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Questions & Answers about Tulia kidogo, tafadhali.
What verb form is being used in tulia?
It’s the second-person singular affirmative imperative. In Swahili, the singular imperative is just the verb stem with its final -a, e.g., tulia (calm down), soma (read), kaa (sit/stay).
How do I say this to more than one person?
Use the plural imperative by adding -eni: tulieni. So: Tafadhali, tulieni kidogo.
Can I put tafadhali at the beginning instead of the end?
Yes. Tafadhali, tulia kidogo. and Tulia kidogo, tafadhali. are both fine. A comma is optional in everyday writing; it just reflects a natural pause.
What does kidogo do here, grammatically?
It’s an adverb meaning “a little / a bit” that modifies the verb tulia. It typically follows the verb: tulia kidogo. You can intensify it with tu: tulia kidogo tu (just a little).
Does kidogo need agreement with anything?