Learn Hardcore Swahili: Tarehe ya mwisho ikiwa karibu, tusipoteze muda. - With the deadline approaching, let’s not waste time.

Ikiwa is the conditional form of the verb kuwa (to be). It introduces a condition or circumstance: ikiwa karibu = “if/when (it is) near.” The subject is understood from context (here: tarehe ya mwisho). A fully expanded version could be: Ikiwa tarehe ya mwisho iko karibu, … but Swahili often keeps it compact as … ikiwa karibu, …

Can I use kama instead of ikiwa?

Yes. Kama also means “if,” and is very common in speech: Kama tarehe ya mwisho iko karibu, …
Nuance:

ikiwa: a bit more formal/structured; common in writing and careful speech.
kama: very frequent in everyday conversation; slightly broader in meaning (also “as/like”).

Why is it ya mwisho and not wa mwisho?

Agreement. The associative “of” particle (-a) agrees with the head noun (tarehe, class 9/10). For class 9/10, the form is ya:

tarehe ya mwisho = “the final date” (deadline) If the head noun were class 1 (m-/wa-), you’d see wa, e.g., mtu wa mwisho (the last person).

Does tarehe ya mwisho really mean “deadline”?

Yes, idiomatically it does. Literally “the last/final date,” it’s widely used for “deadline.” Other ways to express “deadline” include:

muda wa mwisho
tarehe ya mwisho ya kuwasilisha (final submission date) All are natural; context decides the best choice.

What exactly is karibu doing here? Isn’t it “welcome”?

Karibu has several uses:

As an interjection: “Welcome!”
As an adverb/adjective: “near/close.” With kuwa (to be), it describes state: iko karibu = “it is near.”
With na to mean “near (something)”: karibu na barabara = “near the road.” In the sentence, it’s the “near” meaning: ikiwa karibu = “if/when (it is) near.”

Could I say tarehe ya mwisho ikikaribia or inapokaribia instead of ikiwa karibu?

Yes, both are good and slightly more dynamic:

ikikaribia: using the -ki- participial, “as it is drawing near.”
inapokaribia: “when it approaches/gets closer.” They emphasize the process of approaching, whereas ikiwa karibu emphasizes the state of being near.

How is tusipoteze built morphologically?

Breakdown: tu-si-potez-e

tu-: subject marker “we”
-si-: negative marker (in the subjunctive/imperative-like mood)
potez: verb root (from poteza = to lose/waste something)
-e: subjunctive final vowel Overall meaning: “let’s not lose/waste.”

What would the affirmative (positive) version look like?

Positive hortative: tupoteze muda = “let’s waste time” (grammatically fine but contextually odd).
More useful verbs: tusipoteze muda (let’s not waste time) vs. tutumie muda vizuri (let’s use time well).

How do I tell people not to waste time in other persons (you sg./pl.)?

You (singular): usipoteze muda = “don’t waste time.”
You (plural): msipoteze muda = “don’t (you all) waste time.”
We (inclusive “let’s not”): tusipoteze muda.

What’s the difference between poteza and potea?

poteza (transitive): “to lose/waste something.” Example: usipoteze muda (don’t waste time).
potea (intransitive): “to get lost, be lost.” Example: usipotee (don’t get lost/stray). In the sentence, you need poteza because “time” is the object being wasted.

Why is it muda and not wakati?

Both relate to time, but:

muda: time as a measurable duration; idiomatic in “waste time” = poteza muda.
wakati: time/period/occasion, or the conjunction “when.” In this collocation, muda is the natural choice.

Is the comma necessary after the first clause?

It’s standard to separate the circumstantial/conditional clause from the main clause with a comma: …, tusipoteze muda. In speech, a short pause naturally appears there. Without the comma, it’s still understandable, but punctuation improves clarity.

Could I reorder the sentence?

Yes:

Tusipoteze muda, tarehe ya mwisho ikiwa karibu. This is acceptable, but leading with the condition (ikiwa karibu) is more typical and flows better.

If I spell it out fully with the copula, which verb of “to be” should I use with tarehe?

Use iko (3rd person singular for non-human/locations), because tarehe is a class 9 noun used singularly here:

Ikiwa tarehe ya mwisho iko karibu, … If you had plural “dates” (tarehe can also be plural), you’d use ziko: tarehe ziko karibu.

Can ikiwa ever mean “since/given that” instead of “if”?

In context, yes. Ikiwa can read as “if,” “when,” or “given that,” depending on tone and certainty. In a planning or advisory tone, ikiwa karibu can be understood as “given that it’s near/with the deadline approaching,” which suits the exhortation that follows.