Breakdown of Mimi ninapenda kupiga simu baada ya kazi.
mimi
I
kupenda
to like
kazi
the work
baada ya
after
kupiga simu
to call
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Questions & Answers about Mimi ninapenda kupiga simu baada ya kazi.
Why is mimi used at the beginning of the sentence? Is it necessary?
Mimi means I and is a subject pronoun. In Swahili the verb prefix (here ni- in ninapenda) already tells you the subject, so mimi is optional. You include mimi only for extra emphasis or to contrast with someone else (“Mimi ninapenda…, lakini yeye hapendi”).
What do the prefixes ni- and -na- in ninapenda signify?
ninapenda splits into three parts:
• ni- = subject prefix “I”
• -na- = present/habitual tense marker (“am/always …ing” or “like to …”)
• penda = verb root “love/like”
Altogether ninapenda means “I like” or “I (habitually) like to …”.
Why does the verb phrase kupiga simu start with ku- instead of a conjugated form?
In Swahili, ku- is the infinitive prefix—equivalent to English to. After certain verbs of preference or ability (like penda, weza, anza) the following verb stays in the infinitive form (ku-root). So ninapenda kupiga simu literally is “I like to call.”
What is the literal translation of kupiga simu?
Literally, piga means “strike/press,” and simu means “earpiece/phone.” So kupiga simu is “to press (on) a phone,” idiomatically “to make a call” or “to phone someone.”
How does baada ya function? Why is there a ya after baada?
baada by itself means “after,” but when it directly precedes a noun it takes the genitive/linking particle ya. Thus baada ya kazi literally “after of work,” i.e. “after work.” This baada ya + noun pattern is fixed in Swahili.
Why isn’t there an article like the in baada ya kazi?
Swahili does not use articles (a/an/the). Nouns stand alone, and context shows whether you mean “work” in general or something more specific.
Can baada ya kazi be placed at the beginning of the sentence?
Yes. You can front time phrases for style or emphasis:
Baada ya kazi, ninapenda kupiga simu.
It still means “After work, I like to make a call.”
Why do we use the infinitive kupiga after penda instead of a conjugated form?
When one verb follows another to express liking, wanting, or starting an action, the second verb remains in its infinitive form (with ku-). You wouldn’t say ninapenda napiga simu; it must be ninapenda kupiga simu (“I like to call”), not “I like I call.”