Learn Hardcore Swahili: Mimi ninataka kutajua ukweli.

Mimi means I. Ninataka is formed with the subject prefix ni- (meaning I) attached to taka (meaning want), so it translates as I want. Kutajua is the infinitive form of tajua (meaning to know) with the prefix ku-, and ukweli means truth. Together, the sentence translates to "I want to know the truth."

Why is the pronoun Mimi included even though the verb ninataka already shows the subject?

In Swahili, the subject is usually indicated by the verb’s prefix. However, including the pronoun Mimi is perfectly acceptable and can add emphasis or clarity. Native speakers often omit it because the verb’s prefix already conveys the subject, but using it helps learners see explicitly who is performing the action.

Why is the verb tajua in the form kutajua instead of being fully conjugated?

After verbs expressing desires or intentions like taka (want), Swahili requires the subsequent verb to stay in its infinitive form, which is marked by the prefix ku-. Therefore, kutajua means to know. This construction is similar to English, where we say "want to know" rather than "want know."

What grammatical tense is used in ninataka and how is it formed?

Ninataka is in the present tense. The verb is formed by combining the first-person subject marker ni- with taka (to want). This construction indicates a current desire. The form is standard in Swahili for expressing a present wish or intention.

Why doesn't the sentence include an article before ukweli, like “the truth” in English?

Swahili does not have articles equivalent to the or a/an. Nouns are used without these markers, so ukweli stands alone and means simply truth. The context provides enough information for whether the truth is definite or general, making articles unnecessary in Swahili.