Language/Swati/Grammar/Pronouns

Swati Grammar - Pronouns

Hi Swati learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn about pronouns in Swati grammar. Pronouns are words that replace nouns to make sentences less repetitive. Swati pronouns are used to make a sentence clearer and less ambiguous. Let's get started!

Consider exploring these related pages after completing this lesson: Say Hello and Greetings in Swati, Questions & How to Use Have.

Swati Personal Pronouns

Personal pronouns represent people or groups of people. They are essential in communicating effectively in Swati. The table below shows the personal pronouns in Swati.

Swati	Pronunciation	English
Mi	mi	I
Wa	wa	You (singular)
U	u	He/She/It
Si	si	We
Nina	ni-na	You (plural)
Ba	ba	They

Here is an example to understand how to use Swati personal pronouns properly.

• Person 1: Uyazi uLindiwé? (Do you know Lindiwe?)
• Person 2: Yebo, ngim'yazi. (Yes, I know her.)

In the example above, Person 1 uses the Swati personal pronoun "u" instead of repeating the name Lindiwe, making the conversation more efficient.

Swati Demonstrative Pronouns

Demonstrative pronouns replace or point to something specific that has already been introduced in the conversation. These pronouns help to avoid repeating a previously mentioned noun.

The Swati language has four demonstrative pronouns, which are either singular or plural, masculine or feminine, and for proximity or distance.

Swati	Pronunciation	English
Le	leh	This (singular, masculine)
Lami	lah-mee	This (singular, feminine)
Lona	loh-nah	That (singular, masculine)
Lenu	leh-noo	That (singular, feminine)
Lalela	lah-leh-lah	These (plural, masculine)
Laleli	lah-leh-lee	These (plural, feminine)
Lona liphela	loh-nah lee-peh-lah	Those (plural, masculine)
Lenu lenyama	leh-noo leh-nyah-mah	Those (plural, feminine)

Here is an example of how to use demonstrative pronouns:

• Person 1: Libhodi lakithi liyahluphekela. (Our school is struggling.)
• Person 2: Lona labathathu, anifundanga njani kanti?

(Those three, how are they not learning?)

In the example above, Person 2 uses the Swati demonstrative pronoun "Lona" instead of repeating the phrase "those three," making the conversation more efficient.

Swati Reflexive Pronouns

Reflexive pronouns emphasize a noun, indicating that the person or thing performing the action is also receiving the action. The table below shows the reflexive pronouns in Swati.

Swati	Pronunciation	English
Ngihlatsiwe	ngih-lah-tsih-weh	Myself
Uyihlatsiwe	oo-yih-lah-tsih-weh	Yourself (singular)
Uyihlatsiwe	oo-yih-lah-tsih-weh	Himself/Herself/Itself
Sikhatsiwe	sih-kah-tsih-weh	Ourselves
Nina niyihlatsiwe	nee-nah nee-yih-lah-tsih-weh	Yourselves (plural)
Bayihlatsiwe	bah-yih-lah-tsih-weh	Themselves

Here is an example to understand how to use Swati reflexive pronouns properly:

• Person 1: Ngizohlala ngikhuluma emfuleni. (I will always speak truthfully.)
• Person 2: Uyakhathazeka uButhelezi. (You are only worried about yourself.)

In the example above, Person 2 uses the Swati reflexive pronoun "uyihlatsiwe" instead of repeating the noun "Buthelezi."

Swati Possessive Pronouns

Swati possessive pronouns indicate possession or belonging. The table below shows the possessive pronouns in Swati.

Swati	Pronunciation	English
Wami	waa-mee	Mine
Wako	waa-koh	Yours (singular)
Wakhe	waa-kheh	His/Hers/Its
Wethu	waa-teh-heh	Ours
Wanina	waa-nee-nah	Yours (plural)
Wabo	waa-boh	Theirs

Here is an example to understand how to use Swati possessive pronouns properly:

• Person 1: IFacebook yakho ili ngcono kakhulu kunami. (Your Facebook is better than mine.)
• Person 2: Ewe, wami ngeke ngifise. (Yes, mine is no good.)

In the example above, Person 2 uses the Swati possessive pronoun "wami" instead of repeating the phrase "my Facebook."

Swati Reciprocal Pronouns

Reciprocal pronouns are used to indicate mutual actions or feelings between two or more people. In Swati, reciprocal pronouns are formed by adding "na" to pronouns. For example, "sina" means "each other" in Swati.

Here is an example to understand how to use Swati reciprocal pronouns:

• Person 1: Uma kufika abantu abathathu, laba abavumelekanga bakho bona bakhona labathathu baphoxe phezulu kakhulu. (When three people arrive, those who do not agree with you they will talk up a storm against one another.)
• Person 2: Kuthathwa kubandlululwa kahle lapho lwaphinda kuthiwa "Sina semaningi." (There was a lot of conflict there until they said "We are all together.")

To improve your Swati Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!

Sources

• Swati Language
• Pronoun
• Swati Reciprocal Pronoun

Other Lessons

• Questions
• Conditional Mood
• Future Tense
• Negation
• Give your Opinion
• How to Use Have
• Adjectives
• How to Use Be
• Plurals