Learn Hardcore Swahili: Mimi ninapenda kuzunguka sokoni asubuhi. - I like to walk around the market in the morning.

Swahili marks the subject on the verb, so ninapenda already means “I like.” Adding Mimi is optional and adds emphasis or contrast, roughly “As for me, I like…” In neutral statements, just say Ninapenda kuzunguka sokoni asubuhi. Use Mimi when you want to contrast with others or stress the subject.

Is napenda acceptable instead of ninapenda?

In standard Swahili you need the 1st person subject prefix ni-, so the correct form is ninapenda. You may hear fast or casual speech that sounds like napenda, but in writing and careful speech use ninapenda. Note: anapenda = “he/she likes.”

Can you break down the words morphologically?

ninapenda = ni- (I) + -na- (present/habitual) + penda (like)
kuzunguka = ku- (infinitive “to”) + zunguka (go around, roam)
sokoni = soko (market) + -ni (locative “at/in/to”)
asubuhi = morning (used adverbially; no preposition needed)

Why is there ku- before zunguka?

ku- forms the infinitive/gerund (class 15). After verbs like penda (like), taka (want), weza (be able), etc., Swahili normally uses ku- + verb to express “to do/doing” something, e.g. ninataka kuenda, naweza kuimba. So ninapenda kuzunguka = “I like to roam/roaming.”

What’s the nuance of zunguka compared to tembea?

zunguka: go around, move about, roam (not restricted to walking; it’s about moving around an area).
tembea: walk (on foot), stroll.
Colloquial intensifiers: zungukazunguka or pitapita suggest wandering about from place to place.
In this sentence, kuzunguka sokoni suggests moving around the market area (browsing/roaming), not simply the act of walking.

What exactly does -ni in sokoni do?

The suffix -ni is a locative marker meaning “at/in/on/to.” soko (market) → sokoni = “at/in the market.” It’s a very common way to express location without a separate preposition.

Do I need a preposition like katika or kwenye before soko or asubuhi?

No. sokoni already has the locative -ni, so a preposition is unnecessary. You can say katika soko or kwenye soko, but sokoni is shorter and idiomatic. For time-of-day words like asubuhi, Swahili typically uses the bare noun (no “in/at”), so asubuhi alone is correct.

Where can I put the time word asubuhi in the sentence?

Time expressions are flexible:

Asubuhi, ninapenda kuzunguka sokoni. (emphasis on time)
Ninapenda kuzunguka sokoni asubuhi. (neutral, very common) Both are natural. Putting asubuhi mid-verb phrase is less common; end or beginning is preferred.

How do I negate this sentence?

Use the negative subject prefix and drop -na-, changing the final -a to -i:

Sipendi kuzunguka sokoni asubuhi. Here: si- (I not) + pendi (negative of penda). The rest (kuzunguka sokoni asubuhi) stays the same.

How do I say “I usually/typically like …”? Is there a habitual form?

Yes, use the habitual hu-:

Mimi hupenda kuzunguka sokoni asubuhi. (I usually like…) Notes:
hu- carries the habitual meaning and does not take a subject prefix; you can add Mimi for clarity/emphasis.
hu- doesn’t have a direct negative; use other strategies to express “don’t usually.”

Where are the articles “a/the”? How do I make it specific?

Swahili has no articles. sokoni can mean “at the market” in a general sense. To be specific, add a demonstrative or other modifier, e.g. sokoni hapa (at this market), sokoni pale (at that market), or soko fulani (a certain market).

Can sokoni mean “to the market” as well as “at the market”?

Yes. The locative -ni can be static (at/in) or directional (to), depending on the verb:

With motion verbs: Ninakwenda sokoni = “I’m going to the market.”
With non-motion verbs like kuzunguka, it’s locative: “roam around at/in the market.”