Learn Hardcore Swahili: Usijali, tutaeleza kwa kifupi kwa nini tulichelewa, ilimradi mkutano bado unaendelea. - Don’t worry, we will explain briefly why we were late, as long as the meeting is still going on.

It’s a negative imperative (or negative subjunctive used with imperative force) meaning “don’t worry.” It’s formed with the 2nd person singular negative prefix usi- + the verb stem -jali (to care/worry). Because -jali ends in -i (not -a), it keeps that -i: usi-jali. Compare:

Usichelewe (don’t be late) from -chelewa (ends in -a → final vowel becomes -e).
Usijali (don’t worry) from -jali (already ends in -i, so it stays -i).

How do I say “Don’t worry” to more than one person?

Use the plural negative imperative: Msijali.

Singular: Usijali
Plural: Msijali

Is Usijali informal? What are more polite or formal alternatives?

Usijali is neutral and friendly. More formal or softer options include:

Usiwe na wasiwasi (don’t be anxious)
Usitie shaka (don’t have doubts)
Add politeness: Tafadhali usiwe na wasiwasi (please don’t worry)

How is tutaeleza put together?

It’s subject + future marker + verb:

tu- (we)
-ta- (future)
-eleza (explain) So tutaeleza = “we will explain.”
If you want to mark an indirect object, you can add an object marker: e.g., Tuta/wa/eleza (we’ll explain to them).

What’s the difference between eleza and elezea?

Both are common. -eleza means “to explain/tell (something).” -elezea is the applicative form and often means “to explain/describe (to someone/about something),” or “explain more fully/elaborate on.” In practice, both can take objects; -elezea tends to feel a bit more “expository” or “about/to.”

What exactly is kwa kifupi and why the ki-?

Kwa marks manner (“in/by”), and kifupi is a noun formed from the adjective fupi (short) with the noun class 7 prefix ki-, giving the sense “a short way/form.” So kwa kifupi = “briefly/in short.” Near-synonyms: kwa ufupi, kwa muhtasari.

Can I move kwa kifupi elsewhere in the clause?

Yes. Both are fine:

Tutaeleza kwa kifupi kwa nini tulichelewa.
Tutaeleza kwa nini tulichelewa kwa kifupi. Placing kwa kifupi earlier highlights the manner up front; at the end it works like an afterthought (“…briefly”).

How does kwa nini work here—do I need a word like “that” to introduce the clause?

No extra word is needed. Kwa nini simply introduces a content question within the clause: tutaeleza [kwa nini tulichelewa] = “we will explain [why we were late].” The embedded clause keeps normal tense and order.

Why not use kwa sababu instead of kwa nini?

Because they mean different things:

kwa nini = “why”
kwa sababu = “because” So tutaeleza kwa nini tulichelewa = “we’ll explain why we were late,” while tutaeleza kwa sababu tulichelewa would mean “we’ll explain because we were late,” which changes the meaning.

What is the breakdown of tulichelewa?

tu- (we)
-li- (past)
-chelewa (be late) So tulichelewa = “we were late.”

How is tulichelewa different from tumechelewa?

tulichelewa (simple past) = “we were late” (a completed event in the past).
tumechelewa (perfect) = “we’re late / we have become late (now),” often with present relevance.

What does ilimradi mean, and are there alternatives?

Ilimradi means “provided that / as long as.” Common alternatives:

mradi (very common, a bit shorter)
maadamu (as long as, given that)
kama tu (colloquial “so long as/only if”) So … ilimradi/mradi mkutano bado unaendelea = “… provided the meeting is still going on.”

Do I need the subjunctive after ilimradi?

Not necessarily. With a real-time condition you often use the indicative: … mkutano bado unaendelea (“… the meeting is still ongoing”). With a more hypothetical/desired condition you can use the subjunctive: … mkutano uendelee (“… the meeting continue”). Both occur, but the indicative is natural here.

Why does mkutano take u- in unaendelea instead of a-?

Because mkutano is noun class 3 (m-/mi-). Class 3 takes the subject prefix u- in the present: mkutano unaendelea. The plural is class 4 (mikutano), which takes i-: mikutano inaendelea.

How does bado work in mkutano bado unaendelea?

Bado means “still” with affirmative verbs: bado unaendelea = “is still continuing.” With a negative, it means “not yet”: mkutano bado haujaisha = “the meeting hasn’t ended yet.” You usually place bado before the verb.