kipya

Kipya is a term in Swahili that broadly means "new" or "newness." It functions primarily as an adjective describing freshness or modernity, and it is most commonly placed after the noun in standard sentences. For example, kitabu kipya means "a new book." This usage follows the ki- noun class pattern, where singular inanimate nouns take the ki- prefix, and the corresponding plural uses vi- for the noun and vipya for the adjective phrase, as in vitabu vipya ("new books"). Kipya can also appear as a noun in its own right to denote the concept of novelty or newness, rather than a specific object: "kipya" as the state of being new.

In Swahili, kipya is widely used across East Africa in everyday speech, literature, journalism, and education to indicate that something is not old or has recently come into existence. Its exact connotations can range from mere freshness to modern or up-to-date in particular contexts.

Outside Swahili, kipya may be encountered as a personal name or place name in some communities, but such uses are uncommon and poorly documented in general reference works.