Mkandarasi amefika.

Mkandarasi means contractor.

It is a singular noun referring to a person, so in Swahili it belongs to the M-WA noun class, which is the main class for human beings. That matters because other words in the sentence often agree with it.

For example:

• singular: mkandarasi = contractor
• plural: wakandarasi = contractors

Because it refers to a person, the verb uses the agreement marker a- in this sentence.

Amefika can be broken down like this:

• a- = he/she (subject marker for a singular person)
• -me- = perfect marker, often meaning has
• fika = arrive

So amefika literally works like he/she has arrived.

That is why Mkandarasi amefika means The contractor has arrived.

In Swahili, the subject is usually built into the verb.

So in amefika, the a- already means he/she. Because of that, you do not need a separate subject pronoun unless you want extra emphasis.

Compare:

• Amefika. = He/she has arrived.
• Mkandarasi amefika. = The contractor has arrived.

The noun mkandarasi tells you who the subject is, and the verb agrees with it.

Swahili does not usually use articles like a, an, or the.

So mkandarasi can mean:

• a contractor
• the contractor

Which one sounds best depends on context. In many learning materials, Mkandarasi amefika is translated as The contractor has arrived, but A contractor has arrived could also be possible in the right situation.

Most often, amefika is best understood as has arrived.

The -me- marker usually shows a completed action with present relevance, which is very similar to the English present perfect.

So:

• amefika = has arrived

In some contexts, English may simply say arrived, but for learning purposes has arrived is the clearest match.

The normal word order here is:

• Subject + Verb

So:

• Mkandarasi = subject
• amefika = verb

This is the most neutral and common order in Swahili, similar to English:

• The contractor has arrived

Swahili can sometimes change word order for emphasis, but Mkandarasi amefika is the standard straightforward pattern.

Yes, but then you would usually just say:

• Amefika. = He/she has arrived.

When you say:

• Mkandarasi amefika

you are specifically naming the person as the contractor.

So the full sentence is more explicit than just amefika.

To make it plural, change both the noun and the subject marker on the verb:

• Mkandarasi amefika. = The contractor has arrived.
• Wakandarasi wamefika. = The contractors have arrived.

Breakdown of the plural verb:

• wa- = they (for people)
• -me- = have
• fika = arrive

So wamefika = they have arrived.

Yes. Fika means arrive/reach, and you can add a place after it.

For example:

• Mkandarasi amefika ofisini. = The contractor has arrived at the office.
• Amefika nyumbani. = He/she has arrived home.

So amefika can stand alone, or it can be followed by a location.

A simple pronunciation guide is:

• Mkandarasi ≈ m-kahn-dah-RAH-see
• amefika ≈ ah-meh-FEE-kah

A few helpful points:

• Swahili vowels are usually pure and consistent:
  • a like a in father
  • e like e in bed or a short eh
  • i like ee in see
• Stress is usually on the second-to-last syllable:
  • mkan-da-RA-si
  • ame-FI-ka

The m at the beginning of mkandarasi is pronounced, even though English speakers may find that cluster unusual at first.

Yes, but that changes the meaning.

• Mkandarasi amefika. = The contractor has arrived.
• Mkandarasi alikuwa amefika. = The contractor had arrived.

So the original sentence is a simple present-perfect-type statement. Adding alikuwa changes the time reference and makes it past perfect.

For a beginner, the key thing is:

• amefika = has arrived
• alikuwa amefika = had arrived