Learn Hardcore Swahili: Watu wanacheza ngoma sokoni kila siku.

The verb wanacheza splits into three parts: wa- (the subject prefix for class 2, “they/people”), -na- (the present tense marker), and -cheza (the verb root “play/do”). Together it means “they play.”

Why can we say wanacheza without an explicit subject pronoun?

In Swahili, the subject is encoded by the prefix on the verb (in this case wa-). The noun watu (“people”) is optional and used for emphasis or clarity. You could simply say Wanacheza … and still mean “People play…”

What does ngoma mean here, and why isn’t there an article before it?

Ngoma can mean “drum,” “dance,” or “musical performance.” Here it’s the object of wanacheza (“play/drum”). Swahili has no definite or indefinite articles, so nouns stand alone: ngoma is simply “drum” or “dance performance.”

How does sokoni indicate location?

Soko means “market.” Adding the locative suffix -ni turns it into sokoni, which means “at/in the market.” Many Swahili nouns take -ni to show location.

What role does kila siku play in the sentence, and why is it at the end?

Kila siku means “every day.” It’s a time-frequency expression. In Swahili the typical order is Subject–Verb–Object–Location–Time, but you can also move it for emphasis, e.g. Kila siku watu wanacheza ngoma sokoni.

Could you drop watu and still understand the sentence?

Yes. The verb prefix wa- already tells you it’s “they”/“people.” Wanacheza ngoma sokoni kila siku is perfectly fine and understood as “People play drums/perform at the market every day.”