Each entry must be identified by part of speech. If a word can be more than one part of speech, for example being both an adjective and an adverb, then each should have a separate entry. Class A distinguishing characteristic of Bantu languages, including Swahili, is that each has a grammatical noun class system. Each noun is classified into one of eighteen classes that determine the pattern of plurals, adjectives, pronouns, and verb conjugations within each sentence. Learners often find that an indication of class helps them figure out how to use nouns correctly.
Entries also indicate when a verb entry is shown in a form such as passive or causative.
Below , we show a full list of the classification options. Swahili Definition A goal of the project is to produce a comprehensive Swahili dictionary of Swahili words. The Swahili Definition field is a newly introduced feature that stands as an invitation to fluent speakers to write definitions in clear and succinct Swahili. Many entries include examples developed by project staff members and derived from various sources. The current lexicon includes several thousand Swahili examples derived from various sources, but very few English translations.