Learn Hardcore Swahili: Tumeweka nenosiri jipya, kwa hiyo yeyote asiyejua hawezi kuingia. - We have set a new password, so anyone who doesn’t know it cannot enter.

Tumeweka = tu- (we) + -me- (perfect) + weka (put). It means “we have put/ set,” with a result that’s relevant now (the new password is in place).
Tuliweka = “we put” (simple past at a definite time in the past), without highlighting the current result.

Is nenosiri always written as one word? Are there common alternatives?

You’ll see both nenosiri and neno la siri (“secret word/password”). Both are fine.
A very common modern term is nywila (“password”).
For a PIN, people often say nambari ya siri or just PIN.

Why is it jipya and not mpya after nenosiri?

Nenosiri is in noun class 5 (ji-/ma-). The adjective “new” agrees as jipya in class 5 singular.
- Examples: jina jipya, neno jipya.
With a class 9 noun like nywila, you’d say nywila mpya.

What does kwa hiyo mean, and how is it different from kwa sababu or hivyo?

kwa hiyo = “so/therefore,” introducing a consequence.
kwa sababu = “because,” introducing a reason/cause.
hivyo/ kwa hivyo = “thus/so,” similar to “kwa hiyo,” often interchangeable in everyday use.

What does yeyote mean? Can I use yoyote/yo yote instead?

yeyote = “anyone/whosoever,” the “any-” form for people (class 1).
yoyote/yo yote are for non-person nouns, e.g., njia yoyote (“any route,” class 9).
Don’t use yoyote for people; use yeyote.

Why is it yeyote asiyejua and not yeyote hajui?

After yeyote (“anyone”), you need a relative clause: “anyone who doesn’t know,” not “anyone doesn’t know.”
Hence yeyote asiyejua = “anyone who does not know.”
Saying yeyote hajui is ungrammatical in this meaning.

How is asiyejua formed? Is ambaye hajui also correct?

asiyejua breaks down as: a- (class 1 subject “he/she”) + -si- (negative) + -ye- (relative for people) + jua (know). Literally, “(the one) who doesn’t know.”
Yes, yeyote ambaye hajui is also correct and a bit more explicit. Affirmative would be anayejua (“who knows”).

Can I add mtu and say mtu yeyote asiyejua?

Yes: Mtu yeyote asiyejua hawezi kuingia is perfectly natural and very clear. Using yeyote alone is also fine.

Why is it hawezi (singular) and not hawawezi (plural)?

Yeyote refers to “any one person,” so verb agreement is singular class 1: hawezi (“he/she cannot”).
hawawezi would agree with a plural subject like watu (“people”).

Does hawezi kuingia mean “not allowed” or “not able”? Are there alternatives?

hawezi kuingia literally = “cannot/is not able to enter.” In context (passwords, access), it often implies “won’t be allowed.”
To emphasize permission/rules, use:
- haruhusiwi kuingia = “is not permitted to enter”
- hatakiwi kuingia = “is not supposed to enter”
- hapasi kuingia = “it is not proper/appropriate to enter” (more formal).

What’s the difference between kuingia, kuingilia, and kuingia ndani?

kuingia = to enter/go in. It’s enough on its own.
kuingia ndani = to enter inside; adds emphasis/redundancy (common in speech).
kuingilia = to interfere/meddle or intrude upon (different meaning). Don’t use this for physically entering a place.

Is the comma before kwa hiyo necessary?

Optional. Kwa hiyo often starts a new clause meaning “so/therefore”; a comma can help readability, but it isn’t required by strict rule.