Learn Hardcore Swahili: Tutakaa kwenye baraza tukisubiri maharusi wafike. - We will sit on the veranda while we wait for the newlyweds to arrive.

Tutakaa = tu- (we) + -ta- (future) + kaa (sit/stay). “We will sit/stay.”
kwenye = at/in/on (general preposition for location).
baraza = veranda/porch (also “council” in other contexts, but here it’s the porch/veranda, especially a built-in bench area in coastal houses).
tukisubiri = tu- (we) + -ki- (while/when) + subiri (wait). “While we wait.”
maharusi = the bride and groom; the newlyweds (plural, human).
wafike = wa- (they, human plural) + fik- (arrive) + -e (subjunctive). “(for them) to arrive.”

Why is -ki- used in tukisubiri?

-ki- marks a dependent clause meaning “while/when/as.” Tukisubiri means “while we wait” or “as we are waiting,” showing simultaneity with the main action (Tutakaa).

Why is wafike in the subjunctive (ending in -e)?

After verbs like kusubiri (to wait), the event you’re waiting for is expressed with the subjunctive to mark a desired/expected but not-yet-realized outcome. So “wait (for) the bride and groom to arrive” becomes … maharusi wafike. The -e shows that arrival is anticipated, not factual yet.

Could I say wanafika instead of wafike?

Not in this construction. … maharusi wanafika states a factual, ongoing event (“the bride and groom are arriving”), which clashes with “we’re waiting for them to arrive.” With “wait for X to happen,” Swahili prefers the subjunctive: … maharusi wafike.

What about wakifika? Can I say tukisubiri maharusi wakifika?

No. Wakifika means “when they arrive/if they arrive,” which changes the meaning. If you want that idea, you’d restructure the sentence, e.g.:

Tutakaa kwenye baraza hadi maharusi wafike. (We’ll sit … until they arrive.)
Tukisubiri maharusi wafike, tutakaa kwenye baraza. (Fronting the “while” clause.)

Why does maharusi take wa- agreement (in wafike) and not ya- like other ma- nouns?

Because maharusi refers to people. Human nouns take the “people” agreement (wa- for subject/relative), even when their surface form looks like a different class. So you say:

Maharusi walifika mapema. (not “yanafika”)

Is maharusi singular or plural? How do I refer to just the bride or just the groom?

Maharusi is plural: the couple (bride and groom) or more than one bride/groom in context.
A single bride/groom is mharusi (sg).
To be specific: bibi harusi (bride), bwana harusi (groom).

Could I use kwenye and -ni together or instead say barazani?

You typically use one or the other:

kwenye baraza = at/on the veranda (very common and general)
barazani = on/at the veranda (using the locative -ni, very idiomatic for named places) Both are natural here.

What’s the difference between kaa and keti?

kaa = sit, stay, remain, live (broad meaning). Tutakaa can mean “we’ll sit” or “we’ll stay” depending on context.
keti = to sit (more specifically the act/posture of sitting). You could say Tutaketi kwenye baraza if you only mean sitting as a posture. With waiting, kaa is very idiomatic.

Could I say kungoja instead of kusubiri?

Yes. Kungoja and kusubiri both mean “to wait.” Minor nuance: kusubiri can feel slightly more “be patient/endure” in some contexts, but in everyday use they’re interchangeable here:

… tukingoja maharusi wafike.

Why use fika (“arrive”) rather than kuja (“come”)?

Both are possible but have different focus:

wafike (arrive) emphasizes reaching the destination (completion).
waje (come) emphasizes movement toward the speaker. After “wait,” fika is very idiomatic because you usually wait for the moment of arrival.

Can the order change to start with the “while” part?

Yes:

Tukisubiri maharusi wafike, tutakaa kwenye baraza. Swahili allows the dependent -ki- clause to be fronted. Punctuation (comma) is optional and stylistic.

Is a comma required before tukisubiri?

No. You can write it with or without a comma. Commas in Swahili are more about readability than strict rules.

How is definiteness expressed? There’s no “the” before “bride and groom.”

Swahili has no articles (no “a/the”). Maharusi can mean “the bride and groom” or “bride and groom” depending on context. Definiteness is inferred from context or can be clarified with demonstratives:

maharusi hao = those bride and groom / that couple.