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Questions & Answers about Simu yangu iko mfukoni.
What is the role of iko here? Why not ni?
iko is the “to be (located/exist)” form used for inanimate things. Use ni for identity/equation, not for location.
- Simu yangu iko mfukoni. = It is located in the pocket.
- Simu yangu ni mpya. = It is new.
Why iko and not yuko or kiko?
They agree with different noun classes:
- yuko = class 1 (people/animates: he/she is located)
- kiko = class 7 (ki-/vi- things)
- iko = class 9/10; simu is class 9, so use iko.
What does yangu mean and why that form (not wangu)?
yangu means “my” agreeing with a class 9 noun (simu). wangu is used with m-/wa nouns (classes 1/2 or 3/4, e.g., mtoto wangu, mti wangu).
How do I say “My phones are in the pocket”?
Simu zangu ziko mfukoni.
- Noun stays simu in plural (class 10).
- Possessive: zangu (class 10).
- Verb: ziko (class 10 + -ko).
What exactly does mfukoni mean?
It’s mfuko (pocket) + locative suffix -ni = “in/at the pocket.” With containers/places like this, -ni usually implies “inside.”
Do I need to say “in my pocket” explicitly? How?
Often mfukoni is enough from context. To be explicit:
- Simu yangu iko kwenye mfuko wangu.
- Simu yangu imo mfukoni mwangu. (adds “inside” emphasis with imo)
What’s the difference between -ko, -po, and -mo (iko/ipo/imo)?
- -ko = general/default location: iko mfukoni.
- -po = specific/definite or emphatic spot: ipo hapa mfukoni (“right there in the pocket”).
- -mo = inside/interior: imo mfukoni (inside the pocket). All three are correct; they add nuance.
Can I use katika, ndani ya, or kwenye instead of -ni?
Yes:
- … iko katika mfuko. (formal/neutral)
- … iko ndani ya mfuko. (inside of)
- … iko kwenye mfuko. (very common) mfukoni is the shortest, natural option.
How do I ask “Where is my phone?”
Simu yangu iko wapi? For a person, use class 1: Yuko wapi?
How do I negate it: “My phone is not in the pocket”?
Simu yangu haiko mfukoni. To stress “not inside,” use haimo: Simu yangu haimo mfukoni.
Is the word order flexible?
Yes. You can topicalize: Mfukoni iko simu yangu. The neutral order is Simu yangu iko mfukoni.
Do I need articles for “the pocket” vs “a pocket”?
Swahili has no articles. mfukoni can mean “in the pocket” or “in a pocket”; context decides.
Can I drop yangu?
Yes. Simu iko mfukoni. = “The phone is in the pocket.” Use yangu to specify “my phone.”
How do I say it in past or future?
- Past: Simu yangu ilikuwa mfukoni. / Simu yangu ilikuwepo mfukoni.
- Future: Simu yangu itakuwa mfukoni. / Simu yangu itakuwepo mfukoni.
Which noun class is mfuko, and what’s the plural?
mfuko is class 3; plural is mifuko (class 4). Locatives: mfukoni (“in the pocket”), mifukoni (“in the pockets”).
Is a hyphen ever used, like mfuko-ni?
No. Standard modern spelling writes it as one word: mfukoni.