Mimi ninunua pilipili sokoni.

I am buying chili pepper at the market.

Breakdown of Mimi ninunua pilipili sokoni.

• mimi: I
• kwenye: at
• soko: the market
• kununua: to buy
• pilipili: the chili pepper

Questions & Answers about Mimi ninunua pilipili sokoni.

What does each word in the sentence “Mimi ninunua pilipili sokoni” mean?

Mimi means I; ninunua is made up of the subject prefix ni- (meaning I) attached to the root nunua (meaning buy), so it translates as I buy; pilipili means chili or pepper; and sokoni comes from soko (market) with the locative suffix -ni, meaning at the market.

Why is the subject pronoun Mimi explicitly stated when the verb ninunua already indicates the subject?

While the verb ninunua includes the prefix ni-, which clearly signifies I, including Mimi can add emphasis or clarity. In Swahili, it’s common to omit the pronoun when the context is clear, but you may include it when you want to stress who is performing the action.

How is the verb ninunua constructed and what does it tell us about the action?

The verb ninunua is formed by attaching the subject prefix ni- (meaning I) to the verb root nunua (meaning buy). This construction indicates that the action is being performed by the speaker and is set in the present tense—often covering both immediate and habitual actions.

What does sokoni mean and what role does the suffix -ni play?

Sokoni means at the market. It is created by taking the noun soko (market) and adding the locative suffix -ni, which is used to denote location. This tells you where the buying is taking place.

Is pilipili singular or plural, and how do I know which one is meant in this sentence?

In Swahili, some nouns like pilipili may not display an explicit plural marker in every context. The intended number—singular or plural—is usually inferred from context. In this sentence, the meaning provided (as shown to the learner) will indicate whether it refers to one type of chili/pepper or to multiple items, even though the word form remains the same.