Mimi nina marafiki chache.

Breakdown of Mimi nina marafiki chache.

mimi
I
rafiki
the friend
kuwa na
to have
chache
few
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Questions & Answers about Mimi nina marafiki chache.

What does Mimi mean in this sentence?
Mimi is the subject pronoun meaning I. Although the verb already indicates the subject, including Mimi can add emphasis or clarity.
What does nina indicate in the sentence?
Nina is the present tense, first person singular form of the verb kuwa na (to have), so it translates to I have. It combines the subject prefix ni- (for I) with the verb root.
What does marafiki mean here?
Marafiki is the plural form of rafiki (friend), meaning friends.
What is the role of chache in the sentence?
Chache is an adjective meaning few or a few. It describes the noun marafiki, indicating that the speaker has a small number of friends.
Why include Mimi when the verb nina already signals the subject?
In Swahili, subject pronouns are often omitted because the verb’s prefix already shows the subject. However, including Mimi can provide extra emphasis or help avoid ambiguity—especially when you want to contrast subjects.
How would you translate the entire sentence Mimi nina marafiki chache?
The complete translation is I have a few friends. The sentence follows the typical Swahili structure of subject (Mimi), verb (nina), and object with its adjective (marafiki chache).

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