Learn Hardcore Swahili: Nikisoma kitabu jioni, mimi sipendi kelele. - When I read a book in the evening, I do not like noise.

In Swahili, this -ki- marker often replaces a separate word for “when” or “if” in such clauses. So instead of saying something like wakati ninaposoma (“when I read”), you can just use nikisoma.

How is nikisoma different from ninasoma or nitasoma?

They express different time/aspect relations:

ninasoma
- ni- (I) + -na- (present continuous) + soma
- Means: I am reading / I read (right now / generally).
nitasoma
- ni- (I) + -ta- (future) + soma
- Means: I will read.
nikisoma
- ni- (I) + -ki- (conditional / “when/if”) + soma
- Means: when(ever) I read / if I am reading.

So:

ninasoma kitabu jioni = I am reading a book in the evening.
nitasoma kitabu jioni = I will read a book in the evening.
nikisoma kitabu jioni = when(ever) I read a book in the evening / if I am reading a book in the evening.

Why is there no separate word for “when” or “if” in this sentence?

Swahili often builds “when/if” into the verb itself instead of using a separate word. The marker -ki- does this job.

So:

Nikisoma kitabu jioni, mimi sipendi kelele.
= When(ever) I read a book in the evening, I don’t like noise.

If you want to use an explicit word, you can, but it’s longer and a bit more formal:

Wakati ninaposoma kitabu jioni, mimi sipendi kelele.
(Literally: At the time when I read a book in the evening, I don’t like noise.)
With if, you might see: Kama nikisoma kitabu jioni, sipendi kelele.
(If I read a book in the evening, I don’t like noise.)

In everyday speech, nikisoma by itself is very natural.

Why is mimi there? Can I just say Nikisoma kitabu jioni, sipendi kelele?

Yes, you can definitely say:

Nikisoma kitabu jioni, sipendi kelele.

In Swahili the subject is already shown on the verb:

ni- in nikisoma = I
si- in sipendi = I (in negative form)

Because of that, pronouns like mimi, wewe, yeye are often optional and used mainly for:

emphasis: I (as opposed to someone else) don’t like noise.
contrast: I don’t like noise, but they do.

So:

Mimi sipendi kelele = As for me, I don’t like noise.
Without mimi it’s still “I don’t like noise,” just with less emphasis.

What is the structure of sipendi, and why does it end with -i instead of -a?

Sipendi breaks down like this:

si- = I + negative (1st person singular negative marker)
pend- = verb root like / love
-i = final vowel used in the negative present (instead of -a)

Compare:

ninapenda kelele = I like noise.
sipendi kelele = I do not like noise.

Key points:

In the affirmative present, you usually have -na- and final -a:
- ni-na-pend-a → ninapenda.
In the negative present, you:
- drop -na-
- change -a to -i
- add a negative subject prefix (for 1st person singular, si-):
- si-pend-i → sipendi.

So the -i is a regular sign of negative present tense for most verbs.

Could I say something like siipendi kelele to mean “I don’t like the noise”?

Normally, in a general statement like this, Swahili does not add an object marker. So:

Sipendi kelele. = I don’t like noise / I don’t like (any) noise.

You can use an object marker when you are talking about a specific, known noise that you have already referred to in the conversation. Then you might say:

Siipendi kelele hii. = I don’t like this noise.
(Here -i- is an object marker referring to a class 9 noun like kelele, and hii = this.)

But if you just mean noise in general, sipendi kelele without an object marker is the natural choice.

Why is it kitabu (singular) and not vitabu (plural)?

Swahili has noun classes; kitabu (book) is class 7, and its plural is:

kitabu (singular, class 7)
vitabu (plural, class 8)

In this sentence:

Nikisoma kitabu jioni…
implies “when I am reading a (or one) book in the evening…”

It’s quite natural to use the singular here, because you usually think of yourself reading one book at a time.

If you wanted to emphasize reading multiple books in the evening, you could say:

Nikisoma vitabu jioni, sipendi kelele.
= When I read books in the evening, I don’t like noise.

Where does jioni usually go? Could I say Nikisoma jioni kitabu instead?

Time words like jioni (in the evening) are fairly flexible in position, but the most natural, neutral order is:

Verb + Object + Time

So:

Nikisoma kitabu jioni…
(When I read a book in the evening…)

Other possible positions:

Jioni nikisoma kitabu, sipendi kelele.
(In the evening, when I read a book, I don’t like noise.)

However, Nikisoma jioni kitabu sounds odd, because it interrupts the more natural flow [verb + object + time]. So it’s better to keep:

nikisoma kitabu jioni

What does kelele mean exactly? Is it countable, and does it have a plural?

Kelele means noise, racket, uproar, shouting, etc.

About number:

It is a class 9/10 noun whose form is the same in singular and plural.
Whether it’s one noise or a lot of noise, the word looks the same: kelele.

Context and modifiers show quantity:

kelele = noise / a noise
kelele nyingi = a lot of noise / many noises
kelele za watoto = the children’s noise / children’s shouting

In this sentence, sipendi kelele is a general, non‑count idea: “I don’t like noise (any noise).”

Is the comma necessary, and can I put the clauses in the opposite order?

In Swahili, the comma is not grammatically required; it just mirrors the natural pause. You might see:

Nikisoma kitabu jioni mimi sipendi kelele.
Nikisoma kitabu jioni, mimi sipendi kelele.

Both are acceptable in writing, though many writers like to use the comma to show the break between the two clauses.

You can also reverse the clause order:

Mimi sipendi kelele nikisoma kitabu jioni.
Or without mimi: Sipendi kelele nikisoma kitabu jioni.

The meaning stays essentially the same:

When I am reading a book in the evening, I don’t like noise.
I don’t like noise when I am reading a book in the evening.

The choice is mostly about emphasis and flow, not grammar.