Learn Hardcore Swahili: Spika hizi zikifanya kazi vizuri, sauti itasikika ukumbini kote. - If these speakers work well, the sound will be heard throughout the hall.

zikifanya = zi- + -ki- + fanya
- zi-: subject prefix for class 10 (plural N-class), agreeing with spika hizi.
- -ki-: “when/if/while” (a dependent/consecutive marker for a real condition or simultaneous action).
- fanya: verb root “do/make”; in the set phrase kufanya kazi = “to work.”
So Spika hizi zikifanya kazi vizuri = “When/if these speakers are working well …”

Why is it zi- in zikifanya and not wa-?

zi- agrees with class 10 nouns (plural N-class). Loanwords like spika usually fall into class 9/10: singular class 9, plural class 10.
wa- is for class 2 (people: plural of class 1), so it would be wrong here because speakers are devices, not people.

Why is it hizi and not hivi or hawa?

Demonstratives agree by noun class:
- Class 9 (singular): hii
- Class 10 (plural): hizi
hivi is for class 8 (vi- nouns), and hawa is for class 2 (people). Since spika is class 10 in the plural, hizi is correct: spika hizi = “these speakers.”

Could I use kama or ikiwa instead of the -ki- form? Do they mean the same thing?

You can, but there’s a nuance:
- -ki- often implies a real/likely condition or a temporal “when(ever)/while,” and it tightly links the two clauses.
- kama = “if” (more tentative/uncertain).
- ikiwa = “if” (a bit more formal/explicit).
All are acceptable; choose based on how certain you feel the condition is:
- Spika hizi zikifanya kazi vizuri, … (when/if they work well…)
- Kama spika hizi zitafanya kazi vizuri, … (if they happen to work well…)
- Ikiwa spika hizi zitafanya kazi vizuri, … (if it is the case that…)

How do I make the negative of this -ki- clause?

Use the -sipo- form (subject prefix + si + po + verb):
- Spika hizi zisipofanya kazi vizuri, sauti haitasikika ukumbini kote.
- Breakdown: zisipofanya = zi- + si + po + fanya (“if/when they do not do”), and haitasikika = ha- + i- + ta- + sikika (“it will not be heard”).

Why is it sauti itasikika and not zitasikika?

The subject here is sauti (“sound”), which is class 9 singular, so the subject marker is i-: itasikika.
If you meant multiple sounds/voices (sauti can also be plural in class 10), you would use zitasikika. In this sentence, we’re talking about “the sound” as a whole, so singular is intended.

What’s the difference between sikika and sikiwa?

sikika = “to be audible / to be heard (in general),” no agent implied. Natural with things like sauti: “the sound is heard.”
sikiwa = passive of sikia (“to hear”): “to be heard (by someone).” Used when there’s an implied/explicit hearer.
Here, sauti itasikika is better because we mean “the sound will be audible (throughout).”

Can you break down itasikika?

i-ta-sikika
- i-: class 9 subject marker (agreeing with sauti).
- -ta-: future.
- sikika: “be audible/be heard.”

What exactly does ukumbini kote mean?

ukumbi = “hall.”
-ni locative suffix gives ukumbini = “in the hall.”
kote = “everywhere / throughout (a place).” It’s invariable and commonly used with locatives.
So ukumbini kote = “throughout the hall / everywhere in the hall.”

Can I say kote ukumbini instead of ukumbini kote?

Yes. Both ukumbini kote and kote ukumbini are used and understood. The meaning is the same; word order here is flexible.

Could I say ukumbi wote instead of ukumbini kote?

ukumbi wote = “the whole/entire hall” (adjective -ote agreeing with class 11/14 nouns like ukumbi; no locative).
ukumbini kote = “throughout the hall” (focus on distribution within the location).
To keep the same idea, you could say: sauti itasikika katika ukumbi wote (“the sound will be heard in the entire hall”), which is close in meaning.

Why is it vizuri and not nzuri after kufanya kazi?

vizuri is an adverb: “well,” modifying the action “work.”
nzuri is an adjective: “good,” modifying a noun. For example:
- kufanya kazi vizuri = “to work well.”
- kazi nzuri = “good work.”

Is the demonstrative position fixed? Could I say Hizi spika?

Both spika hizi and hizi spika exist. Post-nominal (spika hizi) is the most neutral/common.
Pre-nominal (hizi spika) adds emphasis or contrast on “these” (these particular speakers).

Could I use zikiwa zinafanya kazi vizuri instead of zikifanya kazi vizuri?

zikiwa zinafanya kazi vizuri literally “when/if they are being-working well,” stacking copula -kiwa
- progressive zina-. It’s grammatical but heavier.
zikifanya (kazi) vizuri is the natural, concise way to say “when/if they are working well.” Use this unless you specifically need to emphasize the state of being in a working condition.

Can I put the main clause first?

Yes: Sauti itasikika ukumbini kote, spika hizi zikifanya kazi vizuri. The comma helps show the dependency. Meaning and grammar remain the same.

What if I want a habitual/general statement instead of future?

Use the habitual hu- with the main verb: Spika hizi zikifanya kazi vizuri, sauti husikika ukumbini kote. = “When these speakers work well, the sound is (generally) heard throughout the hall.”