Flirting

1. Wewe ni mzuri sana

   You are very beautiful

   Grammar Note

   "Mzuri" takes "m-" prefix (m-/wa- noun class 1). Adjectives follow nouns in Swahili. A versatile and warm compliment for anyone.

2. Jina lako ni nani?

   What is your name?

   Grammar Note

   "Jina" (name) is ji-/ma- class, so "lako" (your) uses "l-" as the linker. "Nani" (who) is used to ask for names.

3. Unatoka wapi?

   Where are you from?

   Grammar Note

   "Unatoka" = u (you) + na (present) + toka (come from). "Wapi" (where) typically appears at the end of the sentence in Swahili.

4. Ninapenda kuzungumza nawe

   I enjoy talking with you

   Grammar Note

   "Ninapenda" = ni (I) + na (present) + penda (like/love). "Nawe" = na (with) + wewe (you), contracted. "Penda" means both "like" and "love."

5. Twende kucheza dansi pamoja?

   Shall we go dancing together?

   Grammar Note

   "Twende" = tu (we) + -ende (go, hortative), and it takes an infinitive (ku-) after it. "Let us go dancing" is twende kucheza dansi. "Pamoja" (together) embodies the Swahili cultural value of "ujamaa".

6. Naweza kupata nambari yako?

   Can I get your number?

   Grammar Note

   "Nambari" is borrowed from English "number." "Yako" uses the "y-" linker for n-/n- class + "ako" (your). Swahili borrows heavily from English, Arabic, and Portuguese.

7. Unataka kula chakula cha jioni pamoja?

   Would you like to go to dinner together?

   Grammar Note

   "Chakula cha jioni" = "food of evening" (chakula = food, cha = of [class 7 linker], jioni = evening).

8. Nakupenda

   I like you / I love you

   Grammar Note

   "Nakupenda" = na (I, present) + ku (you, object) + penda (love). Swahili is agglutinative — subject, tense, and object markers all attach to the verb stem.

9. Tutaonana tena?

   Will we meet again?

   Grammar Note

   "Tutaonana" = tu (we) + ta (future) + on (see) + -ana (reciprocal suffix). The "-ana" suffix expresses mutual action: "see each other."

10. Wewe unafanya moyo wangu ufurahi

    You make my heart happy

    Grammar Note

    In "ufurahi", u- is the subject prefix agreeing with moyo (class 3) and "furahi" is the subjunctive (an -i stem, so the final vowel does not change). "Unafanya + noun + subjunctive" is a causative construction. "Wangu" is the m-/mi- class possessive for "my."

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