Swahili adjectives are used to describe people, animals, objects, places and ideas. Learning common adjectives helps you create more detailed and natural Kiswahili sentences.
Unlike English, Swahili adjectives generally agree with the noun they describe. This means the form of an adjective can change depending on the noun class.
What is an adjective?
An adjective describes a noun.
Examples:
- mzuri — good
- mkubwa — big
- mdogo — small
- mrefu — tall/long
- mfupi — short
- mpya — new
- ya zamani — old
- safi — clean
- chafu — dirty
- rahisi — easy
- ngumu — difficult
Common Swahili adjectives
| Swahili | English |
|---|---|
| mzuri | good/beautiful |
| mbaya | bad |
| mkubwa | big |
| mdogo | small |
| mrefu | tall/long |
| mfupi | short |
| mzito | heavy |
| mwepesi | light |
| mpya | new |
| safi | clean |
| chafu | dirty |
| moto | hot |
| baridi | cold |
| rahisi | easy |
| ngumu | difficult |
Adjective agreement
Swahili adjectives often change their initial form according to the noun class.
For example:
- mtoto mzuri — a good child
- watoto wazuri — good children
- kitabu kizuri — a good book
- vitabu vizuri — good books
This agreement is an important part of Swahili grammar.
Examples in sentences
Mtoto mzuri anasoma.
The good child is studying.
Watoto wazuri wanacheza.
The good children are playing.
Kitabu kizuri kiko mezani.
The good book is on the table.
Nyumba kubwa iko hapa.
The big house is here.
Comparative and descriptive expressions
Swahili can express comparison using structures such as kuliko.
Juma ni mrefu kuliko Ali.
Juma is taller than Ali.
Kitabu hiki ni kizuri kuliko kile.
This book is better than that one.
Practise Swahili adjectives
Describe people, objects and places around you using five adjectives each day.
For example:
- nyumba kubwa — big house
- gari jipya — new car
- mtoto mdogo — small child
- kitabu kizuri — good book
- barabara ndefu — long road