Learn Hardcore Swahili: Kipima joto kikionyesha zaidi ya thelathini, tutafungua madirisha. - If the thermometer shows more than thirty, we will open the windows.

ki- = subject agreement for class 7 (matches kipima joto “thermometer”)
-ki- = the “when/if/while” subordinator (links a condition to a result)
onyesha = verb root “show” So kikionyesha literally encodes “it (class 7), when showing …”

Why isn’t kama (“if”) used here?

Because the subordinator -ki- inside the verb already expresses the “when/if” relationship. If you choose kama, you normally drop the -ki- and use regular tense:

Kama kipima joto kitaonyesha zaidi ya thelathini, tutafungua madirisha.

Does -ki- mean “when” or “if”? Is there a nuance?

Both are possible. -ki- often leans toward “when/whenever” (a real, expected condition). It can also mean “if” in neutral conditions. For a more hypothetical/less likely condition, Swahili prefers -nge- (see below).

Could I say Kipima joto kinaonyesha… instead?

That means “the thermometer is showing …” (simple present/progressive, with -na- implied), not a condition. To keep the conditional meaning, use kikionyesha (with -ki-) or use kama + normal tense.

How would I make it clearly hypothetical, like “If it showed … we would open …”?

Use the conditional -nge- on both verbs:

Kingeonyesha zaidi ya thelathini, tungefungua madirisha. Here kingeonyesha = “it would show,” tungefungua = “we would open.”

What does zaidi ya thelathini mean exactly? Any alternatives?

It means “more than thirty.” Alternatives:

kuliko thelathini = “more than thirty”
Using a verb: ikizidi thelathini = “if it exceeds thirty” (e.g., Kipima joto ikizidi thelathini, …)

Should I include the word for “degrees”?

You can. It’s common and a bit clearer to say:

zaidi ya nyuzi (joto) thelathini = “more than thirty degrees (Celsius implied by context)” So: Kipima joto kikionyesha zaidi ya nyuzi thelathini, …

Is thelathini the standard form of “thirty”? I’ve seen thalathini too.

Both spellings occur. thelathini is very common in contemporary usage; thalathini is also recognized.

Why is it madirisha and not dirisha?

Because it’s plural “windows.” Singular is dirisha (class 5), plural is madirisha (class 6). The verb agrees with the subject (here the subject is kipima joto, class 7), not with the object madirisha.

What does tutafungua consist of?

tu- = “we” (subject)
-ta- = future
fungua = “open” So tutafungua = “we will open.”

Is kipima joto one word or two? I’ve also seen kipimajoto.

Both are used. You’ll see kipima joto (two words) and kipimajoto (one word) for “thermometer.” Both are widely understood.

Is the comma required after the first clause?

It’s normal to separate the -ki- clause with a comma when it comes first, for readability: Kipima joto kikionyesha …, tutafungua … If the order is reversed, the comma is often dropped: Tutafungua madirisha kipima joto kikionyesha zaidi ya …

How would I negate the condition: “If the thermometer does not show more than thirty …”?

A natural option is to use kama with standard negation:

Kama kipima joto hakitaonyesha zaidi ya thelathini, hatutafungua madirisha. (ha-…-ta- = negative future; ha+ki+taonyesha → hakitaonyesha; ha+tu+tafungua → hatutafungua)

Could I rephrase using the verb “exceed” instead of “show more than”?

Yes:

Kipima joto ikizidi thelathini, tutafungua madirisha. Here -ki- attaches to -zidi (“exceed”), giving a concise “if/when it exceeds thirty.”