-nne

Four with -nne

Level 1

In Swahili, the root word for the number "four" is -nne. Because "four" is plural, it always takes a plural prefix to match the noun it describes.

How It Works

To use -nne correctly, you must attach the plural prefix that matches the noun you are counting. This is a core part of noun class agreement.

Here is how it attaches to common plural classes:

  • Class 2 (People and Animals): wa- + nne = wanne (e.g., watu wanne / four people, mbwa wanne / four dogs)
  • Class 4 (Plants/Nature): mi- + nne = minne (e.g., miti minne / four trees)
  • Class 6 (Fruits/Groups): ma- + nne = manne (e.g., matunda manne / four fruits)
  • Class 8 (Things): vi- + nne = vinne (e.g., vitabu vinne / four books)
  • Class 16 (Locations): pa- + nne = panne (e.g., mahali panne / four places)

The N-Class and U-Class Plurals:
For Class 10 (the plural N-class, which includes many everyday objects like houses), the prefix is N-. When this attaches to -nne, it merges into the root, surfacing simply as nne (e.g., nyumba nne / four houses). Plural U-class nouns also take Class 10 agreement, so they use nne as well (e.g., nyuso nne / four faces). Note that because of rules regarding Animal Agreement Choices, animals take Class 2 agreement even if they belong to Class 10 (e.g., mbwa wanne).

Compound Numbers:
When using -nne in compound numbers like 14, 24, or 34, the agreement prefix still applies to the final digit. For example, watu kumi na wanne (fourteen people) or vitabu ishirini na vinne (twenty-four books).

Colloquial Usage:
In casual, everyday Swahili, you might hear native speakers use the N-class form nne for inanimate objects regardless of their class (e.g., saying vitabu nne instead of vitabu vinne). However, in Standard Swahili, you should always use the matching prefix.

Abstract Counting:
When you are doing math or just counting out loud (one, two, three, four...), you use the Class 10 (N-class) agreement form nne, not the bare stem.

Important Note: Do not confuse this with invariable numbers like sita (6), saba (7), and tisa (9), which are Arabic loanwords, or kumi (10), which is a native Bantu word but also never takes prefixes. Note that the number 8 (-nane) is a native Bantu word and follows the exact same prefix rules as -nne.

Examples (5)

  1. Watu wanne wanakuja.

    Four people are coming.

    Word by Word: People four they-are-coming.

    The Class 2 plural prefix wa- is added to -nne to match 'watu' (people).

  2. Nina vitabu vinne.

    I have four books.

    Word by Word: I-have books four.

    The Class 8 plural prefix vi- is added to -nne to match 'vitabu' (books).

  3. Tulinunua matunda manne.

    We bought four fruits.

    Word by Word: We-bought fruits four.

    The Class 6 plural prefix ma- is added to -nne to match 'matunda' (fruits).

  4. Kuna nyumba nne.

    There are four houses.

    Word by Word: There-are houses four.

    For Class 10 (N-class) nouns like 'nyumba', the N- prefix merges with the root, resulting in just 'nne'.

  5. Zidisha tatu kwa nne.

    Multiply three by four.

    Word by Word: Multiply three by four.

    When doing abstract math or counting out loud, the Class 10 (N-class) agreement form 'nne' is used.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the bare stem 'nne' for everything instead of adding the matching prefix.

    Watu nne wanakuja.
    Watu wanne wanakuja.

    Because 'four' is a native Bantu number, it takes a plural agreement prefix matching the noun it describes. Numbers that stay the same for every noun include the Arabic loans sita (six), saba (seven) and tisa (nine), and also kumi (ten).

How It Connects

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

-nneLevel 1Four with -nne

Learn This First

To use the number -nne (four), you must understand the Swahili noun class agreement system, as this number is variable and changes its prefix based on the noun it describes. You should also be familiar with the word order where the number follows the noun.

Words in This Pattern

nne