Yeye pia ni rafiki.

He/She is also a friend.

Breakdown of Yeye pia ni rafiki.

• ni: to be
• yeye: he/she
• rafiki: the friend
• pia: also

Questions & Answers about Yeye pia ni rafiki.

Is “yeye” used for both “he” and “she”?

Yes. In Swahili, yeye is a gender-neutral pronoun that can mean either “he” or “she.” Context usually makes the meaning clear.

Why is “ni” used instead of something like “ana” in this sentence?

“Ni” is the verb “to be” (copula) in Swahili, translating to “is” or “am.” It’s used here just to say that someone is something, rather than describing an action. “Ana” would be used for an ongoing action (e.g., “He/She is doing …”).

What role does “pia” play, and can it be placed anywhere else in the sentence?

“Pia” means “also” or “too.” It can appear in different parts of the sentence for emphasis. For example, you could say “Pia yeye ni rafiki” or “Yeye ni rafiki pia,” with the same overall meaning.

Does “rafiki” change form if I’m referring to a close female or male friend?

No. In Swahili, rafiki remains the same regardless of gender. Gender distinctions do not affect nouns in this way, so you can use rafiki for any friend.