Sipendi kulala wakati jua linawaka.

I do not like to sleep when the sun is shining.

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).