Learn Hardcore Swahili: Nyuki wengi wameonekana karibu na tawi la mti uliopo nyuma ya ukumbi. - Many bees have been seen near the branch of the tree behind the hall.

wameonekana is the perfect (have-done) form of kuonekana, meaning “they have been seen” or “they have appeared.” It’s built from three parts:
• wa- — subject concord for nyuki (“they”)
• -me- — perfect aspect marker (“have”)
• onekana — stative/passive root of -ona (“to see”)

So wa + me + onekana = wameonekana.

Why is the subject marker wa- used in wameonekana?

In Swahili every verb agrees with its subject’s noun class. Nyuki (bees) is treated as a plural class that takes wa- as its subject concord (“they”). Hence wameonekana signals “bees (they) have appeared/been seen.”

Is kuonekana a passive verb, or is it stative? What’s the difference?

kuonekana is the stative (or middle-voice) form of kuona (“to see”), often translated as “to appear” or “to be seen.”
• As a passive (someone sees them), you’d use kuonwa (“to be seen by someone”).
• As a stative (they appear/are visible), you use kuonekana.

Why does wengi (“many”) come after nyuki (“bees”) instead of before?

In Swahili quantifiers and adjectives normally follow the noun they modify.
• nyuki wengi = bees many = “many bees”
Placing wengi before would be ungrammatical in standard Swahili.

Why is the genitive connector la used in tawi la mti, but ya in nyuma ya ukumbi?

Genitive (possessive) connectors agree with the noun class of the first noun:
• tawi (“branch”) is class 5 → connector la → tawi la mti (“branch of the tree”)
• ukumbi (“hall”) is class 3/4 → connector ya → nyuma ya ukumbi (“behind the hall”)

What does uliopo mean, and how is it formed?

uliopo is a relative adjective meaning “which is located” or “that is present.” Its parts are:
• u- — relative prefix for class 3 (mti)
• -li- — tense/linking element (historically past)
• -po- — locative/existential marker (“at/located”)
• -o — relative clause ending
Together, u-li-po-o = uliopo = “which is located…”

Could I use ambapo instead of uliopo?

Yes, you can say tawi la mti ambapo nyuma ya ukumbi, where ambapo = “at which place.”
• ambapo is a general “where”-type relative.
• uliopo specifically agrees with mti (class 3) and stresses “which is situated.”
Both are correct, but uliopo matches the noun class and is more precise for “located that way.”

Can I say karibu tawi la mti without na?

No. To express “near” in connection with a noun/place you need na:
• karibu na tawi la mti = “near the branch of the tree”
Without na, karibu by itself often means “welcome” or “almost,” not “near to.”