Learn Hardcore Swahili: Tafadhali kuwa angalifu unapokata karoti jikoni. - Please be careful when you cut carrots in the kitchen.

Tafadhali means please. It’s a polite request marker (of Arabic origin) placed before a command or instruction to soften it. In this sentence it makes “be careful…” more courteous.

Why do we have kuwa before angalifu? Can’t I just say angalifu?

In Swahili, when you give a command that uses an adjective (like “careful”), you combine the infinitive kuwa (to be) with that adjective. So kuwa angalifu literally means “to be careful,” but functions as the imperative “be careful.” Omitting kuwa would be ungrammatical.

What does angalifu mean, and is it the same as makini?

Angalifu means “careful” or “cautious.” Makini is a near-synonym meaning “attentive” or “focused.” Both can follow kuwa (e.g. kuwa makini, kuwa angalifu), though speakers may choose one for style or emphasis.

Can you break down unapokata into its parts?

Yes. unapokata =
• u- (you-subject marker)
• na- (present-tense marker)
• po- (relative-marker “when/whenever”)
• kata (verb root “cut”)
• -a (final vowel)
Altogether, unapokata means “when you cut” or “whenever you cut.”

Why is the –po– marker necessary? Couldn’t we just say unakata karoti?

Unakata means “you cut” or “you are cutting.” To express a time-condition “when you cut,” Swahili requires the relative marker –po–, so you get unapokata. Without –po– the sentence loses that “when/whenever” meaning.

Why don’t we see an object-marker prefix before karoti?

When the noun object immediately follows the verb, the object-marker prefix (like –i–) is optional and often dropped for simplicity. Unapokata karoti is clear and natural. You could say una-po-i-ka-ta karoti, but most speakers omit that object concord.

What does jikoni mean, and why does it end in -ni?

Jiko means “kitchen.” The suffix -ni is the locative marker meaning “in” or “at.” So jikoni = “in the kitchen.” You see -ni on many places: nyumbani (at home), shuleni (at school).

Can I move jikoni to the front of the sentence for emphasis?

Yes, you could say Jikoni, tafadhali kuwa angalifu unapokata karoti, but it’s more idiomatic to place the locative at the end: …karoti jikoni.

Do I need an explicit pronoun like wewe to say “you” in this sentence?

No. Swahili verbs carry subject markers (here u- in unapokata) and the command kuwa inherently addresses “you.” Including wewe would be redundant unless you want to emphasize “you specifically.”