kufikiri — to Think | Swahili Grammar

Kufikiri means “think, suppose, hold an opinion.” It commonly introduces a proposition with kwamba “that.” Because fikiri is Arabic-derived and ends in lexical -i, that vowel does not alternate in the present negative or subjunctive: sifikiri, nifikiri. Its applicative relative kufikiria has developed the frequent meaning “think about, consider.”

All unlabelled uses below are neutral current Standard Swahili. Explicit opinion framing in academic argument is marked (academic) where relevant.

Practical paradigm: invariant final -i

Form	I	you (sg.)	he/she	we	you (pl.)	they
present	ninafikiri	unafikiri	anafikiri	tunafikiri	mnafikiri	wanafikiri
past	nilifikiri	ulifikiri	alifikiri	tulifikiri	mlifikiri	walifikiri
perfect	nimefikiri	umefikiri	amefikiri	tumefikiri	mmefikiri	wamefikiri
future	nitafikiri	utafikiri	atafikiri	tutafikiri	mtafikiri	watafikiri
present negative	sifikiri	hufikiri	hafikiri	hatufikiri	hamfikiri	hawafikiri
past negative	sikufikiri	hukufikiri	hakufikiri	hatukufikiri	hamkufikiri	hawakufikiri
subjunctive	nifikiri	ufikiri	afikiri	tufikiri	mfikiri	wafikiri

The singular imperative is fikiri and the plural is fikirini: add -ni to the unchanged loan stem.

Fikiri kabla ya kujibu ujumbe ukiwa na hasira.

Think before replying to a message when you are angry.

Fikirini kwa makini kabla ya kufanya uamuzi huu.

Think carefully before making this decision.

The structures ni-na-fikiri, si-fikiri, ni-fikiri, and fikiri-ni demonstrate that Swahili prefixes attach normally even though the lexical final vowel is not the Bantu final -a. The root and stem guide explains why that lexical vowel is preserved.

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Loan origin does not stop Swahili conjugation. It changes one local rule: final -i remains stable where a Bantu -a verb would show negative -i or subjunctive -e.

Beliefs and opinions with kwamba

Use kufikiri kwamba + finite clause to present what someone believes or judges:

Ninafikiri kwamba tutamaliza ukarabati kabla ya msimu wa mvua.

I think that we will finish the repairs before the rainy season.

Walifikiri kwamba duka lilikuwa limefungwa, lakini mlango wa pembeni ulikuwa wazi.

They thought that the shop was closed, but the side door was open.

The subject of the embedded clause has its own agreement: tu-ta-maliz-a, duka li-li-ku-wa. English and Swahili both allow a “that” clause, but Swahili learners must not turn the second proposition into an infinitive simply because another verb precedes it.

In simple (informal) conversation, kwamba may be omitted:

Nafikiri amesahau funguo zake tena.

I think she has forgotten her keys again.

Retain kwamba in (formal) or (academic) prose when it makes a long sentence easier to parse. In an academic argument, ninafikiri explicitly marks a personal stance; claims supported as findings often use evidence-centered wording instead, such as matokeo yanaonyesha kwamba... “the results show that...”

Matokeo yanaonyesha kwamba njia hii inapunguza gharama za uzalishaji.

The results show that this method reduces production costs.

That distinction is rhetorical, not a different conjugation of fikiri.

Kufikiri, kudhani, and kutoa maoni

Nafikiri... offers a considered opinion. Nadhani... often means “I suppose/I think” and can sound more tentative in ordinary conversation. The boundary is not absolute.

Nadhani basi limechelewa kwa sababu ya mvua, lakini sina uhakika.

I suppose the bus is late because of the rain, but I'm not certain.

For an explicit opinion, especially in a meeting, kwa maoni yangu “in my opinion” or kutoa maoni “express an opinion” can organize discourse:

Kwa maoni yangu, tunapaswa kusikiliza wakazi kabla ya kubadilisha mpango.

In my opinion, we should listen to the residents before changing the plan.

This is suitable in neutral and (formal) discussion. Repeating ninafikiri in every sentence can sound hesitant or stylistically monotonous, just as repeating “I think” does in English.

Think about: kufikiri kuhusu and kufikiria

When thought is directed toward a topic, two established patterns are useful:

Tutafikiri kuhusu pendekezo lako na kukujibu Jumatatu.

We will think about your proposal and answer you on Monday.

Asha anafikiria kuhamia karibu na mahali anapofanya kazi.

Asha is considering moving closer to where she works.

Kufikiri kuhusu X transparently marks the topic with “about.” Kufikiria X/infinitive is an established applicative form meaning “think about, consider.” It can select a noun or a possible action.

Nimefikiria ushauri wako kwa muda mrefu, na nimeamua kuukubali.

I have thought about your advice for a long time, and I have decided to accept it.

The build ni-me-fikir-i-a takes the loan verb without its lexical final -i, then adds applicative -i- and Bantu final -a. The modern verb's complement and meaning should be learned as a whole rather than rebuilt mechanically from English “about.”

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Use kufikiri kwamba... for the content of a belief; use kufikiri kuhusu... or established kufikiria... for the topic under consideration.

Common collocations

Frequent combinations include kufikiri sana “think a lot,” kufikiri kwa makini “think carefully,” kufikiri mara mbili “think twice,” kufikiri kwamba/kuwa “think that,” and kufikiria jambo “consider a matter.”

Usikubali haraka; fikiria jambo hilo mara mbili.

Don't agree immediately; think that matter over twice.

Here fikiria is the positive singular command with the established extended stem, whereas negative usikubali is a negative subjunctive prohibition.

Common Mistakes

Changing final -i in the subjunctive

❌ Ni muhimu afikire kabla ya kuamua.

Incorrect — loan verb fikiri retains final -i in the subjunctive.

✅ Ni muhimu afikiri kabla ya kufanya uamuzi wa mwisho.

It is important that she think before making the final decision.

Adding -eni to the plural imperative

❌ Fikiri-eni kwa makini kabla ya kujibu swali.

Incorrect spelling and formation for simple fikiri — add -ni directly to the unchanged loan verb.

✅ Fikirini kwa makini kabla ya kujibu swali hilo.

Think carefully before answering that question.

Using an infinitive for a full belief proposition

❌ Ninafikiri yeye kuwa kazini sasa.

Incorrect ordinary opinion frame — use a finite kwamba clause.

✅ Ninafikiri kwamba yuko kazini sasa, lakini nitampigia simu.

I think she is at work now, but I will call her.

Marking a topic with ya after kufikiri

❌ Tunafikiri ya tatizo hilo kila siku.

Incorrect topic marking — use kuhusu or the established verb kufikiria.

✅ Tunafikiri kuhusu tatizo hilo na njia za kulitatua.

We are thinking about that problem and ways to solve it.

Key Takeaways

Arabic-derived fikiri keeps final -i: sifikiri, nifikiri, fikirini.
Kufikiri kwamba + finite clause frames a belief or opinion.
Nadhani often gives a more tentative “I suppose,” though usage overlaps.
Use kufikiri kuhusu or established kufikiria for a topic under consideration.
In (academic) writing, distinguish personal stance from evidence-centered claims.

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