Learn Hardcore Swahili: Katika majira ya asubuhi msongamano huwa mdogo kuliko jioni. - In the morning period the traffic jam is smaller than in the evening.

Katika is a preposition meaning “in” or “during.” It introduces the time frame majira ya asubuhi (“the morning hours”) in which the rest of the sentence takes place.

Why do we say majira ya asubuhi instead of just asubuhi?

Although asubuhi by itself means “morning,” majira means “season” or “period.” Majira ya asubuhi specifically refers to the span of time (e.g. rush‐hour period). It emphasizes the general morning period rather than a single moment.

What does msongamano mean, and what noun class is it?

Msongamano means “congestion” or “crowding” (often used for traffic). It belongs to noun class 3 (singular), indicated by the prefix m-. Its plural form is misongamano (class 4).

What function does huwa serve in this sentence?

Huwa is a habitual marker, indicating that the described state (“congestion being light”) regularly or generally occurs. It’s often translated as “usually” or “habitually.”

Why is the adjective mdogo used here, and how does it agree with msongamano?

Mdogo means “small” or “slight.” Since msongamano is a class 3 noun, its modifying adjective takes the class-3 prefix m-, giving mdogo. This shows proper noun–adjective agreement.

What does kuliko mean, and how is it used in comparisons?

Kuliko means “than” in comparative structures. It follows the adjective (here mdogo) to introduce the second item being compared (here jioni, “in the evening”).

Why isn't there a preposition before jioni after kuliko?

When using kuliko, you directly state the noun or phrase you’re comparing against without adding another preposition. Thus kuliko jioni correctly means “than in the evening.”

Could you add the copula ni after huwa, like msongamano huwa ni mdogo?

Yes. In Swahili it’s common (but optional) to include ni (“is”) in such statements. So msongamano huwa ni mdogo is also correct, adding a slight emphasis on “is.”