Learn Hardcore Swahili: Baada ya chakula, tafadhali weka vyombo kwenye stoo. - After the meal, please put the utensils in the storeroom.

Yes. Weka is the singular imperative of the verb “to put/place,” so it addresses one person directly. To address more than one person, use the plural imperative wekeni: Tafadhali wekeni vyombo kwenye stoo.

Can I move tafadhali, or make the request softer/more polite?

Yes. Tafadhali can go at the start or end:

Tafadhali weka vyombo kwenye stoo.
Weka vyombo kwenye stoo, tafadhali.

Softer options:

Naomba uweke vyombo kwenye stoo. (I kindly ask that you put…)
Tafadhali unaweza kuweka vyombo kwenye stoo? (Could you please put…) Note that uweke is the subjunctive used after polite expressions like naomba.

Why is it vyombo and not chombo?

Because we’re talking about multiple items (“dishes/utensils”). Chombo (singular) → vyombo (plural). This is the class 7/8 pattern where many class-7 nouns beginning with ch- take vy- in the plural:

chombo/vyombo, chumba/vyumba, chakula/vyakula.

What exactly does vyombo cover—plates only?

No. Vyombo is a broad term for tableware and cookware: plates, cups, bowls, pots, pans, cutlery, etc. If you need to be specific:

sahani (plates), vikombe (cups), vijiko (spoons), visu (knives), uma (fork), sufuria (cooking pot). You can also specify: vyombo vya kulia (tableware) vs vyombo vya kupikia (cookware).

What does stoo mean here? Is it the same as a “store/shop”?

Stoo is a storeroom/pantry/storage closet, not a retail shop. A shop is duka. Depending on the house, you might instead say:

kabati (cupboard/cabinet),
ghala (warehouse/storehouse, bigger scale),
jikoni (in the kitchen) if that’s where you keep dishes.

Is kwenye the same as katika or ndani ya?

All can indicate location:

kwenye = at/in/on (very common and neutral).
katika = in/within (a bit more formal).
ndani ya = inside (emphasizes interior). So you could say kwenye stoo, katika stoo, or ndani ya stoo (“inside the pantry”), depending on nuance.

Can I say stooni instead of kwenye stoo?

Yes. Many place nouns take the locative suffix -ni. So:

weka vyombo stooni ≈ “put the dishes in the pantry.” This is as natural as kwenye stoo.

Why is it Baada ya and not something like Baada cha?

The connector ya agrees with the head noun baada (a class 9 noun), so it’s fixed as baada ya (“after [the] …”). Same with kabla ya (“before [the] …”). You can follow it with a noun or a verb phrase:

Baada ya chakula…
Baada ya kula… (“After eating …”)

Is there a difference between Baada ya chakula and Baada ya kula?

Both are natural:

Baada ya chakula = “after the meal/after eating (the food).”
Baada ya kula = “after eating.” If you want to be precise about “a meal,” you can also say baada ya mlo, but everyday Swahili often uses chakula.

How do I make it negative: “Don’t put the dishes in the pantry”?

Use the negative imperative:

Singular: Usiweke vyombo kwenye stoo/stooni.
Plural: Msiweke vyombo kwenye stoo/stooni.

How do I address multiple people positively?

Use the plural imperative wekeni:

Tafadhali wekeni vyombo kwenye stoo/stooni.

How do I say “Put them in the pantry” without repeating vyombo?

Use the class-8 object marker vi-:

Viweke kwenye stoo/stooni. Don’t repeat the noun if you include the object marker.

Any quick pronunciation tips for vyombo, kwenye, and stoo?

vyombo: two syllables, stress the second-to-last: vyo-mbo. The vy is like “v” followed by a quick “y” glide.
kwenye: kwe-nye, with ny like the “ny” in “canyon” (a single sound).
stoo: sto-o (two syllables, long “oo”); don’t shorten it to a single “o.”

Is the comma after Baada ya chakula required?

It’s optional. Swahili punctuation allows a comma there to mark the pause after the introductory time phrase, but many writers omit it: Baada ya chakula tafadhali weka vyombo kwenye stoo.

Could I change the word order?

Yes. Time expressions often come first, but you can also say:

Tafadhali, baada ya chakula weka vyombo kwenye stoo.
Weka vyombo kwenye stoo baada ya chakula, tafadhali. All are acceptable; choose the one that fits your emphasis and flow.