Kalamu ya shaba iko mezani.

The copper pen is on the table.

Breakdown of Kalamu ya shaba iko mezani.

• kuwa: to be
• ya: of
• meza: the table
• kalamu: the pen
• juu ya: on
• shaba: the copper

Questions & Answers about Kalamu ya shaba iko mezani.

Why is ya used instead of wa between kalamu and shaba?

In Swahili, genitive connectors agree with the noun class of the first noun. Kalamu belongs to noun class 9, which takes the genitive prefix ya. The form wa is for class 2 (plural of class 1) nouns, so it wouldn’t match kalamu. Thus we say kalamu ya shaba (“pen of copper”).

Does ya here mean of, or can it also mean made of?

Ya is a general genitive marker in Swahili. It links nouns to show relationships like possession, material, origin, etc. In kalamu ya shaba, it indicates material (the pen is made of copper). If you wanted a more explicit “made of” you could say kalamu imetengenezwa kwa shaba or kalamu ni ya shaba.

Why is the verb iko used instead of yuko or niko?

The verb “to be” (kuwa) uses different subject prefixes for each noun class and person:

• i-
  • ko = iko for class 9/10 things like kalamu
• yu-
  • ko = yuko for class 1 (people)
• ni-
  • ko = niko for first person (“I am”)
    So with kalamu (class 9) we use iko.

How is mezani formed, and what does it mean?

Mezani is the locative form of meza (table). For class 6 nouns like meza, drop the final vowel and add -ni:

• meza → mez + ni = mezani
  It means “at/on the table,” typically understood as “on the table.”

Can I say juu ya meza instead of mezani?

Yes. Mezani is the built-in locative suffix meaning “on/at the table.” Juu ya meza literally means “on top of the table” and emphasizes the surface. Both are correct; choose juu ya meza when you want to stress “on top.”

How would I change the sentence to say that more than one copper pen is on the table?

Pluralize kalamu to class 10 by changing the genitive prefix and the verb subject prefix:

• ya → za for class 10 genitive
• i- → zi- for class 10 subject
  Result: Kalamu za shaba ziko mezani.

Why are there no words for the or a before kalamu or mezani?

Swahili does not use articles like “the” or “a.” Definiteness is understood from context. If you need to specify “this” or “that,” you use demonstratives (e.g. kalamu hii for “this pen”).

How do I say “This copper pen is on the table”?

Insert the class 9/10 demonstrative hii after the noun: Kalamu hii ya shaba iko mezani.