Learn Hardcore Swahili: Sinki likiziba, tumia sponji na maji ya moto kulisafisha. - If the sink clogs, use a sponge and hot water to clean it.

li- = subject agreement for noun class 5 (it matches sinki, which is typically class 5 in many varieties).
-ki- = the dependent marker meaning “when/if” (used to form a conditional/temporal clause). So li-ki-ziba ≈ “if/when it clogs.”

Why class 5 agreement (li-) with sinki? Could it be something else?

Many speakers put loanwords like sinki in class 5/6, so singular takes li- and plural is often masinki (class 6, with subject ya-). However, in some areas you’ll also hear sinki treated as class 9 (subject i-). That’s why you may also encounter:

Class 5: Sinki likiziba…
Class 9: Sinki ikiziba… Pick one system and stay consistent (it affects both subject and object markers).

What exactly does the -ki- in likiziba express—“when” or “if”?

Both are possible, depending on context. -ki- marks a realis, general condition or time frame (“when(ever)/if”). Alternatives:

More explicitly conditional: Kama sinki likiziba… (“If the sink clogs…”)
More explicitly temporal/state: Sinki likiwa limeziba… (“When/when it is clogged…”)

Is ziba transitive or intransitive here?

Here it’s used intransitively: “to get clogged/become blocked.” The same root can be transitive (“to plug/block [something]”). Related forms:

Passive: zibwa (“to be blocked”)
Stative: zibika (“to be liable to get blocked/be blockable”)

Why is there a comma after likiziba?

Because the -ki- clause is dependent (“When/If the sink clogs”), followed by the main clause/command (tumia…). In speech you’d naturally pause there.

Why is the command tumia and not utumie?

Tumia is the regular second-person singular imperative (“Use…”). Utumie is subjunctive/polite (“[you] should use/please use”) and is fine if you want a softer tone, e.g., Tafadhali utumie…

Does na here mean “and” or “with”?

It functions as “and,” listing what to use: sponji na maji ya moto = “a sponge and hot water.” Swahili na can also mean “with,” but in a list like this it’s best read as “and.”

Why maji ya moto instead of maji moto?

Both are used:

maji moto = “hot water” (adjective-like use of moto)
maji ya moto = “water that is hot” (genitive “of” construction) Both are idiomatic; maji moto is very common. The ya in maji ya moto agrees with class 6 (maji).

What does kulisafisha mean and how is it built?

It’s an infinitive with an object marker:

ku- (infinitive “to”)
-li- (object marker for class 5, referring back to sinki)
safish- (verb root “clean/make clean” from safi “clean”)
-a (final vowel) So kulisafisha = “to clean it.”

Could I just say kusafisha without the object marker?

Yes. Tumia sponji na maji ya moto kusafisha is grammatical and natural. Adding -li- (kulisafisha) makes the object explicit (“to clean it”), which can be helpful when clarity matters.

If I treat sinki as class 9, how does kulisafisha change?

The object marker would be class 9 -i-, so you’d say kuisafisha (“to clean it”). This matches the class-9 subject choice ikiziba in the first clause.

Is there a straightforward way to say “Clean it!” as a direct command?

The most natural everyday command is to name the noun: Safisha sinki! You can also keep the original structure (“Use a sponge and hot water to clean it”) with Tumia sponji na maji ya moto kulisafisha. Using only a pronominal object in positive imperatives is possible but can be tricky/ambiguous in writing, so learners usually prefer naming the noun.

What’s the difference between safisha and safi?

safi = “clean” (adjective/noun)
safisha = “to clean/make clean” (verb; causative from safi) So kulisafisha = “to make it clean” = “to clean it.”

Is sponji the only word for “sponge”?

No. You’ll also hear sifongo (or sifongo la kuoshea) in some regions. Sponji (from English) is very common and widely understood.

How would this look in the plural, if talking about multiple sinks?

If you treat the plural as class 6 masinki, then:

Subject agreement: ya- (class 6)
Object agreement: ya- (class 6) Example: Masinki yakiziba, tumia sponji na maji ya moto kuyasafisha.

Can I use other ways to express the condition?

Yes. Alternatives include:

Kama sinki likiziba, … (“If the sink clogs, …”)
Iwapo sinki likiziba, … (more formal “if”)
Sinki likiwa limeziba, … (“When/if it is clogged, …”)