top of page

AMBA

'Amba' is the 'that,' 'which,' 'who,' etc. of Swahili. Although we often drop these phrases in English (The man who you saw yesterday is my father. becomes The man you saw yesterday is my father.), they are very important in Swahili and must be included when necessary. 

mtu

watu

mti

miti

jina

majina

kiti

viti

nguo

nguo

huyu

hawa

huu

hii

hili

haya

hiki

hivi

hii

hizi

ambaye

ambao

ambao

ambayo

ambalo

ambayo

ambacho

ambavyo

ambayo

ambazo

The first column of demonstratives is included to illustrate the manner in which each amba may be derived for its respective noun class. Notice patterns between the second and third columns, specifically, the endings of each.

'Amba' is the 'that,' 'which,' 'who,' etc. of Swahili. Although we often drop these phrases in English (The man who you saw yesterday is my father. becomes The man you saw yesterday is my father.), they are very important in Swahili and must be included when necessary. 

bottom of page