Breakdown of Mimi sipendi kuharibu vitu nyumbani.
mimi
I
kupenda
to like
nyumba
the home
kwenye
at
kitu
the thing
kuharibu
to damage
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Questions & Answers about Mimi sipendi kuharibu vitu nyumbani.
What does Mimi mean, and is it always necessary to include it?
Mimi translates to I in English. Although Swahili verbs include subject markers that indicate the subject, the explicit use of Mimi can add clarity or emphasis. In everyday conversation, speakers might sometimes omit it because the verb form already shows who is performing the action.
How is the negative form expressed in sipendi?
The word sipendi is formed by taking the positive verb penda (which means "to like") and adding the negative marker si- at the beginning. This construction tells us that the speaker does not like something—in this case, breaking things. So, sipendi means I do not like.
Why is the verb in its infinitive form kuharibu instead of a conjugated form?
In Swahili, when a verb follows verbs that express likes, dislikes, wishes, or similar attitudes, it is used in its infinitive form. The ku- prefix turns the root haribu (meaning "break," "destroy," or "ruin") into an infinitive, which can be directly translated as to break. This structure is similar to English, as in “I don’t like to break things.”
What is the meaning and function of vitu in this sentence?
Vitu means things. It is the plural form of kitu. In the sentence, vitu serves as the direct object of the verb kuharibu—the items that the speaker does not like to break.
How does nyumbani function within the sentence?
Nyumbani functions as an adverb of place, meaning at home. It tells us where the action—breaking things—is taking place. This placement at the end of the sentence is typical in Swahili, similar to how adverbs work in English.