Mimi ninatembea hadi shule.

I am walking to school.

Breakdown of Mimi ninatembea hadi shule.

• mimi: I
• shule: the school
• kutembea: to walk
• hadi: to

Questions & Answers about Mimi ninatembea hadi shule.

What does Mimi mean in this sentence?

Mimi means “I”. It is the subject pronoun used in Swahili to specify who is performing the action.

How is the verb ninatembea constructed, and what does it indicate?

Ninatembea is formed by combining the subject prefix ni- (representing I), the continuous present marker -na-, and the base verb tembea (meaning to walk). Together, they express “I am walking.”

Why is the pronoun Mimi included at the beginning when the verb already contains a subject marker?

Swahili often incorporates subject prefixes into the verb, which makes the subject clear. However, adding Mimi can provide extra emphasis or clarity, especially for language learners or in contexts where stressing the subject is important.

What role does the word hadi play in the sentence?

Hadi functions as a preposition indicating direction or destination. In this sentence, it means “to” or “up to,” linking the action of walking with the destination shule (school).

Is it acceptable to omit Mimi and simply say ninatembea hadi shule?

Yes, it is perfectly acceptable. Since the verb ninatembea already includes the subject marker for “I,” omitting Mimi is common in everyday speech. Including it, however, may add emphasis or improve clarity, particularly for beginners.