Breakdown of Kipindi hiki tunajifunza sarufi.
sisi
we
kujifunza
to learn
hiki
this
sarufi
the grammar
kipindi
the period
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Questions & Answers about Kipindi hiki tunajifunza sarufi.
What does kipindi hiki mean, and why is the demonstrative placed after the noun?
kipindi means “period” and hiki is the class-7 demonstrative for “this (near).” In Swahili, demonstratives follow the noun they modify, so kipindi hiki = “this period.”
Why does kipindi take the prefix ki-, and what noun class is it?
The prefix ki- marks a class-7 noun in the singular. Its plural counterpart is vi- (as in vipindi, “periods”). So kipindi is class 7 (singular of vipindi).
How do we know hiki matches kipindi, and why not hicho or hili?
Demonstratives in Swahili must agree with the noun class and indicate proximity. For class 7:
- hiki = “this (near)”
- hicho = “that (far)” hili belongs to class 5/6, so for class 7 nouns you use hiki.
How is tunajifunza formed, and what do its parts mean?
Breakdown of tunajifunza:
- tu- = subject prefix “we”
- -na- = present tense marker
- jifunza = verb root (reflexive of funza, “teach to oneself” = “learn”) All together, tunajifunza means “we are learning.”
What is the base form (infinitive) of tunajifunza, and what is the underlying verb?
The infinitive is kujifunza:
- ku- = infinitive marker
- jifunza = “learn” (from root funza “teach,” with ji- reflexive) So kujifunza = “to learn.”
Why is there no separate word for “we” before the verb?
Swahili expresses the subject through verb prefixes. tu- in tunajifunza already means “we,” so a separate pronoun (sisi) is unnecessary unless you want emphasis.
What is sarufi, and why does it have no prefix or article?
sarufi means “grammar.” It’s an Arabic loanword typically placed in noun class 9, which often has no visible prefix and stays the same in singular and plural. Swahili also lacks articles like “the,” so nouns appear without them.
What is the typical word order here, and can kipindi hiki appear elsewhere?
Swahili follows Subject-Verb-Object order (with the subject on the verb). Here:
- tunajifunza sarufi = “we are learning grammar.” Time or place phrases like kipindi hiki can appear at the front for emphasis (kipindi hiki tunajifunza sarufi) or after the object, often with a preposition: tunajifunza sarufi katika kipindi hiki.