"I don't like running"

Translation: Sipendi kukimbia

[KortneyMar2]

Same.

[PeterGauli]

And why? What is sipendi? And what kukimbia? Kukimbia is infinite of running right? And how is sipendi build? Si the opposite of ni and "penda"?

[ZypherZole]

kukimbiya literally means "to run"
and sipendi literally means "i dont like".

si = no/not
ni = it is
penda = like
kimbiya = run
ku = to
so the sentence goes like "si-pendi ku-kimbiya"

[ZypherZole]

wouldnt "sipendagi kukimbiya" be right aswell

[machieng]

that is broken Swahili (did you hear this from a Kenyan?)

Kenyans use '-angi/-agi' a lot, usually in the context of habitual actions, but it's informal (and not grammatically correct). And 'kukimbia' has no 'y'

[kadaawoint]

Sipendi kukimpia

[machieng]

the word is 'kimbia'

[MisterWayn]

Thats correct

[JoeHardy022580]

Why is "sipendi" used here and not "ninapendi?" What is the difference between the two?

[Pandoamessi]

So.. sipendi means 'i don't like'.
I understood the part with -a that turns into -i (in a negative sentence), but I don't understand the 'si'. Does it stand for 'i don't'? How would you say 'you don't like'?

[supCOOP]

Si is the negative form of ni. And when using it, if the last letter of the word is an a, it turns into an i.

Ninapenda = sipendi