Mimi ninacheka na marafiki.

I laugh with friends.

Breakdown of Mimi ninacheka na marafiki.

• mimi: I
• rafiki: the friend
• na: with
• kucheka: to laugh

Questions & Answers about Mimi ninacheka na marafiki.

What does Mimi mean in this sentence?

Mimi translates to "I" in English. Although Swahili verbs include subject prefixes that already indicate the subject, using Mimi can add emphasis or clarity.

How is the verb ninacheka constructed grammatically?

Ninacheka is built from three parts: the subject prefix ni- for "I", the present tense marker -na-, and the root verb cheka meaning "laugh". Together, they express "I am laughing" or "I laugh", with the exact meaning depending on context.

Why does the sentence contain two instances of na?

There are two different functions at play. In ninacheka, the -na- serves as the present tense marker. Later in the sentence, the standalone na acts as a preposition meaning "with", connecting the action to marafiki (friends).

What does marafiki mean, and is it singular or plural?

Marafiki means "friends" and is the plural form of rafiki (friend). Swahili often changes the form of a noun to indicate plurality, and in this case, the word clearly refers to more than one friend.

Is it necessary to include the subject pronoun Mimi when the verb already indicates the subject?

No, it isn’t mandatory. The subject prefix in ninacheka already indicates "I", so native speakers often drop Mimi in casual conversation. However, including it can serve for emphasis or to eliminate any ambiguity in more formal contexts.