Learn Hardcore Swahili: Tafadhali weka chaja kwenye priza karibu na meza. - Please put the charger in the socket near the table.

At the start: Tafadhali weka...
After a pause: Weka chaja..., tafadhali.
After the subject/opening: Tafadhali, weka chaja... Position doesn’t change the meaning; it just affects tone/flow. It’s optional but polite.

Is weka an imperative? How would I make it plural or negative?

Yes, weka is the 2nd person singular imperative (put/place).

Plural imperative: wekeni (Speak to more than one person.)
Negative singular: usiweke (Don’t put...)
Negative plural: msiweke (Don’t you all put...) Examples:
Weka chaja... = Put the charger...
Wekeni chaja... = You all put the charger...
Usiweke chaja... = Don’t put the charger...
Msiweke chaja... = Don’t you all put the charger...

How do I say Put it (the charger) in the socket?

Use an object marker with the imperative form in -e:

For chaja (class 9), the object marker is i-.
Singular command: Iweke kwenye priza. = Put it in the socket.
Plural command: Iwekeni kwenye priza.
Negative singular: Usiiweke kwenye priza.
Negative plural: Msiiweke kwenye priza. Note: When you attach an object marker, Swahili uses the -e ending (not the bare imperative).

Could I use a verb that means plug in rather than just put?

Yes. More precise or common options:

Chomeka = plug in/insert. Example: Chomeka chaja kwenye priza.
Ingiza = insert. Example: Ingiza plagi ya chaja kwenye priza.
Unganisha = connect (more technical). Weka is fine and widely understood, but chomeka or ingiza are more specific for sockets/plugs.

What exactly does priza mean? Is it the plug or the socket?

Priza is the wall socket/outlet. The plug is plagi. Synonyms/near-synonyms:

Priza or soketi = socket/outlet
Plagi = plug
Tundu la umeme = electric outlet (literally, electric hole)

Why is it kwenye priza? Can I use katika or ndani ya instead?

Kwenye is a very common, flexible preposition meaning in/at/on and fits well here.
Katika is a bit more formal and also works: katika priza.
Ndani ya emphasizes inside: ndani ya priza (literally inside the socket), also fine when you mean insertion.

Could I use the -ni locative instead of kwenye, like prizani or soketini?

Yes. The locative suffix -ni turns a noun into a place:

Prizani = at/in the socket
Soketini = at/in the socket (with soketi)
Mezani = at the table So you could say: Weka chaja prizani (au soketini). Likewise, karibu na mezani is possible but most learners first use karibu na meza.

What does karibu na mean, and how is it different from just karibu?

Karibu na = near/close to. Example: karibu na meza = near the table.
Karibu alone often means welcome (as an invitation) or almost (e.g., karibu aanguke = he almost fell). For proximity, include na: karibu na X.

Are there other ways to say near?

Yes:

Kando ya = beside/along the side of
Pembeni ya = at the side/edge of
Jirani na = neighboring/next to All are natural: ...kando ya meza / pembeni ya meza / jirani na meza.

Is the word order fixed? Could I move the location phrase?

Typical order is Verb + Direct Object + Location:

Weka chaja kwenye priza karibu na meza. You can move location phrases for focus or style:
Weka chaja karibu na meza kwenye priza. Both are acceptable. Keeping the object before the location is the safest default.

Do chaja and meza change in the plural?

Both chaja and meza are class 9/10 (N-class) nouns: the singular and plural look the same.

Singular: chaja, meza
Plural: chaja, meza Agreement examples:
These chargers: hizi chaja
Big charger: chaja kubwa (no change on the adjective for class 9/10)
These tables: hizi meza
Big tables: meza kubwa

Is Tafadhali the only way to be polite? What are other polite request forms?

Other common, polite options:

Naomba uweke chaja... = I request that you put the charger...
Unaweza kuweka chaja...? = Could you put the charger...?
Samahani, weka chaja... = Excuse me, please put the charger... All are natural; choose by tone and context. Tafadhali is a straightforward please.

Should there be a comma after Tafadhali?

It’s optional and stylistic. Both are fine:

Tafadhali weka chaja...
Tafadhali, weka chaja... Use a comma to signal a slight pause.

How do I pronounce the tricky sounds here?

Stress is usually on the second-to-last syllable: ta-FA-dha-li, WE-ka, CHA-ja, kwe-NYE, PRI-za, ka-RI-bu, ME-za.
dh in tafadhali is like the th in English this (voiced).
ny in kwenye is like the ñ in Spanish señor or ny in canyon.
Vowels are pure: a (father), e (bet), i (machine), o (more), u (flute).

Can I be more precise about which socket is near the table?

Yes, add a relative clause:

Weka chaja kwenye priza iliyo karibu na meza. = Put the charger into the socket that is near the table. You can also use ambayo iko karibu na meza for the same meaning.

Is kwenye priza karibu na meza modifying priza or the action?

It’s read as the location phrase of the action: place the charger into the socket that is near the table. Practically, karibu na meza narrows down which priza you mean (the socket near the table), not how you place it.