Vehicles

1. Galimoto

   Car

   Usage

   Used to point to a car; "Galimoto iyi njakutowa" means "This car is beautiful"

   Grammar Note

   "galimoto" is a class 9 noun with the plural "magalimoto"

2. Basi

   Bus

   Usage

   Used to point to a bus; the same word covers long-distance and local buses

   Grammar Note

   A loan from English "bus", with the plural "mabasi"; loanword, native review recommended

3. Njinga

   Bicycle

   Usage

   Used to point to a bicycle; "njinga ya moto" is a motorcycle

   Grammar Note

   "njinga" is a class 9 noun and the plural has the same form ("njinga ziphya", new bicycles)

4. Njinga ya moto

   Motorcycle

   Usage

   Used to point to a motorcycle; "moto" means fire, so it is literally a "fire bicycle"

   Grammar Note

   A compound of "njinga" (bicycle) and "ya moto" (of fire); the plural is "njinga za moto"

5. Ndege

   Airplane

   Usage

   Used to point to an airplane; "ndege ya helikopitara" is a helicopter

   Grammar Note

   "ndege" is a class 9 noun and the plural is the same (ndege za malonda = commercial planes)

6. Sitima

   Train / Ship

   Usage

   Used for a train or a large ship, never a bus; "sitima zapamtunda" is a train on land

   Grammar Note

   "sitima" is a class 9 noun and the plural has the same form ("sitima zinyake", some trains); a small boat is "boti"

7. Boti

   Boat

   Usage

   Used to point to a boat, for example on the lake; "kwera boti" is getting on a boat

   Grammar Note

   A loan from English "boat", with the plural "maboti" and the small form "kaboti"; "wato" is also used

8. Taxi

   Usage

   Used to point to a taxi

   Grammar Note

   A loan from English; the plural is written "ma taxi"; loanword, native review recommended

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