Breakdown of Ufaulu ni muhimu darasani.
ni
to be
katika
in
muhimu
important
darasa
the classroom
ufaulu
the success
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Questions & Answers about Ufaulu ni muhimu darasani.
What does ufaulu mean, and how is it formed?
Ufaulu means success.
It’s formed from:
- Prefix u- (marks an abstract noun, noun class 15)
- Root -faulu (from the verb ku-faulu, “to succeed”)
What’s the difference between faulu and ufaulu?
- Faulu (from ku-faulu) is the verb to succeed or to pass.
- Ufaulu is the noun success, made by adding the abstract prefix u- to faulu.
Why is ni used between ufaulu and muhimu?
Swahili uses the copula ni to link a noun with an adjective or noun complement in a positive statement. It functions like is in English when there’s no tense or subject prefix.
How would I say “Success is not important in class” in Swahili?
Use the negative copula sio (not ni) because ufaulu starts with a vowel:
Ufaulu sio muhimu darasani.
This directly means “Success is not important in class.”
What does darasani mean, and why is there no separate word for “in”?
- Darasani means in the classroom or in class.
- It’s darasa (class) + the locative suffix -ni (meaning “in/at”).
Swahili expresses location with suffixes rather than separate prepositions.
Why is muhimu not given a noun-class agreement prefix here?
The adjective muhimu belongs to a small group of adjectives of state that do not take noun-class prefixes when they follow the copula ni. It remains muhimu for all noun classes in that position.
What noun class does ufaulu belong to, and does it have a plural form?
Ufaulu is in noun class 15 (abstract nouns), marked by u-. Class 15 nouns usually express abstract concepts and generally have no plural form.
Can I change the word order to emphasize darasani?
Yes. Swahili is flexible, so you can front the locative for emphasis:
Darasani ufaulu ni muhimu.
This highlights “in class” without changing the basic meaning.