cho chote

Anything of Class 7

Level 4

Chochote (traditionally written as two words: cho chote) is the Class 7 form of the "-o -ote" pattern. It means "any" or "whatever" when modifying a Class 7 noun, and "anything" when used on its own.

How It Works

Understanding chochote requires looking at its morphology, syntax, and modern spelling:

  • Morphology & Paradigm: It is built from the Class 7 prefix ki-. The prefix merges with the relative particle -o to make cho, and with the root -ote to make chote. Together, they form chochote. Its Class 8 plural counterpart is vyovyote (any things / whatever). It is part of the broader -o -ote paradigm, meaning it works for any inanimate Class 7 noun (like kiti, kisu, or kitabu). Due to human agreement rules, animate Class 7 nouns like kijana (youth) take Class 1 animate agreements instead (e.g., kijana yeyote, not kijana chochote). Other classes use their own prefixes, such as mtu yeyote (Class 1) or mahali popote (Locative).
  • Orthography: While older colonial-era grammars and texts write it as two words (cho chote), modern Standard Swahili overwhelmingly writes it as a single compound word: chochote.
  • Meaning "Anything" or "Whatever": Because the Class 7 noun kitu means "thing," the phrase kitu chochote translates directly to "anything." It is frequently used as a standalone pronoun to mean "anything", "whatever", or "whichever" (e.g., Fanya chochote - Do whatever). It also frequently acts as the head of a relative clause to mean "whatever [subject] [verb]s", such as chochote utakachofanya (whatever you will do).
  • Expressing "Nothing": Swahili does not have a single standalone word for "nothing." Instead, you use a negative verb followed by chochote (literally "not anything"). For example, Sioni chochote (I see nothing). For added emphasis, it is often paired with wala to mean "nothing at all", as in Sina kitu wala chochote (I have absolutely nothing). Warning: As a one-word answer, "Chochote" means "Anything!". To say "Nothing" as a standalone answer, use "Hakuna" or "Hakuna kitu".
  • Colloquial Usage (Bribe/Tip): In East Africa, chochote is widely used as a euphemism for a bribe, a tip, or a "little something." For example, kutoa chochote means to give a little something or to bribe.
  • Word Order: Linguistically, chochote is a determiner/quantifier. When used with adjectives, Swahili has a strong preference for quantifiers to come before descriptive adjectives. It is generally more natural to say kitabu chochote kizuri (any good book), though kitabu kizuri chochote is occasionally used in real-world speech.

Examples (6)

  1. Chukua kitabu chochote unachotaka.

    Take any book you want.

    Word by Word: Take book any you-which-want.

    Here, chochote modifies the Class 7 noun 'kitabu' to mean 'any book whatsoever.'

  2. Siwezi kukupa kitu chochote.

    I can't give you anything.

    Word by Word: I-cannot to-give-you thing any.

    Paired with the noun 'kitu' (thing) and a negative verb, it expresses 'not anything' or 'nothing.'

  3. Fanya chochote!

    Do whatever!

    Word by Word: Do whatever.

    Chochote is frequently used as a standalone pronoun to mean 'whatever' or 'whichever'.

  4. Unaweza kupika chakula chochote kizuri.

    You can cook any good food.

    Word by Word: You-can to-cook food any good.

    Here, 'chochote' modifies the noun 'chakula'. Note the word order: quantifiers like 'chochote' typically come before descriptive adjectives like 'kizuri', though the reverse is occasionally used in real-world speech.

  5. Alitoa chochote ili apate kazi.

    He gave a bribe in order to get the job.

    Word by Word: He-gave anything so-that he-may-get job.

    In colloquial East African Swahili, 'chochote' (a little something) is frequently used as a euphemism for a bribe or a tip.

  6. Sina chochote mfukoni.

    I have nothing in my pocket.

    Word by Word: I-don't-have anything pocket-in.

    A very common phrase using the negative possessive copula 'sina' with 'chochote' to mean 'I have nothing.'

Common Mistakes

  • Using chochote for non-Class 7 nouns.

    Mtu chochote anaweza kuja.
    Mtu yeyote anaweza kuja.

    Because 'any' is invariable in English, learners often memorize 'chochote' as the default word for 'any'. However, 'chochote' is strictly for Class 7 nouns. For Class 1 (people), you must use the Class 1 form, yeyote.

  • Using chochote as a standalone answer to mean "nothing".

    Different MeaningChochote.
    Sina chochote.

    As a one-word reply, 'Chochote' means 'Anything!' (for example, in answer to 'Unataka nini?'). To say 'nothing', use 'Hakuna' or 'Hakuna kitu', or pair chochote with a negative verb: 'Sina chochote' (I have nothing).

  • Confusing chochote (any) with chote (the whole).

    Different MeaningNilisoma kitabu chochote.
    Nilisoma kitabu chote.

    chote means 'the whole' or 'all of it,' while 'chochote' means 'any' or 'whatever.' 'Nilisoma kitabu chochote' is a good sentence meaning 'I read any book'; to say you read the whole book, use 'chote'.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

cho choteLevel 4Anything of Class 7

Learn This First

To understand 'cho chote', a learner must be familiar with Class 7 (KI-VI) noun agreement, the specific relative marker '-cho-' used for this class, and how the quantifier '-ote' (all/whole) functions when combined with these markers to create the meaning 'anything' or 'any whatsoever'.

Words in This Pattern

chochoteo-ote