Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Swahili grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Sauti yake ni mwanana.
What does each word in the sentence contribute?
- sauti = voice/sound (noun, noun class 9)
- yake = his/her/its (possessive; the class-9 agreement is ya-
- -ke → yake)
- ni = is/are (copula “to be” in the present)
- mwanana = soft, gentle, pleasant (an adjective often treated as invariable across noun classes)
Why is it yake and not wake, chake, or lake?
Because sauti is in noun class 9, whose possessive agreement is ya-. With the 3rd person singular -ke, that gives yake. Compare:
- Class 1 (mtoto): mtoto wake (his/her child)
- Class 9 (sauti): sauti yake (his/her/its voice)
- Class 7 (kitabu): kitabu chake (his/her book)
- Class 5 (gari): gari lake (his/her car)
- Class 8 (vyombo): vyombo vyake (his/her utensils)
Does yake mean “his,” “her,” or “its”? How do I disambiguate?
All three. Swahili doesn’t mark gender here. Use context or specify:
- sauti ya Amina (Amina’s voice)
- sauti ya mbwa (the dog’s voice)
- sauti ya gitaa (the guitar’s sound)
Where does the possessive go—before or after the noun?
After. Say sauti yake, not “yake sauti.” When the noun is clear from context, you can use the possessive alone (e.g., yake = “his/hers/its”).
Is ni required here?
Yes in standard full sentences: Sauti yake ni mwanana. You might see ni dropped in headlines/poetry/some casual speech, but include it in normal prose. The negative of ni is si.
How do I negate the sentence?
- Sauti yake si mwanana. (standard) You’ll also hear sio in everyday speech: Sauti yake sio mwanana, though si is the textbook form.
How do I turn it into a yes–no question?
- Je, sauti yake ni mwanana?
- Sauti yake ni mwanana? (rising intonation)
How do I say “very soft,” “too soft,” or “a bit soft”?
- Sauti yake ni mwanana sana. (very soft)
- Sauti yake ni mwanana mno / kupita kiasi. (too/overly soft)
- Sauti yake ni mwanana kidogo / kiasi. (a bit/somewhat soft)
Does the adjective mwanana change with noun class like other adjectives?
Generally, no—mwanana is commonly used as invariable. You’ll see it stay mwanana with many nouns, e.g., sauti mwanana, maneno mwanana, usingizi mwanana. Contrast with adjectives like -zuri which do change: sauti nzuri, mtu mzuri.
What are good synonyms for describing a soft/gentle voice?
- laini (soft/smooth): Sauti yake ni laini.
- tulivu (calm/serene): Sauti yake ni tulivu.
- nyororo (smooth/supple): Sauti yake ni nyororo.
- More poetic: tamu (sweet): Sauti yake ni tamu. Note: mpole describes a person’s temperament, not usually a voice.
What’s the difference between a “soft” voice and a “low” voice?
- sauti mwanana / laini = gentle/soft quality (timbre/manner)
- sauti ya chini = low (volume/pitch) Opposites you might hear: sauti kali (harsh/shrill), sauti ya juu (high-pitched), sauti kubwa (loud).
How do I say “Their voices are soft”?
Sauti zao ni mwanana.
- sauti (class 10 plural is the same form)
- zao = their (3rd person plural possessive for class 10)
- ni stays the same
- mwanana remains unchanged
How do I put it in the past or future?
Use the verb kuwa:
- Past: Sauti yake ilikuwa mwanana. (it was soft)
- Negative past: Sauti yake haikuwa mwanana.
- Future: Sauti yake itakuwa mwanana. (it will be soft)
- Present perfect: Sauti yake imekuwa mwanana. (has become soft)
How do I say “my/your/our/their voice” with the same pattern?
Because sauti is class 9, use the ya- set:
- sauti yangu (my)
- sauti yako (your sg.)
- sauti yake (his/her/its)
- sauti yetu (our)
- sauti yenu (your pl.)
- sauti yao (their)
Any pronunciation tips for this sentence?
- Swahili stress is typically on the second-to-last syllable:
- sa-u-ti (stress on u)
- ya-ke (stress on ya)
- mwa-na-na (stress on the middle na)
- mw in mwanana is one consonant cluster: start with lips rounded for “m,” slide into “w.”