Learn Hardcore Swahili: Tafadhali, usisahau kurejesha ufunguo baada ya mkutano. - Please, do not forget to return the key after the meeting.

Yes. usi- is the negative imperative (prohibitive) marker for second-person singular in Swahili. It’s built from the subject prefix u- (you, singular) + the negative -si- + the verb stem. So sahau (forget) → usisahau (don’t forget).

Speaking to more than one person, use msi-: msisahau (don’t you [plural] forget).

Why doesn’t usisahau end with -e like usiende?

The -e ending appears in the (negative) subjunctive with verbs whose stem ends in -a (e.g., enda → usiende). But sahau ends in -u, so it doesn’t change to -e. Hence usisahau is correct.

Why is there ku- before rejesha (i.e., kurejesha)?

ku- marks the infinitive/gerund (“to/–ing”). After verbs like sahau (forget) or kumbuka (remember), Swahili uses the infinitive:

usisahau kurejesha = don’t forget to return
Similarly: kumbuka kurejesha = remember to return

Is kurejesha the same as kurudisha?

Functionally, yes: both mean “to return (something), to give/bring back.”

kurudisha comes from kurudi (to return oneself/go back).
kurejesha comes from kurejea (to return/go back).
Many speakers find kurudisha a bit more everyday/casual; kurejesha can feel slightly more formal or standard—but both are correct and widely used.

What’s the difference between returning yourself and returning an item?

To return/go back yourself: kurudi or kurejea.
Example: Baada ya mkutano, nitarudi ofisini. (After the meeting, I’ll go back to the office.)
To return an item: kurudisha or kurejesha.
Example: nitarejesha ufunguo. (I will return the key.)

Can I add an object marker to mean “return it” and drop the noun?

Yes. The object marker for class 11 (ufunguo) is u-.

“Don’t forget to return it” (referring to the key) can be: Usisahau kuurudisha or Usisahau kuurejesha (note the double u: ku-u-rudisha).
If you also say the noun ufunguo right after, you usually don’t add the object marker unless for emphasis or if the noun has been topicalized earlier.

Why ufunguo and not funguo? Which is singular and which is plural?

ufunguo = singular (“a key”)
funguo = plural (“keys”)
They derive from the verb fungua (open). Literally, ufunguo is “an opener,” i.e., a key. In everyday speech, some people use funguo to refer to a “set of keys,” but grammatically ufunguo is singular and funguo is plural.

How would the sentence change if I’m talking about multiple keys?

Just make the object plural:

Tafadhali, usisahau kurejesha funguo baada ya mkutano.
If you needed agreement elsewhere (e.g., with pronouns or verbs referring back to “keys”), you’d use class 10 agreement (e.g., zi- for object/subject markers).

What does baada ya mean exactly, and how is it different from baadaye?

baada ya = “after (something)” and is followed by a noun or verbal noun: baada ya mkutano (after the meeting), baada ya kukutana (after meeting).
baadaye = “later/afterwards” (an adverb): Tutaongea baadaye (We’ll talk later).

Why is it specifically baada ya mkutano and not something like baada la/wa mkutano?

It’s a fixed construction: baada ya (“after [of]”). Many similar time/relational nouns use ya in this way: kabla ya (before), badala ya (instead of), karibu na (near), katika (in/within), etc. So it’s always baada ya + [thing].

Can tafadhali go at the end? Do I need the comma?

Yes, tafadhali can come at the beginning or end:

Tafadhali, usisahau …
Usisahau …, tafadhali.
The comma simply signals a pause; it’s optional.

How do I address more than one person politely?

Use the plural prohibitive msi-:

Tafadhali, msisahau kurejesha ufunguo baada ya mkutano.
Everything else stays the same.

Is there a more positive-sounding alternative to “don’t forget…”?

Yes. Use kumbuka (remember) or a polite request:

Tafadhali, kumbuka kurejesha ufunguo baada ya mkutano.
Naomba urudishe/urejeshe ufunguo baada ya mkutano. (I kindly request that you return the key after the meeting.)

How can I say “right after the meeting”?

Add an intensifier:

Mara tu baada ya mkutano or baada tu ya mkutano (right after the meeting).
You can also be more explicit: baada ya mkutano kumalizika/kuisha (after the meeting ends).

Any pronunciation tips for tricky parts like sahau, ufunguo, rejesha, mkutano?

sahau: four syllables sa-ha-u; the final “au” is like “ow” in “cow,” but as two vowels (a+u).
ufunguo: u-fu-ngu-o; the “ng” before “g” is like the “ng” in “finger” (ngg).
rejesha: re-je-sha; “j” as in “jam,” “sh” as in “she.”
mkutano: m-ku-ta-no; pronounce the initial “m” and “k” together (no extra vowel before “mk”).
Swahili stresses are fairly even, typically on the second-to-last syllable.