Chui yule analala chini ya mti.

to sleep

Breakdown of Chui yule analala chini ya mti.

• mti: the tree
• yule: that
• chini ya: under

Questions & Answers about Chui yule analala chini ya mti.

Why is yule after chui instead of before it?

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

So:

• chui yule = that leopard
• literally, it is more like leopard that

This is normal Swahili word order. English puts that before the noun, but Swahili usually puts the demonstrative after it.

What exactly does yule mean here?

Yule is a demonstrative, meaning something like that or that particular.

It is the form used for a singular animate noun here. With people and animals, Swahili often uses the same agreement pattern.

A useful comparison:

• huyu = this
• huyo = that (often nearer the listener or already mentioned)
• yule = that over there / that one

In real sentences, these distinctions can be a little flexible.

Why is the verb analala and not just lala?