Learn Hardcore Swahili: Ukikosa kifuniko, funika sufuria kwa kitambaa. - If you lack a lid, cover the pot with a cloth.

So Ukikosa kifuniko = “If/when you lack a lid / if you don’t have a lid / if you fail to find a lid.” The time is general; context can make it feel present, future, or habitual.

Why use -ki- instead of kama for “if”?

-ki- is the most natural, compact way to make an open conditional. kama also means “if,” but you typically use it without -ki- on the same verb. Good options:

Ukikosa kifuniko, ... (preferred, neutral)
Kama huna kifuniko, ... (if you don’t have a lid)
Kama utakosa kifuniko, ... (if you will lack a lid) Avoid Kama ukikosa ... in standard Swahili (it’s redundant).

Does Ukikosa mean “if” or “when”?

Both. -ki- can mean:

“if” (a real possibility): Ukikosa kifuniko, funika ...
“when/whenever” (habitual): Ukikosa kifuniko, huwa unafunika ... Context and intonation supply the nuance.

Why is the command form funika and not funike?

Affirmative imperative (singular): bare stem with final -a → funika (“cover!”)
Affirmative imperative (plural): add -ni → funikeni
Negative imperative: use usi-/msi-
- final -e → usifunike (sg.), msifunike (pl.) So funika is the correct positive singular command; funike is the subjunctive/negative-imperative form.

How do I say this to more than one person?

Change both the subject and the imperative:

One person: Ukikosa kifuniko, funika sufuria kwa kitambaa.
Several people: Mkikosa kifuniko, funikeni sufuria kwa kitambaa. Here m- is the 2nd-person plural subject prefix.

Can I place the condition after the main clause?

Yes:

Ukikosa kifuniko, funika sufuria kwa kitambaa.
Funika sufuria kwa kitambaa, ukikosa kifuniko. Both are fine; the comma/intonation separates the clauses.

Why is kwa used before kitambaa? Could I use na?

kwa marks means/instrument: “by/with (using)” → kwa kitambaa = “with a cloth (as a tool).”
na marks accompaniment and sometimes instrument in casual speech. na kitambaa is understood, but kwa kitambaa is the neutral, clear choice for an instrument.

Is there a way to express “with a cloth” without kwa?

Yes, use the applied verb form:

Funikia sufuria kitambaa. (“Cover the pot with a cloth.”) Here -ia on funika licenses the instrument kitambaa without kwa. Use either funika ... kwa ... or funikia ... ..., not both together.

What noun class is kifuniko, and what’s the plural?

kifuniko is class 7 (ki-), plural class 8 (vi-):

singular: kifuniko (lid/cover)
plural: vifuniko (lids) It’s an instrument noun derived from funika; many tool-like nouns take ki-/vi-.

What about sufuria—its class and plural?

sufuria (cooking pot) is class 9/10; singular and plural look the same:

singular: sufuria
plural: sufuria (agreement shows number) In everyday speech you may hear masufuria (class 6 plural), but standard keeps it in 9/10.

Would kifuniko cha sufuria be better than just kifuniko?

Both are fine.

kifuniko usually implies a lid (often the matching one).
kifuniko cha sufuria is more specific: “the pot’s lid.” The connector cha agrees with class 7; plural is vya: vifuniko vya sufuria (“pot lids”).

What nuance does kosa have here, and are there alternatives?

Here kosa = “to lack / fail to obtain,” not “to make a mistake.” Alternatives:

Kama huna kifuniko, ... (if you don’t have a lid)
Usipopata kifuniko, ... (if you don’t get/find a lid) Ukikosa remains compact and natural.

Why isn’t there an object marker on the verb for sufuria?

Because the full object noun sufuria follows the verb. Swahili normally avoids an object marker when the object is overt. You add one when the object is pronominal or topicalized:

Neutral: Funika sufuria kwa kitambaa.
Topicalized: Sufuria, uifunikie kwa kitambaa. (“As for the pot, cover it with a cloth.”)

Any quick pronunciation tips?

Ukikosa: u-kee-KO-sa (all vowels pronounced)
kifuniko: kee-foo-NEE-ko
funika: foo-NEE-ka
sufuria: soo-foo-REE-a (four syllables)
kitambaa: kee-tam-BA-a (final aa is long)

Are there register or dialect notes I should know?

Plural of sufuria: standard plural is still sufuria; masufuria is common in casual speech.
Some speakers say mfuniko (“cover,” class 3/4), but kifuniko/vifuniko is the common “lid.”
In casual speech, na may replace kwa for instruments, though kwa is clearer.

Can I swap kitambaa for a more specific word like towel or rag?

Yes:

taulo = towel (plural mataulo)
kitambaa cha jikoni = kitchen cloth/dishcloth
kanga/kitenge = types of cloth; plurals kanga/vitenge Pick the one that matches what you mean.