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Questions & Answers about Kifutio kiko mezani.
What does each part of the sentence do?
Breakdown:
- kifutio = eraser. It’s a class 7 noun (the ki-/vi- class). Morphology: ki- (instrument/thing) + root -futa (to wipe/erase) + nominal ending -io → “a thing for wiping,” i.e., an eraser.
- kiko = is (located). It’s the class 7 subject marker ki-
- the locative copula -ko (“to be at/in/on, generally”).
- mezani = on/at the table. meza (table) + locative suffix -ni.
So: “eraser – is (located) – at/on the table.”
Why is it kiko and not iko?
Because kifutio is class 7 (ki-/vi-), so the verb must agree with the noun class: ki- + -ko → kiko.
iko is for class 9/10 nouns (the N-class), e.g., meza iko chumbani (the table is in the room), kalamu iko mezani (the pen is on the table). Using iko with kifutio is nonstandard, though you may hear it colloquially in some regions.
What’s the difference between -ko, -po, and -mo (as in kiko/kipo/kimo)?
- -ko: general/unspecified location. Example: Kifutio kiko mezani (The eraser is on the table somewhere).
- -po: specific/definite location (often a place known or just mentioned). Example: Kifutio kipo mezani (on that specific table we’re talking about).
- -mo: inside/within. Example: Kifutio kimo mfukoni (The eraser is in the pocket). You wouldn’t normally say kimo mezani because a table isn’t a container; use -mo with things that have an inside.
Can I say Kifutio kipo mezani instead?
Yes. kipo adds a nuance of a particular/definite place (that table we have in mind). Both kiko mezani and kipo mezani are grammatical; the difference is subtle.
How do I say “on top of the table” more explicitly?
Use a prepositional phrase:
- Kifutio kiko juu ya meza = The eraser is on top of the table. You can also hear:
- Kifutio kiko kwenye meza (widely used; means on/at the table).
- Kifutio kiko mezani is often understood as “on the table,” but it can also mean “at the table (area).”
Do I always need the -ni ending on place nouns for location?
No, but it’s very common and natural. Options:
- Locative suffix: mezani (on/at the table)
- Prepositional phrases: juu ya meza (on top of), chini ya meza (under), kwenye meza (on/at), katika chumba (in the room) Choose based on the spatial meaning you want.
How do I ask “Where is the eraser?”
- Kifutio kiko wapi?
- If the eraser is already known in context, you can drop the noun: Kiko wapi?
How do I make it plural?
Class 7/8 plural switches ki- → vi-:
- Vifutio viko mezani (The erasers are on the table).
- With the definite locative: Vifutio vipo mezani.
How do I negate it?
Use ha- + subject marker + locative copula:
- General: Kifutio hakiko mezani (The eraser is not on/at the table).
- Definite: Kifutio hakipo mezani (The eraser is not on that specific table). Both are fine; choose -ko or -po according to the nuance you want.
Can the word order change?
Yes, for emphasis or topicalization:
- Mezani kiko kifutio. (At the table is an eraser.) The neutral order is subject–verb–place, but fronting the place for emphasis is common.
Why not use ni for “is”?
ni is the equative/copula for identification or classification (A = B), not for location:
- Juma ni mwalimu (Juma is a teacher). For location you use the locative copula -ko/-po/-mo: kiko/kipo/kimo, etc. So kifutio ni mezani is not idiomatic; say kifutio kiko mezani.
How do I pronounce it?
Swahili stress is on the second-to-last syllable:
- ki-fu-TI-o (kifutio)
- KI-ko (kiko)
- me-ZA-ni (mezani) Vowels are pure and pronounced clearly: i, u, i, o; i, o; e, a, i.
How do I say “There is an eraser on the table”?
- Kuna kifutio mezani. Difference from the original:
- Kifutio kiko mezani states where a specific eraser is.
- Kuna kifutio mezani states existence: there exists an eraser on the table.
How do demonstratives work here (this/that eraser; this/that table)?
- Class 7 demonstratives: hiki (this), hicho (that near you), kile (that over there).
- Kifutio hiki kipo mezani. (This eraser is on the table.)
- Class 9 (meza) demonstratives: hii (this), hiyo (that near you), ile (that over there).
- Kifutio kiko juu ya meza hii. (The eraser is on this table.)
What about past and future?
Use the ordinary verb kuwa (to be) with agreement:
- Past: Kifutio kilikuwa mezani. (The eraser was on the table.)
- Future: Kifutio kitakuwa mezani. (The eraser will be on the table.) You can still add juu ya meza/mezani/kwenye meza as needed.
Does kifutio mean a board eraser or a pencil eraser?
It can mean either; context clarifies. To be explicit:
- kifutio cha ubao = board eraser
- kifutio cha penseli = pencil eraser
Is iko ever used with everything in casual speech?
In some colloquial varieties (e.g., in Kenya), people often use iko broadly (e.g., kitu iko…). In standard Swahili, keep agreement: kifutio kiko, vifutio viko, meza iko, mtu yuko, etc.
Can I drop kifutio and just say kiko mezani?
Yes. Swahili verbs carry the subject marker, so if context makes the subject clear, Kiko mezani (“It is on the table”) is natural.
How do I say “under the table” or “in the drawer”?
- Under: Kifutio kiko chini ya meza.
- In the drawer: Kifutio kiko ndani ya droo or Kifutio kimo kwenye droo (using -mo for “inside”).