nakupenda
/nɑ.kuˈpɛ.ⁿdɑ/
In Swahili, "I love you" is expressed as nakupenda. Wiktionary also lists ninakupenda.
Meaning: affirmation of romantic feeling (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Swahili | IPA |
|---|---|
| nakupenda | /nɑ.kuˈpɛ.ⁿdɑ/ |
| ninakupenda |
The phrase is an affirmation of romantic feeling.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Kenya, people commonly use the phrase Nakupenda to say "I love you". In Tanzania, people often use the phrase Nakupenda sana to express affection, which translates to "I love you very much".
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding pia (also/too) to the end of the phrase is the standard way to say "I love you too", resulting in nakupenda pia.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /nɑ.kuˈpɛ.ⁿdɑ/. It has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 3rd syllable.
Did you know?
- While 'I love you' is romantic, if you use the same verb with the suffix -nea to make it kupendelea, it means 'to favor' or 'to show bias'.
- Because Swahili is a Bantu language, the phrase 'I love you' is built like a Lego set, where every part of the sentence is a tiny piece of grammar joined together.
- In many Swahili-speaking cultures, romantic love is often expressed through actions or indirect metaphors rather than the direct phrase nakupenda.
Examples in context
- Nakupenda.I love you.This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase nakupenda.Tatoeba #369350 by Blaz, translation #1434 by awael58
- Nakupenda sana, mpenzi wangu.I love you very much, my lover.
- Unajua kwamba nakupenda.You know that I love you.
Example conversation
A couple is spending a quiet evening together at home.
- NeemaNakupenda sana, Said.I love you very much, Said.
- SaidNa mimi nakupenda, Neema.And I love you too, Neema.
- NeemaAsante kwa kuwa mwanaume mwema.Thank you for being a good man.
- SaidWewe ni mwanamke bora zaidi.You are the best woman.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I love you” translations and entries nakupenda, ninakupenda, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
