Log inSign up

Kutojua sheria za barabarani ni hatari.

Kutojua sheria za barabarani ni hatari.
Not knowing the road laws is dangerous.
FromLesson 41inHardcore Swahili
……

Breakdown of Kutojua sheria za barabarani ni hatari.

ni
to be
za
of
hatari
dangerous
sheria
the law
barabarani
on the road
kutojua
to not know

Questions & Answers about Kutojua sheria za barabarani ni hatari.

What does the word order mean here? Is this literally “Not knowing the traffic rules is dangerous”?

Yes. The sentence is a simple copular clause:

  • Kutojua = not knowing (a verb turned into a noun-like expression)
  • sheria za barabarani = the traffic rules (literally “laws of/on the road”)
  • ni = is/are (copula)
  • hatari = dangerous/danger

So: “Not knowing the traffic rules is dangerous.”

How is kutojua formed and what does it literally mean?

Kutojua is the negative infinitive/gerund of kujua (to know). It literally means “not to know” or “not knowing.”

  • Formation: negative infinitive prefix kuto-
    • verb stem → kuto
      • jua = kutojua.
  • More examples:
    • kutoelewa = not to understand
    • kutokwenda = not to go (from kwenda)
    • kutomwona = not to see him/her (from kumwona)
I often see kutokujua in the phrase “Kutokujua sheria si kinga.” Is kutokujua also correct here?

Yes. You will see both kutojua and kutokujua in real usage. Many speakers treat kuto- as replacing the infinitive ku- (giving kutojua), while others put kuto- in front of the full infinitive (giving kutokujua). Both are widely used; follow your teacher’s or style guide’s preference. Your sentence works with either:

  • Kutojua sheria za barabarani ni hatari.
  • Kutokujua sheria za barabarani ni hatari.
Why is it za in sheria za barabarani, not ya?

Because sheria here is treated as plural. Sheria belongs to the N class (class 9/10), which uses:

  • ya for singular (class 9)
  • za for plural (class 10) So:
  • Singular: sheria ya barabarani = a/the law of the road
  • Plural: sheria za barabarani = the laws/rules of the road
What does barabarani add? Could I just say sheria za barabara?
Barabarani is the locative form of barabara (road), meaning “on the road(s)” or “road-related.” The set phrase sheria za barabarani specifically means “traffic rules/laws.” You can say sheria za barabara, but … za barabarani is more idiomatic for “traffic rules.”
What exactly is ni doing?
Ni is the copula “is/are.” It links the subject (kutojua sheria za barabarani) to the predicate (hatari). In the present tense, ni does not change with number or person: it can mean “is,” “am,” or “are” depending on context.
How would I negate the whole sentence?

Replace ni with si (or colloquially sio/siyo) before the predicate:

  • Kutojua sheria za barabarani si hatari. = Not knowing the traffic rules is not dangerous. (Grammatically fine, though pragmatically odd.)
Is hatari a noun or an adjective here? Why no agreement marker?
Hatari is primarily a noun meaning “danger,” but it is often used predicatively to mean “dangerous,” without any agreement marking. After ni, you can say simply ni hatari = “is dangerous.”
Does sheria mean one law or laws? How can I make that clear without articles?

Sheria has the same form for singular and plural. You clarify with other words:

  • Singular: sheria moja ya barabarani = one traffic law
  • Plural: sheria za barabarani = traffic laws
  • You can also use demonstratives or quantifiers: sheria hizi…, baadhi ya sheria…, sheria chache…
Can I front the predicate for emphasis, like “It’s dangerous not knowing the traffic rules”?

Yes:

  • Ni hatari kutojua sheria za barabarani. This is natural and emphasizes the danger first.
If I use a normal verb with kutojua as the subject, what agreement should I use?

Treat kuto- (the verbal noun/infinitive) as class 15. Use class 15 subject agreement ku- on the verb:

  • Kutojua sheria za barabarani kunasababisha ajali. = Not knowing the traffic rules causes accidents.
Can I include an object marker for “the rules” in the verb “know”?

Yes, you can use the class 10 object marker zi-:

  • Affirmative infinitive: kuzijua sheria… = to know them (the rules)
  • Negative infinitive: kutozijua sheria… or kutokuzi(jua) sheria… So you can say: Kutozijua sheria za barabarani ni hatari.
What’s the difference between sheria and kanuni here?
  • sheria = laws (often formal, legislated)
  • kanuni = rules/regulations (broader; can be institutional or procedural) Both can be used: kanuni za barabarani = traffic regulations.
How do I say “Not knowing the traffic rules is very dangerous”?

Add sana:

  • Kutojua sheria za barabarani ni hatari sana.
Is there a set expression that means “Ignorance of the law is no excuse”?

Yes, very common:

  • Kutokujua sheria si kinga. Your sentence (Kutojua/Kutokujua sheria za barabarani ni hatari) uses the same kuto-/kutoku- + kujua pattern.
How should I pronounce and stress these words?

Swahili stress falls on the second-to-last syllable:

  • kutojua: ku-to-JU-a
  • barabarani: ba-ra-ba-RA-ni
  • hatari: ha-TA-ri
  • sheria: she-RI-a

More from this lesson

kwa sasasimu janjaKwa sasa ninatumia simu janja yangu kusoma habari.kubofyaSisi tunajifunza kubofya kitufe sahihi darasani.kupakuaRahma ananisaidia kubofya kitufe sahihi ili nipakue faili.nenosiri
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“What's the best way to learn Swahili grammar?”
Swahili grammar becomes intuitive with practice. Focus on understanding the core patterns first — how sentences are structured, how verbs change form, and how words relate to each other. Our course breaks these concepts into small lessons so you can build understanding step by step.

Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor

Start learning Swahili

Master Swahili — from Kutojua sheria za barabarani ni hatari to fluency

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.

  • ✓ Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
  • ✓ Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
  • ✓ Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
  • ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions
Start learning Swahili freeBrowse the full course