Mimi napiga kelele jioni.

I make noise in the evening.

Breakdown of Mimi napiga kelele jioni.

• mimi: I
• katika: in
• jioni: the evening
• kupiga kelele: to make noise

Questions & Answers about Mimi napiga kelele jioni.

What does the sentence Mimi napiga kelele jioni mean in English?

It means "I make noise in the evening."
Each word contributes to the overall meaning: “Mimi” stands for “I”, “napiga” is the present-tense form of “piga” (which here implies making noise), “kelele” means “noise”, and “jioni” indicates “in the evening.”

What is the role of the word mimi in this sentence?

Mimi means "I" and functions as the explicit subject of the sentence.
Although the verb prefix in "napiga" already indicates the subject, including "mimi" adds clarity or emphasis.

How is the verb napiga constructed, and what does it imply here?

Napiga is made up of the prefix na- combined with the root verb piga.
The na- prefix signals the present tense (often continuous or habitual), while piga typically means "to hit" or "to strike." In this context, when paired with kelele, it conveys the idea of "making noise."

What does the word kelele mean in this context?

Kelele means "noise" or "a loud, disruptive sound."
It specifies what is being made by the action described in the sentence.

What does jioni indicate in the sentence?

Jioni means "in the evening."
It indicates the time when the noise is made, setting a temporal context for the action.

Is it always necessary to include the explicit subject mimi in Swahili sentences?

Not necessarily.
In Swahili, the subject is usually inferred from the verb conjugation (the na- in napiga indicates the first-person singular). However, using mimi adds emphasis or clarity, especially when the speaker wants to stress that they, specifically, are performing the action.