Mimi ninataka kununua shati, lakini bei yake ni ghali sana.

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Breakdown of Mimi ninataka kununua shati, lakini bei yake ni ghali sana.

• ni: to be
• kutaka: to want
• kununua: to buy
• shati: the shirt
• lakini: but
• sana: very
• yake: its
• bei: the price
• ghali: expensive

Questions & Answers about Mimi ninataka kununua shati, lakini bei yake ni ghali sana.

What does Mimi mean in this sentence, and why is it included even though the verb already indicates the subject?

Mimi means I in English. Although the verb ninataka already indicates that the subject is I, including Mimi adds emphasis and clarity—especially useful for learners who are still getting used to Swahili’s subject markers.

How is ninataka constructed and what does it convey?

Ninataka translates to I want. It’s formed by the subject prefix ni- (indicating I) attached to the verb taka (to want). This combination clearly communicates the speaker’s desire.

What do kununua shati mean, and how do these words function together?

Kununua shati means to buy a shirt. Kununua is the infinitive form meaning to buy, and shati means shirt. In the sentence, they serve together as the object of the speaker’s desire expressed by ninataka.

How is possession indicated in the phrase bei yake?

Bei means price, and yake is a third-person singular possessive pronoun meaning its. Together, bei yake translates to its price, showing that the price belongs to the shirt mentioned earlier.

What is the role of lakini in this sentence?

Lakini means but. It functions as a conjunction that contrasts the speaker’s wish to buy the shirt with the problematic fact that its price is very high.

How do the words ghali sana work together, and what do they mean?

Ghali means expensive, and sana means very. When combined as ghali sana, they stress that the price is not just high but very expensive, providing extra emphasis on the cost.