Learn Hardcore Swahili: Leo jioni, ulete taa mpya mezani ili tuweze kusoma bila giza. - This evening, bring the new lamp to the table so that we can read without darkness.

Leo = “today”
jioni = “evening”
Combining them, leo jioni means “this evening.”
Saying only leo would mean simply “today,” and only jioni would just mean “evening” (no indication of which day).
If you want to refer specifically to late-night hours you can also say usiku wa leo (“the night of today” = “tonight”).

What form and function does ulete have, and could I say leta instead?

ulete is the second-person singular imperative (“you bring”).

Root verb: -leta (to bring)
Prefix u- marks “you.”
So ulete = “(you) bring!”
You can drop the prefix and simply say leta, but including u- makes it explicit (and a bit more polite).

Why is mpya placed after taa, and why doesn’t it change form?

In most Swahili constructions:

The noun comes first.
The adjective follows the noun.
Here: taa (lamp/light) + mpya (new) → taa mpya = “new lamp.”
Moreover, adjectives like mpya are invariable, so they don’t take extra noun-class prefixes or endings.

What does mezani mean, and what role does the -ni suffix play?

meza = “table”
-ni = locative suffix (“at,” “on,” or “in”)
Putting them together, mezani = “on/at the table.”
You add -ni to most nouns in Swahili to express location.

What is ili, and why is it followed by tuweze instead of tunaweza?

ili introduces a purpose clause meaning “so that.”
After ili, the verb must be in the subjunctive mood.

tunaweza = indicative “we can”
tuweze = subjunctive “we may be able”
So ili tuweze translates as “so that we can.”

Why is kusoma used here, and how does it fit with tuweze?

kusoma is the infinitive form “to read” (the verb stem with ku-).
After auxiliaries or subjunctives like tuweze, Swahili uses the infinitive for the next verb:
“tuweze kusoma” = “(so that) we can read.”
If you wanted a stand-alone subjunctive command you’d say tusome (“let’s read”), but not after tuweze.

What does bila giza mean, and how do you use bila?

bila = “without”
giza = “darkness”
So bila giza = “without darkness.”
To express “without” in Swahili, simply place bila before the noun.

Why doesn’t the sentence show a subject pronoun before the command?

In Swahili imperatives, the verb prefix itself (here u-) indicates the subject (“you”).
The opening phrase leo jioni is just a time modifier and doesn’t need a verb or pronoun.
Hence you go straight into the imperative ulete.

How else can I say “tonight” in Swahili, especially for late-night hours?

leo jioni = “this evening” (early evening)
usiku wa leo = “the night of today” = “tonight” (late at night)
Use usiku wa leo when you want to emphasize the nighttime period rather than the early-evening slot.