MOFIMU -PI 

In Kiswahili there are two ways (at least) of saying the interrogative “which.” One way is to use the interrogative word gani, which means either “which” or “what kind/type,” depending on the context and intent of the speaker or writer. Hence, kitabu gani (depending on the context) could mean either “which book” or “what kind of book.”

When you use the Kiswahili morpheme -pi, however, there is no such ambiguity. The morpheme -pi only means “which” (and not “what kind/type”). 

Another distinction between gani and -pi is that, whereas gani does not take agreement with the noun that if refers to, -pi does. 

Here’s how -pi works with noun classes 1-11.

1.    yupi

2.    wepi

3.    upi

4.    ipi

5.    lipi

6.    yapi (or yepi)

7.    kipi

8.    vipi

9.    ipi

10.  zipi

11.  upi

Mifano: 

Mwanafunzi yupi aliibia mtihani?

Watu wepi wanataka kuacha kazi?

Je, unapenda mto upi --- huu au huu?

Miti ipi itakatwa leo?

Tutaendesha gari lipi, letu au lao?

Ni maneno yepi ambayo huyafahamu?

Wiki hii tunasoma kitabu kipi?

Viti vipi vimeharibika?

Nyumba ipi inauzwa, hii au ile?

Silaha zipi zilifichuliwa na askari polisi?

Ufunguo upi umepotea?