Learn Hardcore Swahili: Asha anataka tochi yenye betri mpya kwa safari ya usiku. - Asha wants a flashlight with a new battery for the night trip.

In Swahili, tochi is the small, battery‑powered light you carry in your hand—Americans say flashlight, Britons say torch. Don’t confuse it with mwenge, which is a flaming torch. A more descriptive synonym is taa ya mkononi (hand-held lamp).

What is yenye doing in this sentence?

Yenye is an agreeing adjective meaning with / having. It links a noun to a characteristic it possesses:

tochi yenye betri mpya = a flashlight having a new battery / with a new battery.

Does yenye have to agree with the noun class?

Yes. It changes form to match the noun it describes.

Class 9 (N-class, singular): yenye — tochi yenye…, nyumba yenye…
Class 10 (N-class, plural): zenye — nyumba zenye…
Other common patterns:
- Class 1/2 (m-/wa- humans): mwenye / wenye — mtu mwenye…, watu wenye…
- Class 7/8 (ki-/vi-): chenye / vyenye — kikombe chenye…, vikombe vyenye…
- Class 5/6 (ji-/ma-): lenye / yenye — jicho lenye…, macho yenye…

Could I say something other than yenye to mean “which has”?

Yes:

tochi ambayo ina betri mpya = a flashlight which has a new battery.
tochi iliyo na betri mpya = a flashlight that has a new battery. All are correct; yenye is the most compact, ambayo ina is very clear for learners, and iliyo na is also common.

Why is mpya after betri, not before?

In Swahili, descriptive adjectives normally follow the noun:

betri mpya = new battery
safari ndefu = long trip

Is betri singular or plural here? How do I say “batteries”?

By default betri is singular (class 9). Plurals vary in usage:

Class 10 plural (no prefix change): betri (context shows plurality)
Class 6 plural (colloquial/common): mabetri To be explicit:
one new battery: betri mpya moja
two new batteries: betri mbili mpya or mabetri mawili mapya

What role does kwa play in kwa safari ya usiku?

Kwa marks purpose/benefit here: for a night trip. You can also say:

kwa ajili ya safari ya usiku (a bit more explicit/formal: for the purpose of a night trip) Use ili when the purpose is a verb clause, e.g., Asha anataka tochi ili akae salama (…so that she stays safe).

Why is it safari ya usiku and not safari wa usiku?

The linker for -a (of) agrees with the head noun safari (class 9), not with usiku. Class 9 uses ya:

safari ya usiku (trip of night) Other examples:
kikombe cha chai (cup of tea; class 7 uses cha)
gari la mtoto (car of the child; class 5 uses la)
mtoto wa mwalimu (child of the teacher; class 1 uses wa)

Can I say safari usiku instead of safari ya usiku?

Yes. safari usiku treats usiku adverbially (a trip at night). safari ya usiku is a genitive phrase (a night-time trip). Both are natural; the genitive can sound a bit more formal or specific.

Does usiku here mean “tonight”?

No, it’s general “at night/night-time.” To say “tonight,” use usiku huu (this night) or leo usiku (tonight).

What exactly does anataka express, and how is it built?

Anataka = he/she wants (present/habitual). Morphology:

a- (3rd person singular subject)
-na- (present tense marker)
taka (verb root “want”) It usually expresses a current desire in neutral tone. Don’t use future atataka unless you really mean “will want.”

Could I use anahitaji, anatamani, or angependa instead of anataka?

They’re different in nuance:

anataka = wants (plain, neutral)
anahitaji = needs (necessity)
anatamani = longs/craves (stronger desire)
angependa = would like (polite/softened desire)

There’s no word for “a” in the Swahili sentence. Is that normal?

Yes. Swahili has no articles (a/an/the). tochi can mean a/one/the flashlight depending on context. Use moja to force “one/a single”: tochi moja.

Can I move the purpose phrase to the front?

Yes, for emphasis you can front it:

Kwa safari ya usiku, Asha anataka tochi yenye betri mpya. Punctuation or intonation then marks the emphasis; the meaning stays the same.