Ninataka kujua ukweli.

Ninataka can be broken down like this:

• ni- = I
• -na- = present tense marker
• -taka = want

So ninataka literally means I am wanting, which in natural English is just I want.

Because after ninataka (I want), Swahili uses the infinitive form of the next verb.

• kujua = to know
• ninajua = I know

So:

• Ninataka kujua = I want to know
• not Ninataka ninajua

This works much like English, where want is followed by to know, not I know.

Yes, in this sentence, ku- functions like the to in an English infinitive.

• jua = know
• kujua = to know

So Ninataka kujua is literally I want to know.

Ukweli means truth.

The u- is part of the noun itself. In Swahili, many abstract nouns begin with u-. So ukweli is not something you can split in a simple learner-friendly way like an English article plus noun. It is just the normal word for truth.

A useful comparison:

• kweli can mean true / really / truth depending on context
• ukweli is specifically the noun truth

Swahili normally does not use articles like a, an, or the.

So ukweli can mean:

• truth
• the truth

The exact meaning depends on context. In your sentence, Ninataka kujua ukweli, the natural English translation is usually I want to know the truth.

Yes. Nataka kujua ukweli is also common and natural in everyday speech.

Why? Because the verb already shows the subject:

• (Ni)nataka = I want

In careful grammar, ninataka clearly shows the ni- subject marker, but in speech and informal writing, forms like nataka are very common.

So both are understandable:

• Ninataka kujua ukweli
• Nataka kujua ukweli

Usually, no.

Swahili verbs already show the subject, so ninataka already means I want. You only add mimi if you want emphasis or contrast.

• Ninataka kujua ukweli. = I want to know the truth.
• Mimi ninataka kujua ukweli. = I want to know the truth (with extra emphasis, like me, I want to know the truth)

The word order is:

verb + infinitive + object

So:

• Ninataka = I want
• kujua = to know
• ukweli = the truth

Together:

• Ninataka kujua ukweli.
• I want to know the truth.

This order is very natural in Swahili.

A simple pronunciation guide is:

• Ni-na-ta-ka
• ku-ju-a
• u-kwe-li

A few helpful points:

• Swahili vowels are usually pronounced clearly:
  • a as in father
  • e as in bed (but often a bit purer)
  • i as in machine
  • o as in for (without the English glide)
  • u as in flute
• kw in ukweli is pronounced together, like the qu sound in queen, but without the extra English rounding.

Swahili stress is usually on the second-to-last syllable:

• ninataka
• kujua
• ukweli

Yes, depending on the meaning you want.

For example:

• kujua = to know
• kufahamu = to understand / to know

So:

• Ninataka kujua ukweli = I want to know the truth
• Ninataka kufahamu ukweli = I want to understand the truth

Kujua is the most direct and common choice for to know.

The negative is:

Sitaki kujua ukweli.

This means:

I do not want to know the truth.

Here:

• si- = negative I
• -taki = negative form of want

So:

• Ninataka kujua ukweli. = I want to know the truth.
• Sitaki kujua ukweli. = I do not want to know the truth.