Pambo lipo juu ya meza.

The decoration is on the table.

Breakdown of Pambo lipo juu ya meza.

• kuwa: to be
• meza: the table
• pambo: the decoration
• juu ya: on top of

Questions & Answers about Pambo lipo juu ya meza.

What exactly does pambo mean? Is it countable?

Pambo means decoration, ornament, or adornment. It can be countable (an ornament) but is often used as a mass/collective idea in everyday speech. The plural is mapambo (decorations). You’ll often hear people talk about mapambo more than a single pambo unless they mean one specific ornament.

Which noun class is pambo, and how does that affect the verb?

Pambo is Class 5, and its plural mapambo is Class 6. Class 5 takes the subject agreement li-, which is why we get lipo here. In the plural (Class 6), the agreement is ya-, so you’d say Mapambo yapo ...

Why is it lipo and not iko or yuko?

• lipo matches Class 5 nouns (like pambo).
• iko/ipo match Class 9/10 nouns (like meza, table).
• yuko/yupo is for M-/Wa- class, typically people (e.g., mtu yuko).
  So with pambo (Class 5), lipo is the correct agreement.

Can I say Pambo liko juu ya meza instead?

Yes. -po vs -ko is about how specific the location is:

• -po highlights a specific/definite spot (on top of the table).
• -ko is more neutral/general. Both are accepted here, so Pambo lipo juu ya meza and Pambo liko juu ya meza are fine.

What’s the difference between -po, -ko, and -mo for location?

• -po: specific/definite location (often “right at” some spot). Example: Pambo lipo juu ya meza.
• -ko: general/unspecified location. Example: Pambo liko juu ya meza.
• -mo: inside/within. Example: Pambo limo ndani ya sanduku (“The decoration is in the box”). The class prefix changes with the noun: li-po/li-ko/li-mo (Class 5), ki-po/vi-po, i-po/i-ko, etc.

How do I say “The decorations are on the table” (plural)?

Use the plural noun and plural agreement:

• Mapambo yapo juu ya meza. (You may also hear Mapambo yako juu ya meza, using -ko, but note that written yako can also mean “your,” so yapo is clearer.)

Why do we say juu ya meza and not just juu meza?

Juu is a noun meaning “top/upper part.” To say “on top of X,” Swahili uses a genitive construction: juu ya X (“top of X”). So “on the table” is juu ya meza—literally “the top of the table.”

Why is the connector ya used in juu ya meza (and not la/za/cha)?

The connector agrees with the head noun of the phrase, which is juu (not meza). Juu is in the N-class, which takes ya in the “of” construction. Hence juu ya meza. If the head were a different class, the connector would change accordingly.

Can I use mezani or kwenye meza instead of juu ya meza?

• mezani = “at/on the table” (locative suffix -ni). It often implies “on the surface” but can also mean “at the table” contextually.
• kwenye meza = “on/at the table,” a general preposition that works widely.
• juu ya meza = explicitly “on top of the table.” All are common; choose based on how explicit you want to be about “on top.”

If it were inside something, how would I say it?

Use -mo or a word meaning “inside”:

• Pambo limo ndani ya sanduku. (The decoration is inside the box.)
• Pambo limo sandukuni. (using the locative -ni on sanduku)

How do I say “There is a decoration on the table”?

Use the existential kuna:

• Kuna pambo juu ya meza. This structure introduces the existence of something somewhere.

How do I ask “Where is the decoration?” and answer “On the table”?

• Question: Pambo lipo wapi? (or Pambo liko wapi?)
• Answer: Lipo juu ya meza. (or Liko juu ya meza.)

How do I make the sentence negative?

Negate the locative form with the class-appropriate negative:

• Singular (Class 5): Pambo halipo juu ya meza. (The decoration is not on the table.)
• Plural (Class 6): Mapambo hayapo juu ya meza.

Any quick pronunciation tips for this sentence?

• Stress generally falls on the second-to-last syllable: paMbo LIpo JUu ya MEza.
• juu has a long “u” sound (written with double “u”).
• mb in pambo is a prenasalized “b” (say “m” smoothly into “b”).
• Vowels are pure and consistent (no diphthongs).

How do I say “this/that decoration is on the table”?

Use demonstratives that agree with Class 5:

• Pambo hili lipo juu ya meza. (this decoration)
• Pambo lile lipo juu ya meza. (that decoration)

Can I drop pambo if it’s already clear from context?

Yes. Swahili marks the subject on the verb, so once the subject is known you can say:

• Lipo juu ya meza. (It’s on the table.) Context tells the listener what “it” refers to.

Does juu ya meza mean “on top of” or can it also mean “above” (not touching)?

Usually it’s understood as “on top of.” It can sometimes be used for “above,” but if you want to be explicit about not touching, you can say:

• juu ya meza bila kugusa (above the table without touching)
• or use juu with a verb like kuning’inia: Pambo linin’ginia juu ya meza (The decoration is hanging above the table).