msi-

Plural Negative Command

Level 1

Use the prefix msi- to give a negative command to two or more people.

How It Works

In Swahili, when you want to tell a group of people not to do something, you use the msi- negative command.

This pattern is actually the plural negative subjunctive functioning as a command. It is the plural counterpart to the Singular Negative Command. The prefix msi- is formed by combining the second-person plural subject prefix m- (you all) and the negative subjunctive marker -si-.

How to form it:

  • Verbs ending in -a: Add msi- to the front and change the final -a to -e. (Example: cheza becomes msicheze)
  • Verbs ending in -i, -e, or -u: Add msi- to the front, but do not change the final vowel. (Example: sahau becomes msisahau)
  • Monosyllabic verbs: Drop the ku- prefix, add msi- to the front, and change the final -a to -e. (Examples: kula becomes msile, kunywa becomes msinywe). This also applies to the common verbs kuja (to come) which becomes msije, and kuwa (to be) which becomes msiwe. The vowel-stem verb kwenda (to go) similarly drops its kw- infinitive prefix to become msiende.
  • With object markers: If you include an object marker, it is inserted immediately before the verb root (msi- + [object marker] + root + -e). (Example: msipige becomes msimpige - don't hit him/her).

Important Note: In standard Swahili, you do not add the plural suffix -ni to the end of the verb. The msi- prefix already shows that you are talking to a group!

Beyond Commands: Because this is technically the negative subjunctive, you will also see this exact same msi- pattern used in sentences to mean "so that you don't" or "that you shouldn't" (for example, Nawaomba msiende = I am asking you all not to go).

Examples (5)

  1. Msicheze mpira hapa.

    Don't play ball here. (addressed to multiple people)

    Word by Word: You all do not play ball here.

    The native verb 'cheza' (play) changes its final '-a' to '-e'.

  2. Msisome kitabu hiki.

    Don't read this book. (addressed to multiple people)

    Word by Word: You all do not read book this.

    The native verb 'soma' (read) changes its final '-a' to '-e'.

  3. Tafadhali, msisahau vitabu vyenu.

    Please, don't forget your books.

    Word by Word: Please, you all do not forget books your.

    The borrowed verb 'sahau' (forget) ends in '-u', so its final vowel does not change.

  4. Msifikiri hivyo.

    Don't think like that. (addressed to multiple people)

    Word by Word: You all do not think thus.

    The borrowed verb 'fikiri' (think) ends in '-i', so its final vowel does not change.

  5. Msimwage wino mezani.

    Don't spill ink on the table.

    Word by Word: You all do not spill ink table-on.

    The native verb 'mwaga' (spill) changes its final '-a' to '-e'.

Common Mistakes

  • Forgetting to change the final -a to -e on native Swahili verbs.

    Msisoma kitabu.
    Msisome kitabu.

    Native Swahili verbs ending in -a must change their final vowel to -e in negative commands.

  • Adding the plural suffix -ni to the end of a negative command.

    Msisomeni kitabu.
    Msisome kitabu.

    The affirmative plural command uses -ni (someni), but the negative command shifts the plural marker to the front (msi-) and drops the -ni completely.

  • Changing the final vowel of Arabic loanwords.

    Msisahae vitabu vyenu.
    Msisahau vitabu vyenu.

    Verbs borrowed from Arabic that end in -i, -e, or -u (like sahau, fikiri, samehe) never change their final vowel in this pattern.

How It Connects

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

msi-Level 1Plural Negative Command

Learn This First

To form plural negative commands, you need to understand how to address a group (m- subject marker) and how to apply the negative imperative structure, which involves changing the final vowel of the verb stem.

Words in This Pattern

-si-m-