mimi
The Swahili word for 'I' is mimi.
mimi is a personal pronoun used to refer to oneself. Using the full word mimi instead of a verb prefix often serves to emphasize the subject, similar to saying 'As for me' or 'I myself' in English.
Meaning: personal pronoun (pron)
Which one should you use?
Unlike English, which distinguishes between the subject 'I' and the object 'me', the Swahili word mimi can function as both the subject and the object of a sentence.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some regions, adding huyu after mimi is a way to specify yourself.
How does it change in a sentence?
In many common verb conjugations, the subject prefix for 'I' is shortened to n- (for example, ninasoma for 'I am reading').
Did you know?
- While mimi is the standard word for 'I', Swahili is a Bantu language, meaning it shares an ancestral root with hundreds of other languages across Central and Southern Africa.
- Because the subject is already tucked inside the verb, using mimi can sometimes sound like you are correcting someone or pointing a finger at yourself in a formal debate.
- When learning Swahili, you might find that 'mimi' behaves like a 'floating' pronoun that can be moved around a sentence for different emotional effects, unlike the fixed position of 'I' in English.
Examples in context
- Mimi ni Mfaransa na yeye ni Mamerika.I am French and she is American.This sentence shows how to use mimi to state your nationality.Tatoeba #8999001 by Nyambura, translation #9014368 by liztrigger
- Mimi hutembea kila siku.I take a walk every day.This sentence demonstrates how to use mimi to describe a daily habit.Tatoeba #10884850 by ecorralest101, translation #6270524 by CK
- Yeye anaweza kuliko Mimi.He's a lot better at it than I am.This sentence shows mimi being used in a comparison.Tatoeba #10884126 by ecorralest101, translation #6090564 by mailohilohi
- Mimi naitwa Jane.I am called Jane
- Mimi niko nyumbani.I am at home
- 38 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Aisha and Said are introducing themselves at a social gathering.
- AishaMimi ni Aisha.I am Aisha.
- SaidNimefurahi kukujua, Aisha. Mimi ni Said.Nice to meet you, Aisha. I am Said.
- AishaJe, wewe ni mwanafunzi?Are you a student?
- SaidNdiyo, mimi ni mwanafunzi.Yes, I am a student.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I” translations and entries mimi, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
