Mimi ninapokea barua kutoka kwa mama.

I receive a letter from mother.

Breakdown of Mimi ninapokea barua kutoka kwa mama.

• mimi: I
• mama: the mother
• barua: the letter
• kupokea: to receive
• kutoka kwa: from

Questions & Answers about Mimi ninapokea barua kutoka kwa mama.

What does Mimi mean in this sentence?

Mimi means "I". In Swahili, although the subject is also indicated by the verb prefix, using Mimi provides emphasis or clarity.

How is the verb ninapokea constructed, and what does it indicate about the action?

The verb ninapokea is built from three parts: the subject prefix ni- (indicating I), the present tense marker na-, and the root pokea (meaning to receive). This construction shows that the action is taking place in the present, similar to saying "I am receiving" or "I receive" in English.

Why is the subject pronoun Mimi included even though the verb already reflects the subject?

Swahili often omits explicit subject pronouns because the verb conjugation clearly shows who is involved. However, including Mimi can serve to emphasize the subject or avoid ambiguity, especially in contexts where clarity is desired.

What does barua mean, and is it used here as a singular or plural noun?

Barua translates to "letter" in English, and in this sentence, it is used in the singular form. In Swahili, nouns belong to specific classes that determine how plurality is expressed, and here barua remains in its basic form.

How should the phrase kutoka kwa mama be understood, and why is kwa used in this context?

The phrase kutoka kwa mama means "from mom" or "from my mother". Kutoka means "from," and kwa is a preposition that links the source (in this case, mama) to the action. Rather than using a possessive marker, Swahili employs kwa after kutoka to indicate origin or source.