Mahindi yaliyochemshwa ni matamu, hasa ukiongeza chumvi kidogo.

Mahindi means corn or maize. In Swahili, it is commonly treated as a class 6 noun, which often looks plural in form. That is why other words in the sentence also show class 6 agreement, such as yaliyochemshwa and matamu.

Even though English often treats corn as a mass noun, Swahili commonly uses mahindi for corn in a general sense.

Yaliyochemshwa is a relative verb form meaning that was boiled or which was boiled.

A simple breakdown is:

• ya- = agreement with mahindi
• -li- = past tense marker
• -yo- = relative marker, meaning which/that
• chemshwa = passive form of chemsha, to boil

So mahindi yaliyochemshwa literally means corn which was boiled.

Because yaliyochemshwa describes the noun mahindi.

• Mahindi yalichemshwa = The corn was boiled.
  This is a complete statement.
• Mahindi yaliyochemshwa = the corn that was boiled / boiled corn
  This is a noun plus a description.

So in this sentence, the speaker is talking about boiled corn as a thing, not first stating that the corn was boiled.

Ni is the linking word here, similar to is/are in English.

So:

• Mahindi yaliyochemshwa ni matamu
  = Boiled corn is tasty

Unlike English, ni does not change for singular or plural. It can mean is or are, depending on context.

Swahili adjectives often agree with the noun class of the noun they describe.

Since mahindi takes class 6 agreement, tamu changes to matamu.

So:

• tamu = sweet/tasty
• matamu = sweet/tasty, agreeing with a class 6 noun like mahindi

This kind of agreement is very common in Swahili.

No. Tamu can mean:

• sweet
• tasty
• delicious
• pleasant to the taste

In this sentence, matamu is more naturally understood as tasty or delicious, not necessarily sugary-sweet. That is why the translation often uses tasty rather than just sweet.

Ukiongeza can be broken down like this:

• u- = you
• -ki- = if/when
• ongeza = add

So ukiongeza means if you add or when you add.

In this sentence, the most natural English meaning is:

• especially if you add a little salt

Usually, no. It is often a general you, just like English you in sentences such as It tastes better if you add salt.

So it does not have to mean one specific person. It can mean anyone, people in general, or one.

If you wanted other subjects, the verb would change:

• nikiongeza = if I add
• ukiongeza = if you add
• akiongeza = if he/she adds
• wakiongeza = if they add

The -ki- form in Swahili often covers both ideas, depending on context.

It can mean:

• if you add
• when you add

In many everyday sentences, English chooses whichever sounds more natural. Here, especially if you add a little salt is the most natural translation, but especially when you add a little salt is also close in meaning.

In Swahili, words that describe or limit a noun usually come after the noun.

So:

• chumvi = salt
• kidogo = a little / a small amount

Therefore:

• chumvi kidogo = a little salt

Here kidogo is about quantity, not really the physical size of the salt.

Hasa means especially, particularly, or above all.

It highlights the second part of the sentence:

• Mahindi yaliyochemshwa ni matamu = Boiled corn is tasty
• hasa ukiongeza chumvi kidogo = especially if you add a little salt

So hasa adds emphasis.

A very literal version would be:

Corn which-was-boiled is tasty, especially if-you-add salt a-little.

That is not natural English, but it shows the Swahili structure more clearly. A natural English translation would be:

Boiled corn is tasty, especially if you add a little salt.

A helpful pronunciation guide is:

ma-HIN-di ya-li-yo-CHEM-shwa ni ma-TA-mu, HA-sa u-ki-o-NGE-za CHUM-vi ki-DO-go

A few notes:

• Stress in Swahili is usually on the second-to-last syllable
• ch sounds like ch in church
• sh sounds like sh in shoe
• vowels are pronounced clearly, not reduced as much as in English

So try to keep every vowel audible and even.