-pi

Which with -pi

Level 1

The interrogative -pi means "which?" or "which one(s)?". It is used when you want someone to select a specific item from a known or implied group.

How It Works

The root -pi attaches directly to the pronominal prefix of the noun class it agrees with.

Key Rules:

  • Word Order: The -pi word usually follows the noun it modifies as an attributive adjective (e.g., kitabu kipi), though it can precede the noun in copular sentences (e.g., Ni kipi kitabu unachotaka?).
  • Standalone Pronoun: It can be used alone when the noun is understood from context (e.g., Unataka kipi? - Which one do you want?).
  • Agreement: It uses the pronominal concord (e.g., ki- for Class 7, vi- for Class 8).
  • Class 1: For singular people (Class 1), it uses the standard pronominal prefix yu- (as seen in demonstratives like huyu) to form yupi.
  • Class 2: For plural people (Class 2), it undergoes an irregular vowel change to form wepi to avoid confusion with the word wapi (where).
  • Animacy Rule: Animate nouns (people, animals, insects) that belong to noun classes other than 1/2 still take Class 1/2 agreements (yupi and wepi). For example, mbwa yupi? (which dog?) and mbwa wepi? (which dogs?).
  • Class 8 'vipi': Note that while vipi means 'which ones' for Class 8 nouns, it is overwhelmingly lexicalized in everyday Swahili to mean 'how?' (e.g., Mambo vipi?).
  • Locatives: The locative versions of this pattern are papi, kupi, and mupi / mpi (which place/direction/inside?).

Examples by Class:

  • Class 3 (u-): mti upi? (which tree?)
  • Class 4 (i-): miti ipi? (which trees?)
  • Class 5 (li-): gari lipi? (which car?)
  • Class 6 (ya-): magari yapi? (which cars?)
  • Class 7 (ki-): kitabu kipi? (which book?)
  • Class 8 (vi-): vitabu vipi? (which books?)
  • Class 9 (i-): njia ipi? (which way?)
  • Class 10 (zi-): njia zipi? (which ways?)
  • Class 11/14 (u-): ukuta upi? (which wall?)

While formally -pi is used for specific selection and gani for open-ended categories, in everyday spoken Swahili, gani is frequently used as a direct substitute for -pi.

Where or Which Place:
Wapi is the usual general question “where?”: Unaishi wapi? (Where do you live?). Locative -pi forms can select a place or direction, as in Upande upi? (Which side?) and Tuende kupi? (Which way/where should we go?). The PA/KU/MU distinctions depend on context; papi and mupi are less useful as beginner defaults than wapi.

Examples (5)

  1. Unataka kitabu kipi?

    Which book do you want?

    Word by Word: You-want book which?

    Class 7 agreement (ki- + -pi).

  2. Mtu yupi alikuja?

    Which person came?

    Word by Word: Person which came?

    Class 1 uses the special form 'yupi'.

  3. Wakalimani wepi watakuja kesho?

    Which interpreters will come tomorrow?

    Word by Word: Interpreters which will-come tomorrow?

    Class 2 uses 'wepi' to avoid confusion with 'wapi' (where).

  4. Utanunua gari lipi?

    Which car will you buy?

    Word by Word: You-will-buy car which?

    Class 5 agreement (li- + -pi).

  5. Utajenga ukuta upi?

    Which wall will you build?

    Word by Word: You-will-build wall which?

    Class 11 agreement (u- + -pi).

Common Mistakes

  • Using the adjective prefix instead of the pronominal prefix.

    Unataka kitabu chipi?
    Unataka kitabu kipi?

    The root -pi takes the pronominal prefix (ki-), not the adjective prefix (ch-).

  • Using 'wapi' to mean 'which people'.

    Watu wapi?
    Watu wepi?

    'Wapi' is the locative form meaning 'where' (which place). To ask 'which people', use the special Class 2 form 'wepi'.

  • Using -pi when you mean 'what kind of'.

    Different MeaningGari lipi?
    Gari gani?

    Gari lipi? is correct and asks 'which car?' from a set. Formally, use gani to ask 'what kind' or 'what brand', and '-pi' to select a specific item. However, in everyday spoken Swahili, 'gani' is frequently used interchangeably with '-pi' to mean 'which' (e.g., 'kitabu gani?' for 'which book?').

How It Connects

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

-piLevel 1Which with -pi

Learn This First

To use the interrogative suffix -pi, a learner must first understand the Swahili noun class system and the principles of agreement, as the prefix attached to -pi is determined by the noun class of the object in question.

Words in This Pattern

pi