Samaki ni kitamu sokoni.

The fish is delicious at the market.

Breakdown of Samaki ni kitamu sokoni.

• ni: to be
• samaki: the fish
• kwenye: at
• soko: the market
• kitamu: delicious

Questions & Answers about Samaki ni kitamu sokoni.

Why does the sentence use ni?

In Swahili, ni is the verb “to be” in the present tense. It links the subject (Samaki) to the description (kitamu sokoni).

What does kitamu mean, and why is it used here?

Kitamu means “tasty” or “delicious.” It is used here as an adjective describing the quality of the fish.

Can we say Samaki ni tamu or Samaki tamu instead?

The basic meaning would still be understood, but Samaki ni kitamu sounds more natural because you typically use ni to state what something is. Tamu can stand alone in casual or colloquial speech, but it’s less precise without ni.

Why is sokoni at the end of the sentence, and does its position matter?

Sokoni literally means “at the market.” In Swahili, adverbial phrases often come at the end, but you can also say Sokoni samaki ni kitamu for emphasis on the location. Neither form is incorrect; it’s more about what you want to emphasize.

What if I want to make it plural, like “The fish are tasty at the market”?

In Swahili, Samaki can be both singular and plural. To clarify, you could say Samaki hawa ni kitamu sokoni (“These fish are tasty at the market”), adding hawa (these) for plural emphasis.