-zidi

The verb kuzidi is a standard, highly frequent way to form the comparative of superiority in Swahili.

It can be used in two main ways:

• As an infinitive verb: It appears as kuzidi right after an adjective or verb, followed by the noun or pronoun being compared. If the object being compared is human or animal, the infinitive often takes the appropriate object marker, though it is completely acceptable to omit it. For example: mzuri kunizidi or mzuri kuzidi mimi (good exceeding me = better than me). Note that when the object marker is used, the independent pronoun (like mimi) is frequently dropped. It can also follow a verb to compare actions, such as anakimbia kunizidi (he runs exceeding me = he runs faster than me). For inanimate objects, the object marker is usually omitted (e.g., kizuri kuzidi kile).
• As a conjugated verb: It takes standard subject prefixes, tense markers, and object infixes. Crucially, when used this way, you drop the adjective entirely. Instead, the verb is followed by an abstract noun specifying the dimension of comparison (such as umri for age, urefu for height/length, uzuri for beauty, or nguvu for strength). For example: Ananizidi umri (He exceeds me in age = He is older than me). You can also optionally use the preposition kwa before the abstract noun (e.g., Ananizidi kwa umri). You would not say Ananizidi mzuri.

Remember that Swahili adjectives never change form for comparisons. The word mzuri is always 'good', never 'better'. The comparative meaning comes entirely from using kuzidi. Note that the adverb zaidi is typically used with kuliko or ya, and is not needed when using kuzidi.

To form the superlative (e.g., 'the best', 'the oldest'), you use this exact same pattern by comparing the subject to 'all' using the appropriate class agreement for -ote (like wote, yote, or vyote). For example: mzuri kuzidi wote or mzuri kuwazidi wote (good exceeding all = the best).

Note that the sister verbs kupita (to pass/surpass) and kushinda (to defeat/surpass) are also commonly used in the exact same way to form comparisons.

You will also see kuliko and zaidi ya used for comparisons. All of these are standard and interchangeable in meaning, but they have different grammatical structures.

Continuing and Being Overwhelmed:
Alizidi kulia means “He/she continued crying” or “cried increasingly.” Kuzidi can therefore take an infinitive without a comparison noun. Passive kuzidiwa describes being exceeded or overwhelmed: Nimezidiwa nguvu (I have been overpowered), Mgonjwa amezidiwa (The patient has taken a turn for the worse).