kitu

Kitu is a Swahili noun meaning "thing" or "object." It is a common word in Swahili-speaking regions and can refer to concrete objects as well as abstract concepts. The term is frequently used in everyday speech and writing to discuss items, phenomena, or ideas.

In Swahili grammar, kitu belongs to the ki- noun class in singular form, with the plural being vitu in the vi- class. Demonstratives and adjectives agree with the noun class, so you would say kitu hiki for "this thing" and kitu hicho for "that thing." The language does not use a separate article; definiteness is conveyed through demonstratives and context. Examples include "kitu kidogo" (a small thing), "kitu muhimu" (an important thing), and "hakuna kitu" (there is nothing).

As a proper noun, Kitu may appear as a personal name, brand, or place name in various languages and contexts. These uses are independent of the Swahili sense of the word and vary by culture and locality.

Overall, vitu can function as a simple reference to objects in discourse, while the word itself also demonstrates Swahili’s noun-class system and its approach to agreement within noun phrases.