Learn Hardcore Swahili: Usifute ujumbe huu; nitaufuta baadaye baada ya kuuhifadhi. - Do not delete this message; I will delete it later after saving it.

Yes. Usiufute adds the object marker u- (it) to the verb, co-referring to ujumbe huu. Including both the object marker and the full noun is grammatical and can add emphasis/topicalization, but in neutral speech Usifute ujumbe huu is perfectly natural.

Why is it ujumbe huu and not ujumbe hiki/hii/hili/huyu?

Ujumbe belongs to the u- noun class, which takes the demonstrative huu for “this.” Examples:

ujumbe huu (this message)
ugonjwa huu (this disease) Compare other classes:
barua hii (this letter, class 9/10)
kitabu hiki (this book, class 7)

What exactly is nitaufuta made of?

ni-ta-u-futa:

ni- = I
-ta- = future
u- = object marker “it” (agreeing with u- class noun ujumbe)
futa = delete/erase So nitaufuta = I will delete it.

Where does the object marker go in a verb like this?

The object marker comes before the verb root and after the tense/aspect marker: subject − tense/aspect − object − verb root Examples:

ni-ta-u-futa (I will delete it)
a-li-u-soma (he/she read it)

Do I have to use the object marker in nitaufuta? Could I just say nitafuta?

You can say nitafuta = I will delete (something). Nitaufuta explicitly says I will delete it, referring back to the already mentioned message. Using the object marker makes the reference clear and natural when the noun isn’t repeated.

Could nitafuta be confused with “I will look for”?

No, “I will look for” is nitatafuta (ni-ta-tafuta). Nitafuta (ni-ta-futa) means I will delete/erase. The extra ta in nitatafuta belongs to the verb root tafuta (search).

Why does kuuhifadhi have two u’s in a row? Is that correct, and how do I pronounce it?

Yes, it’s correct. It’s ku-u-hifadhi:

ku- = infinitive “to …”
u- = object marker “it” (agreeing with ujumbe)
hifadhi = save/store Pronunciation: say both vowels separately, roughly “ku-uhifadhi,” with a short hiatus between u-u.

Do I need the object marker inside the infinitive? Could I say baada ya kuhifadhi instead of baada ya kuuhifadhi?

Both are acceptable:

baada ya kuuhifadhi = after saving it (explicit)
baada ya kuhifadhi = after saving (context supplies “it”) Including u- makes the reference explicit; omitting it is common when the referent is clear.

What’s the difference between baadaye and baada ya, and is using both redundant?

baadaye = later (an adverb)
baada ya = after (a preposition that must be followed by a noun/gerund/infinitive: baada ya kuuhifadhi) Using both is fine and mirrors English “I’ll do it later, after …”. You can also use just one: Nitaufuta baadaye or Nitaufuta baada ya kuuhifadhi.

Can I move baadaye elsewhere in the sentence?

Yes. Common options:

Baadaye nitaufuta baada ya kuuhifadhi.
Nitaufuta baadaye baada ya kuuhifadhi.
Nitaufuta baada ya kuuhifadhi baadaye. (less common, but possible)

Is the semicolon necessary here? Could I use a comma or a connector?

A semicolon is fine in writing. You could also use:

a comma: Usifute ujumbe huu, nitaufuta …
a connector like kisha/halafu: Usifute ujumbe huu; kisha nitaufuta … All are acceptable; punctuation in Swahili follows similar conventions to English.

Is Usifute too direct? How can I make it more polite?

Add tafadhali (please) or use a softer wording:

Tafadhali usifute ujumbe huu.
Naomba usifute ujumbe huu. (I request that you don’t delete …)

Is hifadhi the right verb for “save” in the tech sense? What about okoa?

hifadhi = save/store/preserve (files, data) → the standard tech term for saving a file/message.
okoa = save/rescue (a person), or save money/energy; not typically used for saving files/messages.