Learn Hardcore Swahili: Tafadhali usisubiri nje; hapo ndipo utasajili jina lako. - Please do not wait outside; that is where you will register your name.

It marks a negative command to one person (second person singular): u- = you (sg), -si- = negation, and the verb is in the subjunctive. So usisubiri is the standard way to say “don’t wait” to one person.

Why doesn’t subiri change to something like subire in the negative command?

In Swahili, the subjunctive only changes the final vowel of verbs that end in -a to -e (e.g., -soma → some). Verbs that already end in -i or -u keep that vowel in the subjunctive. Since subiri ends in -i, it stays subiri in usisubiri.

How do I say it to more than one person?

Use the plural negative imperative with msi-:

Msisubiri nje … (Don’t wait, you all …) If you change the second clause to plural too: … hapo ndipo mtasajili majina yenu.

What exactly does nje mean, and how do I use nje ya?

nje = outside (as an adverb/locative). Example: Nje kuna baridi. (It’s cold outside.)
nje ya X = outside of X. Example: Usisubiri nje ya jengo. (Don’t wait outside the building.) You don’t use a preposition directly with plain nje; add ya when you name the thing you’re outside of.

Can I say kwenye nje?

Generally avoid kwenye nje. Use plain nje (outside) or nje ya + noun (outside of + noun). Kwenye is fine with specific places (e.g., kwenye jengo), but pairing it with nje is redundant or odd.

Is there a difference between subiri and ngojea?

Both are common for “wait.” Nuance:

subiri is very common and can take an object with an object marker: Nimsubiri (I wait for him).
ngojea also means “wait for” and is extremely frequent in speech: Ningojee (wait for me). You’ll hear both; usage varies by region and context.

What does the structure hapo ndipo do?

It’s a focus/cleft construction meaning “that is exactly where …”:

hapo = there (specific place already identified or indicated)
ndipo = “that is where” (focus marker with the locative -po) So hapo ndipo … strongly emphasizes the location.

Could I just say hapo utasajili jina lako or put hapo at the end?

Yes. Options:

Hapo ndipo utasajili jina lako. (strong emphasis on “there”)
Hapo utasajili jina lako. (neutral)
Utasajili jina lako hapo. (neutral; “there” after the verb phrase) Using ndipo adds a clear focus/emphasis on the place.

Why ndipo and not ndiko or ndimo?

Swahili has three locative sets:

-po (specific/definite place) → hapo, ndipo
-ko (general/unspecified/distant) → huko, ndiko
-mo (inside/within) → humo, ndimo Since the place is specific and identified (often by pointing or prior mention), hapo ndipo is preferred here.

Does hapo refer back to nje (outside) in this sentence?

Not necessarily. Hapo refers to a specific place known from context—often something the speaker is pointing at or just mentioned. Without context, you can’t assume hapo equals nje. The semicolon suggests two related instructions; the second clause points to some particular spot the listener should go to.

How is utasajili built?

Verb template: Subject prefix + tense + verb stem.

u- (you, sg) + -ta- (future) + sajili (register) → utasajili (“you will register”).

Could I say utajisajili instead of utasajili jina lako?

Yes. kujisajili is the reflexive “to register oneself.” Differences:

Utasajili jina lako literally focuses on registering your name.
Utajisajili focuses on you registering yourself (common in event/online contexts). Both are idiomatic; choose based on what you want to emphasize. With the reflexive, you wouldn’t normally add jina lako.

Why is it jina lako and not jina yako?

Possessives agree with the noun class. jina is class 5 (ji-/ma- in the singular it’s often “zero,” plural ma-). Class 5 takes -la- for “of,” so:

jina lako (your name, sg) Plural class 6 (majina) takes -ya-: majina yenu (your names, pl).

What’s the difference between lako and yako for “your”?

They’re both “your,” but they agree with the noun class:

Class 5 singular (e.g., jina) → lako
Class 9/10, 6, etc., take different forms (e.g., majina class 6 → yenu; kitabu class 7 → chako) So you must match the possessive to the noun’s class.

Could the second clause use present instead of future, like … unasajili jina lako?

You can, but it changes the nuance. -ta- marks future (“you will …”), often used for instructions about what will happen next. Una- would sound more like a present/habitual situation and is less natural here for a step that’s about to happen.

Does tafadhali have to come first?

No. It can appear at the start or end (or even mid-sentence) to soften the command:

Tafadhali usisubiri nje …
Usisubiri nje, tafadhali … Its placement changes tone slightly but not the core meaning.