Breakdown of Tunapenda kutembelea marafiki sokoni.
rafiki
the friend
sisi
we
kupenda
to like
kwenye
at
soko
the market
kutembelea
to visit
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Questions & Answers about Tunapenda kutembelea marafiki sokoni.
What is the function of the prefix tu- in tunapenda?
In Swahili, tu- is a subject prefix indicating the first-person plural ("we"). So tunapenda means “we like” or “we love.”
Why does the verb kutembelea include the prefix ku-?
The prefix ku- is the infinitive marker in Swahili. It is used much like “to” before an English verb. So kutembelea translates to “to visit.”
Why do we say marafiki sokoni instead of mentioning something like “our friends”?
In Swahili, possessives or objects do not always need to be specified if the context makes them clear. If the speaker’s friends are understood, simply saying marafiki is enough. Adding “our” (using the appropriate possessive) is optional unless clarity is needed.
What is the significance of -ni at the end of sokoni?
The suffix -ni can indicate a location or direction in Swahili. In sokoni, it shows that we are talking about “to the market,” “at the market,” or “in the market,” depending on context.