Learn Hardcore Swahili: Kitabu lenye sura nyingi kipo mezani. - The book with many chapters is on the table.

lenye is a relative preposition meaning “with” or “possessing.” It turns the independent clause Kitabu lina sura nyingi (“the book has many chapters”) into a modifying phrase: Kitabu lenye sura nyingi = “the book that has many chapters.”

Why not just say Kitabu lina sura nyingi na liko mezani?

You could say that as two joined clauses, but Swahili prefers to avoid repeating Kitabu. By using lenye, you embed “has many chapters” as a single modifier, then follow with kipo mezani. It’s more concise and idiomatic.

How do I form lenye for other noun classes like vitabu or nyumba?

You attach enye to the noun-class concord of the head noun:
• Class 7 (ki–): lenye → kitabu lenye…
• Class 8 (vi–): vyenye → vitabu vyenye…
• Class 9/10 (N–): enye → nyumba yenye…
• Class 1 (m-/m wa–): mwenye → mtu mwenye…

Why is it sura nyingi and not sura nyingiu or something else?

sura is a class 9/10 noun with no visible prefix; its plural is identical in form. Adjectives agree by taking the same (zero) prefix, so “many chapters” is simply sura nyingi.

What does kipo mean, and why not kuko or iko?

kipo is the present-tense locative verb for class 7 nouns: subject concord ki- + root -po (“to be located”).
• Class 1 → yupo
• Class 2 → wapo
• Class 7 → kipo
• Class 9 → ipo
…etc.
You pick the form that matches your noun class.

How is mezani formed, and what does it indicate?

By adding the locative suffix -ni to meza (“table”).
meza + -ni → mezani, meaning “at/on the table.” In Swahili, -ni on a noun marks location.

What’s the word order in Kitabu lenye sura nyingi kipo mezani?

The pattern is:
Subject (Kitabu) → Relative modifier (lenye sura nyingi) → Locative verb (kipo) → Locative complement (mezani).
This yields “The book that has many chapters is on the table.”