Learn Hardcore Swahili: Sikupenda sketi nene, bali nilichagua ile nyembamba iliyo rahisi kutembea nayo. - I did not like the thick skirt, but I chose the narrow one that is easy to walk in.

sikupenda = si‑ku‑penda
- si‑ = negative subject marker for mimi (I, not)
- ‑ku‑ = past tense marker used in the negative
- penda = verb root “to like”
- Meaning: I did not like
nilichagua = ni‑li‑chagu‑a
- ni‑ = subject marker for mimi (I)
- ‑li‑ = past tense marker used in the affirmative
- chagu‑a = verb root “to choose”
- Meaning: I chose

So:

Affirmative past: ni‑li‑penda (I liked), ni‑li‑chagua (I chose)
Negative past: si‑ku‑penda (I did not like), si‑ku‑chagua (I did not choose)

The change from ‑li‑ to ‑ku‑ in the negative is regular Swahili grammar.

Why is the subject “I” not written as mimi? How do we know the sentence is “I did not like…” and “I chose…”?

In Swahili, subject pronouns are normally built into the verb as subject markers, so you usually omit separate pronouns like mimi (I) unless you want emphasis.

sikupenda – the si‑ at the beginning tells us the subject is I (mimi) and it is negative.
nilichagua – the ni‑ at the beginning tells us the subject is I (mimi) in the affirmative.

You only add mimi if you want to emphasize I (and not someone else):

Mimi sikupenda sketi nene… = I didn’t like the thick skirt (but maybe others did).

What is the difference between bali and lakini? Why is bali used here?

Both bali and lakini are often translated as “but”, but they are used in different ways:

lakini = but, used for a general contrast:
- Nilipenda sketi nene, lakini ilikuwa ghali.
  - I liked the thick skirt, but it was expensive.
bali = but rather / instead, used when:
- The first clause is negative, and
- The second clause corrects or replaces it.

In the sentence:

Sikupenda sketi nene, bali nilichagua ile nyembamba…
- I did not like the thick skirt, *but rather / instead I chose the thin one…*

So bali is exactly right here because:

The first part is negative (sikupenda).
The second part gives the alternative choice.

Why do adjectives come after the noun in phrases like sketi nene and ile nyembamba?

In Swahili, descriptive adjectives normally follow the noun, unlike English where they usually come before it.

sketi nene
- sketi = skirt
- nene = thick / fat
- Literally: skirt thick → “a thick skirt”
ile nyembamba
- ile = that (over there / that previously mentioned)
- nyembamba = thin / narrow
- Literally: that thin → “that thin one (skirt)”

If you have several modifiers, the general pattern is: > noun + adjective(s) + relative clause, etc.

For example:

sketi nyekundu ndefu iliyo rahisi
= the long red skirt that is easy (to use/walk in)

What exactly does bali nilichagua ile nyembamba mean in terms of nuance? Is it just “but I chose the thin one”?

bali nilichagua ile nyembamba literally is:

bali – but rather / instead
ni‑li‑chagu‑a – I chose
ile – that (specific, more distant / previously mentioned)
nyembamba – thin / narrow

So it carries the nuance: > but rather, I chose that thin one (instead of the thick one).

bali adds the sense of a deliberate alternative choice, not just any contrast.

What does ile mean here, and how is it different from hii or hiyo?

Swahili demonstratives (this/that) change according to distance and noun class. For class 9/10 nouns like sketi, the common forms are:

hii sketi = this skirt (near me / just introduced)
hiyo sketi = that skirt (near you or mentioned)
ile sketi = that skirt (over there) or that particular one (more distant / more emphatic)

In the sentence, ile nyembamba suggests:

a specific, identifiable skirt
either physically a bit away, or
already known from context.

So ile nyembamba ≈ “that thin one” (that particular thin skirt we both know about), not just any thin skirt.

How does iliyo rahisi work? What does each part mean?

iliyo is a compact relative form built from:

i‑ = subject marker for class 9/10 (here referring back to sketi)
‑li‑ = past tense marker
‑yo = relative marker (“which/that”)

So:

iliyo rahisi ≈ “which was easy / that is easy”

In fuller, more explicit form, you could say:

sketi iliyo rahisi
= the skirt which is/was easy

or with ambayo:

sketi ambayo ni rahisi
= the skirt which is easy

In many everyday contexts, iliyo rahisi is understood as a general characteristic (“that is easy”), not strictly limited to past time, even though it has ‑li‑ inside.

Can I use ambayo instead of iliyo here? For example: ile nyembamba ambayo ni rahisi kutembea nayo?

Yes, that is grammatically correct, and it’s often clearer for learners.

ile nyembamba iliyo rahisi kutembea nayo
ile nyembamba ambayo ni rahisi kutembea nayo

Both can mean: > that thin one which is easy to walk in.

Differences:

iliyo is more compact and a bit more “literary” / concise.
ambayo ni is a bit longer but very transparent:
- ambayo = which/that
- ni = is

Native speakers frequently use either form in speech and writing.

What exactly does kutembea nayo mean, and how is it formed?

kutembea nayo breaks down as:

ku‑tembea – “to walk”
- ku‑ = infinitive marker
- tembea = walk
na‑yo – “with it”
- na = with
- ‑yo = object/relative marker for class 9/10 (it = the skirt)

So literally: > kutembea nayo = “to walk with it”

In natural English: > “to walk in it” (i.e. while wearing it)

The ‑yo agrees with the noun class of sketi (class 9/10). If the noun were a different class, this piece would change:

nao – with them (class 2, e.g. walimu = teachers)
nayo – with it (class 9/10, e.g. sketi, nguo)
kwayo – with it (class 7, e.g. kisu = knife)

Why do we say nayo and not just na sketi at the end?

You could say kutembea na sketi and people would understand, but it would sound slightly awkward and repetitive here, because:

We already know we are talking about ile sketi nyembamba.
Swahili likes to use pronominal forms (like nayo) instead of repeating the noun.

So:

kutembea na sketi = to walk with a/that skirt (repeats the noun)
kutembea nayo = to walk with it / in it (refers back to the skirt smoothly)

Using nayo:

Avoids repetition.
Shows proper agreement with the noun class of sketi.

Does sketi nene literally mean a “fat skirt”? How is nene different from kubwa?

Swahili nene and kubwa both describe size, but they are used differently.

nene = fat, thick, plump, bulky
- Often about thickness or bulk, not just length or overall size.
- sketi nene suggests:
  - a thick, heavy, or bulky skirt (maybe many layers, stiff fabric).
kubwa = big, large
- More general size.
- sketi kubwa could mean:
  - a big/skirt in terms of overall size, width, or maybe too large for someone.

So sketi nene here emphasizes its bulk/thickness (and maybe awkwardness to walk in), which fits the contrast with ile nyembamba (the thin one that is easier to walk in).