Learn Hardcore Swahili: Leo ninachukua teksi hadi sokoni, kwa sababu mvua inanyesha. - Today I am taking a taxi to the market because it is raining.

leo means “today.” In Swahili, time adverbs like leo commonly appear at the start to set the timeframe. You could move it elsewhere (e.g. after the verb) for emphasis, but initial position is most natural for “today.”

Why does the verb ninachukua look like present tense when the action is planned for later?

The form ni-na-chukua breaks down as: ni- (I) + -na- (present/progressive tense) + chukua (take). Swahili uses this present/progressive tense (called “present definite”) not only for actions happening now, but also for very near-future or scheduled events. So leo ninachukua teksi can mean “I’m taking a taxi today” even if the trip is later.

Why don’t we use a preposition like kwa before teksi, as in “by taxi”?

Here teksi is the direct object of chukua (“to take”), so no preposition is needed. You simply say ninachukua teksi = “I take/take up a taxi.” If you used a different verb, such as kuenda (“to go”), you would use kwa, e.g. ninaenda sokoni kwa teksi = “I’m going to the market by taxi.”

What does hadi mean in this sentence? I thought it meant “until.”

hadi can mean both “up to” (destination) and “until” (time). In hadi sokoni, it means “to” or “up to the market.” When paired with a time expression (e.g. hadi saa nne), it means “until four o’clock.” Always rely on context.

Why is soko changed to sokoni?

Swahili marks location with the suffix -ni. Attaching -ni to soko (market) gives sokoni, meaning “at the market” or “to the market” when used with motion verbs like kuenda or kuchukua.

What does kwa sababu mean, and when should I use it?

kwa sababu means “because.” It’s the standard conjunction for giving reasons. It introduces the subordinate clause (mvua inanyesha) that explains why you’re taking a taxi.

How is mvua inanyesha constructed, and why is it in the present tense?

mvua (rain) is noun class 9. The verb inanyesha splits into i- (class 9 subject prefix) + -na- (present/progressive) + nyesha (to pour/rain). So mvua inanyesha literally means “the rain is pouring,” i.e. “it’s raining.” Present tense is used to describe current weather.

Can I swap the order of the clauses?

Yes. You can say:
Kwa sababu mvua inanyesha, leo ninachukua teksi hadi sokoni.
This puts the reason first but conveys exactly the same meaning.