Ningependa kutembelea kisiwa kidogo wakati wa likizo.

Ningependa means I would like.

It breaks down like this:

• ni- = I
• -nge- = a conditional or polite marker, giving the sense of would
• -penda = like / want / love

So Ningependa is a polite, softer way to express a desire. It is less direct than simply saying Nataka (I want).

Kutembelea is the infinitive form, meaning to visit.

In Swahili:

• ku- = to
• tembelea = visit

After a verb like Ningependa (I would like), Swahili normally uses the infinitive:

• Ningependa kutembelea... = I would like to visit...

If you said just tembelea, that would usually sound like an imperative or command: visit!

In Swahili, adjectives usually come after the noun they describe.

So:

• kisiwa kidogo = small island

This is the normal order in Swahili, unlike English, where adjectives usually come before the noun.

The adjective has to agree with the noun class of kisiwa.

• kisiwa belongs to the ki-/vi- noun class
• the adjective stem is -dogo = small
• with kisiwa, it becomes ki-dogo

So:

• kisiwa kidogo = a small island
• plural: visiwa vidogo = small islands

This agreement is a very important part of Swahili grammar.

Kisiwa is in the ki-/vi- noun class:

• singular: kisiwa = island
• plural: visiwa = islands

It matters because adjectives and some other words must match that class:

• kisiwa kidogo = small island
• visiwa vidogo = small islands

So learning the noun class helps you build correct adjective forms.

There usually is no separate word for a or the in Swahili.

So:

• kisiwa kidogo can mean a small island
• and, depending on context, it could also mean the small island

Swahili usually leaves definiteness to context rather than using articles like English does.

Literally, it means something like at the time of vacation/holiday.

More naturally in English, it means:

• during the vacation
• during the holidays
• while on holiday

Parts:

• wakati = time
• wa = a linking word often similar to of
• likizo = vacation / holiday / break

So wakati wa likizo is a natural way to say during vacation.

Wa is a connector that often works like of in English.

So:

• wakati wa likizo = time of vacation
  which is understood more naturally as during vacation

This -a connector changes form depending on the noun class of the word before it. In this expression, wa is the correct form after wakati.

It can mean either, depending on context and the variety of English you are thinking in.

Possible translations:

• vacation
• holiday
• school break
• time off

So the full sentence could sound natural in English as:

• I would like to visit a small island during vacation
• I would like to visit a small island during the holidays

Yes, but the tone changes.

• Ningependa = I would like
  This sounds polite, softer, and more natural in many situations.
• Nataka = I want
  This is more direct.

So:

• Ningependa kutembelea kisiwa kidogo... sounds more courteous
• Nataka kutembelea kisiwa kidogo... sounds stronger and more straightforward

A simple syllable breakdown is:

Ni-nge-pen-da ku-tem-be-le-a ki-si-wa ki-do-go wa-ka-ti wa li-ki-zo

A few useful pronunciation tips:

• Swahili vowels are usually pure and consistent:
  • a as in father
  • e as in bed but often a bit cleaner
  • i as in machine
  • o as in told but without much glide
  • u as in rule
• Most letters are pronounced clearly.
• ng in ninge is pronounced with a real g sound.

Swahili pronunciation is generally very regular, so once you know the sounds, words are usually pronounced as written.

This is the normal, neutral order, but Swahili word order can be somewhat flexible for emphasis.

For example, you could also say:

• Wakati wa likizo, ningependa kutembelea kisiwa kidogo.

That means the same thing, but it emphasizes during vacation first.

The original sentence is a very natural default way to say it.