Jiko kwetu ni safi.

to be

Breakdown of Jiko kwetu ni safi.

• safi: clean
• jiko: the stove
• kwetu: our

Questions & Answers about Jiko kwetu ni safi.

What does jiko mean in this sentence?

Jiko means kitchen. It refers to the place where cooking is done.

What does kwetu signify here?

Kwetu means our. It indicates possession, showing that the kitchen belongs to us.

What role does ni play in the sentence?

Ni acts as the copula, much like the English word is, linking the subject (jiko kwetu) with the predicate (safi).

What is the meaning of safi?

Safi means clean. It describes the state or condition of the kitchen.

Why is the possessive marker kwetu placed after jiko rather than before it?

In Swahili, modifiers—including possessive forms—typically follow the noun they modify. So, jiko kwetu translates directly to kitchen our, which is rearranged in English to our kitchen.

Does the adjective safi change form to agree with jiko?

No, in this predicate construction using ni, adjectives like safi remain in their simple form regardless of the noun class of jiko.

Can this sentence structure be used with other nouns and adjectives?

Yes. The structure noun + modifier(s) + ni + adjective is common in Swahili for describing things. For example, Gari yetu ni mpya means Our car is new.