Learn Hardcore Swahili: Mimi ninatumia kibodi kuandika barua pepe jioni. - I use the keyboard to write an email in the evening.

No. The verb already has the subject built in: ni- = “I”. Mimi is optional and adds emphasis or contrast. Neutral: Ninatumia kibodi… Emphatic/contrast: Mimi ninatumia kibodi…, lakini yeye hatumii.

What exactly does ninatumia mean, piece by piece?

It’s morphologically: ni- (1st person singular subject “I”) + -na- (present tense) + -tumia (verb stem “use”) → ninatumia = “I am using / I use.”

Does the -na- present mean “I am using” (right now) or “I use” (generally)?

Both, depending on context. For a specifically habitual sense, Swahili often uses:

hu-: (Mimi) huandika barua pepe jioni = “I usually write e‑mails in the evening.”
or huwa + -na-: Huwa ninaandika barua pepe jioni = “I usually/typically write e‑mails in the evening.”

Why is it kuandika and not ili kuandika? Do I need ili?

Purpose can be expressed by the infinitive alone after another verb: … ninatumia kibodi kuandika … is natural. Adding ili makes the purpose explicit/emphatic: … ninatumia kibodi ili kuandika … Both are correct; the shorter form is very common.

Is there a more “with a tool” way to say this, like “by using a keyboard”?

Yes. Two common alternatives:

Ninaandika barua pepe kwa kutumia kibodi jioni. (“I write e-mail by using a keyboard…”)
Ninaandika barua pepe kwa kibodi jioni. (using kwa “with/by” as an instrument marker; acceptable, though many prefer kwa kutumia in careful style.)

What noun class is kibodi, and what’s its plural?

kibodi is class 7 (ki-/vi-). Plural: vibodi. Possessives agree with the class:

singular: kibodi changu (my keyboard), kibodi chake (his/her keyboard)
plural: vibodi vyangu (my keyboards), vibodi vyake (his/her keyboards)

How does barua pepe behave for number and agreement? How do I say “my email” and “my emails”?

barua pepe is based on class 9/10 barua (“letter”), whose singular and plural often look the same. Use context or quantifiers to show number.

singular: barua pepe yangu (my email), or add moja: barua pepe moja
plural: barua pepe zangu (my emails), or barua pepe nyingi (many emails)

Can barua pepe be written as one word?

You’ll see both barua pepe (two words) and baruapepe (one word). Both are widely used; style guides vary. Use what your course or community prefers.

Why is there no word for “in” before jioni?

Time-of-day words act adverbially by themselves: asubuhi (in the morning), mchana (in the afternoon), jioni (in the evening), usiku (at night). So … barua pepe jioni = “... e-mail in the evening.” Avoid adding prepositions like katika jioni here.

Where can jioni go in the sentence?

Common options:

End position: … kuandika barua pepe jioni.
Fronted for emphasis: Jioni, ninatumia kibodi kuandika barua pepe. Both are fine; end position is very common.

Is natumia okay instead of ninatumia?

In casual speech you’ll hear (Mimi) natumia … (dropping the subject prefix ni-). In standard/formal Swahili, keep the subject prefix: ninatumia.

Do I need an article (“a/the”) for keyboard or email?

Swahili has no articles. Definiteness is inferred from context. If you need “one,” use moja (e.g., barua pepe moja). To say “my,” use possessives that agree in class (e.g., kibodi changu, barua pepe yangu).

Could I drop the “using” idea and just say “I write email in the evening”?

Yes: Ninaandika barua pepe jioni. That’s perfectly natural; it just doesn’t mention the tool.

Any quick pronunciation tips for these words?

Swahili stress falls on the second-to-last syllable.

ninatumia: ni-na-tu-MI-a
kibodi: ki-BO-di
kuandika: ku-an-DI-ka
barua: ba-RU-a
pepe: PE-pe
jioni: ji-O-ni