Nouns in the Li-Ya Class (Ngeli ya Li-Ya)

Learn how to use nouns from the Kiswahili Li-Ya noun class. This beginner-friendly guide explains the structure, agreements, examples, and common mistakes with translated phrases and classroom-friendly exercises.

---

Introduction: What Is “Ngeli ya Li-Ya”?

In Kiswahili, nouns (nomino) are grouped into noun classes called ngeli. These classes determine how adjectives, verbs, and possessive words agree with the noun.

One important noun class for beginners is the Li-Ya class, used for most singular and plural names of things, especially non-living objects, like gari (car) or jiko (stove).

• Singular form begins with Li-
• Plural form begins with Ya-

Let’s break it down in simple English with plenty of Kiswahili examples, so you fully understand how this class works.

---

1. Basic Structure of Li-Ya Noun Class

This class includes objects and things. It is commonly used for items, tools, and other inanimate things.

Singular (Li-)	Plural (Ya-)	English Meaning
gari	magari	car(s)
jiko	majiko	stove(s)
jembe	majembe	hoe(s)
embe	maembe	mango(es)
jicho	macho	eye(s)
tunda	matunda	fruit(s)

🧠 Note: Some words look like they start with other letters, but they still belong to the Li-Ya class because of how they form plurals with “ma”.

---

2. Sentence Structure in Li-Ya Class

To make good sentences using Li-Ya nouns, you must make sure the subject marker and agreement match the noun class.

✅ Affirmative Sentences

Structure:

Li-ya noun + verb with agreement + object/complement

Kiswahili Sentence	Translation
Gari limeharibika.	The car has broken down.
Magari yameharibika.	The cars have broken down.
Tunda limeiva.	The fruit is ripe.
Matunda yameiva.	The fruits are ripe.

🚫 Negative Sentences

Kiswahili Sentence	Translation
Gari halijaharibika.	The car has not broken down.
Magari hayajaharibika.	The cars have not broken down.
Tunda halijaiva.	The fruit is not ripe.
Matunda hayajaiva.	The fruits are not ripe.

🧠 Tip: Use ha + li + verb for negative (singular), and ha + ya + verb for plural.

---

3. Agreement in Adjectives (Vivumishi) and Possessives

In Kiswahili, adjectives and possessive pronouns must agree with the noun class.

🌟 Adjective Agreement (Vivumishi)

Noun	Adjective	Sentence
gari	jipya (new)	Gari jipya limefika.
magari	mapya (new – plural)	Magari mapya yamefika.
jicho	jekundu (red)	Jicho jekundu linauma.
macho	mekundu (red – plural)	Macho mekundu yanauma.

🎯 Rule: Adjective prefixes ji- / ma- match Li-Ya nouns.

👪 Possessive Agreement (Possessives)

English	Singular (Li-)	Plural (Ya-)
my car	gari langu	magari yangu
his/her eye	jicho lake	macho yake
our fruit	tunda letu	matunda yetu

---

📊 Diagram: Li-Ya Noun Class Overview

+—————————–+

|      LI-YA NOUN CLASS       |

+—————————–+

| Singular Prefix: LI / JI    |

| Plural Prefix: MA / YA      |

| Agreement in verb: LI / YA  |

| Agreement in adjective: JI / MA |

+—————————–+

Examples:

– jicho (eye) → macho (eyes)

– tunda (fruit) → matunda (fruits)

4. Common Verbs Used with Li-Ya Nouns

Verb (Kitenzi)	Meaning	Example Sentence
-haribika	to break	Gari limeharibika.
-iva	to ripen	Tunda limeiva.
-potea	to disappear / get lost	Embe limepotea.
-fika	to arrive	Magari yamefika.
-anguka	to fall	Tunda limeanguka.

---

✏️ Practice Activities

A. Change the following singular sentences into plural

1. Tunda limeiva.
2. Gari jipya limewasili.
3. Jicho lake linauma.

Answers:

1. Matunda yameiva.
2. Magari mapya yamewasili.
3. Macho yake yanauma.

---

B. Fill in the blanks with correct verb agreements

1. Embe __________ (iva).
2. Macho __________ (anguka).
3. Gari __________ (haribika).
4. Magari __________ (fika).

Correct Answers:

1. limeiva
2. yameanguka
3. limeharibika
4. yamefika

---

🧠 Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Mistake	Correction	Why?
Magari limeharibika.	Magari yameharibika.	Verb agreement should be ya for plural.
Tunda wameiva.	Tunda limeiva.	Tunda is singular – use li not wa.
Macho linauma.	Macho yanauma.	Macho is plural – use ya not li.

---

Conclusion: Why Learn the Li-Ya Class?

Understanding the Li-Ya noun class helps you describe, count, and refer to many common things in Kiswahili. This class includes many everyday words – fruits, tools, parts of the body, etc.

🌟 Ukielewa ngeli ya Li-Ya, unaweza kueleza vitu vingi kwa Kiswahili kwa usahihi.
(If you understand the Li-Ya class, you can describe many things in Kiswahili accurately.)

Keep practicing with different nouns and verbs, and always check the agreement!