Log inSign up

Karatasi hii iko juu ya meza.

Karatasi hii iko juu ya meza.
This paper is on the table.
Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Swahili grammar and vocabulary.

Start learning Swahili now

Questions & Answers about Karatasi hii iko juu ya meza.

Why does the sentence use iko instead of ni?

Ni is used to equate two things (X = Y), as in Mimi ni mwalimu (I am a teacher).

Iko is used to talk about existence or location of non‑human things:

  • Karatasi hii iko juu ya meza.
    This paper is on the table. (location)

Using ni here (Karatasi hii ni juu ya meza) sounds wrong/unnatural, because we are not saying the paper equals the table’s top, only that it is located there.

What exactly does iko mean? Is it the same as is?

Iko is a locative/existential form of -ko (to be at/in/on a place) used with non‑human subjects. It roughly means:

  • is (located)
  • exists (at a place)

So iko = is (somewhere) for things.

Compare:

  • Yuko wapi? – Where is he/she? (for people/animals)
  • Iko wapi karatasi? – Where is the paper? (for things)

Other related forms:

  • yuko – for class 1 (people, some animals)
  • wako, ziko, kiko, etc. – for other noun classes and plurals
Why do we say karatasi hii and not hii karatasi?

Both orders are possible, but they differ in feel and usage.

  1. Karatasi hii (noun + demonstrative)

    • Most common, neutral way to say this paper.
    • Basic, default pattern in Swahili: noun + this/that.

  2. Hii karatasi (demonstrative + noun)

    • Also correct, but more emphatic, like this particular paper or this paper here (not the other one).
    • Used in contrast, emphasis, or when pointing something out strongly.

So the sentence Karatasi hii iko juu ya meza is just the neutral, ordinary this paper is on the table.

Why is the demonstrative hii used with karatasi? Why not hili or huyu?

Swahili demonstratives agree with noun classes.

  • Karatasi belongs to noun class 9/10.
  • The “this” form for class 9/10 is hii.

Examples of “this” in different classes:

  • Class 1 (people): mtu huyu – this person
  • Class 5: gari hili – this car
  • Class 9: karatasi hii – this paper

So hii is the correct form to match karatasi. Hili and huyu would be wrong here.

Is karatasi singular or plural here? How would I say These papers are on the table?

In Swahili, karatasi can be both singular and plural, depending on context.

  • Karatasi hii iko juu ya meza.
    This paper is on the table. (singular: one piece/sheet)

For the plural:

  • Karatasi hizi ziko juu ya meza.
    These papers are on the table.

Changes:

  • hii → hizi (this → these, still class 9/10)
  • iko → ziko (verb agrees with plural subject)
Could we just say Karatasi iko juu ya meza without hii?

Yes, you can:

  • Karatasi iko juu ya meza.

Meaning depends on context. It can be understood as:

  • The paper is on the table
  • A paper is on the table

Swahili has no separate words for a and the. Adding hii makes it more specifically this paper.

What does juu ya meza literally mean, and why do we need ya?

Literally:

  • juu – top, upper part
  • ya – of (agreeing with juu, which is class 9)
  • meza – table

So juu ya meza literally is the top of the table, which functions as on (top of) the table.

Ya is needed as the “of” linker.
Without ya, juu meza is ungrammatical. The structure is:

  • juu + ya + [noun] → on top of [noun]
Could we say mezani or kwenye meza instead of juu ya meza? Do they mean the same?

All are possible, but with slight nuances:

  1. juu ya meza – on top of the table

    • Emphasises being on the upper surface.

  2. mezani – at the table / on the table area

    • More general: could be on, at, near the table depending on context.
    • Formed from meza + -ni (locative suffix).

  3. kwenye meza – on/at the table

    • Also quite general: on, at, around the table.
    • kwenye is a common locative preposition.

In your sentence, juu ya meza is the most precise if you mean literally on the top surface.

Why is there no word for the or a in the sentence?

Swahili does not use separate articles like the or a/an. The same Swahili sentence can mean:

  • This paper is on the table
  • This paper is on a table

The context usually tells you whether it is more like the or a in English. In your sentence, hii already specifies this, so a/the is not needed.

What role does ya play? Why is it ya, not wa or something else?

Ya is the “of” linker (associative) that agrees with juu, not with meza.

  • Juu is a class 9 noun → its “of” form is ya.
  • So: juu ya meza – the top of the table.

If the head noun were from a different class, this linker would change, e.g.:

  • sehemu ya meza – part of the table (sehemu is also class 9 → ya)
  • mguu wa meza – leg of the table (mguu is class 3 → wa)

So the choice ya is dictated by juu, which is the “top”.

Is the word order subject – verb – place fixed in this sentence?

Yes, the normal, neutral order is:

  • Subject – Verb – (Other Information, like place)
  • Karatasi hii (subject) iko (verb) juu ya meza (place).

You can sometimes move place expressions for emphasis (especially in spoken language), e.g.:

  • Juu ya meza, karatasi hii iko.

But that sounds marked/poetic or very emphatic. For everyday speech, use the original order.

How is the sentence pronounced, especially hii and juu ya?

Rough pronunciation (English-style approximation):

  • Karatasi – ka-ra-TA-see
  • hii – HEE (like English he, but a bit longer)
  • iko – EE-ko
  • juu – JOO (long oo, as in food)
  • ya – yah
  • meza – MEH-za

So the whole sentence:

  • Karatasi hii iko juu ya meza.
    ka-ra-TA-see HEE EE-ko JOO yah MEH-za

Each vowel is clear and separate; Swahili vowels do not reduce like in English.