Learn Hardcore Swahili: Takataka nyingi sokoni ni kero kwa wanunuzi. - A lot of trash at the market is a nuisance to buyers.

Swahili does not use articles like the or a. Nouns stand alone, and whether they are definite or indefinite comes from context or added words like demonstratives. So takataka just means garbage in general.

What noun class is takataka, and why is the adjective nyingi able to describe it?

takataka belongs to noun class 9, which covers many mass or plural nouns. Adjectives for classes 9 and 10 use the invariant form nyingi to mean many or much. There is no extra prefix because nyingi already agrees with class 9/10.

Why does the adjective nyingi come after the noun instead of before it?

In Swahili noun phrases, adjectives typically follow the noun they modify. The standard order is noun + adjective, as seen in takataka nyingi.

How does sokoni express “in the market,” and why not use kwenye soko?

Swahili has a locative suffix -ni that attaches directly to nouns to mean at/in/on. So soko + -ni becomes sokoni (in the market). You could also say kwenye soko, but using -ni is more concise and common.

What is the function of ni in this sentence?

ni is the copula that links the subject with a predicate noun or adjective, equivalent to is or are in English. Here it connects takataka nyingi sokoni with kero kwa wanunuzi.

What does kero mean, and why does it not carry an agreement prefix here?

kero means nuisance or trouble. In a copular construction, predicate nouns like kero remain in their base form without additional class prefixes.

What does kwa wanunuzi indicate, and why is kwa used?

kwa is a preposition meaning for or to, showing who is affected. wanunuzi (class 2) means buyers, so kero kwa wanunuzi translates as a nuisance for buyers.