-ote & -o -ote

In Swahili, ‘all’ and ‘anything whatever’ are expressed with similar constructions using -ote. The concept of -ote is wholeness or completeness. It can be used with a noun or alone as a pronoun. It must always agree with the noun.

For -ote, singular is restricted:

• Mwili wote waniuma- my whole body pains me.

It’s more common to be used in the plural:

• Lete visu vyote– bring all the knives
• Watu wote wamefika- all the people have come

-o -ote means ‘anything whatsoever’ or ‘anyone whosever’ and qualifies a noun or stands alone.

• Watu wo wote: any people whatever
• Viti vyo vyote: any chairs whatever
• Lete kisu cho chote: bring any knife