Meaning of ma- | Babel Free

Definitions

1. [[Appendix:Swahili_noun_classes#Ji-ma class|ma class_((VI))]] noun prefix and adjective agreement prefix, denoting mass nouns and plurals of a variety of classes
   morpheme
2. forms plurals of [[Appendix:Swahili_noun_classes#Ji-ma class|ji class_((V))]] nouns
   morpheme
3. forms plurals of some [[Appendix:Swahili_noun_classes#U class|u class_((XI))]] nouns
   morpheme
4. forms collectives of [[Appendix:Swahili_noun_classes#N class|n class_((IX))]] nouns
   morpheme

Equivalents

Examples

“maji machafu”

dirty water

“jicho (“eye”) → macho (“eyes”)”

“jambo (“thing”) → mambo (“things”)”

“chungwa (“orange”) → machungwa (“oranges”)”

“jitu (“giant”) → majitu (“giants”)”

“ugomvi (“quarrel”) → magomvi (“quarrels”)”

“ma- + rafiki (“friend”) → marafiki (“group of friends”)”

CEFR level