Nomino za Ngeli ya A–Wa: Nouns in the M–Wa Class

Learn the Kiswahili A–Wa noun class with clear explanations, English translations, rules, and over 70 examples for beginners. Understand how to form singular and plural nouns, agreement with verbs, adjectives, and possessives—perfect for students and Kiswahili language learners.

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Introduction

Ngeli ya A–Wa also known as Ngeli ya M-Wa is one of the most important noun classes in Kiswahili. It mainly includes people (humans). When teaching Kiswahili to beginners, the A–Wa class is usually the easiest to start with because its patterns are predictable.

This blog will help learners understand how nouns in this class are formed, how they behave, their agreements, and how to build sentences. English explanations and translations are included for easy understanding.

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⭐ 1. Ngeli ya A–Wa ni nini?

English: What is the A–Wa noun class?

Ngeli ya A–Wa ni kundi la nomino zinazotaja watu katika umoja na wingi.

• Umoja (Singular): hutumia kiambishi a-
• Wingi (Plural): hutumia kiambishi wa-

Muundo wa Msingi (Basic Structure)

Singular	Plural	Meaning
a-	wa-	person/people

Examples:

• mtoto → watoto (child → children)
• rafiki → marafiki (friend → friends)
• mgonjwa → wagonjwa (patient → patients)

Lakini katika makubaliano ya vitenzi na vivumishi, hutumia a- na wa-.

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⭐ 2. Sifa Kuu za Ngeli ya A–Wa

(Key Features of the A–Wa Noun Class)

1. Hutaja WATU (Mostly humans)
2. Kiambishi cha umoja ni a- (he/she)
3. Kiambishi cha wingi ni wa- (they)
4. Vitenzi huanza na a- au wa-
5. Vivumishi na viwakilishi pia hubadilika kwa namna hii

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⭐ 3. Mifano ya Nomino za A–Wa (Over 70 Examples)

A. Familia (Family Members)

1. mtoto – watoto (child → children)
2. mzazi – wazazi (parent → parents)
3. mjomba – wajomba (uncle → uncles)
4. shangazi – mashangazi (aunt → aunts)
5. babu – mababu (grandfather → grandfathers)
6. bibi – mabibi (grandmother → grandmothers)

B. Kazini (Professions / Occupations)

7. mwalimu – walimu (teacher → teachers)
8. daktari – madaktari (doctor → doctors)
9. muuguzi – wauguzi (nurse → nurses)
10. mkulima – wakulima (farmer → farmers)
11. dereva – madereva (driver → drivers)
12. polisi – polisi (police officer → police officers)
13. mwanajeshi – wanajeshi (soldier → soldiers)
14. mwandishi – waandishi (writer → writers)
15. mchezaji – wachezaji (player/athlete → athletes)
16. mwimbaji – waimbaji (singer → singers)
17. mchungaji – wachungaji (pastor/shepherd → pastors)

C. Watu wa Jamii (People in society)

18. jirani – majirani (neighbor → neighbors)
19. mgeni – wageni (visitor → visitors)
20. mzee – wazee (elder → elders)
21. kijana – vijana (youth → youths)
22. mwananchi – wananchi (citizen → citizens)
23. rafiki – marafiki (friend → friends)

D. Watu Kulingana na Vyeo (Titles/Positions)

24. kiongozi – viongozi (leader → leaders)
25. rais – marais (president → presidents)
26. waziri – mawaziri (minister → ministers)
27. mwamuzi – waamuzi (judge → judges)
28. mwenyekiti – wenyeviti (chairperson → chairpersons)
29. sheikh – masheikh (sheikh → sheikhs)
30. mchungaji – wachungaji (pastor → pastors)

E. Watu Kulingana na Imani, Makabila, Au Makundi

31. Mkristo – Wakristo (Christian → Christians)
32. Mwislamu – Waislamu (Muslim → Muslims)
33. Mnyarwanda – Wanyarwanda
34. Msomali – Wasomali
35. Mhindi – Wahindi
36. Mchina – Wachina
37. Mswahili – Waswahili
38. Mluganda – Waluganda

F. Wanafunzi na Walimu

39. mwanafunzi – wanafunzi
40. mwalimu – walimu
41. mwalimu mkuu – walimu wakuu
42. mfanyakazi – wafanyakazi
43. mtumishi – watumishi
44. mshindi – washindi

G. Watu Kulingana na Tabia

45. mwongo – waongo (liar → liars)
46. mvivu – wavivu (lazy person → lazy people)
47. mkarimu – wakarimu (kind person → kind people)
48. mjinga – wajinga (ignorant person → ignorant people)
49. mcheshi – wacheshi (funny person → funny people)
50. mchangamfu – wachangamfu (cheerful → cheerful people)
51. mchafu – wachafu (dirty → dirty people)
52. mdanganyifu – wadanganyifu (deceitful → deceitful people)
53. mrefu – warefu (tall → tall people)
54. mfupi – wafupi (short → short people)

H. Watu Kulingana na Umri au Hadhi

55. mtoto – watoto
56. bwana – mabwana (man → men)
57. bibi – mabibi (lady → ladies)
58. mwana – wana (son → sons)
59. mke – wake (wife → wives)
60. mume – waume (husband → husbands)

I. Watu wa Michezo na Sanaa

61. mpiga picha – wapiga picha
62. mchoraji – wachoraji
63. mwigizaji – waigizaji
64. mwimbaji – waimbaji
65. mpishi – wapishi
66. mchezaji – wachezaji
67. muogeleaji – waogeleaji

J. Watu wa Kiroho na Desturi

68. mchawi – wachawi
69. mganga – waganga
70. mchungaji – wachungaji
71. mtabiri – watabiri
72. mtawa – watawa
73. mwalimu wa dini – walimu wa dini

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⭐ 4. Makubaliano ya Kitenzi (Verb Agreement)

In Kiswahili, the verb must agree with the noun class.

Umoja (Singular – a-)

• mtoto a-na-cheza
  (the child is playing)
• mwalimu a-na-fundisha
  (the teacher is teaching)

Wingi (Plural – wa-)

• watoto wa-na-cheza
  (the children are playing)
• walimu wa-na-fundisha
  (the teachers are teaching)

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⭐ 5. Vivumishi katika Ngeli ya A–Wa (Adjectives Agreement)

Umoja: m- / mw-

• mtoto mzuri – a good child
• mwanafunzi mwerevu – a clever pupil
• mwalimu mkali – a strict teacher

Wingi: wa-

• watoto wazuri – good children
• wanafunzi werevu – clever pupils
• walimu wakali – strict teachers

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⭐ 6. Viwakilishi (Pronouns) for A–Wa Class

Function	Singular	Plural	English Meaning
Subject	a-	wa-	he/she, they
Possessive	wake	wao	his/her, their
Demonstrative	huyu	hawa	this/these people

Examples

• Huyu ni mwalimu. (This is a teacher.)
• Hawa ni wanafunzi. (These are students.)
• Vitabu vyao vipo hapa. (Their books are here.)

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⭐ 7. Kutengeneza Sentensi Rahisi kwa A–Wa Class

1. Umoja (Singular)

• Mtoto anacheka.
  (The child is laughing.)
• Mwalimu anafika.
  (The teacher is arriving.)
• Mganga anatibu mgonjwa.
  (The doctor is treating a patient.)

2. Wingi (Plural)

• Watoto wanakula chakula.
  (Children are eating food.)
• Walimu wanapanga mtihani.
  (Teachers are preparing an exam.)
• Wachezaji wanashinda mechi.
  (Players are winning the match.)

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⭐ 8. Mazoezi kwa Wanafunzi (Practice Exercises)

A. Taja umoja na wingi

1. mwalimu
2. mgeni
3. mgonjwa
4. mjomba
5. mchungaji

B. Unda sentensi kwa kutumia:

• watoto
• mwimbaji
• wageni
• wachezaji

C. Tumia vivumishi sahihi

1. _______ (mtoto) _______ (zuri)
2. _______ (walimu) _______ (werevu)
3. _______ (mwanafunzi) _______ (mpya)

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⭐ Conclusion

Ngeli ya A–Wa ni rahisi na muhimu sana kwa wanafunzi wa Kiswahili—hasa wanaoanza. Hii ndiyo ngeli inayotaja watu, na kwa sababu tunazungumza juu ya watu kila siku, ni muhimu kuimasteri mapema.

Kwa kutumia mifano zaidi ya 70, maelezo kwa Kiingereza, na mazoezi, wanafunzi wanaweza kuelewa vizuri jinsi ya kutumia ngeli hii katika kuzungumza, kuandika, na kusoma Kiswahili.