zuri
adjective
good; nice; beautiful; fine.
Stem -zuri takes noun-class agreement (mzuri, wazuri, nzuri, etc.). The bare citation form is common in learner lookup.
Forms
- nzuri
- agreement form of -zuri
Origins
Zuri is the everyday positive adjective for goodness, niceness, and beauty. Historical grammars show the agreeing forms clearly; the comparative record does not treat it as a clear borrowing, so a donor claim stays open.
Sources3
M. Haspelmath and U. Tadmor, World Loanword Database · Swahili profile (Max Planck Institute / Lexibank, 2009), Swahili profile; forms.csv (-zuri).
Lists Swahili -zuri for beautiful and records no evidence for borrowing.
A. C. Madan, Swahili-English Dictionary (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1903), positive adjective notes with -zuri.
Attests -zuri among positive evaluative adjectives.
Edward Steere, A Handbook of the Swahili Language as Spoken at Zanzibar (London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 1884), noun-class agreement examples with m-zuri.
Shows agreeing forms such as m-zuri / mi-zuri for fine or beautiful.
Examples
Nyumba nzuri.
A beautiful house.
Mtoto mzuri.
A good / lovely child.
Kazi yako ni nzuri.
Your work is good.
Leo ni siku nzuri.
Today is a good day.
Wazo lake ni zuri.
His idea is good.
Ana sauti nzuri.
She has a beautiful voice.
Tulifurahia chakula kizuri.
We enjoyed the good food.
Hii ni nafasi nzuri.
This is a good opportunity.
Mji huu ni mzuri sana.
This town is very beautiful.
