"Dada yangu ni mrefu"

Translation: My sister is tall

[Jake635697]

Is this an exception to having singular possessive pronouns start with a "w"?

[leighforbes]

Hi Jake, Yes, you're right. I've copied the note below from the "People" skill:

Note: The exceptions to this [possessive pronoun prefix] rule are certain kinship nouns that come from Arabic: baba, mama, bibi, babu, shangazi, binamu, rafiki, dada, kaka, etc. These nouns take the y- agreement in the singular and the z- agreement in the plural.

Accordingly, "my sister" will be "dada yangu" whereas "my sisters" will be "dada zangu."

[Orbfluid]

Thank you!

Most of the words without a noun class prefix indicator, that are written the same way in their plural form, are from Arabic right? I don't know Arabic so I'm having a hard time distinguishing the Arabic loanwords from other words.

[SarahConnor]

I thought Yangu was for Mine pl.
Why isn't wangu here if its singular?

[Sabina424611]

Went not wangu? The sister here is singular right?

[Catriona28475]

Please read the other comments in this discussion. You will find the answer in the comment by Leighforbes three years ago. Kinship terms (like 'sister') take y- and z- agreement.