Learn Hardcore Swahili: Kifuniko kikidondoka, funika sufuria tena. - If the lid falls off, cover the pot again.

First ki- = subject prefix for noun class 7, agreeing with kifuniko (lid).
Second -ki- = the conditional/temporal marker meaning “if/when (it happens).”
Verb stem: dondok-, final vowel: -a.

So: ki- + -ki- + dondok- + -a → kikidondoka. This doubling is normal whenever a class 7 subject is in a -ki- clause (e.g., kiti kikivunjika = if/when the chair breaks).

Does the first clause mean “if” or “when”?

The -ki- marker is neutral between “if” and “when,” often read as “if/when” or “whenever,” especially for general or habitual situations. Alternatives:

Specific “when (that particular time)”: Kifuniko kitakapodondoka, funika sufuria tena.
Explicit “if”: Kama/ikiwa kifuniko kitadondoka, funika sufuria tena. Note: In casual speech you may hear both together, e.g., Kama kifuniko kikidondoka…—redundant but common.

Can I say kifuniko kidondoka instead of kifuniko kikidondoka?

Not for this meaning. kidondoka (with just the subject prefix) is a simple/aspect-neutral form like “the lid falls,” not the conditional/temporal “if/when.” To get “if/when,” you need the -ki- marker: kikidondoka.

Can I drop the noun and just say kikidondoka?

Yes, if the context already makes the referent clear (and it’s class 7). The subject prefix on the verb (ki-) still tells you the class. But including kifuniko is clearer for learners. Note: the subject prefix on the verb is obligatory even when you name the subject.

What exactly does tena mean here, and where does it go?

tena means “again” (it can also mean “moreover/also” in other contexts). It usually comes after the verb phrase, often at the end: funika sufuria tena. You can front it as a discourse marker in other sentences, but here it naturally follows the action it modifies.

How does the imperative work with funika?

Affirmative singular: Funika! (Cover!)
Affirmative plural: Funikeni!
Negative singular: Usifunike!
Negative plural: Msifunike! The negative imperative uses the subjunctive ending -e and the negative marker (usi-/msi-).

How do I say “Cover it!” without naming the pot?

Use an object marker on the verb (and switch the final vowel to -e):

If sufuria is treated as noun class 9 (very common): Ifunike! (sg), Ifunikeni! (pl). Some speakers put sufuria in class 5/6; then you might hear class-5 object li-: Lifunike! But the sentence you were given avoids this by naming the object explicitly, which is safest for learners. Don’t double-mark (i.e., avoid saying both the object marker and the full noun together in standard style).

Which noun class is kifuniko, and what’s its plural?

kifuniko is class 7 (ki-). Its plural is class 8 (vi-): vifuniko. Agreement examples:

Singular: kifuniko kikubwa (a big lid)
Plural: vifuniko vikubwa (big lids)

Which noun class is sufuria, and what’s its plural?

Usage varies:

Many speakers treat sufuria as class 9/10 with no change in the plural: one sufuria, two sufuria.
Others put it in class 5/6: singular sufuria, plural masufuria. Both patterns are widely understood in East Africa. Your sentence doesn’t need plural agreement, so either analysis is fine here.

Why does kifuniko start with ki-—is it related to the verb funika?

Yes. kifuniko is a noun derived from the verb funika (cover). The ki- prefix often forms instrument/result nouns (“thing used for/that does X”). So kifuniko is literally a “cover(ing)/lid,” and it belongs to the KI/VI class (7/8) for agreement.

What’s the difference between dondoka, dondosha, and anguka?

dondoka: to drop/fall off (often small objects or things falling off by themselves).
dondosha: to drop something (causative/transitive: make it fall).
anguka: to fall (general verb for falling—people, large objects, etc.). In the sentence, a lid falls off by itself, so dondoka fits well.

Can I change the order of the clauses, and what does the comma do?

Yes. The comma just marks the subordinate clause pause, like in English. You can write either:

Kifuniko kikidondoka, funika sufuria tena.
Funika sufuria tena, kifuniko kikidondoka. Both are natural; initial position for the condition is slightly more common in writing.

How would this look with different subjects (different noun classes)?

The subject prefix changes to match the noun class, but the -ki- stays the same:

Class 9: Chupa ikidondoka, funika sufuria tena. (If/when the bottle falls…)
Class 8 (plural of class 7): Vifuniko vikidondoka, funika sufuria tena. (If/when the lids fall…)
Class 3: Mlango ukidondoka… (If/when the door falls…) — though you’d more likely use a different verb for doors.