……
Breakdown of Kama unavyoweza kuona, bei hii ni nafuu kuliko ile ya jana.
kuwa
to be
kuona
to see
jana
yesterday
ya
of
kuweza
to be able
hii
this
kuliko
than
bei
the price
kama
as
ile
that
nafuu
cheap
Questions & Answers about Kama unavyoweza kuona, bei hii ni nafuu kuliko ile ya jana.
Does "kama" here mean "as" or "if"?
Here it means as/like: "as you can see." The word kama can also mean "if," but context decides. If you wanted a clear "if," you could use ikiwa (e.g., "ikiwa unaweza kuona") or make the condition explicit.
How does "unavyoweza kuona" express "as you can see"?
It’s a relative construction built inside the verb:
- u- = you (2sg subject)
- -na- = present tense
- -vyo- = relative marker meaning "in the way/that/how"
- weza = be able
- kuona = to see So, u-na-vyo-weza ku-ona ≈ "in the way you are able to see" → "as you can see."
Can I say "kama unavyoona" instead?
Yes. kama unavyoona ("as you see") is very common and a bit shorter. With weza, you’re saying "as you can see"; without it, "as you see." Both are idiomatic.
Why is it "bei hii" and not "hii bei"?
In standard Swahili the demonstrative usually follows the noun: bei hii = "this price." Fronting it (hii bei) can occur for emphasis or in colloquial speech, but bei hii is the default.
What noun class is "bei," and how does that affect "hii/hizi"?
bei is class 9/10. Demonstratives:
- singular: hii → bei hii
- plural: hizi → bei hizi The noun form doesn’t change between singular and plural; agreement words do.
What exactly does "nafuu" mean? How is it different from "rahisi"?
nafuu means "more affordable/at a better price/cheaper (in a good way)," often with a positive "good deal" nuance.
rahisi means "cheap" or "easy"; the "cheap" sense can sometimes imply low quality, depending on context. Both are widely used for price; nafuu often feels a touch more positive or polite.
Is "ni" required before an adjective like "nafuu"?
For a full "X is Y" statement, yes: bei hii ni nafuu. Without ni, you’d either be doing headline/telegraphic style or turning the adjective into a direct modifier ("bei hii nafuu" ≈ "this cheap price"). Use ni for normal predication.
How does "kuliko" work in comparisons?
kuliko means "than." Pattern: Subject + ni + adjective + kuliko + comparison target. Here: bei hii ni nafuu kuliko ile ya jana = "… is cheaper than …"
Can I use "zaidi ya" instead of "kuliko"?
Yes:
- bei hii ni nafuu zaidi ya ile ya jana You can also say nafuu zaidi kuliko … (many speakers do), but it’s cleaner to choose one: either zaidi ya or kuliko. If you don’t name a comparator, just use zaidi: bei hii ni nafuu zaidi ("much/more cheap").
Why "ile ya jana" instead of repeating "bei"?
It avoids repetition. ile = "that one," and ya jana = "of yesterday," so ile ya jana = "that (price) of yesterday." The head noun bei is understood from context.
Why is it "ya jana" and not "wa/la/cha jana"?
The connector agrees with the (understood) head noun bei, which is class 9/10:
- class 9/10 genitive: ya/za → bei ya jana (sg), bei za jana (pl) For contrast:
- class 7 (ki/vi) noun, e.g., chakula → cha jana
- class 5 (ji/ma) plural → ya
- class 1/2 (m/wa) → wa/wa
Why "ile" and not "hiyo"?
Both are "that," but ile is the distal demonstrative ("that over there/that earlier"), which fits well with "yesterday’s" price. Hiyo (medial) would still be understood, but ile ya jana is more natural here.
Can I just say "kuliko jana" without "ile ya jana"?
Yes, many speakers do: bei hii ni nafuu kuliko jana. It’s concise and common. More explicit/formal options are kuliko ile ya jana or kuliko bei ya jana.
Any pronunciation tips (e.g., "nafuu," "unavyoweza")?
- nafuu: the final uu is long; don’t reduce it.
- unavyoweza: pronounce vyo as [vyo] (a quick "vyoh"), and keep vowels clear: u-na-vyo-we-za.
Are there other ways to say "than" besides "kuliko"?
Yes, you’ll hear:
- kushinda: bei hii ni nafuu kushinda ile ya jana
- kupita: bei hii ni nafuu kupita ile ya jana These are widely used, though kuliko is the most neutral/standard in writing.
How would I make the subject plural ("these prices are cheaper than those of yesterday")?
Bei hizi ni nafuu kuliko zile za jana.
Note plural agreements: hizi (these), zile (those), and za (genitive plural for class 10).
How do I say "as cheap as" (equality), not "cheaper than"?
Use kama or sawa na:
- bei hii ni nafuu kama ile ya jana ("as cheap as")
- bei hii ni sawa na ile ya jana ("equal to/like")
How do I say "much cheaper"?
Add an intensifier:
- nafuu sana kuliko …
- nafuu zaidi kuliko …
- nafuu mno kuliko … (very strong)
More from this lesson
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“What's the best way to learn Swahili grammar?”
Swahili grammar becomes intuitive with practice. Focus on understanding the core patterns first — how sentences are structured, how verbs change form, and how words relate to each other. Our course breaks these concepts into small lessons so you can build understanding step by step.
Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor
Start learning SwahiliMaster Swahili — from Kama unavyoweza kuona, bei hii ni nafuu kuliko ile ya jana to fluency
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.
- ✓ Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
- ✓ Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
- ✓ Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
- ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions