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A1 noun 11 min de leitura

ishirini

Exemplos
Explicação ishirini in your Level:
At the A1 level, 'ishirini' is one of the first 'big' numbers you will learn. After mastering 1-10, you progress through the teens (kumi na moja, kumi na mbili...) until you reach this milestone. Focus on using it for age ('Nina miaka ishirini'), simple prices ('Shilingi ishirini'), and counting objects ('Kalamu ishirini'). At this stage, the most important thing to remember is that 'ishirini' does not change its spelling or sound based on what you are counting. It is a 'free' word that you just drop after the noun. You should also practice the 'na' connection for numbers 21-29, even if you don't use noun class agreement perfectly yet. Just saying 'ishirini na moja' is a great start. You will mostly encounter this word in classroom exercises, basic shopping dialogues, and when introducing yourself. Visualizing the number 20 and saying 'ishirini' aloud will help cement the connection. It is the gateway to all the higher tens, so mastering it now makes learning 30, 40, and 50 much easier.
For A2 learners, 'ishirini' becomes a tool for more complex daily interactions. You will use it to describe quantities in the kitchen ('nyanya ishirini'), tell the time ('dakika ishirini'), and handle more significant amounts of money ('elfu ishirini' for 20,000). At this level, you should begin to pay attention to noun class agreement for the units that follow 'ishirini'. For example, if you are counting people, you should aim for 'watu ishirini na wawili' (22) rather than just 'ishirini na mbili'. You will also start to see 'ishirini' used in dates, specifically 'tarehe ishirini' (the 20th). Practice using it in the past and future tenses: 'Nilinunua kuku ishirini' (I bought 20 chickens) or 'Nitanunua kuku ishirini' (I will buy 20 chickens). Your goal is to use the word fluidly within a sentence without pausing to remember the word for twenty.
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At the B1 level, you are expected to use 'ishirini' in more descriptive and narrative contexts. You might use it to describe a historical period ('katika karne ya ishirini' - in the twentieth century) or to discuss percentages in a basic professional setting ('asilimia ishirini ya faida' - twenty percent of the profit). You should be comfortable using 'ishirini' as an ordinal number using the '-a' of association (e.g., 'safu ya ishirini' - the twentieth row). You will also likely encounter 'ishirini' in literature and news broadcasts. At this stage, you should be able to hear 'ishirini' in fast-paced speech, such as a radio announcer giving the time or a market vendor shouting prices, and understand it instantly. You might also start using it in conditional sentences: 'Kama ningekuwa na shilingi ishirini, ningenunua peremende' (If I had twenty shillings, I would buy candy).
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At the B2 level, 'ishirini' is used with full grammatical precision and in diverse registers. You will use it in formal reports, perhaps discussing 'mkataba wa miaka ishirini' (a twenty-year contract) or 'idadi ya watu ishirini kwa kila kilomita ya mraba' (a population of twenty people per square kilometer). You should understand the nuances of its use in different Swahili-speaking regions, recognizing that while the word is the same, the context of its use (like currency) might differ. You can use 'ishirini' in complex mathematical discussions or when explaining ratios and proportions. Your speech should reflect the natural penultimate stress (i-shi-RI-ni) and flow seamlessly into the next word. You should also be able to use it in more abstract ways, such as in metaphors or idiomatic expressions that might involve the number twenty, and understand its role in larger numerical constructs like 'milioni ishirini' (twenty million).
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For C1 learners, 'ishirini' is a simple building block used within highly complex structures. You might analyze the etymology of the word, comparing the Arabic 'ishrūn' to the Swahili 'ishirini' and exploring how the loanword displaced potential Bantu alternatives. In writing, you will use 'ishirini' to provide precise data in academic papers or to create specific rhythms in poetry and prose. You should be able to use it in the 'amba-' relative clause structure without hesitation: 'Vitabu ishirini ambavyo nilivileta vimepotea' (The twenty books that I brought are lost). You will also understand its use in legal and formal documents, such as 'Kifungu cha ishirini cha sheria' (Section twenty of the law). At this level, you are not just using the word; you are aware of its stylistic impact and its place within the broader history of the Swahili language and its contact with other cultures.
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At the C2 level, 'ishirini' is used with the effortless mastery of a native speaker. You can engage in deep linguistic discussions about the transition from vigesimal (base-20) counting systems in some Bantu languages to the decimal (base-10) system prioritized in Standard Swahili. You can use 'ishirini' in highly technical fields, from advanced mathematics to engineering and specialized social sciences. You understand the most subtle puns or wordplay involving the number twenty. Whether you are translating complex technical manuals or writing high-level political speeches, 'ishirini' is used with perfect syntax, agreement, and prosody. You are also capable of identifying and correcting subtle errors in others' use of the word, and you can explain the rules of numerical agreement to lower-level learners with ease, citing the historical and grammatical reasons why 'ishirini' remains invariant.
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Exemplos
The Swahili word ishirini is a cardinal number representing the quantity twenty (20). In the landscape of Swahili numerology, ishirini occupies a significant position as it marks the transition from the teens into the second decade of counting. Unlike the primary Bantu numbers (one through five, and eight), which require prefixal agreement with the noun class they modify, ishirini is of Arabic origin (from 'ishrūn) and remains invariant. This means whether you are counting people (Class 1/2), books (Class 7/8), or abstract ideas (Class 14), the word ishirini never changes its form. This lack of inflection makes it one of the easier numerical concepts for English speakers to grasp early in their Swahili journey.
Grammatical Status
Ishirini is an indeclinable numeral. It follows the noun it modifies. For example, 'shilingi ishirini' (twenty shillings).

Nina miaka ishirini na miwili.

Translation: I am twenty-two years old.
Historically, the use of Arabic numerals in Swahili reflects the deep mercantile history of the East African coast. Traders from the Arabian Peninsula brought not just goods, but a mathematical system that integrated with local Bantu structures. In modern usage, ishirini is ubiquitous. You will hear it in the bustling markets of Kariakoo in Dar es Salaam when bargaining for a 'kilo ishirini' (twenty kilos) of rice, or in the matatu (public minibus) terminals when the conductor shouts the fare. It is also the standard way to express the 20th day of the month. Beyond literal counting, ishirini often serves as a conceptual milestone. In many East African cultures, reaching the age of twenty is seen as the threshold of true adulthood and responsibility. It is the age where one typically completes secondary education or begins their vocational path. Therefore, ishirini is not just a digit; it is a symbol of maturity and the beginning of a new phase of life.
Cultural Nuance
In some coastal dialects, you might hear variations in pronunciation, but 'ishirini' remains the standard for Kiswahili Sanifu (Standard Swahili).

Alinunua machungwa ishirini sokoni leo.

Translation: He bought twenty oranges at the market today.
In formal writing, such as news reports or academic papers, ishirini is used to denote percentages (asilimia ishirini) and statistical data. Because Swahili is a language of logic and rhythm, the word's three syllables—i-shi-ri-ni—flow easily in speech, often blending slightly with the 'na' in compound numbers to sound like 'ishirini-na'. Understanding ishirini is foundational because it provides the template for all other decades (thelathini, arobaini, hamsini, etc.), which all follow the same invariant rule.
Usage in Time
While Swahili time usually counts minutes in fives or tens, saying 'dakika ishirini' (twenty minutes) is perfectly common for precise scheduling.

Mkutano utaanza baada ya dakika ishirini.

Using ishirini in sentences requires an understanding of Swahili syntax, specifically the rule that numbers usually follow the noun they quantify. This is a departure from English, where we say 'twenty people,' but in Swahili, we say 'watu ishirini.' This post-nominal position is consistent across all noun classes. For example, in the M-WA class (people), you say 'walimu ishirini' (twenty teachers). In the KI-VI class (things), you say 'viti ishirini' (twenty chairs). In the N class (neutral/animals), you say 'nyumba ishirini' (twenty houses).
The 'Na' Construction
To form numbers between 21 and 29, the structure is [Ishirini] + [na] + [Number]. Example: 'Ishirini na tatu' (Twenty-three). Note that the second number *does* take noun class prefixes if it is 1-5 or 8.

Kuna wanafunzi ishirini na mmoja darasani.

Wait: 'mmoja' agrees with 'mwanafunzi' even though 'ishirini' does not.
When using ishirini as an ordinal number (e.g., 'the twentieth'), the word 'ya' (of) or its class-appropriate possessive concord is used. For instance, 'sura ya ishirini' means 'the twentieth chapter' (literally 'the chapter of twenty'). This is a common way to navigate textbooks or religious scriptures like the Quran or Bible in Swahili. In negative sentences or questions, the position of ishirini remains stable. 'Je, una vitabu ishirini?' (Do you have twenty books?). The answer might be 'Hapana, sina vitabu ishirini' (No, I do not have twenty books).
Quantity vs. Identity
When 'ishirini' is the subject, it can stand alone: 'Ishirini ni nusu ya arobaini' (Twenty is half of forty).

Gari hili linaweza kubeba abiria ishirini.

Translation: This car can carry twenty passengers.
Another important aspect is the use of ishirini in dates. In Swahili, you say 'tarehe ishirini' for 'the twentieth date.' This is often followed by the month, e.g., 'tarehe ishirini mwezi wa kwanza' (January 20th). When talking about decades in a historical sense, like 'the twenties,' Swahili speakers usually refer to the specific years, like 'miaka ya ishirini' (the years of the twenties).
Mathematical Operations
Ishirini jumlisha kumi ni thelathini (20 + 10 = 30). Ishirini toa tano ni kumi na tano (20 - 5 = 15).

Alipata alama ishirini kwenye mtihani wa hisabati.

Translation: He got twenty marks on the math exam.
To truly master ishirini, one must step into the vibrant daily life of East Africa. One of the most common places you will hear this word is at a bus stop or inside a 'daladala' (Tanzania) or 'matatu' (Kenya). When the conductor is collecting fares, 'ishirini' is a very common price for short-distance trips within a town. You'll hear the staccato rhythm of 'ishirini, ishirini!' as they announce the price to boarding passengers.
Marketplace Dynamics
In open-air markets, vendors often bundle items like tomatoes or onions in piles that cost a specific amount. You might hear 'Chukua fungu hili kwa shilingi mia mbili ishirini' (Take this bunch for 220 shillings).

Naomba chenji ya shilingi ishirini.

Translation: I would like twenty shillings change.
Another frequent context is the 'vijiweni'—the informal social gathering spots where men drink coffee and discuss politics or sports. Here, ishirini might come up when discussing the score of a football match ('walishinda mabao mawili kwa sifuri, dakika ya ishirini'—they won two-nil, in the twentieth minute) or the age of a promising young player. In residential areas, you'll hear parents calling out to children, perhaps giving them 'dakika ishirini' to finish their chores or come inside for dinner. Radio and television news are excellent places to hear ishirini used with precision. News anchors reporting on the economy might mention 'asilimia ishirini' (twenty percent) growth or inflation. During the lottery results or weather forecasts, the number is articulated clearly to ensure the audience understands the figures.
Education and Clinics
In a school setting, teachers count students ('Wanafunzi ishirini wapo hapa'). In health clinics, nurses might record a patient's weight or temperature using this number.

Nimeishi hapa kwa miaka ishirini.

Translation: I have lived here for twenty years.
In religious contexts, such as during a sermon in a mosque or church, ishirini often appears when referencing specific verses or the number of disciples, prophets, or historical events. For example, 'Zaburi ya ishirini' (Psalm 20). Because Swahili is the lingua franca of East Africa, you'll hear ishirini used by people whose first language might be Gikuyu, Sukuma, or Luganda, but they use Swahili numbers for trade and inter-ethnic communication.
Social Events
At a wedding or 'mchango' (fundraiser), the announcer might list contributions: 'Bwana Ali ametoa elfu ishirini' (Mr. Ali has given twenty thousand).

Kuna meza ishirini kwenye ukumbi huu.

One of the most frequent errors English speakers make when learning Swahili numbers is trying to apply noun class prefixes to ishirini. Because numbers 1-5 and 8 are Bantu and *do* change (e.g., 'watu wawili', 'viti viwili'), learners often mistakenly say 'watu waishirini' or 'viti viishirini'. This is incorrect. Ishirini is loanword from Arabic and is always 'ishirini' regardless of the noun it follows.
The Agreement Trap
Mistake: 'Miti miishirini' (Incorrect). Correct: 'Miti ishirini' (Twenty trees). Remember: 6, 7, 9, 10, and all decades (20, 30, etc.) are invariant.

Sio 'vitabu viishirini', sema 'vitabu ishirini'.

Tip: Don't add 'vi-' to 'ishirini'.
Another common mistake occurs when forming compound numbers like 21, 22, or 28. While ishirini itself doesn't change, the units that follow it *must* agree with the noun class if they are 1-5 or 8. For example, 'people twenty-two' is 'watu ishirini na wawili' (not 'watu ishirini na mbili'). Many learners forget this secondary agreement and use the 'neutral' or N-class version of the small number for everything. Confusion between ishirini (20) and thelathini (30) is also common among beginners because they both end in '-ini'. It helps to associate 'ishirini' with 'sharti' (though not etymologically related) or simply practice them in pairs.
Word Order Errors
English speakers often say 'ishirini watu' because of 'twenty people'. In Swahili, the noun always comes first: 'watu ishirini'.

Kuna ishirini ya... (Incomplete). Sema: 'Kuna wanafunzi ishirini'.

Don't use 'ya' for simple counting.
A subtle mistake is misusing 'ishirini' in Swahili time. Since Swahili time is six hours ahead/behind Western time, learners often say 'saa ishirini' thinking they are using a 24-hour clock. Swahili does not typically use a 24-hour clock in conversation; they use a 12-hour clock (1-12) and specify 'asubuhi' (morning), 'mchana' (afternoon), 'jioni' (evening), or 'usiku' (night). Saying 'saa ishirini' would be nonsensical to a local speaker.
Spelling Slip-ups
Mistake: 'isharini' or 'esherini'. Correct: 'ishirini'. The 'i' vowels are consistent throughout.

Nilinunua vitabu ishirini, si kumi na tisa.

While ishirini is the standard word for twenty, understanding its neighbors and alternatives provides a richer linguistic context. The most immediate 'relatives' are the other decades.
The Decades
Kumi (10), Ishirini (20), Thelathini (30), Arobaini (40), Hamsini (50). Notice how all except 'kumi' end in '-ini', showing their Arabic influence.

Yeye ni mkubwa kuliko mimi kwa miaka ishirini.

Comparison: Ishirini vs. Kumi (Ten).
In very old Swahili or specific Bantu-heavy dialects, you might encounter 'makumi mawili' (two tens). While 'ishirini' is the nearly universal standard today, 'makumi mawili' is the logical Bantu construction. It is similar to how English uses 'twenty' but could technically say 'two tens.' However, using 'makumi mawili' in a modern city like Nairobi or Dar es Salaam would sound archaic or overly literal. Another related term is 'darzeni' (dozen). While a dozen is twelve, people often think in groups. If you are talking about a score (20), Swahili doesn't have a direct equivalent to the English 'score' (as in 'four score and seven years ago'), so 'ishirini' must do all the heavy lifting.
Ordinal vs. Cardinal
Cardinal: Ishirini (20). Ordinal: -a ishirini (20th). Example: 'Mtu wa ishirini' (The 20th person).

Hii ni mara yangu ya ishirini kukutana naye.

Translation: This is my twentieth time meeting him.
In mathematical contexts, you might hear 'duara' (circle/round) used metaphorically for a completed cycle of twenty, but this is rare. For 'twenty-fold', you use 'mara ishirini'. If you want to say 'about twenty', you use 'karibu ishirini' or 'ishirini hivi'.
Synonyms in Context
There are no true synonyms for the number itself, but 'robo karne' (a quarter century) is used for 25, which is close to 20 in historical discussions.

Alizidisha kwa ishirini.

Translation: He multiplied by twenty.
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Exemplos por nível

1

Nina miaka ishirini.

I have twenty years.

Miaka (years) is Class 4, but ishirini does not change.

2

Kuna wanafunzi ishirini.

There are twenty students.

Wanafunzi is Class 2 (people).

3

Ninataka mayai ishirini.

I want twenty eggs.

Mayai (eggs) is Class 6.

4

Bei ni shilingi ishirini.

The price is twenty shillings.

Shilingi is Class 10.

5

Alinunua kalamu ishirini.

He/She bought twenty pens.

Kalamu is Class 10.

6

Tuna viti ishirini.

We have twenty chairs.

Viti is Class 8.

7

Soma ukurasa wa ishirini.

Read page twenty.

'wa ishirini' makes it the 20th page.

8

Yeye ana kuku ishirini.

He has twenty chickens.

Kuku is Class 10.

1

Nilipata shilingi elfu ishirini.

I got twenty thousand shillings.

Elfu ishirini = 1,000 * 20.

2

Mkutano utaanza saa mbili na dakika ishirini.

The meeting will start at 8:20 (Swahili time).

Dakika ishirini means 20 minutes.

3

Leo ni tarehe ishirini.

Today is the twentieth date.

Tarehe ishirini is the standard way to say the 20th.

4

Kuna nyumba ishirini katika mtaa huu.

There are twenty houses in this street.

Nyumba is Class 10.

5

Alisafiri kwa saa ishirini.

He traveled for twenty hours.

Saa ishirini refers to duration here.

6

Nimeleta machungwa ishirini na tano.

I brought twenty-five oranges.

Notice 'tano' does not need a prefix here because machungwa is Class 6 and N-class agreement for numbers is often zero-prefix.

7

Wachezaji ishirini walikuja uwanjani.

Twenty players came to the field.

Wachezaji is Class 2.

8

Niliandika barua ishirini jana.

I wrote twenty letters yesterday.

Barua is Class 10.

1

Asilimia ishirini ya watu walipiga kura.

Twenty percent of the people voted.

Asilimia ishirini is the standard for 20%.

2

Kitabu hiki kina sura ishirini.

This book has twenty chapters.

Sura is Class 10.

3

Tulitembea kilomita ishirini msituni.

We walked twenty kilometers in the forest.

Kilomita is Class 10.

4

Alizaliwa katika karne ya ishirini.

He was born in the twentieth century.

Karne ya ishirini = 20th century.

5

Kuna vyumba ishirini katika hoteli hii.

There are twenty rooms in this hotel.

Vyumba is Class 8.

6

Alinunua nguo ishirini kwa ajili ya harusi.

She bought twenty clothes for the wedding.

Nguo is Class 10.

7

Mti huu una urefu wa mita ishirini.

This tree has a height of twenty meters.

Mita is Class 10.

8

Walimu ishirini walihudhuria semina hiyo.

Twenty teachers attended that seminar.

Walimu is Class 2.

1

Kampuni ilipoteza asilimia ishirini ya thamani yake.

The company lost twenty percent of its value.

Formal economic context.

2

Inakadiriwa kuwa kuna spishi ishirini mpya.

It is estimated that there are twenty new species.

Spishi is Class 10.

3

Mkataba huu utadumu kwa miaka ishirini.

This contract will last for twenty years.

Miaka ishirini is a common term for long-term leases.

4

Alisoma mashairi ishirini ya Shaaban Robert.

He read twenty poems by Shaaban Robert.

Mashairi is Class 6.

5

Kuna tofauti ya pointi ishirini kati yao.

There is a twenty-point difference between them.

Pointi is Class 10.

6

Serikali imejenga shule ishirini mpya mkoani hapa.

The government has built twenty new schools in this region.

Shule is Class 10.

7

Kijiji hiki kina visima ishirini vya maji.

This village has twenty water wells.

Visima is Class 8.

8

Alifanya kazi kwa saa ishirini bila kupumzika.

He worked for twenty hours without resting.

Emphasis on duration.

1

Katika muongo wa pili, alitimiza miaka ishirini ya utumishi.

In the second decade, he completed twenty years of service.

Complex time and career context.

2

Mwandishi ametumia aya ishirini kuelezea mandhari hiyo.

The author has used twenty paragraphs to describe that setting.

Aya is Class 10 (paragraphs).

3

Sheria ya ardhi ina vipengele ishirini muhimu.

The land law has twenty important sections.

Vipengele is Class 8.

4

Inasemekana kuwa mfalme alikuwa na wake ishirini.

It is said that the king had twenty wives.

Wake is Class 2 (plural of mke).

5

Mradi huu unahitaji wafanyakazi ishirini wenye ujuzi wa hali ya juu.

This project requires twenty highly skilled workers.

Wafanyakazi is Class 2.

6

Aligundua makosa ishirini katika ripoti ya mwisho.

He discovered twenty errors in the final report.

Makosa is Class 6.

7

Kuna takriban mita ishirini kati ya majengo haya mawili.

There are approximately twenty meters between these two buildings.

Takriban means approximately.

8

Alikariri beti ishirini za utenzi ule maarufu.

He memorized twenty stanzas of that famous epic poem.

Beti is Class 10 (stanzas).

1

Uchambuzi wa kina ulionyesha kuwa asilimia ishirini ya sampuli zilikuwa na kasoro.

In-depth analysis showed that twenty percent of the samples were defective.

High-level scientific reporting.

2

Mageuzi ya kijamii katika karne ya ishirini yalibadilisha mfumo wa utawala.

Social reforms in the twentieth century changed the system of governance.

Historical/Political analysis.

3

Kiwango cha mfumuko wa bei kilifikia asilimia ishirini kwa mara ya kwanza.

The inflation rate reached twenty percent for the first time.

Economic terminology.

4

Aliteuliwa kuwa mmoja wa wajumbe ishirini wa baraza la ushauri.

He was appointed as one of the twenty members of the advisory council.

Wajumbe is Class 2.

5

Kazi yake imetafsiriwa katika lugha ishirini tofauti kote ulimwenguni.

His work has been translated into twenty different languages worldwide.

Lugha is Class 10.

6

Utafiti huo ulijumuisha vijiji ishirini kutoka kanda mbalimbali.

The research included twenty villages from various regions.

Vijiji is Class 8.

7

Alitumia miaka ishirini ya maisha yake akitafiti mimea ya asili.

He spent twenty years of his life researching indigenous plants.

Miaka ishirini ya maisha yake = Twenty years of his life.

8

Kuna vigezo ishirini ambavyo lazima vitimizwe ili kupata mkopo.

There are twenty criteria that must be met to obtain a loan.

Vigezo is Class 8.

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