Learn Hardcore Swahili: Bwana harusi atamvalisha bi harusi pete ya dhahabu. - The groom will put a gold ring on the bride.

a-: 3rd person singular subject prefix (he/she)
-ta-: future tense marker (will)
-m-: object marker for a specific person (him/her; class 1)
valisha: verb stem meaning to dress/put something on someone (causative of vaa = to wear)

So, atamvalisha = he/she will put [something] on him/her. The m + v cluster is pronounced together as [mv].

Why is the object marker -m- used even though bi harusi (the bride) is mentioned?

In Swahili, it’s very common (and natural) to include the object marker with a specific human object that’s also named. It adds clarity and definiteness. Grammatically you could omit it:

With OM: Bwana harusi atamvalisha bi harusi pete ya dhahabu.
Without OM: Bwana harusi atavalisha bi harusi pete ya dhahabu. Both are acceptable, but with a human object most speakers prefer the OM.

Could I say atamvisha instead of atamvalisha? Is there a difference?

Yes. Both are used:

-visha: to put an item (ring, shoes, hat) on someone; very idiomatic with accessories like rings.
-valisha: to dress someone/put clothing or adornment on someone; also acceptable with rings. Many speakers would slightly prefer atamvisha … pete here, but atamvalisha … pete is also fine.

What does valisha relate to in the dictionary?

It’s the causative form of vaa (to wear). Causatives often use -isha/-esha, so vaa → visha/valisha = cause to wear, i.e., put something on someone.

Why is it pete ya dhahabu and not some other connector?

The connector agrees with the head noun pete (ring), which is class 9. The class 9 genitive connector is ya, hence pete ya dhahabu (ring of gold). In the plural it becomes pete za dhahabu (rings of gold).

How do you pronounce dhahabu, and why do I sometimes see zahabu?

Standard spelling is dhahabu. The dh is traditionally a voiced dental fricative (like English th in this), but many speakers pronounce it as z or d regionally. You may hear or see zahabu; dhahabu is the standard.

Which object comes first after the verb: the person or the thing?

The usual order with verbs like -visha/-valisha is:

Verb + [person] + [item] So: … atamvisha/atamvalisha bi harusi pete ya dhahabu. Putting the item before the person is uncommon and sounds off.

How would I say on her finger explicitly?

You can add a locative:

… pete ya dhahabu kwenye/katika kidole.
Or use the locative suffix: … pete ya dhahabu kidoleni. Example: Bwana harusi atamvisha bi harusi pete ya dhahabu kidoleni.

Do a- and -m- mark gender? How do we know it’s her?

No. Swahili noun-class agreement doesn’t encode gender. a- (subject) and -m- (object) refer to a person (class 1), not male/female. You know it’s her from the noun bi harusi (bride) or from context.

Can I drop bi harusi and just use the object marker?

Yes, if the context already makes the person clear:

Bwana harusi atamvisha pete ya dhahabu. Here -m- stands for the specific person previously mentioned (the bride).

Is it okay to capitalize Bwana Harusi and Bi Harusi?

Ordinarily, Swahili doesn’t capitalize common nouns. You’d write bwana harusi, bi harusi unless they start the sentence or are used like titles in a formal program or invitation. Style varies in announcements/headlines.

Is bi harusi the same as bibi harusi?

Both are used for bride. Bi is an honorific (like Ms./Lady). Bibi can mean lady or grandmother, but bibi harusi still means bride in many regions. Bi harusi is very common and avoids the grandmother sense of bibi in other contexts.

Could I object-mark both the person and the ring (e.g., use two object markers)?

Modern Standard Swahili generally allows only one object marker on the verb. With two objects, you normally mark the human one (-m-) and leave the inanimate noun (pete) unmarked.

If I wanted to say give her a gold ring instead of put on, what would I use?

Use -pa (give): Bwana harusi atampa bi harusi pete ya dhahabu.
Breakdown: a-ta-m-pa = he/she will give him/her.

Any other natural ways to express this idea?

Yes:

Bwana harusi atamvisha bi harusi pete ya dhahabu. (preferred with accessories)
Bwana harusi atamweka pete ya dhahabu kidoleni. (literally put a ring on her finger)
More formal/register alternatives for the couple: maharusi, wanandoa (the newlyweds/the couple).