Learn Hardcore Swahili: Tulifika kituoni, tukangoja teksi, tukapanda bila kuchelewa. - We arrived at the station, waited for a taxi, then boarded without delay.

The infix -ka- is the consecutive (narrative) marker. It links events in sequence and is best read as “and then.” It doesn’t carry its own tense; it inherits time from the earlier, fully tensed verb.

tuka-ngoja = “we then waited”
tuka-panda = “we then boarded”

Why is the first verb tulifika (with past -li-) and not tukafika?

You normally anchor a narrative with a fully tensed verb (here, past -li- in tulifika “we arrived”). After that, -ka- carries the sequence forward. You could start with -ka- only if a previous sentence already established the time.

Can you break down the forms in the sentence for me?

tulifika = tu- (we) + -li- (past) + -fik- (arrive) + -a (final vowel)
kituoni = kituo (station/stop) + -ni (locative “at/in”)
tukangoja = tu- (we) + -ka- (and then) + -ngoj- (wait) + -a
teksi = taxi (loanword)
tukapanda = tu- (we) + -ka- (and then) + -pand- (board/climb) + -a
bila kuchelewa = bila (without) + ku-chelew-a (to be late/delayed)

What does the -ni on kituoni mean?

It’s the locative suffix meaning “at/in/on.” So kituoni = “at the station/stop.” Alternatives:

kwenye kituo or katika kituo = “at the station/stop.”

Is kituo a bus stop, a station, or a stand?

Kituo is a general “stop/station” for buses, taxis, ferries, etc. You’ll also hear stendi (ya basi) for a bus stand/terminal in everyday East African usage. In this sentence, kituoni simply means “at the stop/station,” whichever is contextually relevant.

Why is it spelled teksi? Are other spellings acceptable?

Teksi is the standard Swahili-ized spelling of “taxi.” You may also see taksi. In informal contexts people sometimes write English taxi, but dictionaries and school texts often prefer teksi. It’s a class 9 noun, and its plural is the same form: one teksi, many teksi.

Do I need an object marker for teksi in tukangoja teksi?

No. When the object is stated explicitly, you don’t add an object marker. You’d use it if you pronominalize the object:

tukaingoja = tu- (we) + -ka- + -i- (it, class 9) + -ngoja (wait) + -a → “we then waited for it.”

Should it be kungoja or kungojea with a direct object like teksi?

Both are acceptable:

kungoja teksi = wait for a taxi
kungojea teksi = wait for a taxi (more explicitly “wait for”) Synonym: kusubiri teksi (“to wait for a taxi,” often a bit more formal).

Why use kupanda for a taxi? Could I say kuingia or kuchukua?

kupanda (teksi/gari/ndege) = get on/board a vehicle (most idiomatic for transport)
kuingia teksi = get into a taxi (fine, focuses on the motion into)
kuchukua teksi = take a taxi (choosing that mode of transport) All are correct; kupanda is the default for boarding vehicles.

What does bila do, and why is it kuchelewa (with ku-)?

bila + ku-verb means “without doing X.” So bila kuchelewa = “without being late/without delay.” The ku- marks the infinitive. You can optionally say bila ya kuchelewa; both are correct.

Does bila kuchelewa mean “immediately,” or just “we weren’t late”?

It often implies “promptly/without delay,” but it can also mean simply “without being late.” If you want to stress immediacy, use mara moja (“right away”) or bila kusita (“without hesitation”).

Can I move bila kuchelewa to a different place?

Yes. All of these are fine:

Tulifika kituoni, tukangoja teksi, tukapanda bila kuchelewa.
Tulifika kituoni, tukangoja teksi, bila kuchelewa tukapanda.
Bila kuchelewa, tukapanda teksi. Position it where it clearly modifies the boarding action.

Could I say the whole thing with past -li- instead of -ka-?

Yes: Tulifika kituoni, tulingoja teksi, tulipanda bila kuchelewa. It’s grammatical, but using -ka- is the classic way to show a smooth, step-by-step sequence in narratives. All -li- can feel list-like or heavier in style.

Are there other ways to say “then” instead of using -ka-?

Yes:

kisha or halafu = “then/after that” (e.g., Tulifika kituoni, kisha tukangoja teksi, halafu tukapanda…)
na can also link actions, but it doesn’t inherently mean “then.”
The -ka- form is compact and very common in storytelling.