Shati langu ni nyekundu.

to be

Breakdown of Shati langu ni nyekundu.

• shati: the shirt
• nyekundu: red
• langu: my

Questions & Answers about Shati langu ni nyekundu.

What does shati mean in the sentence?

Shati translates to "shirt" in English, referring to a piece of clothing.

What does langu signify and why does it follow shati?

Langu means "my." Unlike English where the possessive comes before the noun, in Swahili the possessive adjective follows the noun it modifies. So shati langu literally means "shirt my," which is understood as "my shirt."

What is the function of ni in the sentence?

Ni is the copula, functioning as the equivalent of "is" in English. It links the subject (shati langu) to the predicate adjective (nyekundu) to state a quality or condition.

Why is the adjective nyekundu used to mean "red," and why does it have that form?

Nyekundu means "red." Its form includes the prefix nye- which is an agreement marker that aligns with the noun class of shati. In Swahili, adjectives must agree with the noun they modify in class, so the adjective takes on a form that fits shati’s classification.

How does the word order in this Swahili sentence differ from the typical English structure?

In English, possessive adjectives (like "my") and descriptive adjectives (like "red") typically come before the noun ("my red shirt"). In Swahili, however, the possessive adjective (langu) follows the noun, and the predicate adjective (nyekundu) appears after the linking verb (ni), forming "shati langu ni nyekundu."

Can the adjective nyekundu change form with different nouns?

Yes, Swahili adjectives are modified to agree with the noun class of the noun they describe. Nyekundu is tailored to match the class of shati. If you use a different noun from another class, the adjective for "red" would be adjusted accordingly to maintain proper agreement.