Learn Hardcore Swahili: Amina anahifadhi akiba yake kwenye akaunti ya benki iliyo karibu. - Amina keeps her savings in a bank account nearby.

"Anahifadhi" can mean both "she saves/keeps" (habitual) and "she is saving/keeping" (right now). The -na- tense marker covers present/habitual. If you want to stress a general habit, you can also use the habitual marker hu-: "Amina huhifadhi akiba yake..." = "Amina habitually keeps her savings..."

Is "kuhifadhi" the usual verb for saving money, or would "kuweka" be more natural?

Both are fine, but they differ slightly:

kuhifadhi = to keep/preserve/store. "Anahifadhi akiba yake" emphasizes keeping/maintaining savings safely.
kuweka (pesa/akiba) = to put/deposit (money/savings), very common for banking actions: "Amina anaweka pesa benki." Avoid "kuokoa" for money; it means "to save (rescue)" from danger, not to deposit or save up.

Why is it "akiba yake" and not "akiba wake"?

Because "akiba" is an N-class noun (class 9/10). Possessives agree with the noun class of the head noun:

N-class singular takes ya- → yake (his/her/its). "Wake" is the class 1 (m-/wa-) form and would be used with nouns like "mtu wake" (his/her person).

Does "yake" specify gender (her vs his)?

No. Swahili possessives do not mark gender. "Yake" means his/her/its; the name "Amina" provides the context that it's "her."

Could I say "akiba zake" in the plural?

Normally no. "Akiba" is typically treated as a mass/abstract noun ("savings" as a set), so it stays singular in agreement: "akiba yake." You would use plurals when referring to multiple separate "reserves" in a specialized context.

What does "kwenye" mean here, and can I use alternatives?

"kwenye" is a general locative preposition meaning in/at/on. Alternatives:

katika (more formal/neutral): "katika akaunti ya benki..."
ndani ya (specifically inside): "ndani ya akaunti ya benki..." All are acceptable; "kwenye" is very common in everyday speech.

How should I understand "akaunti ya benki"? Is it literally “account of the bank”?

It’s the standard way to say "bank account." Swahili often expresses English noun-noun compounds with the associative "of" linker -a:

akaunti ya benki = bank account
gari la polisi = police car
meza ya ofisi = office table The linker agrees with the head noun ("akaunti," N-class → ya).

What exactly does "iliyo karibu" modify—"akaunti" or "benki"?

As written, it most naturally modifies the immediately preceding noun phrase "benki" (the bank), giving "an account of the bank that is nearby." Because both "akaunti" and "benki" are N-class (and would both take iliyo), ambiguity is possible. To make your intent crystal clear:

To modify benki (preferred here): "kwenye akaunti katika benki iliyo karibu" (an account at the nearby bank).
To modify akaunti (less likely meaning): "kwenye akaunti iliyo karibu ya benki" (the account that is nearby of the bank—odd, because accounts aren’t ‘near’ in space).

Why use "iliyo" instead of "ambayo"?

Both are valid relative constructions:

iliyo + adjective/adverb/prepositional phrase: "benki iliyo karibu" (the bank that is near/nearby).
ambayo + verb (often iko for location): "benki ambayo iko karibu." "iliyo karibu" is a compact, very common pattern. "ambayo iko" is a bit more explicit (literally "which is located") and is also perfectly natural.

What is the structure of "iliyo"?

"iliyo" breaks down as:

i- (subject agreement for class 9 singular, N-class)
-li- (relative TAM marker used here for a stative present reading "which is")
-yo (relative suffix for class 9/10) So "benki iliyo karibu" = "the bank which is near." For other classes:
mtu aliye karibu (class 1)
watu walio karibu (class 2)
kitabu kilicho mezani (class 7)
vitabu vilivyo mezani (class 8)
mabenki yaliyo karibu (class 6 plural)

Is there a simpler way to say “nearby bank” without a relative clause?

Yes: use the associative with "karibu."

benki ya karibu = a nearby/nearest bank (common and natural) Then: "…kwenye akaunti katika benki ya karibu."

Should it be "karibu" alone or "karibu na" something?

"Karibu" alone means "near/nearby" with no stated reference point, which fits "nearby." Use "karibu na" when specifying what it’s near:

benki iliyo karibu na soko = the bank that is near the market.

Why is it "akaunti ya benki," not "akaunti wa benki"?

The associative linker -a agrees with the head noun ("akaunti," N-class → ya). Some common singular forms:

wa (class 1 m-/wa-): rafiki wa Amina
ya (N-class 9/10): akaunti ya benki
la (class 5 ji-/Ø): gari la mwalimu
cha (class 7 ki-): kitabu cha mwanafunzi
vya/za/ya/ya... change with other classes accordingly.

Does Swahili mark “a” vs “the” (indefinite vs definite) in this sentence?

No. Swahili has no articles. "Akaunti ya benki" can be "a bank account" or "the bank account," depending on context. The presence of "iliyo karibu" and the discourse context guide specificity.

If I want to say “the nearest bank” (superlative), how do I adjust "karibu"?

Use "zaidi" (more/most):

benki iliyo karibu zaidi = the nearest bank
Alternatively: benki ya karibu zaidi Then: "Amina anahifadhi akiba yake kwenye akaunti katika benki iliyo karibu zaidi."