Kikombe hiki ni kichafu.

This cup is dirty.

Breakdown of Kikombe hiki ni kichafu.

• ni: to be
• hiki: this
• kikombe: the cup
• kichafu: dirty

Questions & Answers about Kikombe hiki ni kichafu.

What does each word in Kikombe hiki ni kichafu correspond to in English?

Word by word:

• kikombe – cup / mug
• hiki – this (for nouns of a certain class, here class 7)
• ni – is (copula, linking subject and description)
• kichafu – dirty (agrees with the noun kikombe)

So the structure is literally: cup this is dirty → This cup is dirty.

Why do kikombe, hiki, and kichafu all start with ki-?

They all reflect the same noun class.

• kikombe belongs to noun class 7, which typically has:
  • singular prefix ki-
  • plural prefix vi-

In Swahili, other words that refer to or describe a noun usually agree with its noun class:

• Demonstrative hiki = this (class 7)
• Adjective kichafu = dirty (class 7)

So:

• kikombe (class 7 noun)
• hiki (class 7 demonstrative)
• kichafu (class 7 adjective)

All share the ki- element because they are grammatically linked to the same class.

What exactly is hiki, and how is it different from hicho and kile?

Hiki, hicho, and kile are all demonstratives for class 7 nouns (like kikombe):

• hiki kikombe – this cup (near the speaker)
• kikombe hicho – that cup (near you / just mentioned)
• kikombe kile – that cup (over there / far from both of us)

Roughly:

• hiki = this (close to me, the speaker)
• hicho = that (close to you, or already in focus in conversation)
• kile = that (over there) / more distant, often physically or mentally

All of them must be used with class-7 nouns; you wouldn’t use hiki with, say, a person (huyu mtu), or a class-9 noun (hii nyumba), because those are other classes.

Could I say Hiki kikombe ni kichafu instead of Kikombe hiki ni kichafu?

Yes, you can.

Both are grammatically correct:

• Kikombe hiki ni kichafu.
• Hiki kikombe ni kichafu.

The difference is in emphasis and style:

• Kikombe hiki (noun + demonstrative after) is the most neutral, very common word order.
• Hiki kikombe (demonstrative before the noun) tends to sound more emphatic or contrastive, often like “this cup (as opposed to another one) is dirty.”

For everyday, neutral speech, Kikombe hiki ni kichafu is a perfectly natural choice.

Why is it kichafu and not just chafu?

The base adjective is -chafu (dirty).
In Swahili, many adjectives take a class agreement prefix according to the noun:

• Class 7 (ki-): kichafu
• Class 8 (vi-): vichafu
• Class 9/10 (N-): chafu (no extra prefix, just chafu)
• Class 1/2 (m-/wa-): mchafu / wachafu

Examples:

• kikombe kichafu – a dirty cup (class 7)
• vikombe vichafu – dirty cups (class 8, plural)
• sahani chafu – a dirty plate (class 9)
• mtoto mchafu – a dirty child (class 1)

So in Kikombe hiki ni kichafu, kichafu must agree with kikombe (class 7), hence the ki- prefix.

Can I say Kikombe hiki ni chafu instead of Kikombe hiki ni kichafu?

In everyday speech, many people will understand you, and you will certainly be heard saying chafu without the ki- prefix. However:

• The most standard, textbook-correct form with a class-7 noun (kikombe) is kichafu.
• Saying kikombe hiki ni chafu breaks the normal agreement rule between noun and adjective.

So, especially as a learner, it is better to stick with:

• Kikombe hiki ni kichafu. ✅

How would I say “this dirty cup” as a noun phrase, not a full sentence?

You can treat it as a noun with both an adjective and a demonstrative:

Two common orders:

1. kikombe hiki kichafu – literally: cup this dirty
2. kikombe kichafu hiki – literally: cup dirty this

Both are possible, but the more neutral and common order is:

• kikombe hiki kichafu

If you want just “a dirty cup” (without “this”), you would say:

• kikombe kichafu

How do I make this sentence plural: “These cups are dirty”?

You need to:

1. Change the noun from singular ki- to plural vi-
2. Change the demonstrative to the plural form for class 8
3. Change the adjective to agree with the plural noun

So:

• kikombe → vikombe (cups)
• hiki → hivi (these, class 8 plural)
• kichafu → vichafu (dirty, class 8 plural)

Possible sentences:

• Vikombe hivi ni vichafu. – These cups are dirty.
• You might also hear Vikombe hivi vichafu, with ni dropped (see next question).

Do I have to use ni in this sentence, or can I say Kikombe hiki kichafu?

Ni is the copula “is/are”. In Swahili:

• In the present tense, especially in equational sentences (X is Y), ni is often optional in speech.
• So both of these are possible:
  • Kikombe hiki ni kichafu.
  • Kikombe hiki kichafu.

The version with ni is:

• more explicit and
• often preferred in careful speech and in writing.

As a learner, it’s safer to keep the ni, but you should recognize the form without it.

How do I say “This cup is not dirty”?

The simplest, very common way:

• Kikombe hiki si kichafu. – This cup is not dirty.

Here:

• si is the negative form of ni for 3rd person singular (“is not”).

You may also hear:

• Kikombe hiki siyo kichafu. – also “This cup is not dirty,” with siyo as a slightly more emphatic or colloquial form.

More “descriptive” negatives using verbs exist (e.g. hakijachafuka – “it has not become dirty”), but for now:

• Kikombe hiki si kichafu. is the basic pattern you need.

What noun class is kikombe, and what are some other words in this class?

Kikombe is in noun class 7/8 (ki-/vi-):

• Singular prefix: ki-
• Plural prefix: vi-

Common examples:

• kitabu / vitabu – book / books
• kisu / visu – knife / knives
• kiti / viti – chair / chairs
• kikapu / vikapu – basket / baskets
• kikombe / vikombe – cup / cups

Demonstratives and adjectives must agree with this class:

• kitabu hiki kizuri – this good book
• viti hivi vizuri – these good chairs
• kikapu kile kichafu – that dirty basket (over there)

When do I use hiki vs hii vs huyu for “this”?

The form of “this” depends on the noun class of the noun:

• hiki – “this” for class 7 nouns (ki-/vi- in singular)

  • kikombe hiki – this cup
  • kitabu hiki – this book

• hii – “this” for several other classes, including:

  • Class 9/10: hii nyumba – this house
  • Class 4 (mi-): hii miti – these trees (depending on grammar tradition, some say hii / hii miti in colloquial usage)

• huyu – “this” for class 1 (people, singular)

  • mtu huyu – this person
  • msichana huyu – this girl

So for kikombe, you must say hiki, not hii or huyu, because kikombe is a class-7 noun.