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Wao wanacheza mchezo.

Wao wanacheza mchezo.
They are playing a game.
FromLesson 13inHardcore Swahili
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Breakdown of Wao wanacheza mchezo.

wao
they
kucheza
to play
mchezo
the game
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Questions & Answers about Wao wanacheza mchezo.

What does Wao mean in this sentence?
Wao is the subject pronoun that means they, referring to a group of people.
How is the verb wanacheza constructed and what does it imply?
Wanacheza combines the subject prefix wana- (indicating a plural subject, i.e. they) with the verb root cheza, which means to play. Altogether, it translates to "they play" or "are playing".
What is the meaning of mchezo?
Mchezo means game. In this sentence, it indicates that the group is engaged in playing a game.
Why is the subject pronoun Wao explicitly stated even though the verb already shows the subject?
While Swahili verbs contain subject prefixes that convey who is performing the action, including the subject pronoun Wao adds clarity and emphasis. It reassures the listener or reader about who is acting, which can be especially helpful for language learners.
How does the sentence illustrate how tense is expressed in Swahili?
The sentence uses the verb form wanacheza to imply the present tense. In Swahili, the present tense is often indicated directly by the subject prefix and the verb, meaning there’s no separate auxiliary verb (like "are" in English) needed to show that the action is taking place now.