu | ice |
| nafasi | space |
| ndoto | dream |
| akili | intelligence |
| roho | soul |
| shida | problem |
| furaha | happiness |
| huzuni | sadness |
| hasira | anger |
| amani | peace |
| heshima | respect |
| shule | school |
| hospitali | hospital |
| ofisi | office |
| hoteli | hotel |
| benki | bank |
| posta | post office |
| bandari | port |
| barabara | street |
| treni | train |
| meli | ship |
| redio | radio |
| televisheni | television |
| kamera | camera |
| ramani | map |
| tiketi | ticket |
| pasipoti | passport |
| leseni | license |
| dawa | medicine |
| rangi | color |
| dhahabu | gold |
| hapa | here |
| hapo | there |
| pale | over there |
| huku | this way |
| huko | that way |
| kule | yonder |
| humu | in here |
| humo | inside there |
| mle | in there |
| mahali | place |
| ndani | inside |
| nje | outside |
| juu | above |
| chini | below |
| mbele | in front |
| nyuma | behind |
| karibu | near |
| mbali | far |
| katikati | middle |
| pembeni | beside |
| nyumbani | at home |
| shuleni | at school |
| kazini | at work |
| sokoni | at market |
| hospitalini | at hospital |
| barabarani | on the road |
| darasani | in class |
| uwanjani | on the field |
| bandarini | at the port |
| ofisini | at the office |
| kanisani | at church |
| msikitini | at the mosque |
| maktabani | at the library |
| hotelini | at the hotel |
| jikoni | in the kitchen |
| chooni | in the bathroom |
| langoni | at the gate |
| mlangoni | at the doorway |
| mezani | on the table |
| kitandani | in bed |
| njiani | on the way |
| dukani | at the shop |
| shambani | on the farm |
| mjini | in town |
| kijijini | in the village |
| chumbani | in the room |
| bustanini | in the garden |
| porini | in the bush |
| msituni | in the forest |
| baharini | at sea |
| mtoni | at the river |
| ziwani | at the lake |
| pwani | on the coast |
| ufukweni | on the beach |
| milimani | in the mountains |
| mlimani | on the mountain |
| bondeni | in the valley |
| jangwani | in the desert |
| kisimani | at the well |
| kisiwani | on the island |
| benkini | at the bank |
| postani | at the post office |
| steshenini | at the station |
| kiwandani | in the factory |
| karakanani | in the workshop |
| mahakamani | in court |
| gerezani | in prison |
| jumbani | in the mansion |
| ukumbini | in the hall |
| hekaluni | in the temple |
| garini | in the car |
| trenini | on the train |
| melini | on the ship |
| ndegeni | on the plane |
| baiskelini | on the bicycle |
| motokaani | in the motorcar |
| mtumbwini | in the canoe |
| basini | on the bus |
| botini | in the boat |
| teksini | in the taxi |
| mfukoni | in the pocket |
| sandukuni | in the box |
| kikapuni | in the basket |
| chupani | in the bottle |
| kikombeni | in the cup |
| sahanini | on the plate |
| bakulini | in the bowl |
| kitabuni | in the book |
| ukurasani | on the page |
| gazetini | in the newspaper |
| mkononi | in the hand |
| kichwani | on the head |
| usoni | on the face |
| mdomoni | in the mouth |
| moyoni | in the heart |
| sikioni | in the ear |
| mgongoni | on the back |
| begani | on the shoulder |
| tumboni | in the belly |
| kifuani | on the chest |
| U class | Often abstract ideas, qualities and substances. Many nouns begin with u- and have no regular plural. |
| Agreement | Subject prefix: u-. Some U-class nouns have plurals belonging to other classes. |
| uzi | thread |
| nyuzi | threads |
| uso | face |
| nyuso | faces |
| ulimi | tongue |
| ndimi | tongues |
| ukuta | wall |
| kuta | walls |
| ubavu | rib |
| mbavu | ribs |
| ufunguo | key |
| funguo | keys |
| ubao | board |
| mbao | boards |
| ufagio | broom |
| fagio | brooms |
| unywele | hair |
| nywele | hairs |
| ukucha | fingernail |
| kucha | fingernails |
| uti | rod |
| nti | rods |
| utambi | wick |
| tambi | wicks |
| ushanga | bead |
| shanga | beads |
| upinde | bow |
| pinde | bows |
| utepe | ribbon |
| tepe | ribbons |
| unyayo | footprint |
| nyayo | footprints |
| ufito | thin stick |
| fito | thin sticks |
| ukanda | belt |
| kanda | belts |
| ukingo | edge |
| kingo | edges |
| wimbo | song |
| nyimbo | songs |
| wavu | net |
| nyavu | nets |
| waraka | document |
| nyaraka | documents |
| wakati | time |
| nyakati | times |
| upande | side |
| pande | sides |
| ufa | crack |
| nyufa | cracks |
| ua | fence |
| nyua | fences |
| ubawa | wing |
| mbawa | wings |
| upanga | sword |
| panga | swords |
| wembe | razor |
| nyembe | razors |
| ukuni | firewood stick |
| kuni | firewood |
| huu | this |
| huo | that |
| ule | that over there |
| hizi | these |
| hizo | those |
| zile | those over there |
| wangu | my |
| wako | your |
| wake | his/her |
| wetu | our |
| wenu | your (plural) |
| wao | their |
| zangu | my |
| zako | your |
| zake | his/her |
| zetu | our |
| zenu | your (plural) |
| zao | their |
| mrefu | long |
| ndefu | long |
| mfupi | short |
| fupi | short |
| mpana | wide |
| pana | wide |
| mwembamba | narrow |
| nyembamba | narrow |
| mzito | heavy |
| nzito | heavy |
| mwepesi | light |
| nyepesi | light |
| mkubwa | big |
| kubwa | big |
| mdogo | small |
| ndogo | small |
| mzuri | good |
| nzuri | good |
| mgumu | hard |
| ngumu | hard |
| mmoja | one |
| nyingi | many |
| uzuri | beauty |
| ubaya | badness |
| utoto | childhood |
| utu | humanity |
| uongo | lie |
| ukweli | truth |
| ujasiri | courage |
| uaminifu | honesty |
| upendo | love |
| urafiki | friendship |
| uhuru | freedom |
| umoja | unity |
| uchumi | economy |
| uongozi | leadership |
| ujuzi | skill |
| uzee | old age |
| uhai | life |
| utajiri | wealth |
| umasikini | poverty |
| usafi | cleanliness |
| uchafu | dirt |
| usingizi | sleep |
| uchungu | bitterness |
| utulivu | calm |
| uvumilivu | patience |
| ulemavu | disability |
| usawa | equality |
| ufahamu | awareness |
| ubunifu | creativity |
| usalama | safety |
| ushindi | victory |
| ushirikiano | cooperation |
| ukimya | silence |
| ujana | youth |
| utamaduni | culture |
| ustawi | wellbeing |
| ufundi | craftsmanship |
| ushujaa | bravery |
| udhaifu | weakness |
| uwezo | ability |
| ukubwa | size |
| udogo | smallness |
| urefu | length |
| ufupi | shortness |
| upana | width |
| wembamba | narrowness |
| uzito | weight |
| wepesi | lightness |
| ugumu | hardness |
| ulaini | softness |
| upole | gentleness |
| ukarimu | generosity |
| uchoyo | stinginess |
| ubinafsi | selfishness |
| unyenyekevu | humility |
| ujivuni | conceit |
| uzembe | negligence |
| uvivu | laziness |
| uchangamfu | cheerfulness |
| ucheshi | humor |
| uchovu | fatigue |
| upweke | loneliness |
| uchanganyifu | confusion |
| wivu | jealousy |
| uchu | craving |
| ukali | severity |
| utamu | sweetness |
| ubaridi | coldness |
| unafuu | relief |
| unyevu | moisture |
| ukavu | dryness |
| ung'avu | brightness |
| weupe | whiteness |
| weusi | blackness |
| wekundu | redness |
| umiliki | ownership |
| ubichi | rawness |
| uchanga | infancy |
| ukomavu | maturity |
| upya | newness |
| uelewa | understanding |
| umakini | attentiveness |
| ustadi | expertise |
| ufasaha | fluency |
| uadilifu | integrity |
| uhalali | legality |
| uhakika | certainty |
| uwezekano | possibility |
| umuhimu | importance |
| uwazi | openness |
| ulimaji | farming |
| ufugaji | animal husbandry |
| uvuvi | fishing |
| uwindaji | hunting |
| uandishi | writing |
| usomaji | reading |
| ufundishaji | teaching |
| ujifunzaji | learning |
| utalii | tourism |
| ustaarabu | civilization |
