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Mimi ninasubiri kwa subira nyumbani.

Mimi ninasubiri kwa subira nyumbani.
I am waiting patiently at home.

Breakdown of Mimi ninasubiri kwa subira nyumbani.

mimi
I
kusubiri
to wait
nyumbani
at home
kwa subira
patiently
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Questions & Answers about Mimi ninasubiri kwa subira nyumbani.

Why is Mimi included? Can I leave it out?

Yes, you can usually leave mimi out. Swahili already marks the subject on the verb:

  • nina- = I (plus present tense) So Ninasubiri kwa subira nyumbani already means I am waiting patiently at home.
    You add mimi for emphasis or contrast, like Me, I’m waiting… / As for me, I’m waiting….
What does ninasubiri break down into?

Ninasubiri = ni- + -na- + -subiri

  • ni- = subject marker I
  • -na- = present / current time (often “am/is/are …-ing”)
  • -subiri = verb stem wait So ninasubiri is literally I + present + wait → I am waiting / I wait (nowadays).
Is -na- always “right now,” like English present continuous?

Often, yes, it can match English am/is/are + -ing (an action in progress). But Swahili -na- is broader than English present continuous and can also be used for general present statements depending on context.
If you want to strongly emphasize “right now,” Swahili often uses context or extra words (e.g., sasa = now).

Why does the sentence use kwa subira? What does kwa do here?

kwa is a very common preposition meaning things like with / by / using / in (a manner) depending on context.
In kwa subira, it means in a patient way / with patience → patiently.

What is the difference between subiri and subira? They look almost the same.

They’re related but different word types:

  • -subiri = verb: to wait
  • subira = noun: patience So ninasubiri kwa subira is basically I’m waiting with patience = I’m waiting patiently. The similarity is because they come from the same root idea.
Is ninasubiri kwa subira redundant? Would a Swahili speaker say it?

It can sound a bit “extra” (like English I’m waiting with patience), but it’s still understandable and can be used for emphasis.
More natural everyday options might be:

  • Ninasubiri tu nyumbani. = I’m just waiting at home.
  • Ninasubiri nyumbani kwa utulivu. = I’m waiting calmly at home.
  • Ninasubiri kwa uvumilivu nyumbani. = I’m waiting patiently/enduringly at home.
Could I use nangoja instead of ninasubiri?

Yes. -ngojea / -ngoja is a very common verb for wait in everyday Swahili.

  • Nangoja nyumbani. = I’m waiting at home. -subiri is also correct and common, sometimes a bit more formal/neutral depending on region and speaker.
What does nyumbani mean literally? Why does it end in -ni?

nyumbani means at home / home.
The ending -ni is a locative ending that often adds an “at/in/on” sense. You’ll see it in many place expressions.
So nyumbani functions like an adverb of place: at home.

Do I need a preposition like kwa or katika before nyumbani?

Usually, no. nyumbani already carries the “at” meaning, so you can say:

  • Niko nyumbani. = I’m at home.
  • Ninasubiri nyumbani. = I’m waiting at home. You can sometimes hear kwenda nyumbani (go home) where nyumbani works as the destination “home,” but you still don’t need kwa/katika before it.
What is the normal word order here? Can I move parts around?

The common order is: (Topic/emphasis) + Verb + (manner) + (place) So Mimi ninasubiri kwa subira nyumbani is fine.
You can move phrases for emphasis, for example:

  • Nyumbani, ninasubiri kwa subira. = At home, I’m waiting patiently.
  • Kwa subira, ninasubiri nyumbani. = Patiently, I’m waiting at home. But the “neutral” flow is usually verb first (after any optional subject pronoun), then extra information.
How do I pronounce ninasubiri and nyumbani?

General tips (many dialects exist, but this helps):

  • Swahili vowels are “pure”: a e i o u like ah/eh/ee/oh/oo
  • ni-na-su-bi-ri: each vowel is pronounced; stress often falls on the second-to-last syllable → ni-na-su-BI-ri
  • nyu-mba-ni: ny is like the “ny” in canyon (Spanish ñ-like) → nyu-MBA-ni
If I wanted to say “I will wait patiently at home,” how would it change?

You’d usually use the future marker -ta-:

  • Nitasubiri kwa subira nyumbani. = I will wait patiently at home. Breakdown: ni- (I) + -ta- (future) + subiri (wait).