Tumeagiza pilau nyingi kwa ajili ya wageni wote.

We have ordered a lot of pilau for all the guests.

Breakdown of Tumeagiza pilau nyingi kwa ajili ya wageni wote.

• sisi: we
• nyingi: a lot
• mgeni: the guest
• kwa ajili ya: for
• wote: all
• kuagiza: to order
• pilau: the pilau

Questions & Answers about Tumeagiza pilau nyingi kwa ajili ya wageni wote.

What exactly does the verb form tumeagiza mean, and how is it built?

It means “we have ordered.” It’s built like this:

• tu- = subject prefix “we”
• -me- = perfect aspect (“have/has”)
• agiza = verb stem “to order (request goods/food, place an order)”

So tumeagiza is a present perfect: a completed action with current relevance (the order is now in place).

Can I use the simple past instead, like tuliagiza? What’s the difference from tumeagiza?

Yes.

• tuliagiza = “we ordered” (simple past, a finished event situated in the past)
• tumeagiza = “we have ordered” (perfect aspect, often implies recency or present relevance)

If you’re reporting something that just happened or still matters now (e.g., the food is on its way), tumeagiza fits better.

How do I say the negative: “We haven’t ordered a lot of pilau for all the guests”?

Use the negative perfect with -ja-:

• Hatujaagiza pilau nyingi kwa ajili ya wageni wote. Breakdown: ha- (negation) + tu- (we) + -ja- (neg. perfect) + agiza.

What does kwa ajili ya mean exactly? Could I just say kwa or use ili?

• kwa ajili ya = “for (the sake/benefit/purpose of).” It’s a very common way to say “for” + a noun phrase.
• Often you can use just kwa in this meaning too:
  
  • Tumeagiza pilau nyingi kwa wageni wote. (also fine)
• ili introduces a purpose clause (“so that”) and must be followed by a clause, not a noun:
  
  • Tumeagiza pilau nyingi ili wageni wote wale. (“…so that all the guests eat.”)

Why is it kwa ajili ya (with ya) and not kwa ajili wa?

The ya belongs to the possessive linker of ajili (“purpose”), which is a class 9 noun. The possessive/linker for class 9 is ya. In other words, kwa ajili ya is an idiomatic, fixed sequence; it does not change to match wageni. You should keep it as kwa ajili ya regardless of what follows.

Why is it pilau nyingi and not something like pilau mengi? What noun class is pilau?

Pilau is typically treated as a class 9/10 (N-class) loanword and often as a mass noun. The adjective “many/much” is the stem -ingi, which changes by noun class:

• N-class (9/10): nyingi → pilau nyingi (a lot of pilau)
• MA-class (5/6): mengi → e.g., maji mengi (a lot of water)
• KI/VI (7/8): kingi/vingi → chakula kingi, vyakula vingi
• M/WA (1/2): mwingi/wengi → muda mwingi, watu wengi

So with pilau (N-class), use nyingi.

Is pilau countable in Swahili? How would I say “two plates of pilau”?

It’s usually treated as a mass/uncountable noun. You wouldn’t normally say “pilau mbili.” Instead, use a measure word:

• sahani mbili za pilau (two plates of pilau)
• bakuli mbili za pilau (two bowls of pilau), etc.

Can the adjective nyingi come before the noun, like “nyingi pilau”?

No. In Swahili, adjectives normally follow the noun they modify. So it should be pilau nyingi, not “nyingi pilau.”

What does wageni wote consist of, and why is it not wote wageni?

• mgeni = “guest” (singular, class 1)
• wageni = “guests” (plural, class 2)
• -ote = “all,” with class 2 agreement → wote

Quantifiers like wote usually follow the noun they quantify, so wageni wote = “all the guests.”
Compare: kila mgeni = “each guest” (here kila comes before the noun).

Could I front or move parts of the sentence for emphasis?

Yes, word order is flexible for emphasis or topic. For example:

• Kwa ajili ya wageni wote, tumeagiza pilau nyingi. (Fronts the “for all the guests” phrase)
• Pilau nyingi tumeagiza kwa ajili ya wageni wote. (Fronts “a lot of pilau”) The neutral order in your sentence is already natural.

Can I use the applicative to say “order for (someone)”? How would that look here?

Yes. The applicative adds -ia: agizia = “order for.” You can then (optionally) mark the indirect object with an object marker:

• Tumewaagizia wageni wote pilau nyingi. (“We have ordered a lot of pilau for all the guests,” with class 2 object marker wa-)
• Also acceptable without the object marker: Tumeagizia wageni wote pilau nyingi. Using the applicative is a bit more “built-in” than using the prepositional phrase kwa ajili ya; both are common.

Why don’t we put an object marker for pilau in the verb (like “tumeiagiza”)?

Object markers are typically used for definite/specific objects or when the object is pronominal (already known). Here, pilau nyingi is an indefinite quantity, so no object marker is needed.
If the pilau were specific/previously mentioned, you could have an object marker for class 9 (i-) and even repeat the noun for emphasis/resumption in some contexts (advanced topic), but for a new, indefinite amount, you should leave it as is: Tumeagiza pilau nyingi…

Does agiza ever mean “to command,” and is it the right verb in a restaurant?

Agiza most often means “to order” in the sense of requesting goods/food or placing an order, and it’s exactly what you want at a restaurant.
For “to command,” Swahili prefers amuru: kuamuru = “to command/order (someone to do something).”

How would I say “We have already ordered a lot of pilau for all the guests”?

You can add tayari or the aspect marker -sha-:

• Tayari tumeagiza pilau nyingi kwa ajili ya wageni wote.
• Tumeshaagiza pilau nyingi kwa ajili ya wageni wote. (colloquial and very common)

Any pronunciation tips for tricky bits like agiza, ajili, and wageni?

• agiza: the g is a hard “g” as in “go” (a-gi-za).
• ajili: j as in “jam” (a-ji-li).
• wageni: break it as wa-ge-ni; the g is hard, and there’s no extra nasal before it.
• pilau: pronounce the final au as a diphthong (pi-lau).