Benchi iko katikati ya bustani.

The bench is in the middle of the garden.

Breakdown of Benchi iko katikati ya bustani.

• kuwa: to be
• ya: of
• bustani: the garden
• katikati: in the middle
• benchi: the bench

Questions & Answers about Benchi iko katikati ya bustani.

Why is the verb iko used here instead of ni?

Swahili has two basic “to be” verbs:

• ni for identification or classification (e.g. Benchi ni la kuni “The bench is made of wood”).
• ko for location or existence in a place.

In our sentence Benchi iko katikati ya bustani, we’re talking about where the bench is. So we use iko (subject prefix i- for benchi + -ko) to mean “is located.”

What exactly does iko consist of, and why does it begin with i-?

iko = i- + -ko

• i- is the subject prefix for noun class 9 (to which benchi belongs).
• -ko is the root meaning “to be at/in a place.”
  Together they form “it is located.”

What does katikati mean, and how do you use it?

katikati means “middle” or “center.” It is a noun used in the fixed expression katikati ya X, which translates as “in the middle of X.” You never say katika katikati—it’s always katikati ya plus whatever place follows.

Why is ya used before bustani? Could I use wa instead?

Here ya is part of the set phrase katikati ya, functioning like “of” in “middle of.” It is not the usual noun-class genitive prefix but a fixed connector in locative expressions. You will always say katikati ya, regardless of the noun that follows.

Swahili doesn’t have “the” or “a.” How do I know if it’s “a bench” or “the bench”?

Swahili has no definite/indefinite articles. Context tells you whether it’s “a” or “the.” If you need to emphasize “the bench,” you might add a demonstrative:
• Benchi hiyo iko katikati ya bustani. (“That bench is in the middle of the garden.”)
But plain Benchi iko… can be either “A bench…” or “The bench…” by context.

Can I say Benchi ipo katikati ya bustani instead of iko?

Yes. Swahili has three locative stems for “to be”: po, ko, and mo. They are interchangeable in many contexts:
• Benchi ipo katikati ya bustani.
• Benchi ko katikati ya bustani.
• Benchi mo katikati ya bustani.
All mean “The bench is in the middle of the garden,” with very slight nuance differences.

How would I say “The chairs are in the middle of the garden”?

“Chair” is kiti (class 7), plural viti (class 8). Class 8’s subject prefix is vi-, so combine with -ko → viko:
Viti viko katikati ya bustani.