Tutazibua mtaro na kufyeka nyasi.

Tutazibua contains several pieces:

• tu- = we
• -ta- = future tense (will)
• zibua = unblock / open up / clear out

So Tutazibua means we will unblock or we will clear/open up.

This is very typical Swahili structure: the subject and tense are often built directly into the verb instead of being separate words.

Because the two verbs mean different things:

• ziba = block, plug up, cover
• zibua = unblock, open up, clear out

This is a common pattern in Swahili where a verb can change into its opposite or a reverse action. A famous similar pair is:

• funga = close
• fungua = open

So zibua mtaro means clear/open the trench or drain, not block it.

Mtaro usually means a ditch, trench, or drainage channel.

Depending on context, English translations might vary a little:

• ditch
• trench
• drain
• furrow

Its plural is mitaro.

Here, the first verb already tells you the subject and tense: we will. After that, Swahili can use the infinitive for the next action when the subject is understood.

So:

• Tutazibua mtaro na kufyeka nyasi
  = We will clear the trench and cut the grass

A more fully repeated version would be:

• Tutazibua mtaro na tutafyeka nyasi

Both are understandable. The version with kufyeka avoids repeating the same subject and tense information.

Kufyeka usually means to slash down, cut back, or clear grass, weeds, or brush.

It often suggests rough outdoor cutting, not careful trimming. So it is closer to:

• slash the grass
• cut down the grass
• clear the grass

rather than something like mow the lawn in a neat, machine-cut sense.

Here na means and.

So it joins the two actions:

• tutazibua mtaro = we will clear the trench
• kufyeka nyasi = cut the grass

Although na can also mean with in other contexts, in this sentence it clearly means and because it connects two actions.

Because Swahili does not normally use articles like a, an, or the.

So:

• mtaro can mean a trench, the trench, or just trench
• nyasi can mean grass or the grass

The exact meaning depends on context. This is very normal in Swahili.

Nyasi is often used as a general word for grass, and in many contexts it behaves like a mass noun, similar to English grass.

So in this sentence, nyasi is best understood as grass in general, not necessarily as separate countable items. Swahili often does not force the same singular/plural distinction that English learners may expect here.

A simple pronunciation guide is:

• Tu-ta-zi-bu-a
• mta-ro
• na
• ku-fye-ka
• nya-si

A few useful sound notes:

• mt at the start of mtaro: say a quick m before t
• fy in kufyeka: say f followed quickly by a y sound
• ny in nyasi: like the ny sound in canyon

So a rough English-friendly guide would be:

too-tah-zee-boo-ah mta-roh nah koo-fyeh-kah nya-see

Yes. If you want to emphasize the grass-cutting first, you could change the order.

For example, a reordered idea would mean:

• We will cut the grass and clear the trench

The original sentence suggests this sequence:

1. clear/open the trench
2. cut the grass

So the order can matter if you want to highlight which action comes first.