Watoto wanacheza katika ua wakati mama anapika chakula.

Wanacheza can be split into:

• wa- = they (for people, plural)
• -na- = present/ongoing tense
• -cheza = play

So wanacheza means they are playing or sometimes they play, depending on context.

In this sentence, because it describes what is happening at the same time as another action, it is best understood as are playing.

Swahili verbs must agree with the noun class of the subject.

• mtoto = child
• watoto = children

Since watoto is plural and refers to people, the verb takes the subject prefix wa-.

So:

• mtoto anacheza = the child is playing
• watoto wanacheza = the children are playing

This agreement is a very important part of Swahili grammar.

Anapika can be split into:

• a- = he/she
• -na- = present/ongoing tense
• -pika = cook

So anapika means he/she is cooking or he/she cooks.

Here it refers to mama, so it means mother is cooking.

In Swahili, the idea of is/are ...ing is usually built into the verb itself.

For example:

• wanacheza = they are playing
• anapika = she is cooking

You do not need a separate word like English is or are here. The tense marker -na- inside the verb carries that meaning.

Wakati means while or when, depending on context.

In this sentence, it connects two actions happening at the same time:

• Watoto wanacheza
• mama anapika chakula

So here wakati is best understood as while.

Katika means in, inside, within, or sometimes at, depending on context.

Here it introduces the place where the children are playing:

• katika ua = in the yard/courtyard

It is a preposition. In everyday Swahili, speakers may also use other location forms, but katika is completely correct and clear.

Ua here means yard, courtyard, or compound area around a house.

So:

• katika ua = in the yard

Be careful: ua can have other meanings in different contexts, but in this sentence it refers to a place.

Chakula means food.

So:

• anapika chakula = is cooking food

In Swahili, it is common to say this directly with no article. English often wants the food or a meal, but Swahili does not use articles like a/an/the.

Swahili does not have articles like English a, an, and the.

So:

• watoto can mean children or the children
• mama can mean mother or the mother
• chakula can mean food or the food, depending on context

The context tells you which English translation sounds most natural.

In many cases, -na- can cover both ideas:

• present continuous: are playing / is cooking
• sometimes a more general present: play / cooks

In this sentence, because the two actions are happening at the same time, the most natural English translation is the present continuous:

• The children are playing while mother is cooking food.

Yes, Swahili word order is somewhat flexible, but the basic order here is very natural:

• Watoto wanacheza katika ua wakati mama anapika chakula.

This follows a common pattern:

• subject + verb + place + time/linking clause

You could move some parts for emphasis, but for learners this original order is a good model to follow.

Because mama is singular.

Even though mama refers to a person, it is just one person, so the verb uses the singular subject prefix a-:

• mama anapika = mother is cooking

If it were plural, you would use wa-:

• mama wanapika would not be standard for mothers are cooking
• standard plural would usually be something like wamama wanapika in contexts where that plural form is used

For this sentence, mama anapika is correct because the subject is one mother.

Yes — this is one of the most useful things to learn early in Swahili.

For example:

• wa- = they (people, plural)
• a- = he/she
• -na- = present/ongoing
• -cheza = play
• -pika = cook

Once you recognize these pieces, long Swahili verbs become much easier to understand.

For example:

• wanacheza = wa- + -na- + -cheza
• anapika = a- + -na- + -pika

This pattern appears constantly in Swahili.

Yes. Depending on context, it could be translated as:

• in the yard
• in the courtyard
• in the compound
• sometimes outside in the yard

The exact English choice depends on the kind of home or setting being described. The Swahili phrase itself is straightforward: it marks the location of the children’s play.