Kitabu kiko chini ya meza.

the book

Breakdown of Kitabu kiko chini ya meza.

• kuwa: to be
• meza: the table
• chini: under

Questions & Answers about Kitabu kiko chini ya meza.

Why is the copula in the sentence "Kitabu kiko chini ya meza" in the form kiko rather than something like ni?

Swahili uses a noun class system that affects verb agreement. Since kitabu (book) belongs to the ki/vi‑class, the copula must agree with it. That’s why kiko—the appropriate form for a ki/vi‑class noun—is used instead of a one-size‑fits‑all form such as ni.

What does the phrase chini ya meza mean, and how is it constructed?

Chini means “under,” and ya is a linking preposition that connects the prepositional idea to meza (table), ensuring the proper agreement with the noun that follows. Together, chini ya meza literally means “under table,” which conveys the idea “under the table.”

Why doesn’t the sentence include any articles such as “the” or “a”?

Swahili does not use definite or indefinite articles like English does. The definiteness or indefiniteness of a noun is understood from context and other grammatical cues, so words like kitabu and meza appear without any additional articles.

How does the noun class system influence the structure of this sentence?

The noun class system in Swahili assigns specific prefixes and agreement markers to different groups of nouns. For example, because kitabu is in the ki/vi-class, the copula takes the form kiko. This agreement extends to other parts of the sentence, such as the linking preposition ya in chini ya meza, which is chosen to match the noun class of the following noun. Thus, noun class membership plays a vital role in forming coherent sentences.

What is the literal translation of each word in "Kitabu kiko chini ya meza"?

Breaking it down word‑for‑word:
• Kitabu = book
• Kiko = is (copula for a ki/vi‑class noun)
• Chini = under
• Ya = linking preposition (often conveying “of” or showing agreement)
• Meza = table
So the sentence literally reads “Book is under table,” which means “The book is under the table.”

Is there flexibility in the word order of Swahili sentences—for instance, could the locative phrase be moved before the subject?

While Swahili does allow some flexibility in word order for emphasis or stylistic reasons, the natural and standard order for a locative sentence is to place the subject first, followed by the copula, and then the locative phrase. In this case, Kitabu kiko chini ya meza is the most straightforward way to express “The book is under the table.” Deviating from this order may alter the emphasis or make the sentence sound less natural.