…
Breakdown of Sipendi kulala wakati jua linawaka.
mimi
I
kupenda
to like
jua
the sun
kuwaka
to shine
kulala
to sleep
wakati
when
Questions & Answers about Sipendi kulala wakati jua linawaka.
What does Sipendi literally mean in this sentence?
Sipendi comes from the verb kupenda (to like), with the negative prefix si- indicating “I do not.” So it translates to “I do not like.”
Why is kulala in the infinitive form here?
In Swahili, when one verb follows another (especially expressions of liking/disliking or wanting), the second verb often remains in the infinitive. Hence, kulala (“to sleep”) stays unchanged after Sipendi.
What does wakati imply in this context?
Wakati generally means “when” or “while” and introduces the time frame during which something happens. In this sentence, it marks that the action of sleeping takes place during the time the sun is shining.
How is linawaka formed, and what does it mean?
Linawaka comes from the verb kuwaka (to shine, to burn, or to blaze), with the subject marker li- referring to the noun jua (the sun). So it means “(the sun) is shining.”
How would you express “I do not like sleeping when it’s dark” using a similar structure?
You could say: Sipendi kulala wakati giza limetanda. Here, giza means “darkness,” and limetanda means “it has spread” (referring to darkness covering the surroundings).
More from this lesson
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“What's the best way to learn Swahili grammar?”
Swahili grammar becomes intuitive with practice. Focus on understanding the core patterns first — how sentences are structured, how verbs change form, and how words relate to each other. Our course breaks these concepts into small lessons so you can build understanding step by step.
Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor
Start learning SwahiliMaster Swahili — from Sipendi kulala wakati jua linawaka to fluency
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.
- ✓ Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
- ✓ Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
- ✓ Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
- ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions