Learn Hardcore Swahili: Tunakutana takriban saa nne; kwa kifupi, usichelewe. - We meet at around ten o’clock; in short, don’t be late.

In Swahili time, saa nne is 10:00 (in the morning, unless you add a time-of-day word like usiku). Swahili hours start counting at about 7 a.m.:

Rule of thumb: English hour = Swahili hour + 6 (wrap around 12).
Examples: saa moja = 7:00, saa nne = 10:00, saa kumi = 4:00.

How do I make it clear whether I mean morning or night?

Add a time-of-day word:

asubuhi (morning), mchana (midday/afternoon), jioni (evening), usiku (night).
Examples: saa nne asubuhi = 10 a.m.; saa nne usiku = 10 p.m.

Why is it tunakutana (present) and not tutakutana (future)?

Swahili often uses the present tense with -na- for scheduled or near-future events, just like English “We’re meeting at…”. Tunakutana feels like a set plan; tutakutana (“we will meet”) is also correct and explicitly future. Both are fine; pick the nuance you want.

What’s the difference between kutana and kuonana?

kutana = to meet (come together). Tunakutana = “We’re meeting.”
kuonana = to see each other. Tutaonana can mean “We’ll see each other/see you,” often as a friendly “see you (then).”
They often overlap in casual speech, but kutana is the default for arranging a meeting.

What does takriban mean, and are there more common ways to say “about/around” a time?

takriban (also spelled takribani) means “approximately” and is a bit formal/standard. Very common everyday options:

hivi after the time: saa nne hivi (“around 10”)
kama: kama saa nne
kiasi cha: kiasi cha saa nne You’ll hear saa nne hivi very often.

Can I put takriban somewhere else? Is saa nne takriban okay?

Most natural are:

takriban saa nne
saa nne hivi (more colloquial) saa nne takriban is understandable but less common in everyday speech.

Could saa nne mean “four hours” instead of “four o’clock”?

By itself, saa nne is usually understood as a clock time. For duration, speakers prefer masaa manne (“four hours”). Context helps:

Time of day: tunakutana saa nne (we meet at 10:00)
Duration: tutangoja masaa manne (we’ll wait four hours)

How is usichelewe formed? What’s the plural?

It’s the negative imperative (subjunctive) of chelewa (be late):

Singular: usi-
- verb with -e ending → usichelewe (“don’t be late”)
Plural: msi-
- verb with -e → msichelewe (“don’t be late,” to several people)

Is usichelewe polite? How can I soften it?

Alone, usichelewe is direct but not rude. To soften:

Tafadhali usichelewe (please don’t be late)
Jaribu usichelewe (try not to be late)
Use a gentler verb: tafadhali usikawie (“please don’t delay/linger”)

What does kwa kifupi literally mean, and how is it used? Is kwa ufupi different?

kwa kifupi = “in short/briefly” (from adjective fupi, “short,” with class 7 noun kifupi used adverbially by kwa).
kwa ufupi is a near-synonym; both mean “in short.” You’ll see either; kwa kifupi is very common as a discourse marker to sum up or emphasize the main point.

Is the semicolon natural here? Could I use other punctuation?

Semicolons exist in Swahili but are less common. You could write:

Tunakutana takriban saa nne. Kwa kifupi, usichelewe.
Or use a comma: …saa nne, kwa kifupi, usichelewe. All are acceptable; a period is the safest choice.

Can I just write Kwa kifupi, usichelewe. as a sentence on its own?

Yes. Kwa kifupi, … often starts a new sentence to summarize or stress a point. It works well as a standalone lead-in to an instruction.

How do I say “exactly at 10” instead of “about 10”?

Use kamili for “exact/sharp”:

saa nne kamili = exactly 10:00 A few more time phrases:
saa nne na robo = 10:15
saa nne na nusu = 10:30
saa tano kasoro robo = 10:45 (literally “a quarter to 11”)

Do people always use the Swahili clock, or might someone mean 4:00 when they say saa nne?

In Tanzania and much of coastal Kenya, saa nne typically means 10:00 (Swahili clock). However, code-switching and regional habits can cause confusion, especially in bilingual settings. If there’s any doubt, ask:

Unamaanisha saa nne za Kiswahili (10 a.m.) au za Kiingereza (4 p.m.)?
Or clarify with a time-of-day word: saa nne asubuhi (10 a.m.).