The emphatic ndi- forms are closely connected to relative pronouns. These small markers link a noun to extra information about it — such as who did something, what was involved, or which item is being discussed.
Examples of Relative Pronouns
- who: Mtu ambaye alikuja (mtu aliyekuja) jana ni rafiki yangu.
[The person who came yesterday is my friend.]
- which: Kitabu ambacho nilikopa (kitabu nilichokopa) kutoka kwa maktaba.
[The book which I borrowed from the library.]
- that: Kiti kilichovunjika (kiti ambacho kilivunjika).
[The chair that broke.]
Table: Relative Pronouns and ndi- Forms by Noun Class
| Noun Class | Relative Pronoun | Emphatic ndi- | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| M-WA (sing.) | -ye | ndiye | Yeye ndiye mwalimu wangu |
| M-WA (pl.) | -o | ndio | Wao ndio walimpiga |
| KI-VI (sing.) | -cho | ndicho | Kiti hicho ndicho kipya |
| KI-VI (pl.) | -vyo | ndivyo | Viti hivyo ndivyo vipya |
| JI-MA (sing.) | -lo | ndilo | Jino hili ndilo linauma |
| JI-MA (pl.) | -yo | ndiyo | Meno haya ndiyo yanauma |
| N (sing.) | -yo | ndiyo | Nyumba hii ndiyo yake |
| N (pl.) | -zo | ndizo | Nyumba hizo ndizo zake |
| M-MI (sing.) | -o | ndio | Mti huu ndio alipanda |
| M-MI (pl.) | -yo | ndiyo | Miti hii ndiyo alipanda |
| PA | -po | ndipo | Hapa ndipo alianguka |
| KU | -ko | ndiko | Kulia huku ndiko sipendi |
Relative Pronouns & Emphatic ndi- Quiz
Part A: Multiple Choice – Relative Pronouns
Choose the correct relative pronoun to complete each sentence:
- Mtu ______ alikuja jana ni jirani yangu.
a) ambaye b) ambacho c) walio d) ambayo - Kitabu ______ ulisoma kilikuwa kizuri sana.
a) ambayo b) ambao c) ambacho d) aliye - Nyumba ______ walinunua iko karibu na barabara.
a) ambao b) walio c) waliyo d) ambayo - Mwalimu ______ tunampenda ni mkali lakini mwerevu.
a) ambaye b) ambacho c) ambao d) walio
Part B: Fill in the Blanks – Emphatic ndi- Forms
- Sahani _____ ilivunjika.
(It is the plate that broke.) - Yeye _____ alileta zawadi.
(He is the one who brought the gift.) - Wao _____ walipika chakula.
(They are the ones who cooked the food.) - Sisi _____ tuliona ajali.
(It is indeed us who saw the accident.)
Part C: Translation
Translate the following into Kiswahili using either a relative pronoun or an emphatic ndi- form:
- The man who spoke is the manager.
- It is the tree that fell.
- The girl who sings lives nearby.
- It is you who helped me.
- The car that was stolen has been found.
💡 Tip: Practice these patterns in writing and conversation to strengthen your fluency and confidence using complex Kiswahili structures!