Learn Hardcore Swahili: Kiungo hicho kinafaida kwa afya, ingawa ni chungu kidogo. - That ingredient is beneficial for health, although it is a bit bitter.

Kiungo is a class 7 noun meaning ingredient or compound. In class 7, the demonstrative for that is hicho (with hiki = this, hicho = that, kile = that over there). So Kiungo hicho means that ingredient.

How is kinafaida constructed, and why isn’t it inafaida?

Swahili verbs take a subject prefix matching the noun class. Kiungo is in class 7, whose present‐tense prefix is ki-. The verb root here is -nafaida (to be beneficial / to bring benefit). So ki- + nafaida gives kinafaida. If the subject were class 9, you’d use i- instead of ki-.

What role does kwa afya play in the sentence, and why do we say kwa afya?

Kwa is a preposition meaning for or to, used to express purpose or benefit. Afya (class 9) means health, so kwa afya literally means for health. Abstract nouns like afya don’t take extra possessive links here, so it stays kwa afya.

What does ingawa mean, and how is it different from lakini?

Ingawa is a subordinating conjunction meaning although or even though, introducing a concessive clause. Lakini is a coordinating conjunction meaning but, used between two main clauses. Choose ingawa when you want although…, and lakini when you want a simple contrast: e.g. …faida, lakini….

Why is the subordinate clause written ingawa ni chungu kidogo without a subject prefix or agreement on chungu and kidogo?

The clause after ingawa is a nominal/adjectival statement, not a verb clause. Swahili uses the copula ni for “to be” in such cases, and predicates (adjectives/adverbials) appear in their base form without noun class prefixes. So ni chungu kidogo means it is a bit bitter, with chungu (bitter) and kidogo (a little) unmarked.