Log inSign up

Ni lazima uwe makini unapotembea juu ya maji yaliyomwagika, ili usiteleze.

Ni lazima uwe makini unapotembea juu ya maji yaliyomwagika, ili usiteleze.
You must be careful when walking on spilled water, so you don't slip.
FromLesson 18inHardcore Swahili
……

Breakdown of Ni lazima uwe makini unapotembea juu ya maji yaliyomwagika, ili usiteleze.

ni
to be
kuwa
to be
kutembea
to walk
maji
the water
ili
so that
makini
careful
lazima
must
juu ya
on
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“What's the best way to learn Swahili grammar?”
Swahili grammar becomes intuitive with practice. Focus on understanding the core patterns first — how sentences are structured, how verbs change form, and how words relate to each other. Our course breaks these concepts into small lessons so you can build understanding step by step.

Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor

Start learning Swahili

Master Swahili — from Ni lazima uwe makini unapotembea juu ya maji yaliyomwagika, ili usiteleze to fluency

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.

  • ✓ Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
  • ✓ Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
  • ✓ Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
  • ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions
Start learning Swahili freeBrowse the full course

More from this lesson

Nataka uniletee kipande cha mkate, tafadhali.kugawanyaKipande hicho ni kikubwa sana, unaweza kukigawanya katikati?Kionjo cha supu hii ni kizuri zaidi ukiweka pilipili kidogo.mkuuMkuu wa shule yupo darasani.maelewanoMaelewano yanatuletea amani.

Questions & Answers about Ni lazima uwe makini unapotembea juu ya maji yaliyomwagika, ili usiteleze.

What does Ni lazima mean in this sentence?
Ni lazima translates as "it is necessary" or "must". It establishes an obligation, indicating that the following action is required.
Why is the verb uwe used after Ni lazima?
Uwe is the subjunctive form of kuwa (to be). In Swahili, after modal verbs like lazima, the following verb is typically in the subjunctive mood, which here gives the command "be"—so uwe makini means "be careful."
How does makini function in this sentence?
Makini is an adjective meaning "careful." It describes the state that one must adopt, emphasizing caution in the context provided.
What is the structure and meaning of unapotembea?
Unapotembea is formed from una- (the present tense prefix indicating "you") and tembea (to walk) with the insertion of the relative marker -po-. This construction means "when you walk" or "while you are walking," linking the action of walking with the condition described in the sentence.
How is juu ya maji yaliyomwagika constructed, and what does it translate to?

The phrase breaks down as follows:
• Juu ya means "on" or "over."
• Maji means "water."
• Yaliyomwagika is a relative clause meaning "that has been spilled" or simply "spilled."
Together, juu ya maji yaliyomwagika translates to "on the spilled water." The relative clause yaliyomwagika is constructed by adding the relative marker yaliyo- to the verb mwagika, agreeing with the noun class of maji.

What role does ili usiteleze play in this sentence?
Ili introduces a purpose clause and translates as "so that" or "in order to." The verb usiteleze is in the negative subjunctive form of kuteleza (to spill), instructing "do not spill." Thus, this part of the sentence explains that the caution is necessary to avoid spilling further.