kadiri
As or According to Degree
The pattern kadiri... ndivyo... translates to "the more... the more..." or "as... so...". It shows that as one action increases or changes, another action changes in the exact same proportion.
How It Works
This pattern is highly productive in Standard Swahili for expressing proportional change.
1. The Mandatory -vyo- Marker and Ndivyo
Standard Swahili strictly requires the manner relative marker -vyo- for this pattern to sound natural. Because kadiri deals with the "degree" or "manner" of an action or state, both verbs typically take this marker. To complete the "the more... the more..." structure, the second clause is explicitly introduced by ndivyo (meaning "that is how" or "so"). For example, Kadiri unavyosoma, ndivyo unavyoelewa (The more you read, the more you understand). This pattern also applies to states using the verb to be; for example, Kadiri alivyo mchanga, ndivyo alivyo hatari (The younger he is, the more dangerous he is).
2. Kadiri vs. Kila
Learners often confuse this with kila (every/whenever). Kila ninaposoma... means "Whenever I read..." (a sequence of events). Kadiri ninavyosoma... means "The more I read..." (a proportional increase).
3. Kadiri on its Own, "As Much As", and Marker Position
Note that kadiri by itself can mean "amount," "estimation," "according to," or "to the extent of" (e.g., kadiri ya watu mia = "about 100 people"; kadiri ya uwezo wangu = "according to my ability"). Additionally, you can use kadiri with a single -vyo- verb to mean "as much as" (e.g., Nitasoma kadiri niwezavyo = "I will read as much as I can"). Notice that the -vyo- marker can appear as an infix (like unavyosoma) when used with a specific tense, or as a suffix (like niwezavyo) in a tenseless relative form. The proportional "the more... the more..." meaning emerges when the full kadiri...ndivyo structure is used together.
Examples (4)
- Kadiri unavyosoma Kiswahili kila siku, ndivyo unavyojenga ujasiri wa kuzungumza.
The more you study Swahili every day, the more you build confidence to speak.
Word by Word: Extent you-degree-study Swahili every day, is-how you-degree-build confidence of speaking.
Notice how both verbs (unavyosoma, unavyojenga) use the -vyo- infix to match the proportional structure.
- Kadiri familia inavyokula pamoja kila jioni, ndivyo uhusiano wao unavyokuwa imara zaidi.
The more the family eats together every evening, the stronger their relationship becomes.
Word by Word: Extent family it-degree-eat together every evening, is-how relationship their it-degree-become strong more.
The degree of eating together directly correlates to the degree of the relationship becoming stronger.
- Kadiri unavyofanya mazoezi, ndivyo mwili wako unavyokuwa mwepesi.
The more you exercise, the lighter your body becomes.
Word by Word: Extent you-degree-do exercise, is-how body your it-degree-become light.
A natural, everyday example of proportional change.
- Kadiri tunavyochelewa kuondoka, ndivyo tutakavyokumbana na foleni.
The later we leave, the more traffic we will encounter.
Word by Word: Extent we-degree-be-late to-leave, is-how we-will-degree-encounter with traffic.
The pattern works across different tenses, such as the present (-na-) in the first clause and future (-ta-) in the second.
Common Mistakes
Omitting the relative marker -vyo- from the verbs.
Kadiri unasoma, ndivyo unajifunza.Kadiri unavyosoma, ndivyo unavyojifunza.The pattern strictly requires the Class 8 relative marker of degree (-vyo-) in both verbs. Using standard indicative verbs without it is ungrammatical.
Using the temporal relative marker -po- instead of -vyo-.
Kadiri unaposoma, ndivyo unapojifunza.Kadiri unavyosoma, ndivyo unavyojifunza.The marker -po- refers to time or place ('when/where'), whereas -vyo- refers to manner or degree ('how/the extent to which'). Kadiri requires the degree marker.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The 'kadiri' pattern functions as a conjunction expressing proportion or degree. To use it correctly, a learner must be comfortable with Swahili verb conjugation, particularly the use of the manner relative infix -vyo-, which often accompanies 'kadiri' to mean 'to the extent that' or 'according to the way that'.
Related Patterns
- kadiri...-vyoProportional Relative Construction
This is the base proportional relative construction, which is often completed by 'ndivyo' for emphasis.
Level 5 - ndicho / ndivyoEmphatic Identification by Class
Explains the emphatic identification marker 'ndivyo' (it is in that way/degree) used in the second half of the pattern.
Level 4 - kilaEvery with Kila
Learners often confuse 'kila' (whenever/every) with 'kadiri' (the more). 'Kila' shows sequence, while 'kadiri' shows proportional degree.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice kadiri in Bubblegum
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