Lenzi ya kamera ni safi.

The camera lens is clean.

Breakdown of Lenzi ya kamera ni safi.

• kuwa: to be
• ya: of
• safi: clean
• kamera: the camera

Questions & Answers about Lenzi ya kamera ni safi.

Why do we say lenzi ya kamera, with ya between lenzi and kamera?

Swahili marks “of”/possessive relationships with a genitive connector that agrees with the noun class of the first (head) noun.

• Lenzi (“lens”) is class 9 (zero prefix).
• The genitive concord for class 9/10 is ya.
  So “lens of the camera” = lenzi ya kamera.
  (If lenzi were class 1 you’d get wa, class 7 cha, class 5 la, etc.)

How can I tell that lenzi belongs to noun class 9/10?

• Class 9/10 nouns typically have no visible prefix in the singular/plural form.
• Borrowed or imported words (like lenzi, kamera) with no native prefix usually slot into class 9/10 by default.
• You also see it in agreement: the fact we use ya after lenzi confirms it’s class 9/10.

What is the role of ni in lenzi ya kamera ni safi? Can I drop it?

Ni is the copula “is,” linking a subject (lenzi ya kamera) to a predicate adjective (safi).

• In equational sentences (X is Y), you normally need ni.
• Without it, /lenzi ya kamera safi/ is ungrammatical.
  So ni must stay to mean “is clean.”