A Beginner-Friendly English–Kiswahili Learning Blog

Learn Kiswahili demonstrative adjectives (vivumishi viashiria) with clear English explanations, Kiswahili examples, tables, and over 50 practice items. Understand how to use “huyu, huyu, yule, hawa, wale” and more across all noun classes.

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Introduction

Vivumishi viashiria are demonstrative adjectives used to point out people, animals, or things.
In English, they are words like:

• this
• that
• these
• those

In Kiswahili, they change depending on the noun class. For beginners, this topic can be confusing, so this blog explains everything in English, with Kiswahili examples and translations.

We shall cover:

• What vivumishi viashiria are
• Their forms in different noun classes
• Over 50 examples
• Sentences with English translations
• Common mistakes
• A practice quiz

Let’s begin!

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1. Meaning of Vivumishi Viashiria

Kiswahili Explanation

Vivumishi viashiria ni maneno yanayoonyesha au kuashiria mahali alipo mtu au kitu. Huonyesha umbali kama vile karibu au mbali.

English Explanation

Demonstrative adjectives tell us location or position of a person or object.
They show:

• Near (close to the speaker)
• Far (away from the speaker)

In Kiswahili, demonstratives change by noun class.

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2. Types of Vivumishi Viashiria in Kiswahili

There are three major forms:

1. Near demonstratives (Karibu)
   1. this, these
2. Far demonstratives (Mbali)
   1. that, those
3. Mid-distance (Intermediate)
   1. Used rarely in daily speech but common in books.

In this blog, we focus on near and far because beginners learn these first.

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3. Vivumishi Viashiria by Noun Class

Below are the forms according to the main Kiswahili noun classes.

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A. Ngeli ya A–WA (People)

Number	English	Kiswahili
Umoja	this person	Huyu
Wingi	these people	Hawa
Umoja	that person	Yule
Wingi	those people	Wale

Examples

1. Mwalimu huyu – this teacher
2. Wanafunzi hawa – these students
3. Mgeni yule – that visitor
4. Wazazi wale – those parents

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B. Ngeli ya LI–YA (Things)

Number	English	Kiswahili
Umoja	this	Hili
Wingi	these	Haya
Umoja	that	Lile
Wingi	those	Yale

Examples

• Tunda hili – this fruit
• Majibu haya – these answers
• Gari lile – that car
• Mafuta yale – those oils

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C. Ngeli ya KI–VI

Number	English	Kiswahili
Umoja	this	Kiki / Hiki (Hiki is most used)
Wingi	these	Hivi
Umoja	that	Kile
Wingi	those	Vile

Examples

• Kisu hiki – this knife
• Vitu hivi – these things
• Kikombe kile – that cup
• Vitu vile – those items

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D. Ngeli ya U–N (Abstract or Mass Nouns)

Number	English	Kiswahili
Umoja	this	Huu
Umoja	that	Ule

(Most have no plural)

Examples

1. Mti huu – this tree
2. Mkate huu – this bread
3. Moto ule – that fire
4. Mto ule – that river

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E. Ngeli ya N–N

Number	English	Kiswahili
Umoja	this	Hii
Wingi	these	Hizi
Umoja	that	Ile
Wingi	those	Zile

Examples

1. Meza hii – this table
2. Kalamu hizi – these pens
3. Nyumba ile – that house
4. Ngoma zile – those drums

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F. Ngeli ya U–ZI

Number	English	Kiswahili
Umoja	this	Huu
Wingi	these	Hizi / Zile
Umoja	that	Ule
Wingi	those	Zile

Examples

• Uzi huu – this thread
• Mbao zile – those pieces of wood
• Upepo ule – that wind
• Mbao hizi – these boards

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4. More Than 50 Examples for Beginners

Here are extra examples, grouped to make learning easier.

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A. People (A–WA)

• Huyu mwanafunzi
• Hawa walimu
• Yule msichana
• Wale wavulana
• Huyu daktari
• Hawa wafanyakazi
• Yule mfanyakazi
• Wale marafiki

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B. Animals (M–WA OR KI–VI)

• Mbwa huyu – this dog
• Paka huyu – this cat
• Ndege yule – that bird
• Kuku hawa – these chickens
• Kifaru kile – that rhino
• Vifaranga hivi – these chicks

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C. Things (LI–YA)

• Shati hili – this shirt
• Jarida hili – this magazine
• Lile somo – that lesson
• Mambo haya – these matters
• Yale maji – those waters

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D. Food and Items (N–N)

• Sukari hii
• Chai hii
• Barua hizi
• Sakafu ile
• Kanga zile

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E. Tools & Objects (KI–VI / U–ZI)

• Kisu hiki
• Kikombe hiki
• Kiti kile
• Vibao vile
• Ule ubao
• Uzi huu
• Mbao hizi

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We now have over 55+ examples for mastery.

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5. Sample Sentences (With English Translations)

A. People

1. Mwalimu huyu anafundisha Kiswahili.
   This teacher teaches Kiswahili.
2. Wanafunzi wale wanasoma kimya.
   Those students are reading quietly.

B. Animals

• Mbwa yule anakimbia.
  That dog is running.
• Paka hawa wanakula.
  These cats are eating.

C. Things

• Kitabu hiki ni kipya.
  This book is new.
• Meza ile ni kubwa.
  That table is big.

D. Nature and Environment

• Mti huu umekomaa.
  This tree is mature.
• Mito ile ni mirefu.
  Those rivers are long.

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6. Common Mistakes Beginners Make

Mistake 1: Using the wrong demonstrative for the noun class

❌ Miti hizi
✔️ Miti hii

Mistake 2: Confusing “huyu” and “hii”

• Huyu → for PEOPLE
• Hii → for THINGS (N–N class)

Mistake 3: Mixing near and far demonstratives

❌ Kitabu kile hapa
✔️ Kitabu hiki hapa

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7. Practice Exercise

A. Fill in the correct demonstrative

Choose: huyu, yule, hiki, vile, hii, wale, ule, hizi

1. __________ mwanafunzi
2. __________ meza
3. __________ vitabu
4. __________ mbwa
5. __________ gari
6. __________ watu
7. __________ nyumba
8. __________ kikombe

Answers

1. Huyu mwanafunzi
2. Hii meza
3. Vile vitabu
4. Yule mbwa
5. Lile gari
6. Wale watu
7. Ile nyumba
8. Hiki kikombe

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Conclusion

Vivumishi viashiria are essential for forming meaningful sentences in Kiswahili. They help learners point out people, animals, places, and objects just like English words this, that, these, and those. When beginners understand how these demonstratives change by noun class, they can communicate clearly and confidently.

You now have:

• Full explanations
• 50+ examples
• Practical sentences
• Exercises with answers