Mimi nataka kukutana na marafiki kesho asubuhi.

I want to meet friends tomorrow morning.

Breakdown of Mimi nataka kukutana na marafiki kesho asubuhi.

• mimi: I
• rafiki: the friend
• kutaka: to want
• na: with
• asubuhi: the morning
• kesho: tomorrow
• kukutana: to meet

Questions & Answers about Mimi nataka kukutana na marafiki kesho asubuhi.

What does Mimi mean, and is it always necessary to include it in a Swahili sentence?

Mimi translates to “I” in English. While it clarifies the subject, Swahili often allows you to drop the subject pronoun because the verb conjugation (in this case, nataka) already indicates the first person. Including it adds emphasis or clarity but isn’t strictly required.

What does nataka mean, and how is it used in this sentence?

Nataka means “want”. In this sentence, it expresses the speaker’s desire. It is placed directly after the subject (whether explicitly stated as Mimi or implied) and is followed by an infinitive verb, which is a common structure in Swahili to indicate an intended action.

Why is kukutana in the form it is, and what does the ku- prefix indicate?

Kukutana means “to meet.” The ku- prefix signifies that the verb is in its infinitive form. In Swahili, verbs following a modal or desire verb like nataka are used in the infinitive form, which consistently begins with ku-.

What is the role of na marafiki in this sentence?

Na functions as a preposition meaning “with.” Marafiki is the plural of rafiki (meaning “friend”). Together, na marafiki indicates that the meeting is intended to be with friends.

How should I interpret kesho asubuhi in terms of time?

Kesho means “tomorrow” and asubuhi means “morning.” Combined, they specify when the meeting is to take place—namely, tomorrow morning.

How does the verb tense work here, given that the speaking action is a desire for a future event?

Although nataka is in the present tense (indicating a current desire), the time of the action is clarified by the adverbial phrase kesho asubuhi. In Swahili, it’s common to use the present tense to express a present desire or intention for a future activity when a time indicator is provided.

Does the sentence structure in Swahili differ much from English, and what is its basic order?

Swahili typically follows a Subject-Verb-Infinitive/Object/Time complement order. In this sentence, Mimi (subject) comes first, followed by nataka (verb expressing desire), then kukutana (infinitive verb that serves as the intended action), next na marafiki (object indicating with whom), and finally kesho asubuhi (time complement). Although similar in meaning to the English structure, the use of the infinitive after the desire verb and the placement of time expressions can differ from typical English ordering.