Learn Hardcore Swahili: Tafadhali, uwashe feni sebuleni. - Please turn on the fan in the living room.

Swahili often uses the subjunctive for polite requests. Uwashe is the 2nd-person singular subjunctive of kuwasha and literally means “that you turn on,” which softens the command (especially with tafadhali). Plain washa is the direct imperative “turn on.” Both are correct; uwashe just sounds more politely phrased.

How is uwashe formed from kuwasha?

Breakdown:

u- = 2nd person singular subject prefix “you”
-wash- = verb stem from kuwasha “to switch on/light/start”
-e = subjunctive ending So: u-wash-e → uwashe. The infinitive marker ku- drops in finite forms.

Can I say Tafadhali, washa feni sebuleni instead?

Yes. Washa is the plain imperative and is perfectly acceptable. With tafadhali, it’s still polite; it’s just a bit more direct than uwashe.

How do I say this to more than one person?

Two common options:

Direct plural imperative: Tafadhali, washeni feni sebuleni.
Polite plural (subjunctive): Tafadhali, mwashe feni sebuleni. Both address “you all.” The first is more direct; the second is softer.

Where can tafadhali go in the sentence, and is the comma necessary?

You can place it at the start or end:

Tafadhali, uwashe feni sebuleni.
Uwashe feni sebuleni, tafadhali. The comma just marks a pause; it’s optional in everyday writing.

What does sebuleni mean exactly? Why the -ni?

The base noun is sebule “living room.” Adding -ni makes a locative: sebuleni = “in the living room.” This -ni locative is very common with places.

Could I say kwenye sebule instead of sebuleni?

Yes: Tafadhali, uwashe feni kwenye sebule. Both mean “in the living room.” The -ni locative is a bit more compact and very idiomatic.

Where does sebuleni go in the sentence?

Most naturally at the end: … feni sebuleni. You can move it earlier for emphasis (e.g., Sebuleni, uwashe feni) but the default is final position.

What exactly is feni? Is that the normal word for “fan”?

Yes, feni is the usual loanword for an electric fan. Specific types:

Ceiling fan: feni ya dari
Standing fan: feni ya kusimama
Table/desk fan: feni ya mezani Avoid fani here; fani means “field/specialty,” not “fan.”

What noun class is feni, and how is the plural formed?

Feni is typically class 9/10 (N-class). Singular and plural look the same: one fan = feni moja; two fans = feni mbili. Agreement (e.g., object marker) uses class 9/10 forms.

How would I avoid repeating feni and just say “Please turn it on”?

Use the class 9 object marker i-: Tafadhali, uiwashe. Breakdown: u-(you) + i-(it, class 9) + -wash- + -e.

How do I say “Please don’t turn on the fan in the living room”?

Tafadhali, usiwashe feni sebuleni. Negative imperative: usi- + verb stem + -e (e.g., usifanye, usiseme).

How do I say “turn off” instead of “turn on”?

Use kuzima “to switch off/extinguish”: Tafadhali, uzime feni sebuleni (sg, polite) or Tafadhali, zimeni feni sebuleni (pl, direct).

Is kuwasha only for electronics?

No. It’s used broadly for switching on or lighting/starting:

kuwasha taa = turn on a light
kuwasha moto = light a fire
kuwasha gari = start a car Note: kuwasha can also mean “to cause itching” in other contexts (e.g., sabuni inanikwasha), but context makes the meaning clear.

Are there other polite ways to phrase this besides tafadhali?

Yes:

Naomba uwashe feni sebuleni. (“I request/please…”)
Unaweza kuwasha feni sebuleni? (“Could you…?”)
Ningependa uwashe feni sebuleni. (“I’d like you to…”) All sound courteous.

Any quick pronunciation tips?

Tafadhali: ta-fa-dha-li (the dh is a voiced “th” as in “this” in many speakers’ pronunciation).
uwashe: u-wa-she (final -e is pronounced, not silent).
feni: fe-ni.
sebuleni: se-bu-le-ni, with a clear -ni at the end.