Ninataka kulipa nauli sasa.

I want to pay the fare now.

Breakdown of Ninataka kulipa nauli sasa.

• mimi: I
• kutaka: to want
• sasa: now
• kulipa: to pay
• nauli: the fare

Questions & Answers about Ninataka kulipa nauli sasa.

Can you break down the grammar of each word in the sentence?

• Ninataka = ni- (I) + -na- (present tense) + -taka (want) → “I want”
• kulipa = ku- (infinitive “to”) + -lipa (pay) → “to pay”
• nauli = transport fare (bus/taxi/matatu/boda-boda, ferry, etc.)
• sasa = now

Can I say Nataka kulipa nauli sasa instead of Ninataka…?

Yes. In everyday speech, ninataka is commonly shortened to nataka. Both are correct; ninataka is a bit more formal or explicit.

Is the na in Ninataka the same as na meaning “and/with”?

No. In ninataka, -na- is the present-tense marker attached inside the verb. The separate word na (spaced) means “and/with,” as in chai na sukari (tea with sugar).

Where can sasa go, and are there alternatives for “now”?

• Position:
  • End: Ninataka kulipa nauli sasa (neutral and very common)
  • Beginning: Sasa ninataka kulipa nauli (emphasizes “now”)
• Alternatives:
  • sasa hivi / hivi sasa = right now
  • mara moja = immediately
  • kwa sasa = for now

Does nauli only mean transport fare?

Yes. nauli is specifically the cost of transport. Useful contrasts:

• kodi = rent
• ada = fee (e.g., school fees)
• malipo = payment(s)
• bili = bill
• faini = fine/penalty

How can I say this more politely than “I want”?

• Softer/polite:
  • Ningependa kulipa nauli sasa. (I would like to pay the fare now.)
  • Je, naweza kulipa nauli sasa? (May/Can I pay the fare now?)
  • Naomba kulipa nauli sasa. (I kindly request to pay the fare now.)
  • Add tafadhali (please): Tafadhali, naweza kulipa nauli sasa?

How do I say “I want to pay you/the driver now”?

• You (singular): Ninataka kukulipa sasa. (I want to pay you now.)
• The driver: Ninataka kumlipa dereva sasa. (I want to pay the driver now.)
• If you want to specify “the fare”: Ninataka kumlipa dereva nauli sasa. Note: The sequence kuku- in kukuluipa is normal here; the first ku- is the infinitive “to,” the second ku- is the “you (sg.)” object marker.

How do I say “I want to pay it now” (referring to the fare)?

Use an object marker for class 9 (i-) in the infinitive:

• Ninataka kuilipa sasa. (I want to pay it now.) Here ku- (to) + i- (it) + lipa (pay) → kui-lipa.

How do I say “I don’t want to pay the fare now”?

• Sitaki kulipa nauli sasa. (I don’t want to pay the fare now.) More neutral/ability-based:
• Siwezi kulipa nauli sasa. (I can’t pay the fare now.)

How do I change it to past or future?

• Past desire: Nilitaka kulipa nauli. (I wanted to pay the fare.)
• Simple past action: Nililipa nauli. (I paid the fare.)
• Present perfect: Nimelipa nauli. (I have paid the fare.)
• Future action: Nitalipa nauli. (I will pay the fare.)
• Future desire: Nitataka kulipa nauli. (I will want to pay the fare—less common/natural.)

Do I need the ku- before lipa? Can I say Ninataka lipa…?

You need ku-. After verbs like -taka (want), -weza (can), -paswa (should), the next verb stays in the infinitive with ku-: kulipa, kuenda/kwenda, kula, kuja, etc.

Any pronunciation or stress tips for this sentence?

Swahili stress is typically on the second-to-last syllable:

• Ninataka: ni-na-TA-ka (stress on ta)
• kulipa: ku-LI-pa (stress on li)
• nauli: na-U-li (stress on u)
• sasa: SA-sa (stress on first sa)

How do I include the method of payment (cash/card/M-Pesa)?

Use kwa (by/with):

• … kulipa nauli sasa kwa pesa taslimu. (… pay the fare now in cash.)
• … kulipa nauli sasa kwa kadi. (… by card.)
• … kulipa nauli sasa kwa M-Pesa. (… via M-Pesa.) You’ll also hear na in place of kwa in some regions: kulipa na kadi.

Can I add emphasis with mimi or move words around?

Yes:

• Mimi ninataka kulipa nauli sasa. (I, for my part, want to pay now.)
• Sasa hivi ninataka kulipa nauli. (Right now I want to pay the fare.) Word order is fairly flexible for emphasis, but the default is what you learned.

How do possessives work with nauli (e.g., “my fare”)?

nauli is class 9, so use -yangu, -yako, -yake, -yetu, -yenu, -yao:

• nauli yangu (my fare)
• nauli yako (your fare)
• nauli yake (his/her fare), etc.

What’s the difference between taka, penda, and hitaji here?

• taka = want (direct/neutral): Nataka kulipa…
• penda = like/would like (softer): Ningependa kulipa…
• hitaji = need (stronger/necessity): Ninahitaji kulipa…

How do I ask “Should I pay now?” or “Do I pay now?”

• Polite/cautious: Je, nilipie sasa? or Je, nilipe nauli sasa? (Should I pay now?)
• Simple: Je, nilipie nauli sasa?
• Another natural option: Je, niwe nalipa sasa? is not standard; prefer the forms above or: Je, nilipe sasa?

Is nauli countable? How do I say “fares”?

nauli is in noun class 9/10, and the plural is the same form: nauli. Context or numbers show plurality:

• nauli mbili (two fares)
• nauli nyingi (many fares)