Wao wanakunywa chai sokoni.

they

Breakdown of Wao wanakunywa chai sokoni.

• chai: the tea
• kunywa: to drink
• kwenye: at
• soko: the market

Questions & Answers about Wao wanakunywa chai sokoni.

Why is wao used, even though in Swahili we can often drop the subject pronoun?

In Swahili, subject pronouns like wao (they) are often optional, because the verb form already indicates who is doing the action. However, using wao can add clarity or emphasis. Some speakers also include the pronoun for stylistic or regional reasons.

What is the tense of wanakunywa?

The verb wanakunywa is in the present tense. In Swahili, the present tense marker is -na-. So, from the verb kunywa (to drink), we have: • wa- (they) + -na- (present tense) + -kunywa (drink).

Could you explain the role of the noun chai here?

In Swahili, chai (tea) is a noun borrowed from other languages (e.g., Hindi). It doesn’t change its form in different contexts. You simply use chai for "tea" in both singular and plural contexts. The verb and other clues in the sentence help you know who’s doing what.

What does sokoni mean and why is it used instead of kwenye soko?

Sokoni translates roughly to "at the market." The suffix -ni changes soko (market) into a locative form, meaning "in/at/to the market." You could also say kwenye soko, but sokoni is more concise and is commonly used in everyday conversation.