ninataka

Ninataka is a Swahili verb phrase meaning "I want" or "I would like" in the present tense. It is the first-person singular form of the verb kutaka, which means "to want." The construction ninataka combines the subject marker for "I" with the present tense marker and the verb root taka.

In usage, ninataka expresses desire or intention in statements and requests. It commonly takes a direct object noun: Ninataka kahawa (I want coffee). It can also precede an infinitive to express "I want to …": Ninataka kwenda sokoni (I want to go to the market) or Ninataka kusoma kitabu hicho (I want to read that book).

Politeness and formality vary by context. For more courteous requests, Swahili speakers may use Ningependa (I would like) or Tafadhali (please). These forms convey a gentler tone without changing the core meaning.

Ninataka is widely used across Swahili-speaking communities in East Africa and beyond, including Tanzania, Kenya, and parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. As a common present-tense form, it appears in everyday conversation, media, and language-learning resources.