hii
demonstrative
this; these.
Use hii with words such as kazi and safari: kazi hii, this work; safari hii, this journey. The form changes with the noun: kitu hiki, this thing; mtu huyu, this person.
Origins
The word’s earlier history is still under review.
Sources3
Charles Sacleux, Grammaire des dialectes Swahilis (Paris: Procure des PP. du Saint-Esprit, 1909), PDF page 160.
Tabulates demonstrative agreement across noun classes. Historical evidence; not a survey of current Kenyan speech.
Edward Steere, A Handbook of the Swahili Language as Spoken at Zanzibar (London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 1884), PDF page 144.
Contrasts hii, hiki and huyu in demonstrative agreement examples. Historical Zanzibar evidence.
University of Kansas Open Language Resource Center, University of Kansas Kiswahili Glossary (University of Kansas Open Language Resource Center), hii glossary rows.
Illustrates hii with familia, semesta and nyumba.
Examples
Safari hii ni nzuri.
This journey is good.
Kazi hii inaanza kesho.
This work starts tomorrow.
Meza hii iko karibu na dirisha.
This table is near the window.
Barabara hii inaenda wapi?
Where does this road go?
Hii ni chai yako?
Is this your tea?
Simu hii ni yangu.
This phone is mine.
Miti hii ni mirefu.
These trees are tall.
Miji hii iko karibu.
These towns are close together.
Mifuko hii ni mizito.
These bags are heavy.
