Learn Hardcore Swahili: Tutaonyesha jinsi unavyoweza kuweka nenosiri imara kwenye mtandao wa kijamii. - We will show how you can set a strong password on social media.

tu- = subject prefix for we
-ta- = future tense marker
-onyesha = verb stem onyesha (to show) So the whole form expresses “we will show.”

If I want to say “we will show you,” how do I add “you” to the verb?

Insert the object marker right after the tense marker:

Tutakuonyesha = we will show you (singular)
Tutawaonyesha = we will show you (plural) Pattern: subject prefix + tense + object marker + verb stem (e.g., tu-ta-ku-onyesha).

What does the -vyo- in unavyoweza do?

-vyo- is a relative marker meaning “in the way that / how.” With jinsi (how), it creates a relative clause:

jinsi u-na-vyo-weza = “how you can (do something)” Here, u- is “you (sg),” -na- is present tense, -vyo- is the relative marker, and -weza is “be able/can.”

Could I say jinsi ya kuweka instead of jinsi unavyoweza kuweka?

Yes. Both are natural, with a nuance difference:

jinsi ya kuweka… = “how to set…” (a noun-like phrase)
jinsi unavyoweza kuweka… = “how you can set…” (explicit subject “you” with a relative clause) Choose the shorter form for titles/instructions, and the longer form when you want to highlight the subject’s ability. Example: Tutaonyesha jinsi ya kuweka… is perfectly fine.

Why not use the subjunctive uweze (e.g., jinsi uweze kuweka)? Is that grammatical?

Not in that structure. jinsi prefers a relative construction (unavyoweza, utakavyoweza, etc.) or the jinsi ya + infinitive pattern. The subjunctive uweze works after purpose linkers like ili:

Tutaonyesha ili uweze kuweka… = “We will show (so that) you can set…”

How would unavyoweza change with different persons and tenses?

I (present): ninavyoweza
He/She (present): anavyoweza
You (sg) (future relative): utakavyoweza
We (present): tunavyoweza General pattern: subject + tense + -vyo- (or -kavyo- with future) + verb.

Why is kuweka used for “set” a password? Are there other verbs?

kuweka (to put/place/set) is the most idiomatic for passwords: kuweka nenosiri = “set a password.” Alternatives:

kubadili nenosiri = change a password
kusanidi nenosiri = configure a password (more technical; less common in everyday speech)

Is nenosiri imara the natural way to say “strong password”? Could I say something else?

Yes, nenosiri imara is the standard collocation. Acceptable variants:

nenosiri thabiti (robust, reliable) Less natural/avoid:
nenosiri lenye nguvu (literally “with power,” sounds odd for passwords)
nenosiri ngumu (can mean “hard/difficult,” but not the usual collocation for “strong password”)

Does the adjective imara need to change form to agree with nenosiri?

No. imara is an invariable adjective; it doesn’t take class prefixes. So it stays imara with any noun class: nenosiri imara, mitandao imara, etc.

I’ve also seen nywila for “password.” How does it differ from nenosiri?

Both mean “password.” Usage varies by region and style:

nenosiri is widely used and is more transparent (literally “secret word”).
nywila is also common, especially in Tanzania, and is a standardized term in many ICT contexts. Either is fine; be consistent once you choose one.

Why is it kwenye mtandao wa kijamii? Could I use katika or another form?

kwenye is a versatile preposition “in/at/on” and sounds very natural in everyday speech.
katika is a bit more formal but equally correct: katika mtandao wa kijamii.
You can also use the locative form mtandaoni (“online”): … kuweka nenosiri imara mtandaoni. All are acceptable; choose by tone and specificity.

Should it be singular (mtandao wa kijamii) or plural (mitandao ya kijamii) when referring to “social media” in general?

Both occur in real usage:

mitandao ya kijamii (plural) is common when speaking about social media as a sphere/platforms in general.
mtandao wa kijamii (singular) can refer to a specific network or sometimes generically. If you mean the whole landscape, the plural is often preferred.

Why is it wa in mtandao wa kijamii?

wa is the connective form of -a (“of”) agreeing with noun class 3 (mtandao is class 3/4: m-/mi-):

Class 3 singular: wa → mtandao wa…
Class 4 plural: ya → mitandao ya… So: mtandao wa kijamii, but mitandao ya kijamii.

Does kijamii have to change to agree with mtandao/mitandao?

No. kijamii (social, societal) is an adjectival/relational form derived from jamii and is used invariable in this expression. You don’t change it to match number/class here. Hence both:

mtandao wa kijamii
mitandao ya kijamii

Is there an even shorter way to express the whole idea?

A concise alternative many guides use is:

Tutaonyesha jinsi ya kuweka nenosiri imara mtandaoni. It’s compact, natural, and avoids the relative clause while keeping the meaning.

How should I pronounce the tricky parts like unavyoweza and where is the stress?

Swahili stress is on the second-to-last syllable. Syllable hints:

Tutaonyesha: tu-ta-o-NYE-sha
unavyoweza: u-na-vyo-WE-za (the vy sounds like English “vy” in “ivy” plus “o”: “vyo”)
kuweka: ku-WE-ka
nenosiri: ne-no-SI-ri
imara: i-MA-ra
kwenye: KWEN-ye
mtandao: m-ta-NA-o
kijamii: ki-ja-MI-i Aim for clear vowels; each vowel is pronounced.