Learn Hardcore Swahili: Huna muda wa chakula cha mchana?

Huna: “you (singular) don’t have” — special negative form of kuwa na “to have.”
muda: “time; duration” (noun, class 3).
wa: associative “of,” agreeing with the head noun muda (class 3 singular).
chakula: “food; meal” (noun, class 7).
cha: associative “of,” agreeing with chakula (class 7 singular).
mchana: “daytime/afternoon; noon.” With chakula, it forms chakula cha mchana “lunch.”
So muda wa [chakula cha mchana] = “time of [lunch]” = “time for lunch.”

How would I ask the same thing without negation?

Use the positive form: Una muda wa chakula cha mchana? Optionally add Je, to sound a bit more formal: Je, una muda wa chakula cha mchana?

Is “huna” singular or plural? How do I say it to more than one person?

Huna is second person singular. For plural, use hamna: Hamna muda wa chakula cha mchana? You’ll also hear hamna used colloquially as “there isn’t/aren’t.”

Is “huna” the same as “hauna” or “hana”?

No.

huna = “you (sg) don’t have.”
hana = “he/she doesn’t have.”
hauna is used with a class‑3 singular subject (“it doesn’t have”), e.g., mti hauna matawi “the tree doesn’t have branches.” Don’t use hauna for “you.”

Why is it “wa” after “muda” and “cha” after “chakula”? Can’t I use “ya”?

The “of” linker agrees with the noun class of the word it follows:

muda (class 3 sg) takes wa ⇒ muda wa …
chakula (class 7 sg) takes cha ⇒ chakula cha …
ya is for other classes (e.g., 6, 9/10), so it would be wrong here.

Can I drop “wa” or “cha”?

No. The associative linker is required in noun‑of‑noun constructions. You must say muda wa … and chakula cha ….

Do I need “Je” to mark the question?

No. Rising intonation (and a question mark in writing) is enough: Huna muda wa chakula cha mchana? Adding Je, is optional and a bit more formal: Je, huna muda wa …?

How should I answer a negative question like this naturally?

Repeat the verb to avoid yes/no ambiguity:

If you do have time: Nina muda (or Hapana, nina muda if you’re rejecting the negative).
If you don’t have time: Sina muda (you can also say Ndiyo, sina muda to affirm the negative as true). Repeating the verb keeps it clear.

Could I say “time to eat lunch” instead of “time for lunch”?

Yes: Huna muda wa kula chakula cha mchana? Here kula (“to eat”) functions as a complement to muda.

What’s the difference between “muda,” “wakati,” “nafasi,” and “mapumziko” here?

muda: available time/duration; best for “time to do something.”
wakati: time as a period/occasion (“when/during”); e.g., wakati wa chakula cha mchana = “during lunchtime.”
nafasi: “opportunity/space,” often used as “time” politely: Una nafasi ya …?
mapumziko (ya chakula cha mchana): a “lunch break” (a scheduled break).

Is “chakula cha mchana” the only way to say “lunch”?

It’s the standard. Alternatives include:

mlo wa mchana (“midday meal”) — more formal.
Urban/casual speech may use English loans like lunchi, but chakula cha mchana is safest and widely understood.

Where does a possessive like “my” go in this noun phrase?

Right after the head noun: muda wangu wa chakula cha mchana = “my lunchtime.” Pattern: [head noun] + [possessive] + [wa/cha + complement].

How can I make the question softer or more polite?

Je, una muda wa chakula cha mchana?
Add tafadhali: Je, una muda wa chakula cha mchana, tafadhali?
Use nafasi: Je, una nafasi ya chakula cha mchana?
Or ask about being free: Uko huru wakati wa chakula cha mchana?

Any pronunciation tips for “chakula cha mchana”?

Stress the penultimate syllable: cha-KU-la cha m-CHA-na.
ch is like English “ch” in “church.”
For mch, pronounce the m then ch as a cluster: m-CHA-na.

How do I say “I don’t have time for lunch”?

Use first person: Sina muda wa chakula cha mchana. Other persons:

we: Hatuna muda …
you (pl): Hamna muda …
they: Hawana muda …

Does using a negative question add any nuance?

Yes. Huna muda …? can sound like surprise or gentle pressure, as in “Don’t you have time…?” If you want a neutral, open question, prefer the positive: Una muda …?