Breakdown of Mimi ninaweza kujifunza maneno mapya kupitia mtandao.
mimi
I
kujifunza
to learn
mpya
new
kuweza
to be able
neno
the word
mtandao
the internet
kupitia
through
Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Swahili grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Mimi ninaweza kujifunza maneno mapya kupitia mtandao.
Why do we start the sentence with Mimi? Is it necessary to include it?
Mimi means “I.” In Swahili subject pronouns are usually shown by the verb prefix (here ni- in ninaweza), so Mimi is optional. You include it only for emphasis or clarity.
How is the verb ninaweza constructed?
ninaweza = ni- (1st person singular subject prefix) + -na- (present tense marker) + weza (verb root “be able to”). So ninaweza literally means “I am able to.”
What does kujifunza mean, and how is it formed?
kujifunza is the infinitive “to learn.” It’s built from the infinitive marker ku- + jifunza (verb root “learn”). Together they mean “to learn.”
Why does the adjective mapya come after the noun maneno?
In Swahili adjectives normally follow the noun they modify. So maneno mapya literally means “words new”—“new words.”
What is the difference between kupitia and kutumia? Both can translate as “using” or “through.”
Kupitia means “through,” “via,” or “by means of” (focusing on the channel). Kutumia means “to use” (focusing on the tool or method). So kujifunza maneno mapya kupitia mtandao = “learn new words via the internet,” while kujifunza maneno mapya kwa kutumia mtandao = “learn new words by using the internet.”
Why isn’t there an article like “the” before mtandao?
Swahili does not have definite or indefinite articles (no “the” or “a”). Mtandao simply means “network” or “internet” without any article.
Can I omit Mimi and just say Ninaweza kujifunza maneno mapya kupitia mtandao?
Yes. Because the prefix ni- in ninaweza already indicates “I,” dropping Mimi keeps the sentence perfectly natural.