Learn Hardcore Swahili: Sahani zetu zimevunjika, kwa hiyo tutatumia bakuli wakati wa chakula cha dharura. - Our plates have broken, so we will use bowls during the emergency meal.

In Swahili the possessed noun comes first and the possessor follows. Here sahani means “plates” and zetu means “our,” so you literally have “plates of ours.” Putting zetu before sahani would go against the normal noun-possessor order.

Why does the verb start with zime- in zimevunjika?

Swahili verbs agree with the noun class of their subject and show aspect. Zimevunjika breaks down into: • zi- = subject prefix for noun class 8 (the plural class that sahani belongs to)
• i = linking vowel for class 8
• -me- = perfect aspect marker (“have/has …ed”)
• vunjika = verb root “to break (intransitive/passive)”
Putting it all together, zimevunjika means “they (the plates) have broken.”

What’s the difference between vunja and vunjika?

vunja is a transitive verb meaning “to break something” (you break it).
vunjika is the intransitive or passive form meaning “to break” as in “to break by itself” or “to be broken.”
Since the plates broke (not someone broke them), we use vunjika.

Why is the perfect marker -me- used instead of the past marker -li-?

-me- is the perfect aspect marker, similar to the English “have …ed.” It tells us the action is completed with a present result (the plates are now broken).
-li- is simple past, more like “broke” with no direct link to the current state. In this sentence, zimevunjika emphasizes that the plates remain broken.

How is the future tense formed in tutatumia?

Future tense uses the subject prefix + -ta- + verb root. Here:
• tu- = subject prefix for “we”
• -ta- = future tense marker
• -tumia = verb root “use”
So tutatumia means “we will use.”

What does kwa hiyo mean, and can I use something else?

kwa hiyo means “because of that” or “therefore.” It introduces a conclusion or result.
You could also say basi, hivyo basi, or kwa hivyo, all of which similarly mean “so” or “therefore.”

Why do we say wakati wa and not just wakati?

wakati on its own means “time” or “when.” Adding wa plus a noun turns it into “during/at the time of ….” Here, wakati wa chakula cha dharura means “during emergency food time.” You need wa to link wakati with the following noun phrase.

Why is it chakula cha dharura and not chakula ya dharura?

Swahili genitive concords agree with the class of the first noun. chakula is class 7, whose genitive prefix is cha. So “food of emergency” is chakula cha dharura. For class 9/10 nouns you’d use ya, for class 1/2 wa, etc.

What’s the difference between sahani and bakuli?

sahani means “plate” (flat dish), whereas bakuli means “bowl” (deeper vessel). The sentence says “our plates have broken, so we will use bowls when eating emergency food.”