Swahili · Question Words
ya nani
Whose
Intermediatepronoun
Definition
Used to ask about ownership; the connector agrees with the noun class.
Example
Mfuko huu ni wa nani?
Whose bag is this?
Etymology
'Ya nani' translates literally to 'of whom' in English, where 'ya' indicates possession. It is rooted in the need to establish ownership or association in conversation.
How & Where It’s Used
'Ya nani' is primarily used informally to ask about ownership or relationship and is prevalent in questions regarding belongings or kinship within Swahili-speaking cultures.