Learn Hardcore Swahili: Asha atavalia gauni jeupe harusini. - Asha will wear a white gown at the wedding.

a- = third-person singular subject prefix (he/she)
-ta- = future tense marker (will)
-valia = verb stem. Base verb is -vaa (to wear/put on). The added -lia/-ia is the “applied” extension meaning “wear for/at/on (somewhere/someone).”
Final -a = normal verb ending Together: a-ta-valia = “he/she will wear (for/at).”

Why is it -valia here instead of the simpler -vaa?

-valia is the applied form of -vaa. It commonly adds a sense of place/occasion or beneficiary: “wear for/at/to (an event/place).” In this sentence, it links the act of wearing to the event (harusini = at the wedding). You can think of it as “dress for” or “wear to.”

Can I just say Asha atavaa gauni jeupe (harusini)? Are both correct?

Yes. Both are grammatical:

Asha atavaa gauni jeupe harusini. = will wear a white dress at the wedding.
Asha atavalia gauni jeupe harusini. = will wear a white dress for/to the wedding (slightly more explicitly tied to the occasion). Everyday speech often uses -vaa; -valia just makes the locative/occasion link explicit.

What does harusini mean exactly, and how is it formed?

harusini = “at the wedding.”

Base noun: harusi (a wedding)
Locative suffix: -ni (in/at/on) Adding -ni makes a locative: harusi → harusini (“at the wedding”).

Could I use kwenye harusi instead of harusini?

Yes. kwenye harusi and harusini are both natural and mean “at the wedding.” Other common options: katika harusi, pale harusini (that place, the wedding). The -ni locative is very idiomatic, short, and common.

Why is it gauni jeupe and not gauni nyeupe?

Agreement with noun class. gauni (dress) is Class 5 (ji-/Ø, plural Class 6 ma-). The adjective stem for “white” is -eupe and takes different class prefixes:

Class 5 singular: jeupe → gauni jeupe
Class 6 plural: meupe → magauni meupe The ny- form (nyeupe) is for Class 9/10 nouns (e.g., nyumba nyeupe = white house).

What is the plural of gauni, and how does the adjective change?

Plural is magauni (Class 6). The adjective changes to meupe:

Singular: gauni jeupe (a white dress)
Plural: magauni meupe (white dresses)

How would I say “Asha will wear the white dress” (definite, not just any white dress)?

Swahili has no articles, so use a demonstrative or context:

Asha atavaa gauni jeupe lile. (that specific white dress)
Asha atavaa gauni jeupe hili. (this specific white dress) You can also use possession: Asha atavaa gauni lake jeupe (her white dress).

How would I say “Asha will wear it (the dress) to the wedding”?

Use the object marker for Class 5 (-li-) on the verb:

With simple wear: Asha atalivaa harusini. (a-ta-li-vaa)
With the applied form: Asha atalivalia harusini. (a-ta-li-valia) Don’t repeat the noun after using the object marker unless for emphasis/topicalization.

Is anavaa the right way to say “is wearing,” or do I need amevaa?

Use:

amevaa = is wearing/has on (stative present)
anavaa = is putting on (in the middle of dressing)
alivaa = wore/put on (past)
atavalia/atavaa = will wear (future)

How do I negate this future sentence?

Add the negative subject prefix and keep -ta-:

Asha hatavalia gauni jeupe harusini. = Asha will not wear a white dress to the wedding. With simple wear: Asha hatavaa gauni jeupe harusini.

Can I move harusini earlier in the sentence? Does that change the meaning?

Yes, Swahili word order is flexible for adjuncts. For example:

Harusini, Asha atavalia gauni jeupe. Meaning stays the same; you just foreground the location. Intonation and context handle emphasis.

Does -valia also work with body parts as locations?

Yes. The applied -valia can mark body-part locations:

Amevalia kichwani kofia. = She is wearing a hat on her head.
Amevalia mikononi bangili. = She is wearing bangles on her arms. Parallel with -vaa is also common: Amevaa kofia kichwani.

Is there any subtle nuance between “at the wedding” vs “to the wedding” here?

Swahili’s -ni locative and -valia applied often blur English “at/to/for.” In context:

harusini
- -valia comfortably covers both “at the wedding” and “for/to the wedding (as an occasion).” If you need to stress motion “to,” you’d use a movement verb: Asha ataenda harusini akiwa amevaa gauni jeupe. (Asha will go to the wedding wearing a white dress.)