Learn Hardcore Swahili: Tunapenda kupumzika kijijini wikendi. - We like to rest in the village on weekends.

So tunapenda means “we like / we love” or “we enjoy” in a general, habitual way. It’s not “we are liking right now” (English doesn’t usually say that); it’s simply the present tense for “we (generally) like.”

Why is it kupumzika and not tunapumzika after tunapenda?

In Swahili, after verbs like kupenda (to like/love), kutaka (to want), kujaribu (to try), etc., the second verb usually stays in the infinitive form, with ku-:

Tunapenda kupumzika = We like to rest / We like resting

Using tunapumzika would give:

Tunapenda tunapumzika kijijini wikendi.
Literally: We like, we rest in the village on weekends.

That sounds like two separate statements and is not the usual way to say “We like to rest…” in Swahili. The infinitive kupumzika works like English “to rest” or “resting” as a general activity.

Does kupumzika mean “to rest” or “resting”? How should I think about it?

The infinitive kupumzika can correspond to both English “to rest” and “resting”, depending on context:

Tunapenda kupumzika
→ We like to rest / We like resting
Kupumzika ni muhimu.
→ Resting / To rest is important.

A simple way to think of ku- + verb is: “the activity of [verb-ing].”

What does the -ni in kijijini mean?

The -ni suffix is a locative ending. It usually means “in / at / on” depending on the noun:

kijiji = village
kijijini = in the village / at the village

So instead of saying katika kijiji (“in the village”), Swahili often just adds -ni to the noun: kijijini.

Can I also say katika kijiji instead of kijijini?

Yes, you can say katika kijiji, and it’s grammatically correct, but it sounds more formal or explicit. In everyday speech, the locative ending -ni is very natural and often preferred:

Tunapenda kupumzika kijijini wikendi.
(Everyday, natural)
Tunapenda kupumzika katika kijiji wikendi.
(Correct, a bit more formal/explicit)

Both mean essentially the same thing: “We like to rest in the village on weekends.”

If kijijini is “in the village,” how do I say “in the villages”?

The plural of kijiji (village) is vijiji (villages). Add the same locative -ni:

kijiji → kijijini = in the village
vijiji → vijijini = in the villages / in the countryside (context can give a more general sense)

So:
Tunapenda kupumzika vijijini wikendi.
= We like to rest in the villages / out in the villages on weekends.

What exactly is wikendi, and are there other ways to say “weekend”?

Wikendi is a loanword from English “weekend”. It’s widely used in modern Swahili, especially in cities and casual conversation.

Another common expression is:

mwishoni mwa wiki = literally “at the end of the week” → weekend

So you can also say:

Tunapenda kupumzika kijijini mwishoni mwa wiki.

Both are understood; wikendi is shorter and very common in informal speech.

Does tunapenda here mean we like it in general, or we are doing it right now?

The -na- tense in tunapenda is flexible. It can express:

General/habitual present
- Tunapenda kupumzika kijijini wikendi.
  → We like to rest in the village on weekends (as a regular thing).
Ongoing present (right now) in other contexts
- Tunapumzika kijijini sasa.
  → We are resting in the village now.

In your sentence, because of wikendi (weekends) and the general structure, the natural interpretation is habitual: “We (generally) like to rest in the village on weekends.”

Is the sentence talking about a specific village or any village? How does Swahili show “the” vs “a”?

Swahili usually does not have separate words for “the” and “a/an.” Context does the job.

kijijini could mean:
- in the village (a specific one you both know), or
- in a village / in villages / in the countryside, depending on context.

If speakers already know which village is meant (e.g., your family’s village), kijijini will naturally be understood as “in the village (we’re talking about).” If not, it may sound more general, like “in the village (as opposed to in town).”

Can I change the word order, like putting wikendi at the beginning or closer to the verb?

Yes, Swahili word order is fairly flexible with time expressions. Some possibilities:

Tunapenda kupumzika kijijini wikendi.
Wikendi tunapenda kupumzika kijijini.
Tunapenda wikendi kupumzika kijijini. (less common, but understandable)

The most neutral is the original: subject–verb–object/place–time. Placing wikendi at the beginning (Wikendi tunapenda…) slightly emphasizes the time: “On weekends, we like to rest in the village.”

How do I say the negative: “We don’t like to rest in the village on weekends”?

To make tunapenda negative, change:

tu- (we) → hatu- (we, negative)
keep -pend- and drop -a, add -i

So:

tunapenda → hatupendi = we don’t like

Full sentence:

Hatupendi kupumzika kijijini wikendi.
= We don’t like to rest in the village on weekends.

Is there a difference between “we like to rest” and “we love resting” in Swahili with penda?

Swahili penda covers both English “like” and “love” for activities, and even “enjoy.” The strength of feeling is mostly understood from context or added words:

Tunapenda kupumzika kijijini wikendi.
→ We like / love / enjoy resting in the village on weekends.

To make it stronger (more like “really love”), you can add intensifiers:

Tunapenda sana kupumzika kijijini wikendi.
→ We really like / We love resting in the village on weekends.