Learn Hardcore Swahili: Walimu na wanafunzi wanacheza ngoma pamoja baada ya masomo. - Teachers and students are dancing to drums together after lessons.

“Teacher” singular is mwalimu (class 1: prefix mw- + root alimu). To make it plural, replace mw- with the class 2 prefix wa-, giving walimu (“teachers”). Swahili marks number by changing noun-class prefixes, not by adding -s.

What role does na play in walimu na wanafunzi, and does it ever change spelling?

na means “and.” It simply links the two nouns walimu (“teachers”) and wanafunzi (“students”). In Swahili, na is invariable—it never contracts or changes form.

What is the singular of wanafunzi, and how is the plural formed?

Singular “student” is mwanafunzi (class 1: m- + root -funzi). The plural uses class 2 prefix wa-, giving wanafunzi (“students”).

How is wanacheza constructed, and what does each part mean?

Breakdown of wanacheza:
• wa- = 3rd person plural subject prefix (“they”)
• -na- = present-tense marker (“are …-ing”)
• cheza = verb root “play/dance”
So wanacheza = “they are dancing/playing.”

What does ngoma mean here, and could it ever mean “drum” instead of “dance”?

ngoma can refer to:
• a “traditional dance or dance event”
• a “drum” (the instrument)
In wanacheza ngoma, it means “they dance.” If you want “play the drum (instrument),” you’d say wanapiga ngoma (“they beat the drum”).

Why does ngoma stay the same in both singular and plural, and how would you say “dances” if you want to emphasize multiple events?

ngoma is in noun classes 9/10, which share an n- prefix for both singular and plural—so the form doesn’t change. To stress multiple dance events, add a quantifier:
• ngoma nyingi = “many dances”
• ngoma kadhaa = “several dances”

What is the function of pamoja, and where does it go in the sentence?

pamoja means “together.” It normally follows the verb (or verb + object) it modifies:
• wanacheza ngoma pamoja = “they dance together.”
You could say wanacheza pamoja ngoma, but the first position after the verb is more idiomatic.

Why is the phrase baada ya masomo used for “after lessons,” and not baada na masomo?

When expressing “after X,” Swahili uses the pattern baada ya X. Here baada = “after,” and you link it to masomo (class 6) with the genitive concord ya. baada na would be incorrect.

What is the singular form of masomo, and why doesn’t Swahili simply add -s like English?

Singular is somo (“lesson”). Swahili plurals are formed by changing noun-class prefixes, not by adding -s. So somo (class 5) → masomo (class 6) to mean “lessons.”