Mimi nina marafiki kumi.

I

Breakdown of Mimi nina marafiki kumi.

• rafiki: the friend
• kuwa na: to have
• kumi: ten

Questions & Answers about Mimi nina marafiki kumi.

What does the word Mimi mean in this sentence?

Mimi is the first-person singular pronoun in Swahili, meaning I. It identifies the speaker, even though the verb already contains subject information.

How is the verb nina constructed and what does it mean?

Nina means I have. It is formed by combining the subject prefix ni- (for I) with the present tense marker -na. This fusion shows that the action (having) is taking place in the present.

What is the meaning of marafiki, and how is it formed?

Marafiki translates to friends. It is the plural form of rafiki (friend). The transformation from rafiki to marafiki follows Swahili noun class patterns, where specific prefixes or modifications denote plurality.

What numeral is represented by kumi, and how does it relate to the noun?

Kumi means ten. It follows the noun marafiki to specify the quantity, informing us that the speaker has ten friends. In Swahili, numerals typically come after the noun they are quantifying.

Why is the subject pronoun Mimi explicitly included when the verb nina already implies the subject?

Although the verb nina includes the subject marker ni- (indicating I), including Mimi is common for emphasis, clarity, or contrast. It ensures that the focus on the speaker is unmistakable, especially in contexts where the subject might need to be highlighted.

What role does the tense marker -na play in the verb nina?

The -na in nina is a present tense marker. It indicates that the verb's action—having—is occurring in the present. This means the sentence is describing a current state or condition, not a past or future one.

Can you describe the overall sentence structure of Mimi nina marafiki kumi?

The sentence follows a Subject-Verb-Object order: Mimi (subject) + nina (verb) + marafiki kumi (object). Within the object, kumi (ten) comes after marafiki (friends) to specify the number, which is typical of Swahili syntactic structure.