Learn Hardcore Swahili: Tuna soda baridi kwa wageni; wengine wanataka chai moto badala yake. - We have cold soda for the guests; others want hot tea instead.

It means we have. Swahili expresses “have” with special present-tense forms of “to be with”: nina (I have), una (you sg.), ana (he/she), tuna (we), mna (you pl.), wana (they). You may also hear tunayo with a class-9 object like soda. Tunayo (soda baridi) is more emphatic or used when the item is already in focus; tuna soda baridi is the neutral, common form.

Why is it soda baridi and not “baridi soda”?

In Swahili, descriptive words typically come after the noun. So you say soda baridi (cold soda) and chai moto (hot tea). Putting the descriptor first is not normal.

Do baridi (cold) and moto (hot) need agreement prefixes with the noun?

No. Words like baridi and moto are used as invariable descriptors here; they do not take class agreement prefixes. That’s why you see soda baridi and chai moto without extra prefixes.

What does kwa mean in kwa wageni?

Here kwa means for: kwa wageni = for the guests. Kwa is versatile (for, to, at, by means of, at someone’s place). You could also say the longer kwa ajili ya wageni (“for the sake of the guests”), but kwa wageni is short and natural.

Does wageni mean “guests” or “the guests”? How do I say the singular?

Swahili has no articles, so wageni can mean “guests” or “the guests,” depending on context. The singular is mgeni (guest). Pattern: mgeni (sg., class 1) → wageni (pl., class 2).

Who are wengine referring to?

Wengine means others (specifically, other people). In this sentence it refers to other guests, i.e., a subset of the wageni just mentioned. Singular: mwingine (another person).

How is wanataka built, and why that form?

wanataka = wa- (they) + -na- (present) + taka (want) → “they want.” It matches wengine (others), which is plural people.

Could I use wanapenda or wangependa instead of wanataka?

wanapenda = they like. It’s softer and states a preference, not a request.
wangependa = they would like. It’s more polite/hedged. All are possible, but wanataka directly states what they want.

What exactly does badala yake mean, and what does yake refer to?

badala yake = instead of it. yake is the 3rd person singular possessive agreeing with a class-9 noun; here it refers back to soda (baridi), which is class 9. So: “…want hot tea instead (of it = the soda).”

Could I say badala ya soda baridi instead of badala yake?

Yes. badala ya soda baridi explicitly names the thing being replaced. badala yake is a concise, natural pronoun option once the referent is clear.

Is chai moto ever said as chai ya moto?

No. chai ya moto would mean “the heat of tea.” For “hot tea,” use chai moto.

Is a semicolon natural in Swahili here? Could I use a conjunction?

Yes, the semicolon neatly links two closely related clauses. You could also write:

Tuna soda baridi kwa wageni, lakini wengine wanataka chai moto badala yake.
… ila wengine … (ila = but)

Does soda mean “soda water,” or any soft drink?

In East African usage, soda generally means a carbonated soft drink (Coke, Fanta, Sprite, etc.), not specifically soda water.

If I want to emphasize availability, is Tunayo soda baridi correct?

Yes. Tunayo soda baridi is acceptable and adds emphasis/focus (we do have cold soda). The unmarked, most common statement is Tuna soda baridi.

How would I say “for a guest” (singular) and “for the other guests”?

“for a/the guest”: kwa mgeni
“for the other guests”: kwa wageni wengine