Learn Hardcore Swahili: Leo tunapumzika kwenye kochi jipya sebuleni. - Today we are resting on the new sofa in the living room.

tu- = we (subject prefix)
-na- = present tense marker
pumzika = rest (verb stem) So tunapumzika means we are resting / we rest. In Swahili the subject and tense are built into the verb.

Where is the English word are in this sentence?

Swahili doesn’t use a separate word for English is/are when there’s a verb. The idea of are is carried by the tense marker -na- inside tunapumzika.

Does leo tunapumzika mean right now or a plan for today?

Both are possible:

If you say it while sitting down, it’s we’re resting (now) today.
It can also mean as a plan/schedule for today we’re taking a rest. Context or tone clarifies. For a clearly future plan today, you can also say leo tutapumzika (we will rest today).

Why is it kochi jipya and not kochi mpya?

The adjective -pya (new) must agree with the noun class. Kochi is a class 5 noun (its plural is makochi, class 6). In class 5, -pya takes the prefix ji-, so you get jipya. In the plural it would be makochi mapya.

What does kwenye mean? Could I use katika or juu ya instead?

kwenye is a general locative meaning in/at/on. It’s the most common everyday choice here: kwenye kochi = on the couch.
katika is more formal and usually means in/within. katika sebule works (in the living room), but katika kochi would sound odd because you’re not inside a couch.
juu ya means on top of. It’s fine for objects placed on the couch. For people sitting/resting, kwenye kochi is more idiomatic, though you may hear juu ya kochi in casual speech.

Could I say kochini instead of kwenye kochi?

Yes. Adding -ni to many nouns makes a locative: kochini = on the couch. So you could say Leo tunapumzika kochini sebuleni. Both versions are accepted; kwenye kochi is extremely common.

What does sebuleni mean exactly, and why the -ni?

The base noun is sebule (living room). Adding -ni makes a locative: sebuleni = in the living room. This is the most natural way to say in the living room; katika sebule is also correct but sounds more formal.

Is the order kwenye kochi jipya sebuleni the only correct one?

No. With multiple places, Swahili often goes from bigger place to smaller place. Many speakers prefer:

Leo tunapumzika sebuleni kwenye kochi jipya. Your original order is still understandable and used; the meaning doesn’t change.

How do I negate the sentence?

Use the negative subject prefix and change the final vowel to -i (and there’s no -na- in the negative present):

Leo hatupumziki kwenye kochi jipya sebuleni. = Today we are not resting on the new couch in the living room.

How do I say it in the past or future?

Past (marker -li-): Jana tulipumzika kwenye kochi jipya sebuleni. = Yesterday we rested...
Future (marker -ta-): Kesho tutapumzika kwenye kochi jipya sebuleni. = Tomorrow we will rest...

How do I say Let’s rest on the new couch today?

Use the subjunctive/hortative:

Leo tupumzike kwenye kochi jipya (sebuleni).

I learned tuna means we have. Why doesn’t tunapumzika mean we have rest?

In tunapumzika, the tuna- sequence is actually tu- (we) + -na- (present). The verb root is pumzika. To say we have, Swahili uses kuwa na and noun-class agreement, for example:

tunacho (we have it, class 7), tunayo (we have it, class 9), etc. Different structure, different meaning.

Is pumzika transitive? Do I need an object?

pumzika is intransitive (to rest). You don’t rest something; you rest (yourself). To show where, add a locative like kwenye kochi, kochini, or sebuleni.

Are there synonyms for couch and for rest/relax?

Couch/sofa: kochi and sofa are both common. Plurals: makochi, masofa.
Rest/relax: pumzika (rest), starehe as a noun (comfort/pleasure), and kustarehe (to relax/enjoy oneself) in some contexts.

Any quick pronunciation tips for these words?

tunapumzika: tu-na-pum-ZI-ka (stress the second-to-last syllable; Swahili generally stresses the penultimate syllable).
kwenye: KWE-nye. ny is like the ñ in Spanish señor.
jipya: JI-pya. The cluster py is a quick glide: pee-ya.
sebuleni: se-bu-LE-ni (penultimate stress). The e vowels are clear, not schwa.