Learn Hardcore Swahili: Tafadhali chukua muda unaohitaji kabla ya mtihani. - Please take the time you need before the exam.

u- = you (2nd person singular subject marker)
-na- = present/ongoing tense
-o- = relative marker agreeing with the head noun (muda, Class 3)
hitaji = need (verb “to need”) So it literally means “you-PRES-REL need” → “that you need.”

Why is the relative marker -o- and not something else?

The shape of the relative marker depends on the noun class of the head noun. The head noun is muda (Class 3), which uses -o- in the inline relative construction: muda unaohitaji = “the time that you need.”

Could I say ambao instead of using -o-?

Yes. You can use an overt relative pronoun:

muda ambao unahitaji = the time that you need Both are correct. The inline -o- form (muda unaohitaji) is very common and concise.

Can I drop the relative marker and say muda unahitaji?

No. In Standard Swahili, you need a relative marker (either inline -o- or the pronoun ambao/ambalo, etc.). “muda unahitaji” would be ungrammatical or unclear.

Is chukua the right verb here? Doesn’t “take time” sound odd?

chukua muda is idiomatic in Swahili for “take time.” You’ll also hear tumia muda (“use/spend time”). Both work:

Tafadhali chukua muda unaohitaji…
Tafadhali tumia muda unaohitaji… chukua often matches the English idiom “take your time.”

How do I say “as much time as you need”?

Add wote (“all”):

Tafadhali chukua muda wote unaohitaji kabla ya mtihani. wote agrees in meaning with “muda” to express “the whole amount.”

Should I include wako (“your”) as in “take your time”?

You can:

chukua muda wako (take your time)
chukua muda wako wote (take all your time) With the relative clause it’s often omitted because “unaohitaji” already personalizes it, but it’s not wrong to say:
chukua muda wako unaohitaji

What if I’m speaking to more than one person?

Use the plural imperative chukueni and plural subject marker m- if needed elsewhere:

Tafadhali chukueni muda mnaohitaji kabla ya mtihani.

Why is it kabla ya and not just kabla?

kabla is a noun meaning “before(ness),” and it typically takes the connective ya “of” before its complement:

kabla ya mtihani = before the exam Similarly: baada ya (after), badala ya (instead of), karibu na (near).

Is kabla ya mtihani the same as “before taking the exam”?

Close. kabla ya mtihani = “before the exam [takes place]” in general. If you want to be explicit about the action:

kabla ya kuanza mtihani = before starting the exam
kabla ya kufanya mtihani = before taking the exam

Why is the subject “you” not stated explicitly as wewe?

Swahili verbs carry the subject in the verb prefix. In unaohitaji, u- already means “you (sg.),” so wewe is optional. You could add it for emphasis: wewe unaohitaji.

Could unaohitaji mean “that needs” (with “time” as the subject)?

Not here. The initial u- in unaohitaji is 2nd person singular, not the Class 3 subject. The Class 3 subject marker would also be u-, but then you’d expect a different structure (and probably a passive): muda unaohitajika = “the time that is needed.” With unaohitaji, context favors “you need.”

Is unaohitaji different from unahitaji?

Yes:

unahitaji = you need (simple clause)
unaohitaji = that you need (relative clause with -o- referring to “muda”) Example: unahitaji muda vs. muda unaohitaji.

Any other natural ways to say this?

A few options:

Tafadhali chukua muda wote unaohitaji kabla ya mtihani. (adds “as much as”)
Tafadhali tumia muda unaohitaji kabla ya mtihani. (use/spend time)
Jichukulie muda kabla ya mtihani. (colloquial: “go ahead and take time”)
Hakikisha unapata muda wa kutosha kabla ya mtihani. (make sure you get enough time)