Sokoni

Chapter Objectives

Communication Scenario

Core Vocabulary

Bidhaa za sokoni — Market goods

Many common market goods belong to the U-class, the noun class you will study in this chapter. U-class nouns are singular nouns that typically begin with u-; their plurals are not uniform and must be learned individually. Other market goods you already know belong to classes introduced in earlier chapters — learn each noun together with its class.

Note: several U-class nouns name substances or mass concepts — flour, porridge, dirt — rather than countable items, which is why they have no ordinary plural. Wali is a recognition item that behaves similarly. You will study U-class agreement fully in Grammar Section 9.1.

Nguo — Clothing

Clothing vocabulary draws from several noun classes you already know. This recycling is intentional — it gives you practice retrieving class and agreement information across categories rather than learning market vocabulary in isolation.

Pesa na bei — Money and prices

Tanzanian shillings (TZS) and Kenyan shillings (KES) are different currencies with different values, even though both are called shilingi. This chapter uses Tanzanian shilling amounts in examples, consistent with the course's primary standard, but the vocabulary and patterns apply to both currencies. Always confirm which currency is meant in a real transaction.

Vipimo na vitengo — Units, containers, and quantities

Rangi, ukubwa, na ubora — Colors, sizes, and quality

You learned several descriptive adjective stems in Chapter 4. The stems below add color, size, and quality vocabulary useful for shopping. Adjective agreement for these stems across the noun classes used in this chapter is taught in Grammar Section 9.4.

-a kijani uses the connective -a rather than a plain adjective prefix; it is presented here as a recognition item for shopping contexts. You will study connective constructions more fully in later chapters. Focus your productive practice on -eupe, -eusi, -ekundu, -kubwa, -dogo, -zuri, and -bovu.

Maneno ya manunuzi — Transaction expressions

Pronunciation and Spelling

Kutamka tarakimu kubwa — Pronouncing large numbers clearly

Numbers above one hundred are built from familiar parts you already know: mia (hundred), elfu (thousand), and the numbers 1-99 from Chapters 2 and 3, joined with na ("and"). Pause briefly between major parts of a number so listeners can follow.

Miisho ya makubaliano katika usemi unaoungana — Agreement endings in connected speech

This chapter introduces several new adjective and numeral agreement endings. In natural speech, these endings are not dropped or shortened even when speaking quickly. Practice saying the following phrases at a normal conversational speed while keeping every agreement ending clear and audible.

vitabu vitatu  ·  watu wangapi  ·  nguo nyeupe  ·  viatu vyeusi  ·  matunda yote  ·  mboga nyingi

Kusikiliza tarakimu zinazofanana — Listening for similar-sounding numerals

Some Swahili numbers can sound similar to learners at first, particularly saba (seven) and tisa (nine), or sitini (sixty) and sabini (seventy). Listen carefully to the vowel and consonant differences, and ask a speaker to repeat a price if you are unsure.

1. Listen to a partner or recording say five numbers between 1 and 100. Write each number in digits.
2. Listen to a partner or recording say three prices in shillings. Write each price in digits.

Grammar Instruction

9.1 The U-class — recognition through market vocabulary

Purpose: recognize U-class nouns and understand why their plurals must be learned individually rather than predicted from a rule.

You have now studied M-WA, KI-VI, N, JI-MA, and M-MI nouns. The U-class is your fifth noun class. U-class singular nouns typically begin with the prefix u-, as in ugali, unga, and uji. This is a useful recognition cue, but it is only a starting point — not every word beginning with u- is necessarily a U-class noun, and U-class nouns do not share one single plural pattern.

The U-class has two features that distinguish it from the classes you already know:

Feature 1 — Many U-class nouns describe mass or abstract concepts. Words like unga (flour), uji (porridge), and ugali (the maize-meal staple) refer to substances rather than individually countable items. These nouns typically have no ordinary plural form, much as English does not usually pluralize "flour" or "rice."

Feature 2 — When a U-class noun does have a plural, the plural is irregular and must be learned individually. Some U-class nouns borrow a plural pattern from another class; others have no productive plural at all. Do not guess a U-class plural by analogy with M-WA, KI-VI, or any other class.

9.2 Numeral agreement and -ngapi

Purpose: ask and answer "how many?" and use agreeing numerals correctly with familiar noun classes.

You learned the numbers 1-100 in Chapters 2 and 3 as invariant forms — that is, you used them without changing their shape. In fact, Swahili numerals fall into two groups: invariant numerals, which never change, and agreeing numerals, which take a concord matching the noun class of what is being counted.

Invariant numerals — these never change form regardless of noun class: tano (five), sita (six), saba (seven), nane (eight), tisa (nine), and all numbers built from kumi (ten), mia (hundred), and elfu (thousand).

Agreeing numerals — these take a concord matching the noun class of what is counted: moja (one), mbili (two), tatu (three), and nne (four). You have already used the M-WA forms of these numbers, such as watoto wawili (two children) in Chapter 4. This chapter expands agreeing numerals to KI-VI, N-class, and JI-MA nouns.

N-class nouns use the unmarked base forms moja, mbili, tatu, nne because the N-class concord has no separate visible prefix in this position. This is consistent with what you learned about N-class agreement in Chapter 4: the class is recognized by its behavior, not always by a visible marker.

The question word -ngapi ("how many?") also agrees with the noun class of what is being asked about, using the same concord pattern as the agreeing numerals:

• Vitabu vingapi? — How many books? KI-VI plural concord vi- + -ngapi
• Watu wangapi? — How many people? M-WA plural concord wa- + -ngapi
• Matunda mangapi? — How many fruits? JI-MA plural concord ma- + -ngapi
• Nguo ngapi? — How many garments? N-class concord (unmarked) + -ngapi

Mazoezi A — Tarakimu zinazokubaliana (Agreeing numerals):

Write the correct agreeing numeral form for each noun and number given.

1. viatu + 2 → _____
2. watoto + 3 → _____
3. matunda + 4 → _____
4. nguo + 1 → _____
5. vitabu + 4 → _____
6. marafiki + 2 → _____

9.3 -ote for totality

Purpose: express "all" or "the whole" across the noun classes introduced so far.

The stem -ote means "all" or "the whole" and takes a concord matching the noun class it describes, following the same agreement pattern you have already studied for numerals and adjectives.

*M-WA singular wote is rarely used since "the whole" of one person is uncommon in ordinary speech; you are most likely to use M-WA wote with plural nouns. Focus your productive practice on plural and N-class uses, which are most useful for market and quantity contexts.

• Nataka mboga zote. — I want all the vegetables. Note: mboga as a mass/collective plural sense pairs with N-class zote in some constructions; yote is also heard. Learn yote as your productive default for this chapter.
• Matunda yote ni mazuri. — All the fruits are good. JI-MA plural concord ya- (yote) + matunda
• Watu wote wananunua. — All the people are buying. (recognition item — full verb agreement studied later)

9.4 Adjective agreement expansion — color, size, and quality

Purpose: describe market goods and clothing using color, size, and quality adjectives with correct agreement.

You studied adjective agreement with animate M-WA and N-class nouns in Chapter 4. This chapter expands adjective agreement to KI-VI and N-class inanimate nouns, which is essential for describing goods at the market.

For KI-VI singular nouns, adjective stems take the prefix ki- (or ch- before a vowel):

• kiatu kizuri — a good/nice shoe KI-VI singular noun + ki- + adjective stem -zuri
• kitenge kikubwa — a large kitenge cloth KI-VI singular noun + ki- + adjective stem -kubwa

For KI-VI plural nouns, adjective stems take the prefix vi-:

• viatu vizuri — good/nice shoes KI-VI plural noun + vi- + adjective stem -zuri
• viatu vyeusi — black shoes KI-VI plural noun + vy- + adjective stem -eusi (vowel-initial stem)

For N-class nouns (singular and plural look the same), adjective stems take the prefix n- or no visible prefix, depending on the stem's first sound. With vowel-initial stems such as -eupe and -ekundu, the prefix appears as ny-:

• nguo nyeupe — white clothing N-class noun + ny- + adjective stem -eupe
• nguo nyekundu — red clothing N-class noun + ny- + adjective stem -ekundu
• mboga nzuri — good vegetables N-class noun + n- + adjective stem -zuri
• kanzu kubwa — a large robe N-class noun + (no visible prefix before k-) + adjective stem -kubwa

Mazoezi B — Vivumishi vya rangi na ukubwa (Color and size adjectives):

Write the correct adjective form for each noun phrase below.

1. kiatu + -kubwa → _____
2. viatu + -eusi → _____
3. nguo + -ekundu → _____
4. kitenge + -zuri → _____
5. vitenge + -dogo → _____
6. mboga + -bovu → _____

9.5 Asking and stating prices, with object-marker review

Purpose: ask the price of an item and use object markers from Chapter 8 to refer back to it without repeating the noun.

Two question patterns are used to ask about price:

• Bei gani? — What is the price? (literally: "price what kind?") bei (price) + gani (what kind of)
• Shilingi ngapi? — How many shillings? shilingi (shillings, N-class) + ngapi (how many)

A vendor's answer typically states the price directly, often with ni:

• Bei yake ni shilingi elfu mbili. — Its price is two thousand shillings. bei yake (its price, N-class possessive) + ni + amount
• Kiatu hiki ni shilingi elfu kumi. — This shoe is ten thousand shillings.

Once an item has been mentioned, you can refer back to it using an object marker rather than repeating the noun, just as you practiced in Chapter 8:

• Nataka kitenge hiki. Ninaweza kukiona vizuri zaidi? — I want this kitenge. May I see it more closely? ni-na-weza ku-ki-on-a = I am able to see-it (ki- refers back to kitenge, KI-VI)
• Viatu hivi vinafaa. Nitavinunua. — These shoes fit well. I will buy them. ni-ta-vi-nunu-a = I-will-buy-them (vi- refers back to viatu, KI-VI plural)
• Mboga hizi ni nzuri. Naomba unipakie. — These vegetables are good. Please pack them for me. (recognition item — applicative form)

Mazoezi C — Bei (Prices):

Write a question and a full-sentence answer for each item and price given.

1. kiatu — shilingi elfu kumi na tano
2. kitenge — shilingi elfu nane
3. kilo ya mboga — shilingi mia tano
4. kofia — shilingi mia mbili na hamsini

Mazoezi D — Muundo kamili (Full sentences):

Translate these sentences into Swahili. Use vocabulary and patterns from this chapter.

1. How much are these shoes?
2. I want three kitenge cloths.
3. This vegetable is expensive.
4. How many shirts do you have?
5. I will buy all the fruits.
6. These black shoes are good.
7. Please lower the price a little.
8. I do not have enough money.

Model Dialogue

Vocabulary note: mchuuzi = vendor, seller; nyanya = tomato(es); vitunguu = onions; jumla = total; chenye = which has (recognition item); namba = size, number; twende tukapate chai = let's go get tea (recognition item using sequential -ka-, previewed receptively; full instruction in Chapter 19).

Maswali ya ufahamu — Comprehension questions:

1. Amara ananunua mboga gani sokoni? Bei yake ni kiasi gani? (What vegetables does Amara buy at the market? What is their price?)
2. Kitenge cha Amara kina rangi gani? Aliuza kwa bei gani mwishoni? (What color is Amara's kitenge? What price did she finally pay?)
3. Amara anatumia maneno gani kuomba bei ipungue? (What words does Amara use to ask for the price to be lowered?)
4. Viatu vya Amara ni namba ngapi, na bei yake ni shilingi ngapi? (What size are Amara's shoes, and what is their price?)
5. Find one use of an object marker referring back to an item already named. Identify the noun class it agrees with.

Listening

Ask your instructor, a partner, or a text-to-speech tool to read the following short passages aloud, twice each. Complete the tasks below as you listen.

Kazi A — Orodhesha (List): Listen to Mazungumzo A. Write the item, quantity, and total price mentioned.

Kazi B — Bei (Prices): Listen to Mazungumzo B. Write the item, the original price, and the final agreed price.

Kazi C — Bidhaa na rangi (Goods and colors): Listen to Mazungumzo C. List every item mentioned along with any color or quality adjective used to describe it.

Listening Script for Instructor, Partner, or Text-to-Speech Use. See Answer Key for expected responses.

Reading

Read the following short texts. Look for prices, quantities, agreeing numerals, and adjective agreement as you read.

Maswali ya ufahamu — Comprehension questions:

1. Bei ya kilo ya nyanya katika tangazo ni shilingi ngapi? (What is the price per kilo of tomatoes in the advertisement?)
2. Vitenge vya Soko la Kariakoo vina rangi gani? Wataje rangi tatu. (What colors are the kitenge cloths at Kariakoo Market? Name three colors.)
3. Amara alinunua nini, na jumla ya bei yake ilikuwa shilingi ngapi? (What did Amara buy, and what was the total price?)
4. In Maandishi 1, find two examples of agreeing numerals or -ote/-ngapi forms and identify the noun class of each.
5. Compare the price of the kitenge in Maandishi 2 with the price negotiated in the Model Dialogue. Are they the same? What might explain a difference?

Writing Workshop

1. Soma mfano. Reread Maandishi 1 (Tangazo la Soko la Kariakoo) above. Underline every price. Circle every agreeing numeral, -ngapi, or -ote form.
2. Panga mawazo yako. Choose three items you would like to buy at a market — for example, a food item, a piece of clothing, and one other good. Note the quantity, a price, and one descriptive adjective for each.
3. Andika rasimu yako ya kwanza. Write a shopping list of your three items in Swahili, then write six to eight connected sentences describing a visit to the market: what you wanted, what you asked, what the price was, and what you decided to buy. Use at least one agreeing numeral, one use of -ngapi, and one adjective with correct class agreement.
4. Kagua kwa orodha hapa chini. Check your draft against the editing checklist below before writing a final version.
5. Andika nakala safi. Produce a clean final version to include in your portfolio or share with a partner.

Orodha ya ukaguzi — Editing checklist:

• Each agreeing numeral matches the noun class of what is being counted.
• Invariant numerals (five and above, except multiples of ten, hundred, and thousand markers) are not given an unnecessary agreement prefix.
• -ngapi and -ote carry the correct class concord.
• Adjectives describing market goods agree with their noun's class — KI-VI, N-class, or another class already taught.
• Prices are written out in full using mia, elfu, and na correctly.
• Bei gani? and Shilingi ngapi? are not combined into one ungrammatical question.
• Object markers used to refer back to an item match the correct noun class.
• Each sentence ends with a full stop and begins with a capital letter.

Kazi ya ziada — Additional task: Write a short written receipt or order form (orodha ya manunuzi) listing three items, their quantities, individual prices, and the total. Use the format of a simple shopping list with item, quantity, and price in three columns.

Speaking Practice

Culture and Communication

Common Mistakes

Chapter Review

Chapter Performance Task

Looking Ahead