Learn Hardcore Swahili: Mwalimu atahakiki majina leo, na mimi nitayahakiki tena jioni. - The teacher will verify the names today, and I will verify them again in the evening.

a-ta-hakiki = he/she will verify
ni-ta-ya-hakiki = I will verify them Order inside the verb: subject prefix + tense marker + (optional) object marker + verb stem.

Why include mimi in na mimi nitayahakiki if the verb already shows “I” with ni-?

Swahili often drops independent subject pronouns. Mimi is added for emphasis/contrast: “and I (for my part) will verify them…”. You could also say:

Nami nitayahakiki… (contracted, a bit more formal/literary)
Or simply … na nitayahakiki… (omit the pronoun) if no emphasis is intended.

What is the -ya- in nitayahakiki?

It’s the object marker agreeing with the noun class of majina. Majina is class 6 (ma-), whose object marker is -ya-. So ni-ta-ya-hakiki literally means “I will them-verify,” where “them” refers back to “names.”

Could I just repeat the noun instead of using the object marker? For example, say nitahakiki majina tena jioni?

Yes. Both are correct:

Nitayahakiki tena jioni. (uses the object marker; the object is understood/definite)
Nitahakiki majina tena jioni. (repeats the noun) Including both the object marker and the full object (nitayahakiki majina) is also possible and often signals definiteness/emphasis, but many speakers would simply pick one.

How do I know majina is class 6 and therefore takes -ya-?

The singular is jina (class 5), and the plural is majina (class 6). Class 6 takes the object marker -ya-. Quick reference for common object markers:

Class 1 (m-/mw-): -m-
Class 2 (wa-): -wa-
Class 5 (ji-/Ø): -li-
Class 6 (ma-): -ya-
Class 7 (ki-): -ki-
Class 8 (vi-): -vi-
Class 9: -i-; Class 10: -zi-

What subject prefixes are being used here?

a- in atahakiki agrees with a third-person singular subject (Mwalimu).
ni- in nitayahakiki is first-person singular (“I”). Common subject prefixes: ni- (I), u- (you sg.), a- (he/she), tu- (we), m- (you pl.), wa- (they).

Does na here mean “and” or “with”?

“And.” Na can mean “with” in other contexts, but between clauses it’s “and.” So … leo, na mimi … = “… today, and I …”.

Can I use nami instead of na mimi?

Yes. Nami is a contraction of na mimi and is perfectly natural: Mwalimu atahakiki majina leo, nami nitayahakiki tena jioni.

Where do adverbs like leo, tena, and jioni go? Is the order in the sentence fixed?

They are flexible. Common options:

… atahakiki majina leo …
… nitayahakiki tena jioni. You could also say … nitayahakiki jioni tena, or place tena right after the verb: … nitayahakiki tena …. The chosen order just affects rhythm/emphasis, not meaning.

Do I need a preposition before time words like jioni?

Usually no. Time-of-day words (asubuhi, mchana, jioni, usiku) are used bare as adverbials. You’d only add something like katika for special emphasis or formality.

Does tena mean “again” or “also”?

Primarily “again” in this position: … nitayahakiki tena jioni = “I will verify them again in the evening.” For “also/too,” Swahili commonly uses pia. Note that sentence-initial Tena, … can mean “moreover/furthermore.”

Are there articles like “the” or “a” in Swahili? How do we know if Mwalimu means “the teacher” or “a teacher”?

Swahili has no articles. Mwalimu can be “the teacher” or “a teacher” depending on context. Here, real-world context (a known teacher and a known list of names) makes it feel definite in English.

What are some natural synonyms for kuhakiki majina?

Kukagua majina = check/inspect the names
Kupitia majina = go through the names
For roll call specifically: kuita majina or kuchukua mahudhurio (take attendance)

How would I negate these futures?

Use the negative subject prefix plus -ta-:

Mwalimu hatahakiki majina leo = The teacher will not verify the names today.
… na mimi sitayahakiki tena jioni = … and I will not verify them again in the evening. Note the forms: ha-ta-… (he/she), si-ta-… (I).

Any pronunciation tips for tricky parts like nitayahakiki and jioni?

nitayahakiki: ni-ta-ya-ha-ki-ki; clear vowels, pronounced one by one; the h is fully articulated; stress tends toward the penultimate syllable: ni-ta-ya-ha-KI-ki.
jioni: ji-O-ni (jee-OH-nee), stress on the O.