Breakdown of Tafadhali weka mapumziko mafupi kila saa mbili ili wafanyakazi wapumzike.
kila
every
kupumzika
to rest
ili
so that
fupi
short
tafadhali
please
mbili
two
mfanyakazi
the worker
saa
the hour
kuweka
to set
pumziko
the break
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Questions & Answers about Tafadhali weka mapumziko mafupi kila saa mbili ili wafanyakazi wapumzike.
What does weka mean in this sentence, and why is it used as an imperative?
weka is the imperative (command) form of the verb -eka (“to put/place/set”). Here it means “schedule” or “set up.” The word tafadhali (“please”) softens the command, so Tafadhali weka… translates as “Please schedule…”
Why is mapumziko mafupi used, and why does the adjective follow the noun?
mapumziko is the plural of mapumziko (“breaks”). mafupi is the adjective “short,” agreeing with the noun in class 6 (the ma- prefix). In Swahili, adjectives normally follow the noun they describe, so you say mapumziko mafupi (“short breaks”) rather than mafupi mapumziko.
What does kila saa mbili mean, and why is saa singular here?
kila saa mbili literally means “every two hours.” kila means “each” or “every” and takes a singular noun—that’s why saa (“hour”) remains singular. mbili is the number “two.” Together you get “every two hours.”
Why is ili used before wafanyakazi wapumzike, and why is the verb in the subjunctive?
ili introduces a purpose clause equivalent to “so that” or “in order that.” In Swahili, purpose clauses after ili require the subjunctive mood. Hence, ili wafanyakazi wapumzike means “so that the employees may rest,” with -e marking the subjunctive ending.
What’s the role of the wa- prefix in wapumzike?
The prefix wa- is the subject agreement for noun class 2 (plural humans). It matches wafanyakazi (“employees”), so wa- + pumz (root for “rest”) + -ike (subjunctive) gives wapumzike = “they rest” (in a purpose clause).
Why is tafadhali placed at the very beginning?
tafadhali means “please.” Placing it at the start of an imperative makes the request polite: Tafadhali weka… = “Please schedule…”
Can I say kila masaa mawili instead of kila saa mbili?
Yes. saa can be treated as singular or plural. If you use the plural masaa (class 6), its adjective must agree: mawili (“two” in class 6). So kila masaa mawili is also valid and means the same thing: “every two hours.”