Learn Hardcore Swahili: Usiku, taa za barabarani zitaangaza kote mjini. - At night, the street lights will shine throughout the town.

It’s optional. Swahili often fronts time expressions (e.g., Asubuhi, Kesho), and many writers add a comma after them, but you can also write Usiku taa … without the comma.

Why is it taa za barabarani and not taa ya barabarani?

Because the lights are plural. The genitive/associative concord agrees with the head noun taa. Class 9 (singular) takes ya (taa ya …), while class 10 (plural) takes za (taa za …).

How can I tell that taa is plural when it looks the same as singular?

By agreement. The phrase uses za and the verb has the class-10 subject prefix zi- (zitaangaza). Those cues show taa is plural. In class 9/10, the noun form often doesn’t change between singular and plural.

What noun class is taa, and how does agreement work here?

Taa is class 9/10 (the N class). Relevant concords:

Subject prefix: i- (sg), zi- (pl) → zitaangaza
Associative (of): ya (sg), za (pl) → taa za … This is why we see za and zi-.

What does barabarani mean, and what does the -ni do?

Barabarani is barabara (road/street) plus the locative suffix -ni, meaning on the road(s)/in the street(s). The -ni turns many nouns into place expressions (e.g., shuleni at school, nyumbani at home).

Is taa za barabarani the normal way to say streetlights?

Yes, taa za barabarani is the standard phrase for streetlights. You may also hear taa za mtaani (lights in the neighborhood/streets), but taa za barabarani specifically evokes roadside/street lighting.

Could I say taa za barabara instead of taa za barabarani?

You’ll be understood, but taa za barabarani is the natural collocation. Barabarani emphasizes the location on/along roads; za barabara sounds more like of the road and is less idiomatic for streetlights.

What’s the breakdown of zitaangaza?

zi- (class 10 subject) + ta- (future) + angaza (verb root to illuminate/shine light on) → zitaangaza they will illuminate/shine.

Why does zitaangaza have a double aa?

Because ta- ends in a and the verb root angaza begins with a. In Swahili orthography both vowels are written, yielding aa (zita-angaza → zitaangaza). It’s pronounced with a smooth a-a sequence.

What’s the nuance of angaza vs waka vs washa vs mulika?

angaza: to illuminate/cast light (often transitive), or shine (in context).
waka: to be lit/to be on (intransitive). Zitawaka = they will be on.
washa: to switch on/light (transitive). Kuwasha taa = to turn on a light.
mulika: to shine a light on/highlight (often with a torch/phone). In the sentence, zitaangaza suggests the lights will cast illumination.

What does kote mean, and why not ote?

Kote means everywhere/all over in a place. It works naturally with locatives: kote mjini all over town. The form -ote is an adjective meaning all/whole that agrees with a noun (e.g., mji wote the whole town). So kote modifies a locative, while -ote modifies a noun.

Can I say mjini kote instead of kote mjini?

Yes. Both kote mjini and mjini kote are idiomatic, with no real difference in meaning. You can choose whichever flows better for you.

What’s the difference between mji and mjini (and jiji/jijini)?

mji = town/city (the noun)
mjini = in town (locative form)
jiji = large city
jijini = in the (large) city Your sentence uses mjini in town.

How would I say tonight instead of at night?

Use Usiku huu, Usiku wa leo, or Leo usiku. For example: Usiku huu, taa za barabarani zitaangaza kote mjini.

How do I negate this sentence?

Usiku, taa za barabarani hazitaangaza kote mjini. Negative future uses ha- plus the subject marker (hazi- for class 10) and ta- remains: hazi-ta-angaza.

How would the sentence look with a single streetlight as the subject?

Usiku, taa ya barabarani itaangaza kote mjini. Note the singular agreements: ya and itaangaza (i- for class 9 singular).

Can I drop kote? What changes?

Yes: Usiku, taa za barabarani zitaangaza mjini. That means the lights will shine in town, but it loses the all over/everywhere nuance that kote adds.

What’s the difference between kote mjini and mji mzima?

kote mjini = everywhere around town (adverbial scope over the place)
mji mzima = the entire town (as a whole unit) With a direct object: Taa … zitaangaza mji mzima = The streetlights will light up the whole town (more explicitly transitive).

Any quick pronunciation tips?

taa: two a’s; keep them distinct (taa).
zitaangaza: zi-ta-a-nga-za; smooth the a-a.
barabarani: ba-ra-ba-RA-ni (clear r’s).
mjini: m-ji-ni; j like in jeans.