Learn Hardcore Swahili: Ukikosa nafasi za maegesho, egesha mbele ya ofisi ya mwalimu mkuu. - If you lack parking spaces, park in front of the headteacher’s office.

u-ki-kosa breaks down as: u- (you, sg.) + -ki- (if/when/whenever) + kosa (to miss/lack/fail to get).
-ki- expresses a real, open condition and often translates as either “if” or “when” (in instructions: “if/when that happens, do X”).
It’s natural here because the second clause is an imperative: “If/When you don’t find parking spaces, park…”
You can also use kama: Kama utakosa nafasi za maegesho, egesha… (“If you will fail to find…”). Using -ki- is more compact and very common in directions.
Avoid doubling with both: while speakers do say kama ukikosa, many teachers consider it redundant.

Why is it nafasi za maegesho and not nafasi ya maegesho?

nafasi (space/slot/opportunity) is class 9/10 (N-class) and looks the same in singular and plural.
The possessive/concord agrees with the head noun (nafasi):
- Singular: ya → nafasi ya maegesho = “a parking space”
- Plural: za → nafasi za maegesho = “parking spaces”
In your sentence we’re talking about multiple spaces, so za is correct.

What exactly does kosa mean here? Isn’t it also “to make a mistake”?

kosa has a few related meanings: “to miss/lack/fail to get; to be wrong; to make a mistake.”
With an object like nafasi it means “to fail to find / to not get”: ukikosa nafasi = “if you don’t find a space.”
For “make a mistake,” you’ll often see the noun makosa (mistakes), or kukosea (to be wrong toward someone/something) in other contexts.

What does maegesho mean, and how is it formed?

Verb: kuegesha = to park (a vehicle).
Noun: ma-egesho (class 6) = “parking” (as a facility/area) or “parking places.”
Common paraphrases/synonyms:
- maegesho ya magari = car parking/parking for cars
- eneo la kuegeshea magari = area for parking cars (with applicative -e-: kuegeshea “to park at/for”)

Why use egesha instead of paki? Are both acceptable?

Both are widely used:
- egesha is a standard “pure Swahili” verb.
- paki (from English “park”) is very common in everyday speech: Paki gari hapa.
In formal notices you may see egesha; in casual speech paki is extremely common. Both are fine.

Is egesha addressing one person? How do I say it to more than one person, and how do I negate it?

Imperative singular: egesha!
Imperative plural: egesheni!
Negative imperative:
- Singular: usiegeshe! (“don’t park!”)
- Plural: msiegeshe!

How does mbele ya work? Can I drop ya?

mbele = “front/ahead.” With a following noun, use mbele ya + NOUN = “in front of NOUN.”
- Example: mbele ya ofisi = in front of the office
You cannot drop ya before a noun. Without a following noun, mbele can stand alone: Nenda mbele = “Go forward.”

Why is ya used twice in mbele ya ofisi ya mwalimu mkuu?

First ya links mbele to the noun: mbele ya ofisi (“in front of the office”).
Second ya is the possessive linking ofisi (head noun) to its possessor: ofisi ya mwalimu mkuu (“the head teacher’s office”).
Both mbele and ofisi pattern with the N-class singular, whose possessive is ya, hence ya appears twice.

What’s going on with mwalimu mkuu? Does mkuu “agree” with the noun?

mwalimu = teacher (class 1); mkuu (adj./noun) = chief/main/head.
In set phrases like mwalimu mkuu, waziri mkuu, barabara kuu, the adjective kuu typically appears without the class prefix.
Meaning here is a fixed title: mwalimu mkuu = head teacher/principal.

Could I also say mbele ya ofisi ya mkuu wa shule? Is it the same as ofisi ya mwalimu mkuu?

Yes, mkuu wa shule = “head of the school,” so ofisi ya mkuu wa shule is fine and near-equivalent.
mwalimu mkuu is the common title for a school principal/head teacher (esp. primary/secondary). For universities you’d see different titles (e.g., mkuu wa chuo).

Can the order of the clauses change? Do I need the comma?

Order: You can say either
- Ukikosa nafasi za maegesho, egesha … (most natural for instructions), or
- Egesha … ukikosa nafasi za maegesho.
The comma after the conditional clause is common and helpful but optional in everyday writing.

What’s the difference between saying ukikosa nafasi za maegesho and using hakuna?

Ukikosa… centers on “you” failing to find: “If you don’t find parking spaces…”
Kama hakuna nafasi za maegesho… centers on existence: “If there are no parking spaces…”
Both are natural; choose based on emphasis or style.

How else can I express “parking space(s)”?

Any pronunciation tips for this sentence?