Mimi ninapenda kumwita paka wangu kipenzi wangu, kwa sababu ananifurahisha.

I like to call my cat my beloved one, because it makes me happy.

Breakdown of Mimi ninapenda kumwita paka wangu kipenzi wangu, kwa sababu ananifurahisha.

• mimi: I
• kupenda: to like
• paka: the cat
• wangu: my
• kwa sababu: because
• kufurahisha: to make happy
• kumwita: to call
• kipenzi: the beloved one

Questions & Answers about Mimi ninapenda kumwita paka wangu kipenzi wangu, kwa sababu ananifurahisha.

What is the role of "Mimi" in this sentence?

"Mimi" means "I." Although the verb "ninapenda" already implies the subject through its conjugation, "Mimi" is used for emphasis or clarity, reinforcing that the speaker is referring to themselves.

How is the word "kumwita" formed and what does it mean?

"Kumwita" is the infinitive form of the verb meaning "to call." It breaks down into the infinitive marker "ku-" plus "m-wita," where the "m-" is an object prefix referring to "him/her" (in this context, the cat). Thus, it literally means "to call him/her."

Why do we see two instances of "wangu" in "paka wangu kipenzi wangu"?

"Wangu" means "my," and its repetition indicates possession for each noun that follows. "Paka wangu" translates to "my cat," and "kipenzi wangu" means "my beloved/darling." In Swahili, each noun that is possessed typically gets its own possessive adjective, so both the cat and the term of endearment clearly belong to the speaker.

What does "ananifurahisha" mean and how is it constructed?

"Ananifurahisha" means "it makes me happy." It is built with the subject prefix "a-" (indicating he/she/it), the object marker "ni-" meaning "me," and the verb root "furahisha," which means "to make happy." Together, they form a present tense expression indicating that the subject (the cat) makes the speaker happy.

Which tense are the verbs "ninapenda" and "ananifurahisha" in?

Both verbs are in the present tense, often referred to as the present habitual in Swahili. This tense is used to express current feelings or actions that occur regularly.

Is it necessary to include the subject pronoun when the verb conjugation already shows the subject?

No, it is not strictly necessary. Swahili verb forms carry subject markers, so the subject pronoun (like "Mimi") is often omitted. However, including it can add emphasis or clarity, especially in spoken language or when the speaker wants to stress the subject.

How does the word order in this sentence compare to English, particularly regarding adjectives and possession?

The overall sentence structure (subject–verb–object) is similar to English, but Swahili requires explicit possessive adjectives for each noun. In the phrase "paka wangu kipenzi wangu," each noun ("paka" and "kipenzi") is separately marked with "wangu" to show possession, which might differ from how we structure phrases in English.