Adjectives

1. Ici ni cikalamba.

   This is big.

   Usage

   Describes the size of something you point at, in shops or when looking at rooms

   Grammar Note

   Adjectives change their first sound to agree with the noun; "ci-" goes with the "ici-" class. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

2. Ici ni cinono.

   This is small.

   Usage

   Describes the small size of something you point at

   Grammar Note

   The stem "-nono" means "small", with a prefix agreeing with the noun class. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

3. Ici ni ca fina.

   This is heavy.

   Usage

   Says that an item such as a bag is heavy

   Grammar Note

   "fina" means "heavy" and "ca" links it as "of the quality of". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

4. Ici ni ca mutengo nganshi.

   This is very expensive.

   Usage

   Says that the price is high; a common opener before bargaining

   Grammar Note

   Literally "a thing of price, very"; "nganshi" and "sana" both mean "very". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

5. Amenshi ayakaba.

   The water is hot.

   Usage

   Says that water or a drink is hot

   Grammar Note

   The "aya-" of "ayakaba" agrees with "amenshi" (plural "ama-" class). Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

6. Amenshi ayatalala.

   The water is cold.

   Usage

   Says that water is cold, e.g. for a shower or a drink

   Grammar Note

   "talala" means "cold", with "aya-" agreeing with "amenshi". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

7. Ici ni cipya.

   This is new.

   Usage

   Describes something as new

   Grammar Note

   The stem "-pya" means "new"; its prefix changes with the noun class. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

8. Ici ni ca kale.

   This is old.

   Usage

   Describes something as old

   Grammar Note

   "kale" means "long ago"; "ca" links it, so literally "a thing of long ago". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

9. Ici ni ca busaka.

   This is clean.

   Usage

   Says that a room or dish is clean

   Grammar Note

   "busaka" is the noun "cleanness"; literally "a thing of cleanness". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

10. Ici cawama.

    This is good.

    Usage

    Used to praise something or to agree with a suggestion

    Grammar Note

    "Cawama" on its own also means "that is good / better"

11. Ni mupepi.

    It is near.

    Usage

    Says that a place is close, or a reply when asked

    Grammar Note

    "mupepi na ..." means "near ..." (e.g. "mupepi na hotela", near the hotel)

12. Ni ukutali.

    It is far.

    Usage

    Says that a place is far, or a reply when asked

    Grammar Note

    "ukutali" is "a far place"; it is also written "kutali". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

13. Ifingi

    Many

    Usage

    Says that there are many things

    Grammar Note

    The stem "-ingi" means "many"; "ifingi" goes with things, "abengi" with people and "ishingi" with the plural class of items such as animals

14. Ifinono

    Few

    Usage

    Says that there are only a few things

    Grammar Note

    Built on "-nono" ("small"); literally "small things"

15. Kukaba sana.

    It is very hot.

    Usage

    Says that the weather is very hot

    Grammar Note

    "ku-" is an impersonal subject for weather and place conditions. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

16. Nakutalala.

    It is cold.

    Usage

    Says that the weather or a place is cold

    Grammar Note

    "na-" marks a state already reached, "ku-" is the weather subject, "talala" means "cold". Attested only in conversational text; native review recommended

17. Ifyakulya ifi nafiwama.

    This food is delicious.

    Usage

    Compliments a dish

    Grammar Note

    "-wama" means "good / tasty", with "fi-" agreeing with "ifyakulya". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

18. Ici ni cayemba.

    This is beautiful.

    Usage

    Praises a view or an object

    Grammar Note

    The stem "-yemba" means "beautiful"; for a person it becomes "uwayemba". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; attested only in conversational text; native review recommended

19. Panono fye.

    Just a little.

    Usage

    For asking for a small amount

    Grammar Note

    "fye" means "only / just" and follows the word. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

20. Fyonse

    All of it

    Usage

    Means "all of it", e.g. when saying how much you will take

    Grammar Note

    "-onse" means "all"; "fyonse" is for things and "bonse" for people

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