Questions & Answers about Mji upi ungependa kutembelea?
Why is it mji upi and not upi mji?
In Swahili, the noun usually comes first, and the word for which follows it. So mji upi is the normal pattern and literally looks like city which?
This same pattern appears in many similar phrases:
- kitabu kipi = which book?
- watu gani = which people?/what kind of people?
Why is the word upi used here?
Upi is the form of which that agrees with mji.
Swahili nouns belong to noun classes, and words connected to them often have to match that class. Mji is a singular noun in the m-/mi- class, so which becomes upi.
A useful comparison:
- mji upi = which city?
- miji ipi = which cities?
You may also hear mji gani, since gani can also mean which/what kind of, but mji upi is a very standard agreeing form.
What does ungependa break down into?